29 Facts About Aisha

1.

Aisha had an important role in early Islamic history, both during Muhammad's life and after his death.

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2.

Aisha contributed to the spread of Muhammad's message and served the Muslim community for 44 years after his death.

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3.

Aisha is known for narrating 2,210 hadiths, not just on matters related to Muhammad's private life, but on topics such as inheritance, pilgrimage, and eschatology.

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4.

Aisha participated in the battle by giving speeches and leading troops on the back of her camel.

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5.

Aisha ended up losing the battle, but her involvement and determination left a lasting impression.

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6.

Aisha was the daughter of Abu Bakr and Umm Ruman, two of Muhammad's most trusted companions.

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7.

All extant hadiths agree that Aisha was married to Muhammad in Mecca but the marriage was consummated only in the month of Shawwal after his hijrah to Medina.

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8.

Some classical sources have Aisha speak of the marriage to have been executed in Medina itself without referencing to any delay.

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9.

Aisha's age did not interest later Muslim scholars either, and even went unremarked-upon by medieval and early-modern Christian polemicists.

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10.

Story of the accusation of adultery levied against Aisha, known as the Event of Ifk, can be traced to surah An-Nur of the Qur'an.

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11.

Aisha's slaves mounted the howdah and prepared it for travel without noticing any difference in weight without Aisha's presence.

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12.

Aisha remained at the camp until the next morning, when Safwan ibn al-Mu'attal, a nomad and member of Muhammad's army, found her and brought her back to Muhammad at the army's next camp.

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13.

Aisha was still sitting in her house when he announced that he had received a revelation from God confirming Aisha's innocence.

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14.

Aisha became involved in the politics of early Islam and the first three caliphate reigns: Abu Bakr, 'Umar, and 'Uthman.

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15.

Aisha garnered more special privileges in the Islamic community for being known as both a wife of Muhammad and the daughter of the first caliph.

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16.

Aisha had little involvement with 'Uthman for the first couple years, but eventually, she found a way into the politics of his reign.

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17.

Aisha eventually grew to despise 'Uthman, and many are unsure of what specifically triggered her eventual opposition towards him.

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18.

Aisha's forces are known to have tortured and imprisoned Uthman ibn Hunaif a Sahabi and the governor of Basra appointed by Ali.

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19.

The battle is known as the Battle of the Camel, after the fact that Aisha directed her forces from a howdah on the back of a large camel.

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20.

Aisha's forces were defeated and an estimated 10,000 Muslims were killed in the battle, considered the first engagement where Muslims fought Muslims.

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21.

Aisha sent her back to Medina under military escort headed by her brother Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, one of Ali's commanders.

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22.

Aisha subsequently retired to Medina with no more interference with the affairs of the state.

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23.

Aisha's marriage has given her significance among many within Islamic culture, becoming known as the most learned woman of her time.

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24.

Aisha expressed herself as a role model to women, which can be seen within some traditions attributed to her.

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25.

The traditions regarding Aisha habitually opposed ideas unfavorable to women in efforts to elicit social change.

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26.

Aisha was given the title al-Siddiqah, meaning 'the one who affirms the truth'.

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27.

Aisha was known for establishing the first madrasa for women in her home.

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28.

Privately, Aisha continued influencing those intertwined in the Islamic political sphere.

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29.

Aisha was considered to be the embodiment of proper rituals while partaking in the pilgrimage to Mecca, a journey she made with several groups of women.

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