Sayyidah Saudah bint Zam’ah
April 22, 2026Sayyidah Hafsah bint ‘Umar
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Sayyidah ‘Aisha bint Abi Bakr
Name and lineage
‘Aisha bint ‘Abdullah (Abu Bakr al Siddiq) ibn ‘Uthman (Abu Quhafah) al Taymi al Qurashi. Her mother was Umm Ruman bint ‘Uwaymir al Kinaniyyah.
Her teknonym is Umm ‘Abdullah. She asked the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to give her a teknonym as well and he instructed her to take the teknonym: Umm ‘Abdullah, who is ‘Abdullah ibn al Zubair ibn ‘Awwam radiya Llahu ‘anhu, her nephew through her sister, Asma’ bint Abi Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhuma.
She was born four years after Nubuwwah. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married her when she was six years old. She came to live with the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam when she was nine years old. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did not marry any other virgin besides Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha. Her exoneration from the false accusations against her was announced from the Heavens. She was the most beloved of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wives to him after Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha. She is renowned for being the most knowledgeable of all women; many senior Sahabah would benefit from her knowledge.[1]
She was eighteen years old when the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam passed away. She passed away on 17 Ramadan 58 AH. Sayyidina Abu Hurairah radiya Llahu ‘anhu performed her Salat al Janazah and she was buried in al Baqi’. May Allah be pleased with her.
Merits and Status
1. She was the most beloved to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam of all his wives after Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha. Al Bukhari reports with his chain from ‘Amr ibn al ‘As radiya Llahu ‘anhu:
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بعثه على جيش ذات السلاسل قال فأتيته فقلت أي الناس أحب إليك قال عائشة فقلت فمن الرجال قال أبوها
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam deputed me to lead the army of Dhat al Salasil. I came to him and said, “Who is the most beloved person to you?”
He said, “‘Aisha.”
I asked, “From the men?”
He said, “Her father.”[2]
2. Sayyidina Jibril ‘alayh al Salam came to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam with her image on a silken cloth before they got married. Al Bukhari and Muslim report with their chains from Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha that the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to her:
أريتك في المنام ثلاث ليال جاءني بك الملك في سرقة من حرير فيقول هذه امرأتك فأكشف عن وجهك فإذا أنت هي فأقول إن يك هذا من عند الله يمضه
I saw you in a dream for three nights. An angel brought you to me in a silk cloth and said, “Here is your wife.”
When I removed (the cloth) from your face, it was you. I said, “If this is from Allah, He will make it a reality.”[3]
3. Sayyidina Jibril ‘alayh al Salam conveyed greetings to her through the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Al Bukhari reports from Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha:
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوما يا عائش هذا جبريل يقرئك السلام فقلت وعليه السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته ترى ما لا أرى تريد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to me one day, “O ‘A’ish, this is Jibril conveying his greetings to you.”
I replied, “May peace, Allah’s mercy, and His blessings be upon him as well. (O Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) you see what I do not see.”[4]
4. Wahi (revelation) descended upon the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam while he lay beside Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha under one sheet; the same did not occur with the other Ummahat al Mu’minin.
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha:
يا أم سلمة لا تؤذيني في عائشة فإنه والله ما نزل علي الوحي في لحاف امرأة منكن غيرها
O Umm Salamah! Do not cause me pain with regard to ‘Aisha, for verily, I take an oath by Allah, revelation did not descend upon me while I lay under the sheet with any of you except ‘Aisha.[5]
5. When the Verse of Takhyir was revealed, which is:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ إِنْ كُنْتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا فَتَعَالَيْنَ أُمَتِّعْكُنَّ وَأُسَرِّحْكُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا وَإِنْ كُنْتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْمُحْسِنَاتِ مِنْكُنَّ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
O Prophet, say to your wives, “If you should desire the worldly life and its adornment, then come, I will provide for you and give you a gracious release. But if you should desire Allah and His Messenger and the home of the Hereafter – then indeed, Allah has prepared for the doers of good among you a great reward.”[6]
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam first asked Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha and advised her to first discuss the matter with her parents before making her decision; but she chose the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam without consulting her parents, which was then followed by the other Ummahat al Mu’minin. Al Bukhari and Muslim report that Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha said when advised to consult her parents:
ففي أي هذا أستأمر أبوي فإني أريد الله ورسوله والدار الآخرة قالت ثم فعل أزواج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مثل ما فعلت
“What need is there to consult my parents in this regard? Verily, I seek Allah, His Messenger, and the home of the Hereafter.”
Then all the other wives of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did the same as I did.[7]
6. Verses of the Qur’an were revealed on account of her, either elevating her status or for the benefit of the Ummah at large. A few of these verses are:
- Allah revealed her innocence when she was falsely accused and slandered.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالْإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِنْكُمْ ۚ لَا تَحْسَبُوهُ شَرًّا لَكُمْ ۖ بَلْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ ۚ لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمْ مَا اكْتَسَبَ مِنَ الْإِثْمِ ۚ وَالَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ كِبْرَهُ مِنْهُمْ لَهُ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ لَوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ ظَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ خَيْرًا وَقَالُوا هَٰذَا إِفْكٌ مُبِينٌ لَوْلَا جَاءُوا عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ ۚ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِالشُّهَدَاءِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْكَاذِبُونَ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِي مَا أَفَضْتُمْ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُمْ مَا لَيْسَ لَكُمْ بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّنًا وَهُوَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ وَلَوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ قُلْتُمْ مَا يَكُونُ لَنَا أَنْ نَتَكَلَّمَ بِهَٰذَا سُبْحَانَكَ هَٰذَا بُهْتَانٌ عَظِيمٌ يَعِظُكُمُ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَعُودُوا لِمِثْلِهِ أَبَدًا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ وَيُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَنْ تَشِيعَ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ وَمَنْ يَتَّبِعْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ ۚ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ مَا زَكَىٰ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًا وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يُزَكِّي مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ أَنْ يُؤْتُوا أُولِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۖ وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا ۗ أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ الْغَافِلَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ لُعِنُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ يَوْمَ تَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ وَأَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ يَوْمَئِذٍ يُوَفِّيهِمُ اللَّهُ دِينَهُمُ الْحَقَّ وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ الْمُبِينُ الْخَبِيثَاتُ لِلْخَبِيثِينَ وَالْخَبِيثُونَ لِلْخَبِيثَاتِ ۖ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ وَالطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَاتِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ ۖ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
Indeed, those who came with falsehood are a group among you. Do not think it bad for you; rather it is good for you. For every person among them is what [punishment] he has earned from the sin, and he who took upon himself the greater portion thereof – for him is a great punishment. Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of one another and say, “This is an obvious falsehood”? Why did they [who slandered] not produce for it four witnesses? And when they do not produce the witnesses, then it is they, in the sight of Allah, who are the liars. And if it had not been for the favour of Allah upon you and His mercy in this world and the Hereafter, you would have been touched for that [lie] in which you were involved by a great punishment. When you received it with your tongues and said with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge and thought it was insignificant while it was, in the sight of Allah, tremendous. And why, when you heard it, did you not say, “It is not for us to speak of this. Exalted are You, [O Allah]; this is a great slander”? Allah warns you against returning to the likes of this [conduct], ever, if you should be believers. And Allah makes clear to you the verses, and Allah is Knowing and Wise. Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicised] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you do not know. And if it had not been for the favour of Allah upon you and His mercy… and because Allah is Kind and Merciful. O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Shaitan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Shaitan – indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And if not for the favour of Allah upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but Allah purifies whom He wills, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing. And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the Emigrants for the cause of Allah, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Indeed, those who [falsely] accuse chaste, unaware, and believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter; and they will have a great punishment. On a Day when their tongues, their hands, and their feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do. That Day, Allah will pay them in full their deserved recompense, and they will know that it is Allah who is the perfect in justice. Evil women are for evil men, and evil men are for evil women. And good women are for good men, and good men are for good women. Those [good people] are declared innocent of what the slanderers say. For them is forgiveness and noble provision.[8]
- As for the verse which was revealed on her account and benefited the entire Ummah: The verse of Tayammum.
وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ مَرْضَىٰ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مِنَ الْغَائِطِ أَوْ لَامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا
And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.[9]
Al Bukhari and Muslim report from Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha that she borrowed from her sister Asma’ radiya Llahu ‘anha a necklace and it got lost. The Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam sent men to search for it. As it was the time for Salah, they offered Salah without ablution (as water was not available there). When they came to the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, they made a complaint about it, and the verse pertaining to Tayammum was revealed. Upon this, Usayd ibn Hudayr radiya Llahu ‘anhu said to ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha:
جزاك الله خيرا فوالله ما نزل بك أمر تكرهينه إلا جعل الله لك منه مخرجا وجعل للمسلمين فيه بركة
May Allah grant you a good reward! Never has there been an occasion when you were beset with difficulty except that Allah made you come out of it and made it an occasion of blessings for the Muslims.[10]
7. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam desired to be nursed in her home and he passed away in her home, while in her lap, on her day. Allah caused her saliva to be mixed with that of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam during his final moment of this world and his first of the Hereafter. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was then buried in her house. Al Bukhari reports from Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha:
دخل عبد الرحمن بن أبي بكر على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأنا مسندته إلى صدري ومع عبد الرحمن سواك رطب يستن به فأبده رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بصره فأخذت السواك فقضمته ونفضته وطيبته ثم دفعته إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فاستن به
‘Abdur Rahman ibn Abi Bakr entered upon the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam while I was supporting the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam on my chest. ‘Abdur Rahman had a fresh miswak with which he was cleaning his teeth. Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam looked at it, so I took the miswak, chewed it, shook it, and softened it, before giving it to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam who cleaned his teeth with it.[11]
8. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave her the glad tidings that she is from the People of Jannat. Al Bukhari reported from Qasim ibn Muhammad:
أن عائشة اشتكت فجاء ابن عباس فقال يا أم المؤمنين تقدمين على فرط صدق على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وعلى أبي بكر
Once ‘Aisha fell ill. Ibn ‘Abbas went to see her and said, “O Mother of the Believers! You are leaving to meet the truthful forerunners, i.e. Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and Abu Bakr.”[12]
The glad tidings from Ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhuma could only have come from the guarantee of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as has been reported by al Tirmidhi—which he ruled to be sahih—from ‘Abdullah ibn Ziyad al Asadi, who said that he heard ‘Ammar ibn Yasir radiya Llahu ‘anhuma saying:
هي زوجته في الدنيا والآخرة
She (‘Aisha) is his wife in this world and the Hereafter.[13]
9. She is the most knowledgeable of the women of this Ummah. She has narrated a prolific number of ahadith from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, exceeding 2000[14] in addition to the fact that many of the senior Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum would refer to her and seek her ruling on matters.
NEXT⇒ Sayyidah Hafsah bint ‘Umar
[1] Study Badr al Din al Zarkashi: Al Ijabah li Irad Ma Istadrakathu ‘Aisha ‘ala al Sahabah.
[2] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 4358.
[3] Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2438.
[4] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 3768.
[5] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 3775.
[6] Surah al Ahzab: 28-29.
[7] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 4786.
[8] Surah al Nur: 11-26.
[9] Surah al Nisa’: 43.
[10] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 3773.
[11] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 4438.
[12] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 3771.
[13] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 3772; Jami’ al Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3889, he graded it hasan sahih.
[14] Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha narrated 2210 ahadith and is the fourth most prolific narrator of Hadith; after Abu Hurairah, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar, and Anas ibn Malik radiya Llahu ‘anhum. Refer to Ibn Hazm: Asma’ al Sahabah al Ruwat, pg. 39, and Ibn al Jawzi: Talqih Fuhum Ahl al Athar, pg. 363.