AISHA: A LEGACY OF KNOWLEDGE AND SIMPLICITY
Aisha was the daughter of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. She was born in Makkah eight years before the migration (Hijrah) and passed away in the year 58 AH at the age of 66.
After the passing of Khadijah, Khawla bint Hakim approached Abu Bakr on behalf of the Prophet of Islam with a marriage proposal for Aisha. Abu Bakr replied that Mut’im ibn ‘Adi had previously proposed a marriage between his son Jubayr and Aisha, and he had accepted it. He added, “By God, Abu Bakr has never gone back on a promise.”
Later, Abu Bakr went to Mut’im to discuss the matter. Mut’im asked his wife for her opinion. She said, addressing Abu Bakr, “If my son marries your daughter, I fear he may abandon our ancestral faith and adopt yours (Islam).” Abu Bakr then turned to Mut’im, who replied, “You heard what my wife said.”
In this way, both Mut’im and his wife declined the proposal. Abu Bakr then understood that he was no longer bound by the earlier promise. He said to Khawlah, “I accept your proposal.” (Dala’il al-Nubuwwah by al-Bayhaqi, Vol. 2, pp. 411–412). Later, at the appointed time, the Prophet of Islam went to Abu Bakr’s house, where his marriage to Aisha took place. The dowry (mahr) was set at four hundred dirhams. (Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra by Ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 8, p. 63)
This event offers a valuable lesson: if a social arrangement falls through, one should not lose heart—it may be a doorway to something greater. Aisha’s proposed marriage to a well-known young man of Makkah did not materialize, but she was later honoured with becoming the wife of the Prophet of Islam.
Aisha was much younger than the Prophet, which is why she lived for nearly fifty years after his passing. This age difference served a great purpose. Aisha possessed a sharp intellect and a unique ability to absorb knowledge. Through this marriage, her natural talents became a lasting source of benefit to the entire Muslim community.
Aisha lived with the Prophet for about ten years. During this time, she observed him day and night, listened carefully to his words, and closely followed his actions. A vast amount of knowledge and wisdom was preserved in her memory. After the Prophet’s passing, she shared this knowledge with others. For nearly half a century, she served as a living source of prophetic traditions and Islamic guidance.
The scholar Ibn Hajar (1372–1449 CE), a classic Islamic scholar, writes that Aisha was born about eight years before the Hijrah. She was around eighteen at the time of the Prophet’s death and lived for another fifty years. Many people acquired knowledge from her, and a large portion of Islamic teachings and etiquettes were transmitted through her. It is even said that about one-fourth of Islamic jurisprudence was narrated by her. She passed away in 58 AH, during the rule of Amir Muawiya. (Fath al-Bari, Vol. 7, p. 134)
Aisha is known not only for narrating a significant number of prophetic sayings, but also for the remarkable attentiveness with which she observed and reflected on the Prophet’s words and actions. She listened with great care, observed with full focus, and used her God-given intellect to reflect on their deeper meanings. Her statements are rich in insight and wisdom. For example, she once said: “Whenever the Prophet had to choose between two options, he always chose the easier one.” (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 24549) This brief observation carries profound meaning.
Aisha used her intelligence to connect human beings with their Creator. She lived a life that could truly be described as one of simple living and high thinking. In later years, large sums of wealth would sometimes reach her, yet she would give it all away in charity and continue to live simply. Once, Abdullah ibn Zubayr—Aisha’s nephew and the son of her sister Asma—sent her 180,000 dirhams. By evening, she had given all of it away in charity. That day, she was fasting, and there was nothing in the house except bread and olive oil. Her maid remarked, “It would have been better if you had saved a few dirhams to buy something for the iftar meal.” Aisha replied, “Had you reminded me earlier, I would have done so.” (Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d, Vol. 10, p. 66)
Not becoming too attached to this world is the doorway to true wisdom. Anyone who seeks divine insight and Islamic understanding must live a life free from excessive attachment to material things.
