The Greatness of 'A'aishah
History had recorded for us the names of many
outstanding women of different ages and countries.
Among the famous non-muslim women, figure those who
had incidentally performed some spectacular act to
gain renown like delivery of brilliant speeches,
setting at naught the conspiracy of their enemies or
winning a battle through their stratagem and bravery.
Some gained fame for their extraordinary beauty or
occupation of a throne. Can all these performance
stand any comparison to consistent, continuous,
planned and life-long fruitful endeavour?
Leaving aside these general considerations if we were
to see from the point of view of religion, piety and
spirituality we will not find any other star in the
firmament of the female world shedding a light
remotely as resplendent. What other woman in the
whole world, besides the mother of the believers, who
along with righteousness, excellence of character and
strict observance of religious obligations, performed
splendid deeds in social, political, educational
literary and religious fields leaving a valuable
pattern for millions of women to follow by her own way
of life, devotion to God, advocacy of spiritual
ideals, exposition and elucidation of the tenets of
religion and Shariah and laws and regulations
governing them.
Among the Muslim women the only ones who can be
compared with her are the other wives and daughters of
the Prophet. All the Ulama of Islam are unanimous
that the greatest women in the Islamic world are the
Khadijah, Fatimah and Ayesha. Some have ranked them,
inter se, in this very order, which is a matter of
personal opinion not based on any definite
pronouncement of Shariah. Ibn hazm has gone to the
length of saying that not only among women, not only
among Ahle-Bait but even among the Companions she
ranks the highest and he has given a long list of
arguments in support of his view. We follow, however,
ibn Taimiyah and ibn Qaiyyim who have said that if by
superiority is meant rank in the celestial world, God
alone knows. But from the worldly point of view
Ayesha's attainments are multidimentional. If
nobility of the family is the criterion, Fatimah
occupies the highest place. If precedence in
religion, encounter with initial difficulties and
support, assistance and befriending of the Prophet in
those difficult days are the criteria, then Khadijah
ranks the highest. But if attainments in knowledge
service of religion, propagation of the sayings of the
Prophet, guidance and education are the criteria of
superiority, Ayesha stands unrivalled. [1]
We know about the greatness of Mariam through the
Qur'ân, though the Bible's tales give her special
eminence. Pharoah's wife Aasiya has, likewise, been
conferred distinction by Islam though the old
Testament is silent on this point. We accept their
greatness and superiority even though history is
silent. But the holy tongue that expressed the
revelations, has already made the declaration.
"Among men there were many perfect persons but none
among women except two: Mariam, daughter of Imran and
Aasiya, wife of Pharaoh. And Ayesha has superiority
over other women as Tharid has over other dishes."
May God shower His blessings on her, the Ahle-Bait,
the Companions and the Holy Prophet!
[1] Zarqani: Muhahib, Vol. 111, p. 269.
by: Sayid Sulaiman Nadwi
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom
(i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue
with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone
astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in
His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites
(men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I
am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if
Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of
camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever
calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who
follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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