(1)

(1)عَنْ عَاءِشَۃَ، قَالَتْ مَا ضَرَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّہِ صَلَّی اللَّہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ خَادِمًا لَہُ قَطُّ وَلَا امْرَأَۃً لَہُ قَطُّ وَلَا ضَرَبَ بِیَدِہِ إِلَّا أَنْ یُجَاہِدَ فِی سَبِیلِ اللَّہِ وَمَا نِیلَ مِنْہُ شَیْء ٌ فَانْتَقَمَہُ مِنْ صَاحِبِہِ إِلَّا أَنْ تُنْتَہَکَ مَحَارِمُ اللَّہِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَیَنْتَقِمُ لِلَّہِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَا عُرِضَ عَلَیْہِ أَمْرَانِ أَحَدُہُمَا أَیْسَرُ مِنْ الْآخَرِ إِلَّا أَخَذَ بِأَیْسَرِہِمَا إِلَّا أَنْ یَکُونَ مَأْثَمًا فَإِنْ کَانَ مَأْثَمًا کَانَ أَبْعَدَ النَّاسِ مِنْہُ.

(24535:،مسند احمد:2327صحیح مسلم)

‘A’ishah i is reported to have said: ‘The Prophet  never physically hit any of his wives or servants. He fought only in jihad in Allah’s way. If anyone insulted or offended him, he never took revenge. However, if anyone crossed the limits set by Allah, he got the guilty punished for the sake of Allah. Whenever he had an option between something difficult and easy, he always chose the easy one, provided that it did not entail anything sinful.’

In view of her long and very close association with the Prophet , ‘A’ishah i was the most suitable person to throw light on the Prophet’s conduct, as in the above report. What is most noteworthy is hiscompassionate nature, which is highlighted in the fact that he always chose the easier option in matters of faith, so as not to make it difficult or harsh for the believers.

(Sahih Muslim: 24535, Musnad Ahmad: 2327)

(2)

(2)عَنْ عَاءِشَۃَ، قَالَتْ کُنَّ النِّسَاء ُ یُصَلِّینَ مَعَ النَّبِیِّ صَلَّی اللَّہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ الْغَدَاۃَ ثُمَّ یَخْرُجْنَ مُتَلَفِّعَاتٍ بِمُرُوطِہِنَّ لَا یُعْرَفْنَ.

(صحیح البخاری:372، صحیح مسلم:645،مسند احمد:25552)

‘A’ishah i narrated: ‘The women used to join the Prophet  in Fajr prayer and then return covered in a way that no one could recognize them.’

It was a fairly common practice in the Prophet’s time for the properly dressed women to join congregational prayer in the Prophet’s mosque. Owing to the gradual deterioriation in the Muslim society, this practice was discontinued. It is gratifying to see that this provision is being recently restored in many parts of the world.

(Sahih al-Bukhari: 372, Sahih Muslim: 645, Musnad Ahmad: 25552)

(3)

(3) عَنْ عَاءِشَۃَ، بَلَغَہَا أَنَّ نَاسًا، یَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاۃَ یَقْطَعُہَا الْکَلْبُ وَالْحِمَارُ وَالْمَرْأَۃُ قَالَتْ أَلَا أَرَاہُمْ قَدْ عَدَلُونَا بِالْکِلَابِ وَالْحُمُرِ رُبَّمَا رَأَیْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّہِ صَلَّی اللَّہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ یُصَلِّی بِاللَّیْلِ وَأَنَا عَلَی السَّرِیرِ بَیْنَہُ وَبَیْنَ الْقِبْلَۃِ فَتَکُونُ لِی الْحَاجَۃُ فَأَنْسَلُّ مِنْ قِبَلِ رِجْلِ السَّرِیرِ کَرَاہِیَۃَ أَنْ أَسْتَقْبِلَہُ بِوَجْہِی.

(صحیح البخاری:382،صحیح مسلم:512،مسند احمد:24654)

On learning about the misperception among some persons that if a dog, donkey or woman walks in front of a person who is praying, then his prayer is rendered null and void, ‘A’ishah i remarked: ‘Those who think so are guilty of having degraded women to the level of a dog or donkey. The truth is that, at times inside my room, when the Prophet  prayed, I used to lie asleep between the spot where he stood for prayer and where he prostrated.’

‘A’ishah’s assertion, substantiating it with the Prophet’s own example, busts this delusion about woman’s inferiority. The Qur’an presents women as role models. Instances in point are of Maryam  and Fir‘awn’s believing wife, Asiyah .

(Sahih al-Bukhari: 382, Sahih Muslim: 512, Musnad Ahmad: 24654)

(4)

(4) عَنِ الْأَسْوَدِ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَاءِشَۃَ مَا کَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّہِ صَلَّی اللَّہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ یَصْنَعُ فِی أَہْلِہِ قَالَتْ کَانَ فِی مِہْنَۃِ أَہْلِہِ فَإِذَا حَضَرَتْ الصَّلَاۃُ خَرَجَ إِلَی الصَّلَاۃِ.

(صحیح البخاری:676،مسند احمد:24730)

Aswad recounts that when he asked ‘A’ishah i what the Prophet  used to do at home, she replied: ‘He helped his family members in domestic chores and when it was time for prayer, he went out to pray.’

This illustrates the Prophet’s simple, unassuming nature and his helping hand for his family.

(Sahih al-Bukhari: 676, Musnad Ahmad: 24730)

(5)

(5)عَنْ عَاءِشَۃَ، عَنْ النَّبِیِّ صَلَّی اللَّہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ أَبْغَضُ الرِّجَالِ الْأَلَدُّ الْخَصِمُ.

(صحیح البخاری:2457،صحیح مسلم:2668،مسند احمد:24781)

‘A’ishah i reported that the Prophet  said: ‘The most hated of men is the most quarrelsome of opponents.’

This underscores the importance of good conduct in Islam.

(Sahih al-Bukhari: 2457, Sahih Muslim: 2668, Musnad Ahmad: 24781)

(6)

(6)عَنْ فَرْوَ  ۃََ بْنِ نَوْفَلٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَاءِشَۃَ عَنْ دُعَاءِِ النَّبِیِّ، صَلَّی اللَّہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ کَانَ یَقُولُ اللَّہُمَّ إِنِّی أَعُوذُ بِکَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَمِلَتْہُ نَفْسِی۔

(مسند احمد:24534)

Farwah ibn Nawfal narrates: ‘I asked ‘A’ishah about the Prophet’s supplications. She informed: “The Prophet  used to say: ‘O Allah, I seek Your refuge against the evil committed by my base self.”’”

It is evident from the above that we should always be on guard against the promptings of our base self and constantly seek Allah’s protection.

(Musnad Ahmad: 24534)

(7)

(7)عَنْ عَاءِشَۃَ، کَانَ أَحَبُّ الشَّرَابِ إِلَی رَسُولِ اللَّہِ صَلَّی اللَّہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ الْحُلْوَ الْبَارِدَ.

(سنن الترمذی:1859،مستدرک حاکم:4/137، مسند احمد:24601)

‘A’ishah i reports: ‘The Prophet’s favourite drink was cool, sweet syrup.’

The Prophet  enjoyed good, lawful and wholesome things in life. Islam disallows renunciation of life and asks us to lead a life of moderation.

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 1859, Mustadrak al-Hakim: 137/4, Musnad Ahmad: 24601)

(8)

(8) عَنْ عُرْوَۃ،  یَقُولُ سَأَلْتُ عَاءِشَۃَ بِأَیِّ شَیْءٍ طَیَّبْتِ النَّبِیَّ صَلَّی اللَّہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ بِأَطْیَبِ الطِّیبِ.

(مسند احمد:24606)

‘Urwah relates that he asked ‘A’ishah i: ‘Which perfume did you apply for the Prophet ?’ She replied: ‘The best and the most fragrant one.’

Wearing perfume is an act of Sunnah.

(Musnad Ahmad: 24606)

(9)

(9) عَنْ عَاءِشَۃَ، قَالَتْ سَابَقَنِی النَّبِیُّ صَلَّی اللَّہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ فَسَبَقْتُہُ فَلَبِثْنَا حَتَّی إِذَا رَہِقَنِی اللَّحْمُ سَابَقَنِی فَسَبَقَنِی فَقَالَ ہَذِہِ بِتِیکِ۔

(مسند احمد:24619)

‘A’ishah i recounts: ‘One day the Prophet  had a racing competition with me. I outpaced him and won. After a few years when I had put on weight, he competed with me again and won. He remarked: ‘This levels the victory which you had secured the last time.’

This underscores the domestic bliss in the Prophet’s marital life.

(Musnad Ahmad: 24619)

(10)

(10) عَنْ عَاءِشَۃَ، تَبْلُغُ بِہِ النَّبِیَّ صَلَّی اللَّہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا وُضِعَ الْعَشَاءُ وَأُقِیمَتْ الصَّلَاۃُ فَابْدَءُ وا بِالْعَشَاءِِ.

(صحیح البخاری:5465،صحیح مسلم:558،مسند احمد:24621)

‘A’ishah i relates the Prophet’s directive: ‘If food is served and it is time for congregational prayer, you should first eat and then pray.’

This shows that Islam is a practical way of life.

(Sahih al-Bukhari: 5465, Sahih Muslim: 558, Musnad Ahmad: 24621)