Aisha's Treatment of the Family of the Prophet After His Martyrdom

Question

This question requires a detailed discussion, as it is a long topic and each point needs evidence. What we will mention is just a small part of it. [AR_ID:5688]

Answer 1

Peace be upon you. This question requires a detailed discussion, as it is a long topic and each point needs evidence. What we will mention is just a small part of it.

First Point:

As Shia Imamiyah, we believe that the title of being a wife of the Prophet does not grant the married woman any infallibility or immunity from committing religious violations, except for the social status and some jurisprudential rulings. Therefore, there is no evidence in our hands regarding the wives of the Prophet that indicates their infallibility or the necessity of their justice. However, it is well-known among Muslims that the women of the prophets are protected from immorality because of the significant harm it would cause to their husbands, who are prophets, and the negative impact it would have on their mission. Thus, it is necessary to protect the wives from immorality, as it is a protection for the Prophet himself, considering that this is part of the Prophet's infallibility. Regardless of whether this evidence is accepted or not, the credible books are devoid of any occurrence of immorality, and the lack of evidence for such acts is sufficient to deny that vile act.

Second Point:

The late scholar Sayyid Ja'far Murtada (may Allah have mercy on him) stated that the principle upon which Shia thought is based is that all issues should be examined based on correct standards, openly and objectively. There are those who made mistakes and those who were correct; why should the one who erred not bear the consequences of his mistake, and why should the one who did good not be rewarded for his goodness? We should be with those who did good and reject the mistakes of those who erred. However, there are those who face restrictions and barriers, as we mentioned, and this is what pains them. Shia Muslims believe that there is a right that has been lost regarding the issue of leadership, and that there was a mistake made by those who fought Ali (peace be upon him) at the battles of Jamal, Siffin, and Nahrawan. Why should we not point out who erred and hold them accountable for their mistakes, and deal with them based on what the Sharia has outlined and what has been proven by correct evidence? The Shia Muslims believe that their declaration of the mistakes of those who erred is not an insult, nor does it involve any humiliation; rather, it is merely fairness to the truth, support for the religion, and the correct preservation and performance of the trust that is upon every Muslim.

For further understanding of the Shia stance on addressing the symbols of Ahl al-Sunnah, you can refer to this question: Is it permissible to insult and curse the companions?

Third Point: (which serves as an introduction to answering the question)

The wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) differ in virtue, and the best among them is Khadijah (peace be upon her). After the martyrdom of the Prophet, the situation of his wives changed, and the best of them was Umm Salamah, as mentioned in the authentic sources. She remained loyal and did not change or alter her stance, and she supported the Prophet's successor and opposed his enemies and fighters. It is reported that Aisha visited Umm Salamah after returning from the Battle of Jamal, and Umm Salamah had sworn never to speak to her due to her march against Ali ibn Abi Talib.

Aisha greeted her, saying: "Peace be upon you, O Mother of the Believers." Umm Salamah replied: "O wall, did I not warn you? Did I not tell you?" Aisha said: "I seek forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance." (How can she repent when, upon hearing the news of Ali's death, she freed her slave and expressed joy and spoke ill of him?) "Speak to me, O Mother of the Believers." Umm Salamah replied: "O wall, did I not tell you? Did I not warn you?" And she did not speak to her until she died.

Umm Salamah confronted Aisha strongly after the Battle of Jamal and before it. She even wrote to Ali (peace be upon him) regarding Aisha's departure and sent her son Salamah to fight with Ali against his enemy. Those who wish to know more can refer to that. By the way, Umm Salamah's son, whom she sent to him, is named "Umar," and he was a governor for the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) in Persia and Bahrain, and he was with him on the day of Jamal.

With that clarified, we say that the most prominent action Aisha took after the Prophet's martyrdom concerning his family was her departure and the Battle of Jamal. This matter is what we are concerned with discussing, hoping that the questioner will take note of it.

Regardless, her departure is an acknowledged mistake, as even the people considered it so. As Al-Albani said: There is no doubt that the departure of the Mother of the Believers was a mistake from the outset, and she intended to return when she learned of the Prophet's (peace be upon him) prophecy being fulfilled at Haw'ab, but Al-Zubair convinced her to stay with his words: "Perhaps Allah will reconcile you with the people." There is no doubt that he was also mistaken in that, and reason dictates that one must say that one of the two fighting parties must be wrong, as hundreds of deaths occurred in this conflict, and there is no doubt that Aisha is the one who erred.

Whether we accept what he mentioned afterward about describing her mistake as a forgivable one or consider it rewarded or not, as we have expressed doubts about that, it is not the subject of discussion.

The Commander of the Faithful was aware of how things would turn out. History tells us that when the Yemenis came to congratulate him on the caliphate, he said to them: "You are the leaders of Yemen and its nobles; I wish I knew how you would endure the blows of swords and the thrusts of spears if a matter befell us." This indicates that he (peace be upon him) anticipated wars that he would have to engage in against those with ambitions and deviants.

This, of course, was a burden on Islam and Muslims, and a cause of many calamities and tribulations that Islam and Muslims continue to suffer from their effects. Despite Aisha's departure and her fighting against and harming our master Ali, if we look at the pages of history, they convey to us bright and clear images that teach us how Islam wants us to treat those who have wronged us.

This great figure, Ali (peace be upon him), after the Battle of Jamal, bore his wounds, overlooked his pains, and treated Aisha with utmost respect, honoring the right of the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him). As is known, and as we have pointed out, despite the gravity of the situation and the great audacity against Allah, for he is the proof of Allah, the rebellion against him is not merely a rebellion against his person but against Islam itself, given what our Imam Ali represented at that time. He was an Imam in our view appointed by Allah and, in their view, the fourth caliph, which made the rebellion against him and the violation of his sanctity a rebellion against the only legitimate and just ruler who was pledged allegiance by the majority of the emigrants and helpers, as well as the leaders of the battle at Jamal. Despite the fact that this battle caused a significant rift in the body of the Ummah, the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) remained that towering figure who did not allow all of that to lead him to act in a vengeful manner, as is the custom of humans to seek revenge and gloat over those who opposed them and declared war against them. No, not at all; for he is Ali (peace be upon him), the embodiment of complete faith and total servitude. Despite Aisha's actions, which legitimized her departure to that war and contributed to mobilizing hearts, which pained our Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and every honorable person concerned for the dignity and unity of the Ummah, what justification is there for waging war against a caliph agreed upon by Muslims, which claimed the lives of thousands? Yet, we find our master Ali, as history tells us, returned her to Medina, and she said: "May Allah reward Ibn Abi Talib well, for he preserved the sanctity of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in me."

He summarized her condition for us as mentioned in Nahj al-Balagha: "As for so-and-so, she was overtaken by the opinion of women, and malice boiled in her chest like a pot of a blacksmith. If she were called to harm others, she would not do it."

And praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

And peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his pure family.