The Greatness of Ayesha (Radi Allahu anha) 

by: Sayid Sulaiman Nadwi

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.