THE MAGNIFICENCE OF HAZRAT AA'ISHA AL-SIDDIQA(RADI ALLAAHU ANHA)
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that whenever he performed nikah with any of his wives, or arranged the marriage of his daughters, he did on the command of Allah Ta'ala. And Jibreel(aliahis salaam) was the witness on all the occasions.
All the family of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ are virtuous, splendorous and exalted. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ loved them immensely. But Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha) had a special place in his heart. Prophet ﷺ used to go to her house twice in a day, morning and afternoon. Hazrat Jibreel(alaihis salaam) brought revelations only when Prophet ﷺ was at the house of Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha). Hazrat Jibreel(alaihis salaam) never brought revelations in the house of other wives.
Hazrat Abu Musa(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet ﷺ said, 'there were many men who achieved perfection, and none were more perfect among women, but A'sia, wife of Firoun, and Maryam, daughter of Imraan. Verily the virtue of Aa'isha over other women is like the virtue of a fine stew over all other foods'. (Bukhari).
Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha) is the wife of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. She is the daughter of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq(Radi Allaahu Anhu), the first caliph of Islam.
Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allahu Anha) narrates that Hazrat Jibreel(alaihis salaam) came to Prophet ﷺ, with her image on a green silken cloth and said, 'verily this is your wife in this world and in the hereafter'. (Tirmidhi).
Hazrat Jibreel(alaihis salaam) descended with a revelation at the time Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha) was accused of her chastity by the infidels. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, 'glad tidings you, O Aa'isha! Verily Allah has declared your innocence'. The magnificence of Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha) is such that Allah Ta'ala gives a testimony of her innocence and chastity.
Hazrat Amr Ibn A'as narrates, 'I asked Prophet ﷺ, 'of all the people, who is most beloved to you?' Prophet ﷺ replied, 'Aa'isha'. Then I asked, 'and in men?'. Prophet ﷺ replied, 'her father Abu Bakr Siddiq'. (Bukhari).
Prophet ﷺ said, 'Paradise lies beneath the feet of your mother'. Now! Imagine the magnificence of the mother of the nation (Ummul Mu'mineen), Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha); about whom Hazrat Jibreel(alaihis salaam) said 'wife of Prophet ﷺ in this world and in the hereafter', whose father is the truthful (Siddiq), and in whose house the verses of The Holy Quran were revealed.
The companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) knew that Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha) had a special place in the heart of Prophet ﷺ. When they had a gift for Prophet ﷺ, they would wait untill the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in the house of Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha). Then, they would present their gifts. The other wives of Prophet ﷺ nominated Hazrat Umme Salmaah(Radi Allaahu Anha) to ask Prophet ﷺ to tell the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) to present their gifts to Prophet ﷺ when he is in the house of other wives too. Prophet ﷺ maintained silence. She pleaded the second time and Prophet ﷺ maintained silence again. The third time Prophet ﷺ said, 'don't distress me about Aa'isha, revelations come to me only when I am in the house of Aa'isha'.
Hazrat Anas(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrated: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ had a Persian neighbour who would make good soup. He made some for Prophet ﷺ and then came to invite him. Prophet ﷺ said, 'And this is my wife, Aa'isha'. The man said no, so the Prophet ﷺ said no. The man returned another time and invited him. Prophet ﷺ said, 'And this is my wife'. The man said no, so Prophet ﷺ said no. Then, the man returned another time and invited him. Prophet ﷺ said, 'And this is my wife'. The man said yes on the third time. The two left together until they arrived at the man's house. (Muslim).
The Islamic scholars say that there was no food in the house and Prophet ﷺ couldn't eat alone when his wife was hungry. '
Hazrat Maulana Rum(Rahmatullah Alaih) reported: One-day Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha) and Hazrat Fatimah(Radi Allaahu Anha) were having a conversation. Hazrat Fatimah(Radi Allaahu Anha) said, 'I am superior to you, you are the daughter of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq(Radi Allaahu Anhu) and I am the daughter of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha) replied, 'on the Day of Judgement (qayamat), every virtuous wife will accompany her virtuous husband in the Paradise. You will go with Hazrat Ali(Radi Allaahu Anhu), and I will go with Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Hazrat Fatimah(Radi Allaahu Anha) became silent. So, Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha) kissed her forehead and said, 'I wish I was a hair of you head'.
Prophet ﷺ passed away in the house of Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha), and his resting place is in the house of Hazrat Aa'isha(Radi Allaahu Anha). Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq(Radi Allaahu Anhu) and Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu) are also laid to rest in her blessed house, where angels descended.
**
This article is an abridged English translation of an Urdu sermon delivered by his eminence, Peer Syed Imroz Dean Saifi, Hanfi, Maturidi of Masjid Anwaar e Madina, Surrey BC Canada
If there is an inaccurate translation, please pardon it and not let it be a means to negatively reflect on the honoured presenter.
