This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahi Fazail Amaal.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Umm Salama! Do not cause me distress regarding Aisha, for except for Aisha's bed, revelation was not sent down to me on the bed of any one of your beds."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of the Virtues of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, Chapter on the Virtue of Aisha (RA), Number: 3775
Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "The trustworthy Gabriel (Jibril) came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) carrying my picture wrapped in a green silk cloth and said: This is your wife in this world and the Hereafter."
Reference: Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book of Virtues, Chapter on the Virtue of Aisha (RA), Number: 3880
- Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it "Sahih."Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "O Aisha! This is Gabriel, who sends you greetings." I said: "And upon him be peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah. The Messenger of Allah, what you see, we do not see."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, also, Number: 3768
Sayyidna Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) said: It was asked of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), "Who is the most beloved to you among all people?" He said: "Aisha." Then it was asked: "Among men?" He said: "Her father Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)." It was asked: "Then who?" He said: "Umar."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of the Virtues of the Companions, Chapter on the Virtues of Abu Bakr (RA), Number: 2384.
◈ I'tikaf:
The purified wives had such a strong desire for I'tikaf that once the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, ordered the setting up of a tent for I'tikaf. When Lady Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, saw this, she had her own tent set up. Following her example, all the purified wives, may Allah be pleased with them, had tents set up. When he saw this, he also had the tents of the wives of the Prophet, peace be upon him, taken down. (Because it disturbed his peace and gathering.)
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Fasting, Chapter on I'tikaf, Hadith No: 2464 -
Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, declared it authentic.◈ Umrah:
In any case, whether Umrah is obligatory or not, the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, performed it with great diligence, and when it was missed, they felt deeply distressed. During the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, saw that Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, was crying. When asked the reason, she said, "I am unable due to a feminine condition; people are receiving the reward of two obligations (Hajj and Umrah), and I only of one." He said, "There is no harm; Allah will also grant you the reward of Umrah." Accordingly, he sent with her Abdul Rahman bin Abi Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him. They went to the place of Taneem, assumed Ihram for Umrah, and completed it by midnight and returned.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Hajj, Chapters on Umrah, No: 1788.
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Clothing, No: 4036 -
Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, declared it authentic.◈ Preservation of the Memorial of the Messenger ﷺ:
During the time of the Companions, many relics of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ were preserved, which they cherished more than their own lives and considered a source of blessing. The clothes in which the Prophet ﷺ passed away were kept safe by Lady Aisha رضي الله عنها. One day, she showed a Companion a Yemeni waist wrapper and a blanket and said, "By Allah! You passed away in these very clothes."
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Clothing, Hadith No: 4036 -
Al-Albani رحمه الله authenticated it.◈ Helping the Poor:
One day, Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was fasting and there was nothing in the house except one piece of bread. In this condition, a poor man asked for something, so she told her maid to give him the bread. The maid asked: "With what will you break your fast?" She said: "Just give it to him." In the evening, someone sent goat meat, and she called the maid and said: "Take this, it is better than your bread."
Reference: Muwatta Malik, Book of Charity, Chapter on Encouragement in Charity, Hadith No: 5.
◈ Selflessness:
Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) had reserved a specific place for her grave beside the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Sayyidina Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). But when Amir Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) requested her, she gave that spot in Paradise to him and said:
كنت أريده لنفسي ولأوثرن به اليوم على نفسي
"I had reserved it for myself, but today I prefer you over myself."
Reference: Mustadrak Hakim: 13,11/3.
◈ Generosity:
Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها was so generous that whatever came into her hands, she would give it in charity. Abdullah bin Zubair رضي الله عنهما tried to stop her, but she became so angry that she swore not to speak to him. (Later, she forgave him and reconciled with him.)
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Virtues, Chapter on the Virtues of Quraysh, Number: 3505.
◈ Not Taking Personal Revenge:
If the enemy falls into any trouble, there could be no better opportunity for us to take revenge, but when did the love of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ in the hearts of the Companions leave room for hatred and revenge?
Revenge is a big matter; the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, did not even like to harbor hatred against their enemies. Muawiyah bin Khadij, may Allah be pleased with him, had killed Sayyida Aisha’s brother Muhammad bin Abi Bakr. Once, he was a commander of an army. Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, asked a person how Muawiyah’s conduct was in that expedition. He replied: There was no fault in him; everyone praised him. If a camel was lost, he would replace it with another camel; if a horse died, he would replace it with another horse; if a slave ran away, he would replace him with another slave. Upon hearing this, Sayyida Aisha said: “Astaghfirullah (I seek Allah’s forgiveness). If I hold enmity against him because he killed my brother, I have heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ supplicating: O Allah! Be gentle with whoever is gentle to my Ummah, and be harsh with whoever is harsh to them.”
Reference: Asad al-Ghabah, mention of Muawiyah bin Khadij.
◈ Hospitality :
Hospitality was a very prominent aspect of the good morals of the Arabs, and Islam made it even more prominent. Therefore, there are many examples of hospitality in the lives of the Companions. Once a delegation from Banu Mutafaq came to the service of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. By coincidence, you were not at home, but Lady Aisha رضي الله عنها immediately ordered the preparation of Khazira (a famous Arab dish) and had dates placed in a plate in front of the guests. When you arrived, as usual, the first thing you inquired was whether any provisions for the feast had been made or not. They said: "That has been done."
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Purification, Hadith No: 143 -
Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, declared it authentic.◈ Raising Orphans:
The daughters of Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها's brother Muhammad bin Abi Bakr رضي الله عنه had become orphans, and Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها used to take care of them.
Reference: Muwatta Malik, Book of Zakat, Chapter: No Zakat on jewelry, gold, and small items, Number: 10.
Similarly, Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها would give the wealth of the orphans she cared for to people so that it could be developed through trade.
Reference: Muwatta Malik, Book of Zakat, Chapter: Zakat on the wealth of orphans and trade for them, Number: 14.
◈ Serving the Husband:
Among the pure wives, Lady Aisha رضي الله عنها was very beloved to the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, but this love did not affect the service to the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم; rather, she herself had the greatest honor of serving him. Due to the utmost cleanliness of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, he used to rinse the miswak first, and this pure service was performed by Lady Aisha رضي الله عنها.
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Purification, Hadith No: 52 -
Al-Albani رحمه الله called it Hasan.And when the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم would enter the state of Ihram for Hajj and when he would exit Ihram, she would apply perfume on his body.
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Manasik, Chapter on Perfume, Regarding Ihram, Hadith No: 1745 -
Al-Albani رحمه الله declared it Sahih.When he would send a sacrificial animal to the Kaaba, she would become the necklace around its neck.
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Manasik Hajj, Hadith No: 1757 -
Al-Albani رحمه الله declared it Sahih.The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Fatimah is the leader of the women of Paradise."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Virtues, Chapter on Signs of Distress in Islam, Hadith No: 3624.
Lady Aisha رضي الله عنها said: I have not seen anyone whose character, manner of walking and sitting resembled the Messenger of Allah ﷺ more than Lady Fatimah bint Rasulullah ﷺ. Lady Aisha رضي الله عنها said: When Fatimah رضي الله عنها came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he would stand up, kiss her, and seat her in his place. Similarly, when the Prophet ﷺ went to her, she would also stand up, kiss him, and seat him in her place. When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ fell ill, Fatimah رضي الله عنها came to him, bent down and kissed him, then raised her head and began to cry. The second time she bent down to him, she raised her head and began to laugh. I thought to myself that I consider her the most intelligent of all women, but she is like an ordinary woman (laughing even in that condition). When the Noble Prophet ﷺ passed away, I asked her: When you bent over the Prophet ﷺ, you raised your head and cried, and when you bent over him again, you raised your head and laughed. Why did you do that? Fatimah رضي الله عنها said: I will now reveal this secret. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ had informed me that "I will die from this illness." So (upon hearing this) I cried. Then the Prophet ﷺ informed me that "Among all my family, you will be the first to meet me." Upon this, I laughed.
Reference: Sunan Tirmidhi, Book of Virtues, Chapter on the Virtue of Fatimah رضي الله عنها, Hadith No: 3872
Albani رحمه الله declared it authentic.The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Fatimah is a part of me, so whoever angers her, angers me."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of the Virtues of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, Chapter on the Virtues of Fatimah رضي الله عنها, Hadith No: 3767.
◈ Tasbeeh and Tahleel :
Tasbeeh and Tahleel are distinct signs of a pure religious life. This is why the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, often engaged in Tasbeeh and Tahleel. Lady Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with her, had marks on her hands due to grinding flour. One day she came to the presence of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, but he was not present. Therefore, she informed Lady Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, about the situation and requested a servant.
When Lady Aisha, the truthful, may Allah be pleased with her, informed the Prophet, peace be upon him, he went to their house. When the couple stood up to welcome him, he said: "Stay seated." Then he sat beside them and said: "Shall I not tell you something better than what you asked me for?"
Both said: "Certainly!" He said: "When you go to sleep, say سبحان الله thirty-three (33) times, الحمد لله thirty-three (33) times, and الله أكبر thirty-three times. This is better for you than having a servant."
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Manners, Hadith No: 5062 -
Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, declared it authentic.(After this, the couple made this practice a regular part of their lives.)
◈ Treatment of Parents:
The Companions of the Prophet were very mindful of serving, obeying, assisting, and showing respect and honor to their parents. Once, the disbelievers placed a camel's saddle on the neck of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Lady Fatimah al-Zahra رضي الله عنها ran over, removed it from him, threw it away, and spoke harshly to the disbelievers.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Prayer, No: 520
