In Shaykh’s Company

by Abu Abdullah ibne Ismail

Shaykh once lambasted in reply to the media’s unreasonable questioning and implicit tainting of our beloved Messenger of Allah sallahu alahi wassalam’s pristine character:

“If the Prophet sallahu alayhi wassalam had only married Ayesha radiallahu anha (whom was young according to the modern world, however had reached adolescence) just for lust and his carnal desires (for argument sake) then he would not have remembered Khadijah radiallahu anha, his first wife, who was almost 20 years senior to him, after her demise. We find in many ahadeeth that the Nabi sallahu alahi wassalam would mention her very frequently. He would praise her and say there been no one like her”. He sallahu alahi wassalam would also show immense respect towards her friends.

Once Ayesha radiallahu anha upon hearing the Prophet sallahu alayhi wassalam praising and remembering her so often said; ‘why do you remember that old lady so often’? The Prophet sallahu alayhi wassalam upon hearing this became very upset and said “She was there to help me when everyone abandoned me, and when I was in need, she was there for me.”

Further in the same lecture Shaykh went on to say; “One of the many reasons that the Prophet sallahu alayhi wassalam married Ayesha radiallahu anha was that Islam being a complete religion needed to teach the followers those rulings regarding women which could only be taught through a lady, and some in particular to a young maturing lady, such as rulings of menstrual periods, sexual relations, puberty etc”. And because of Ayesha’s radiallahu anha tender age and brilliant mind (many other companions have commented on her magnificent capabilities to memorise), she became a great repository of Nabi sallahu alayhi waslaam traditions, and later on to became a great resource to many contemporaries and teacher to the tabi’un (the followers of the comapanions). Shaykh further said “Look at the books of Hadeeth, she is amongst the top transmitters of Hadeeth”;

no women will ever be able to surpass the part she played in preserving deen.