Nikah-e-Ayesha Siddiqa - An excerpt from the Seerat-e-Badr-Ud-Duja

Nikah-e-Ayesha Siddiqua رضي الله عنها

Seerat writers have written that Hazrat Ayesha رضي الله عنها was engaged with son of Jubair bin Mut'im before prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Rasul-Allah ﷺ agreed for marriage due to an initiative taken by Khola bit Hakeem after the death of Hazrat Khadija رضي الله عنها. Khola has given the marriage proposal to Zainab alias Umme Romaan. Umme Romaan who was wife of Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه discussed the proposal with him. Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said that I have already given word to Jubair bin Mut'im and I have never failed in my promise. but Mut'im has rejected the marriage proposal fearing Islam will enter his house due to marriage with Ayesha رضي الله عنها. Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه gave his daughter Ayesha رضي الله عنها in Prophet's nikah. As per saying this nikah took place in 10 or 11 nabwi. It is claimed that Hazrat Ayesha رضي الله عنها was 6 years old. After nikah Muhammad ﷺ stayed 3 years more in Makkah. And in 13 nabwi he migrated to Madina with Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه. Family of Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه stayed in Makkah itself.

Doubt:

Puberty age limit was restricted and specific to Hazrat Ayesha رضي الله عنها only or all daughters of Arab become adult at 9 years of age? history does not provide such references. Makkah and Madina are still there in same location with same climate and same unbearable heat. Departure/Rukhsati of 9 years young doll is still not possible.

All Traditionists (Muhaddithin) are important and respectable in our view but not worthy to follow unconditionally. Every person of Islamic world knows and believes that no one except Ambiya (Prophets) are innocent. Forgetfulness and mistakes of decision are part of human nature (To err is human). For the same reason traditions about Mi'raj from Al-Bhukhari was declared 'Munkar' (denounced) by Allama Ibn Hazm. Mother of the Believers Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa رضي الله عنها has criticized the traditions of Sahaba رضي الله عنهم and told that "I don't say that these people say lies but ears might err while listening".

We too, the same way as The Mother of Believers رضي الله عنها say that there is some lapse on Raavi's (narrator's) part. Instead of 'Tas'a Ashar'a (19) only 'Tas'a was heard. Rejection of Hadith is one thing and identification of error in it, is different.

Now we describe the sayings of Hadiths, Usool-e-Hadiths (Principles of Hadiths), Rijal (Science of Narration) and illal. And disclose a new mystery after collecting the proof of traditions of Hisham present in Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Ibn-e-Maja, Darmi and Masnad-e-Humaidi. Some narrators say it is Ayesha's رضي الله عنها quote and some say it's Urwah's quote, not a Hadith-e-Rasool. It is either Ayesha's quote or Urwah's quote who is Tabai' and nephew of Ayesha رضي الله عنها. if it is Urwah's quote then it does not stand the religious status. Also we know that if some traditions have narrative difference about Mutsil (Continuous/Connected) and Mauqoof (Stopped) then generally those are termed as Mauqoof by Traditionists (Muhaddithin). in the view of the said principle this is historic quote of Urwah and rejecting Urwah's quote does not fall under sin. Our clerics and Traditionists (Muhaddithin) should first prove that it is Mutsil.

Hisham (narrator of Bukhari and Muslim) has reported it from his father Urwah. Right from here the doubt arises. Hisham's life has two phases, Madni phase and Iraqi Phase. Madni phase lasts till 131 Hijri. Imam Malik is a prominent disciple of that phase. Imam Malik has taken several traditions of Hisham bin Urwah in his book 'Muwatta' but he has not taken this Nikah related hadith in his book Muwatta' which is noteworthy.

Hisham's second phase starts from 131 Hijri. According to all, he is trustworthy till 131 Hijri. After 131 Hijri he settled in Bagdad forever and died there in 146 Hijri. As per Yaqoob bin Shaybah no traditions of him were rejected till he moved to Iraq, he described some traditions/ahadiths with reference to his father Urwah which were regarded incorrect by people of Madina because he started telling those ahadiths with reference to his father though he heard it from some one else, Therefore traditions quoted by Iraqi people can not be trusted. (Tahzeeb ul Tahzeeb - Hafiz Ibn Hajr Asqalani)

Hazrat Ayesha's 9 years Rukhsati (departure) and 6 years Nikah tradition is quoted by Iraqi people from Hisham. Magic spell tradition on Nabi-e-Karim ﷺ is quoted by Iraqi people from Hisham. Tradition related to Hazrat Ayesha رضي الله عنها playing with dolls is quoted by Iraqi People from Hisham. May Allah forgive Hafiz Ibn Hajr Asqalani and Yaqoob bin Shaybah that they have opened the doors of mind.

Hafiz Zahbi has written about Hisham that in last stage of his life there was a lapse in his memory and Abul Hasan bin Al Qatan claims that he started doubting traditions and the references in last stage of life. Rather Hafiz Uqaili has even written قَد خَزِفَ آخِرَ عُمرِهِ (he became cranky in his last stage of life). Hafiz Zahbi has written in 'Meezan' that his memory was excellent in young age but did not remain the same in old age. (Meezan ul Aitedal Tarjuma Hisham)

Imam Malik who is a disciple of Hisham has quoted many traditions of Hisham in his book Muwatta'. there was a time when he understood Hisham's word as final. But after arriving in Iraq Hisham has done certain things that Imam Malik could not remain pleased with him. Even Abdur Rahman bin Kharash states that وَ كَانَ مَالِكَ لَا يَرْضَاهُ وَ نَقَمَ عَلَيْهِ حَدِيْثَهُ لِاَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ (And Imam Malik was not pleased with him, they have objected because of Iraqi people's hadiths)

Now lets discuss the second hadith of Bukhari which was described under Kitab-us-Tafsir by Imam Bukhari in these words. Mother of the Believers Hazrat Ayesha رضي الله عنها says that when this verse
بَلِ السَّاعَةُ مَوْعِدُهُمْ وَالسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَى وَأَمَرُّ- 54:46 was revealed, i was a small girl and used to play with my peers.

This verse is from Surah Al Qamar and revealed in reference to splitting of moon (Shaqqul Qamar). Traditionists (Muhaddithin) and Mufassirin (The writer of a commentary on the Qura'n) are agreed that this incident occurred approx. 5 years before migration (Hijrat) at Mina in Makkah Mua'zama. Mufassirin even states that this Surah was revealed in 4 Nabwi. Therefore according to tradition of Hisham without doubt Hazrat Ayesha رضي الله عنها was born in 5 Nabwi. As our all Muhaddithin and clerics are convinced about the same. But this tradition from Bukhari proves that Mother of the Believers رضي الله عنها has remembered this verse before her birth and before birth she used to play in Makkah. فیا للعجب!

The above tradition proves that Mother of the Believers رضي الله عنها was at least of the age that she used to play with her peers and had memory that this is a verse from Qura'n and remembered it from that time.

If we consider her age as 6 years in 4 Nabwi then it automatically proves that Hazrat Ayesha رضي الله عنها was born at least 2 years before the prophethood. As per this calculation her age becomes 17. According to Muslim Sharif departure (Rukhsati) of Mother of the Believers رضي الله عنها happened in Shawwal 1 Hijri and she participated in Gazwa-e-Badr in 2 Hijri. she is the one who is the lone Badriya and During Gazwa-e-Uhd Hazrat Samrah bin Jundab, Hazrat Bara' bin Aazib, Anas bin Malik, Zaid bin Saabit and Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهم were less than 15 years of age hence bared from participating in the Gazwa-e-Uhd.

Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه narrates, I have seen Hazrat Ayesha bint Abu Bakr and Umme Sulem folding their pants and I could see their back of shanks. They both were holding water bags and distributing water to the Mujahideen. (Bukhari)

A girl at the age of 10 or 11 years participated in a battle and doing above work?

Historical Proof:

All Muhaddithin and Historian of Islam have agreed that Mother of the Believers Hazrat Ayesha  رضي الله عنها was 10 years younger to her older sister Asma. Hazrat Asma رضي الله عنها died at the age of 100 in 73 Hijri. at the time of the Migration/Hijrat Hazrat Asma was 27 or 28 years old. As per this calculation if we minus 10 years then at the time of Migration/Hijrat age of Hazrat Ayesha رضي الله عنها becomes 17 or 18 years and at the time of departure/Rukhsati it becomes 19 years. - هذَا مَا عِنْدِي

Apart from this there are several proofs but due to the fear of longevity we conclude here and continue ahead by writing that at the time of Rukhsati/Departure age of the Mother of the Believers Hazrat Ayesha رضي الله عنها was 19 years not 9 years.

While in Madina Munawwara after migartion, Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه fell ill, at that time Hazrat Ayesha رضي الله عنها has left no stone unturned as an attendant. (Bukhari)