Actions of ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها Resembling Wailing at the Time of the Prophet’s ﷺ Passing
Reference: Fatāwā Rashidiyyah, Page 538
❖ The Question
From the following narration it seems that at the time of the passing of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Umm al-Mu’minīn ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها carried out certain acts resembling nīyāḥah (lamentation). Is this correct?
((…سمعت عائشة رضى الله عنها تقول مات رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بين صدرى ونحرى وفى دولتى ولم أظلم فيه أحدا فمن سفهى وحداثة سنى أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قبض وهو فى حجرى ثم وضعت راسه على وسادة وقمت الدم مع انسآء واضرب وجهى.))
(al-Bidāyah wa-n-Nihāyah, vol. 5, p. 24)
❖ The Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
◈ The narration cited regarding Umm al-Mu’minīn ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها is authentically recorded in Hadith sources.
◈ In these reports, she herself clarified using words such as: “bisafāhatī wa ḥadāthati sinnī” (due to my foolishness and youth) or “lisafāhati ra’yī” (due to the foolishness of my opinion).
◈ This clearly shows that the act occurred out of youthful inexperience and lack of maturity.
✔ The Status of Umm al-Mu’minīn
◈ ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها holds an immensely high rank, but she was not infallible from human error.
◈ Her act was a momentary slip, caused by the extreme grief of the occasion.
◈ Even the greatest personalities may, under intense shock, display unintentional reactions that they later regret.
✔ Example of ʿUmar رضي الله عنه
At the Prophet’s ﷺ passing, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه unsheathed his sword and declared:
“Whoever says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has died, I will strike his neck!”
Only when Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه clarified the reality with Qur’anic proof did ʿUmar رضي الله عنه accept it.
These words too were against reason, but uttered out of grief and shock.
✔ The Emotional State of ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها
◈ She was young at that time.
◈ Her deep bond of love with the Messenger ﷺ is well known.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ’s passing was an unparalleled tragedy for her, leading to an overwhelming emotional reaction.
◈ She herself confessed it was an act of safāhah (immaturity).
✔ No Proof for Unlawful Acts
◈ This incident cannot be taken as evidence to justify nīyāḥah or other impermissible practices.
◈ It was a momentary, non-deliberate slip, for which she herself expressed regret.
✔ Another Slip
Later, during the caliphate of ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, she set out from her home with an intention of reform.
- Though her intention was noble, the method was not appropriate.
- None of the other Mothers of the Believers supported her, deeming it unsuitable.
- According to al-Dhahabī in Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ, she later expressed immense remorse, often weeping at the memory.
✿ Conclusion
◈ No human being, regardless of rank, is completely free from slips.
◈ Such a lapse occurred with ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها out of overwhelming grief, not deliberate choice.
◈ Her honesty in narrating the event and attributing it to her own safāhah is itself a sign of her truthfulness and virtue.
◈ This event cannot be used as proof to permit any un-Islamic act.
ھذا ما عندی، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
