Shia view of Aisha

Shias reject the idea that Aisha was Muhammad's favorite wife and believe that Muhammad favored none of his wives in compliance with the Qur'anic verse:

Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice. (Surah an-Nisa', Ayat 3)

They also quote Muhammad: "When a man has two wives and he is inclined to one of them, he will come on the Day of resurrection with a side hanging down."[6]

Others believe that Umm Salama was his favorite wife due to her dedication to the Ahl al-Bayt.[7] Umm Salama is presented as a contrast to Aisha through her loyalty to Muhammad's family as well as obedience to his commands after his death.[8] Unlike Aisha, who raised an army against Ali, Umm Salama tried to calm tensions. She also warned Ali of Aisha's intentions when dissuading Aisha from rebellion was unsuccessful.[9]

It is generally accepted by Sunnis and Shias that Khadijah was Muhammad's favorite wife without contest, and that Aisha or Umm Salama were only the favorite of his later wives.[10] Some use the fact that Muhammad was only in a monogamous relationship with Khadijah as evidence of her superiority to his later wives. One opinion is that Muhammad's marriage to Aisha was only prescribed to ease his suffering after Khadijah's death, diminishing the implications of divine intent for the union.[11]

Muhammad's love and gratitude for Khadijah was so great that Aisha would become jealous. One time, Khadijah's sister Hala whose voice sounded exactly like Khadijah came to visit the Muhammad, as soon as he heard the familiar voice, he said "It must be Hala, her voice is just like that of Khadijah." At this, Aisha burst forth "How is it that you always think of that old woman who is no more living when Allah has given you much better wives." Mohammed replied, "Never better". On another occasion, he said: "Aisha! Khadijah's love was given to me by Allah; never did Allah give me a better wife than Khadijah."[12]

The Shi'a reject the general Sunni belief that Aisha was the best woman of her time. All Shi'as uphold that Fatimah, Muhammad's daughter and wife of Ali ibn Abi Talib's the greatest woman ever whilst Shi'as also uphold her as infallible. Shia consider Fatima's ideal of the innocent and long-suffering as the counterpart to the sexual and political misdemeanors of which they accuse Aisha.[13] Fatima is described as an exemplary wife, daughter, and mother and the only woman of the Fourteen Perfect of Pure Ones in Shia tradition.[14] They cite the following hadith:

Ahmad ibn Hanbal records:

Anas narrated that the prophet (s) said: "The most excellent of the women of all worlds are: Maryam the daughter of al-Imran, Khadijah the daughter of Khuwaylid, Fatimah the daughter of Muhammad, and Asiyah the wife of Pharaoh"[15][16]

Although Sunnis attribute thousands of hadith to Aisha, Shias do not consider her a reputable source of hadith. She is deemed an untrustworthy and unreliable source because of her partisanship. Instead, Fatima and Ali are considered the best sources of hadith and are included as authoritative sources by both Shias and Sunnis. However, Aisha is used in certain hadith to serve as an example of how proper women should not behave.[17]

Her character is further questioned by an accusation that she secretly disliked Ali, as related in Maria Dakake's The Charismatic Community.[18]

Shia believe that Aisha was jealous of Muhammad's other wives,[19] especially his first wife, Khadijah.[20][21] On one occasion she is reported to have been tired of Muhammad speaking of his first wife so often and said that Allah had replaced Khadijah with a better wife, referring to herself, for which Muhammad rebuked her.[22] She is also criticized for deceiving Muhammad and hatching a plan with Hafsa bint Umar to stop him spending a long time at Zaynab bint Jahsh's house.[23][24][25] They believe this shows a severe amount of disrespect and insubordination to her husband. The following verses of the Qur'an are unanimously agreed by scholars to be referring to Aisha and Hafsa:[26][27]

When the Prophet confided unto one of his wives a matter, but when she divulged it (unto others) and God apprised him therefore, he made known a part of it and avoided a part; so when he informed her of it, said she: ‘Who informed thee of this?’ He said: ‘Informed, me, the All-Knowing, the All-Aware’. If you both (women) repent to Allah, (it is better for you), for your hearts have swerved from the right path and if you supported each other against the Prophet, you should know that Allah is his Protector, and after Him Gabriel and the righteous believers and the angels are his companions and helpers. Happily his Lord if he divorceth you, will give him in your place wives better than you, submissive, faithful, obedient, repentant, prayerful, observers of fast, widows and virgins. (Surah at-Tahrim, Ayat 3-5)

The Shi'a website “Answering-Ansar.org” project (renamed as Shia Pen) comments on this verse:

"Some Ahl al-Sunnah assert that since Aisha was the most superior wife then that means that she was the most superior of all women. Not only is the claim that she was the most superior wife baseless, the fact of the matter is in Surah Tahrim, Allah (swt) also states this: "Perhaps if he divorces you, his Lord will give him wives who are better than you, who submit and believe” (Qur'an 66:5)- this clearly indicates that there were believing women among the Muslims who were much better than Aisha."[28]

Another example of Aisha's jealousy is found in a story regarding Safiyyah, another of Muhammad's wives. Aisha is reported to have mocked Safiyyah's jewish heritage, which invoked Muhammad's defense of Safiyyah. He reminded Aisha that while Safiyyah's people descended from prophets, Aisha's ancestors had no special status.[29]

Aisha is also reported to have slandered against Muhammad's wife, Maryam the Copt, and spread rumors questioning her chastity. Shias believe that Maryam was cleared of these charges in the verse many Sunnis claim exonerates Aisha of charges of adultery.[30]

One hadith attributed to Ali, the fourth caliph, condemns jealousy in all women.

"Jealousy in women is unpardonable, but in a man it is a sign of his faith in religion.[31]"

Muhammad's wives held a higher place in society than other women according to verse 33:32 of the Qur'an

O ye wives of the Prophet! Ye are not like any other women. If ye keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft of speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease aspire (to you), but utter customary speech.

and so were more accountable for their faults like jealousy.[32]

The biggest criticism that the Shi'a have of Aisha was her role in the First Fitnah (First Islamic civil war). The Shi'a view her (and all) opposition to Ali's Khalifat as a sinful act.

The Shi'a website “Answering-Ansar.org” project (renamed as Shia Pen) poses the question:

'If rejecting a Rightly Guided Khalifah is tantamount to apostasy and rebelling against any Khalifah even Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah will lead to such persons being raised as betrayers in the next world; what of those individuals who rebelled and fought the fourth rightly guided Khalifah?

This was the verdict of Abdullah Ibn Umar in his defence of Yazid (See Sahih al Bukhari, Arabic- English, Volume 9, Number 127)'[41]

Aisha was a key player in the rebellion against 'Uthman ibn 'Affan, the third Khalifah. They quote her naming 'Uthman a nathal who should be killed, from numerous sources.[42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49] They claim her motive was to install her inlaw, Talhah ibn Ubaydullah, as 'Uthman's successor. They also believe that only when the people turned to 'Ali ibn Abi Talib to become the Khalifah did Aisha change her stance and fight 'Ali to demand Qisas for Uthman. They cite some Sahabah and Tabi'in who highlighted her sudden shift in policy:

"Ubayd bin Abi Salma who was a maternal relative of Aisha met her as she was making her way to Madinah. Ubayd said "Uthman has been killed and the people were without an Imam for eight days" to which Aisha asked "What did they do next?". Ubayd said "The people approached '‘Ali and gave him bayya". Aisha then said 'Take me back! Take me back to Makkah". She then turned her face towards Makkah and said, 'Verily Uthman was murdered innocently, and By Allah, I shall avenge his blood'. Ubayd then said 'You are now calling Uthman innocent, even though it was you who said 'Kill Nathal, this Jew".[50]

The Shi'a frown upon her role in the Battle of the Camel. The Battle of the Camel took place in Basra on December 4, 656 CE.[51] This battle is regarded as the first time Muslims, particularly Muslims who ranked among Muhammad's sahaba, clashed and fought against one another in open warfare.[52] The Battle of the Camel has been considered to be the first fitna and is also referred to as a “rebellion that leads to schism”, “violent factional strife”, or even “the temptation to turn upon one’s fellow Muslims”.[40] The name of the battle reflects the centrality of Aisha's role in the conflict, as she was seated on her camel in the middle of the battlefield. Aisha led a force of 13,000 soldiers against Ali after he failed to punish the murder of ‘Uthman.[53] During the Battle of the Camel, Aisha mobilized military opposition with two male allies, Zubayr ibn al-Awam and Talhah, in order to challenge the legitimacy of ‘Ali.[34] ‘Alis forces defeated their opponents; Talhah and Zubayr ibn al-Awam were killed, and Aisha was sent home.[40]

Shi'a find this battle to be controversial because they believe that she launched her army on Ali out of her personal hatred towards him and his family. They use the following narration in their argument:

“Aisha was informed about the opinion of the women, but there was some thing inside her boiling like a cooking pot against Ali”[54]

The Shi'a also usually refer to the Qur'anic verse:

O wives of the Prophet! you are not like any other of the women; If you will be on your guard, then be not soft in (your) speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease yearn; and speak a good word. And stay in your houses and do not display your finery like the displaying of the ignorance of yore; and keep up prayer, and pay the poor-rate, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House! and to purify you a (thorough) purifying. (Surah al-Ahzab, Ayat 32-33)

They state that the verse clearly instructs Muhammad's wives to stay in their homes. They say that Aisha's role in the battle cleary transgresses Allah's commandment. The Shi'a also quote 'Ali ibn Abi Talib to back up their stance on this verse:

'He ('Ali) said: ‘Go to that woman and tell her to return to her home wherein Allah had ordered her to remain’. He (Ibn Abbas) said: ‘I therefore went to her and asked permission to enter, but she didn’t grant it. I therefore entered the house without her permission and sat on a cushion. She (Aisha) said: ‘O Ibn Abbas, by Allah I have never witnessed anyone like you! You entered our house without permission and sat on our cushion without our permission’. I said: ‘By Allah this is not your house, your only house is the one wherein Allah ordered you to remain, but you didn’t obey. The Commander of the Faithful orders you to return to that homeland from which you had left.' [55]

They also quote Shaykh Sibt Jauzi al-Hanafi, Shaykh Ibn Talha Shafiyi and Ibn Sabagh Maliki. Who all record that prior to the battle of Jamal:

"He Ali wrote a letter to Aisha: 'By leaving your home you have disobeyed Allah(swt) and his Rasul(messenger)"[56][57][58]

They reject Aisha's reason for the battle that she was demanding Qisas for 'Uthman ibn 'Affan. They don't believe that it was her place to demand Qisas and assert that only the Imam(Head of State) can implement Shari'ah (including Qisas).

The Shi'a website “Answering-Ansar.org” project (renamed as Shia Pen) comments:

"What they fail to point out is the fact that Aisha's demands for Qisas i.e. that the killers of Uthman be handed over, was also contrary to the Sharia since Islamic penalties are implemented by the Head of State not the public, as and when they feel like it. Moreover Aisha was not the heir of Uthman to demand Qisas, he was survived by sons who were adult. It was their right to demand, but even if they did, that is all that they could do, they could NOT incite and rebel against Imam 'Ali (as) if they did not get their way, as Aisha did. You cannot hold the State to ransom, insisting that your demands are met through methods such as propaganda, incitement, and seizing control of administrative provinces."[59]