The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 249
VI - Rukhsatānah of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra and an Exposition of Her Age at the Time, the Issue of Polygamy and Two Fabricated Incidents 249 the women. ” Then the Holy Prophet sa named Ā siyah, the wife of Pharaoh and Mary, the daughter of ‘Imrān, then he continued by saying, “‘Ā’ishah ra possesses such superiority over the women, as Tharīd, which is among the best foods of Arabia, possesses over other foods. ” 1 On one occasion, some of the other Azwāj-e- Muṭahharāt 2 complained to the Holy Prophet sa about Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra , but he remained silent. However, when his wives persisted, the Holy Prophet sa said, “What shall I do with these complaints? All that I am aware of is that I do not receive revelation from my God in the quilt of any other wife, but I often receive this revelation in the quilt of ‘Ā’ishah ra ”. 3 Goodness gracious! How holy was the wife who was endowed with this distinction, and how holy was the husband whose criteria for domestic love was nothing other than sanctity and purity!! At this instance, it is also necessary to mention that the marriage of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra took place under specific divine indication. It is recorded in a Ḥadīth that prior to her marriage, the Holy Prophet sa saw a dream in which an angel presented a silk cloth to the Holy Prophet sa and said, “This is your wife. ” When the Holy Prophet sa opened it, he found upon it a portrait of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra. However, the Holy Prophet sa did not mention this dream to anyone, and understood that if this dream was to be fulfilled in the literal sense, then Allāh would arrange for it Himself. As such, this bond was ultimately established on the proposal of Khaulah bint Ḥakīm ra. 4 It is also mentioned in the Aḥādīth that in her last days, Saudah bint Zam‘ah ra gave her own turn of company with the Holy Prophet sa to Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra , and in this way Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra received a double opportunity to benefit from the company of the Holy Prophet sa. In that era, the Sharī‘at was being revealed, and the foundation of new rules of practice were being established in every matter. For this reason, when Ḥaḍrat Saudah ra grew old and became unable to fulfill her duties as a spouse completely, she thought to herself that in this state, perhaps the Holy Prophet sa would seek a separation from her; so she offered her turn to Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra herself, and submitted to the Holy Prophet sa that, “O Messenger of Allāh! I no longer require my turn. ” 5 This surmise of Saudah ra was absolutely false and was merely an unfounded doubt. However, since the Holy 1 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābu Faḍā’ili Aṣḥābin-Nabī sa , Bābu Faḍli ‘Ā’ishah ra , Ḥadīth No. 3769 2 Holy Wives of the Holy Prophet sa. [Publishers] 3 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābu Faḍā’ili Aṣḥābin-Nabī sa , Bābu Faḍli ‘Ā’ishah ra , Ḥadīth No. 3775 4 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābun-Nikāḥ, Bābu Nikāḥil-Abkār, Ḥadīth No. 5078 5 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qasṭalānī, Volume 4, p. 380, Saudah Ummul-Mu’minīn, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)