Did Aisha Influence Abu Bakr’s Succession

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Question:

Did Aisha influence Prophet Muhammad to make her father Abu Bakr his successor? - An examination of claims that Aisha influenced Prophet Muhammad to appoint her father Abu Bakr as his successor, and Shia-Sunni debates over succession. :::

Answer:

These are mere cock and bull stories aimed at obfuscating the truth. Aisha R.A was chosen as the wife of prophet saws by Allah swt himself and there was lot of love and respect between mother Aisha R.A and the Ali R.A.

Aa’ishah (radiallaahu anhaa):

Was a scholar of Islam and of the hadeeth and she was a reference point for knowledge and fiqh. Was most eloquent in her speech and expression. Was the most beloved to the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) along with her father, Abu Bakr (radiallaahu anhu). Has an excellence over all other women. Was the wife of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) in this life and will be in the next. Was given salaam (salutations) by Jibreel (alayhis salaam). Was given a guarantee of Paradise through the statement of numerous companions (Ibn Abbaas, Ammaar bin Yaasir) Brought benefit to the Muslims in their religion due to revelation and guidance being revealed on account of her. Had broad ranging knowledge across many different fields including fiqh, history, poetry, tafseer, faraa’id, medicine. So only an IGNORAMUS OR an ENEMY OF ISLAM can accuse mother Aisha radhiallahu anhuma [who is the wife of prophet saws in this life and afterlife and about whom the jannah is guaranteed by Allah] of such behind the scene plots in the matters concerning Islamic religion. In fact a person who makes such accusation his eeman is doubtful and all his ibaadah is waste.

  1. The Virtues of Aa’ishah RA

a) Al-Bukhari narrates in Kitab Fadaa’il al-Sahaabah in “Chapter: The Excellence of Aa’isah (may Allaah be pleased with her)” from Aa’ishah (radiallaahu anhaa) who said, “The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said one day, ‘O Aa’ish, this is Jibreel he is giving salutations to you’ so I said, ‘Wa alayhis salaam wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuhu, you (O Prophet) see that which I do not’, she meant the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) [seeing Jibreel].” (no. 3557).

b) Al-Bukhari narrates in Kitab Fadaa’il al-Sahaabah in “Chapter: The Excellence of Aa’isah (may Allaah be pleased with her)” from Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (radiallaahu anhu) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said, “Many men have reached perfection but none reached perfection from the women except Maryam bint Imraan (mother of Eesaa), Aasiyah, the wife of Fir’awn, and the excellence of Aa’ishah over all the women is like the excellence of al-Thareed (a type of food, bread with vegetable or meat broth) over all other foods.” (no. 3558). The last part of hadeeth is also reported from Anas bin Malik (no. 3559).

c) Al-Bukhari narrates in Kitab Fadaa’il al-Sahaabah in “Chapter: The Excellence of Aa’isah (may Allaah be pleased with her)” From al-Qaasim bin Muhammad that Aa’ishah fell ill and Ibn ‘Abbaas came and said, “O Mother of the Believers you are proceeding on to the truthful forerunners, to the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) and Abu Bakr.”

This is an evidence that Aa’ishah (radiallaahu anhu) was guaranteed Paradise, as explained Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaani, since Ibn ‘Abbaas would not say this unless it came through al-Tawqif (revelation).

d) Al-Bukhari narrates in Kitab Fadaa’il al-Sahaabah in “Chapter: The Excellence of Aa’isah (may Allaah be pleased with her)” From Abu Waa’il who said: When Ali dispatched Ammaar (bin Yaasir) and al-Hasan to al-Kufah in order to prepare them (for situation of battle), Ammaar gave a sermon and said, “Verily I know that she (Aa’ishah) is his (the Prophet’s) wife in this life and the hereafter, but Allaah has put you to trial to see if you would follow Him (Allaah’s law) or her.”

  1. Aisha RA relationship with Fatima RA & Ahle Bayt

a) Aisha (RA) narrated that Fatima (RA) told her: Did you see when I cried near the Prophet PBUH then laughed? Aisha said: tell me, Fatima said: He told me he will die from this pain so I cried then he told me I will be the first from his ahlulbayt to follow him and that I(fatima) am the head of the women of paradise except Mariam bint Imran so I laughed.[ Ibn Katheer in al bidayah wal Nihayah 2/56.]

grading: The origin is in the Sahih and the Isnad is on the condition of Muslim.(similar narration is narrated in (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, al-Manaaqib, 3353) sahi bukhari 8.301.)

b) Imam Abu Dawud narrated in his “Sunnan” (#5217) from Aisha that when Fatimah used to arrive in the presence of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him), he (Peace be upon him) used to welcome her by standing up and used to hold her hand and kiss her then seat her where he (Peace be upon him) was sitting.[Sheikh Albani said it’s saheeh in his notes on “Mishkat al-masabih”]

c) Shareeh bin Hane’’. Shareeh said, I went to Aysha and asked her about washing the feet (for prayers). She said, “Go to Ali bin Abi Talib and ask him.” The Virtues of the Companions, by Imam Ahmed, vol.2, #1199, p.702

So if Ayesha R.A had any enmity towards so called ahle bayt then why she would narrate their good qualities as is mentioned in hadeeth ?

  1. The treatment Ayesha(ra) received from Ahlebayt after battle of Jamal:

The narration is talking about how Ali (RA) prepared all that Aisha (RA) needed on her trip back to Mecca and how she complimented Ali (RA) and he complimented her and provided her with Woman servants from al Basrah and gave permission to Muhammad bin Abu Bakr (RA) to go back with her.

(ولما أرادت أم المؤمنين عائشة الخروج من البصرة بعث إليها علي رضي الله عنه بكل ما ينبغي من مركب وزاد ومتاع وغير ذلك وأذن لمن نجا ممن جاء في الجيش معها – أن يرجع إلا أن يحب المقام، واختار لها أربعين امرأة من نساء أهل البصرة المعروفات وسير معها أخاها محمد بن أبي بكر، فلما كان اليوم الذي ارتحلت فيه، جاء علي فوقف على الباب وحضر الناس وخرجت من الدار في الهودج فودعت الناس ودعت لهم وقالت: يا بني لا يعتب بعضنا على بعض إنه والله ما كان بيني وبين علي في القديم إلا ما يكون بين المرأة وأحمائها فقال علي: صدقت والله ما كان بيني وبينها إلا ذاك وإنها لزوجة نبيكم صلى الله عليه وسلم في الدنيا والآخرة وسار علي معها مودعاً ومشيعاً أميالاً، وسرح بنيه معها بقية ذلك اليوم وكان يوم السبت مستهل رجب سنة ست وثلاثين، وقصدت في سيرها ذلك إلى مكة، فأقامت بها إلى أن حجت عامها ذلك ثم رجعت إلى المدينة رضي الله عنها)

Translation: And when the mother of believers Aisha wanted to leave Basarah, Ali (RA) sent her provisions from food and clothing and all supplies which were necessary, he permitted for all those who came with her in the army to leave unless they preferred to stay, he chose for her forty of the finest women of Basarah to accompany her as well as her brother Muhammad Ibn Abu Bakr (RA), When the day of her departure came Ali stood by the door and so did the people, she came out and bid them farewell and made Dua for them and said: “O son there is no admonition between us, ‘By Allāh! There was nothing between me and `Alī except what ensues between the woman and her in-laws.” Ali then said: “By Allah she speaks the truth there was nothing except that between us and she is the wife of your prophet PBUH in this life and in the hereafter.” Ali then walked with her a long distance, it was on a Saturday in Rajab of the thirty sixth year of Hijra, she sought Mecca and remained there until she made the Hajj of that year then returned to Madinah may Allah be pleased with her.[Source: Al bidayah wal nihayah 7/268-269 (I found it on 10/473 online probably different print).]

  1. Conclusion

I dont want to use harsh language - but the people who have the shame to make negative comments against the sahabas and the mother of the believers then their entire life is a waste and the curse of Allah is on them. These people dont follow Ahle Bayt as they want to claim - because how Ali R.A treated the mother of believers is very clear by the above - rather these people are followers of Abdullah bin Saba the jew who founded this deviated sect and spread false rumours and made ghuloo in his false love for ahle bayt and concocted stories to play muslims against each other ie to divide and rule.

Part 8: Nature of Relationship between Ahlebayt(ra) and Ayesha(ra)

The Virtues of Aa’ishah Al-Siddiqah, Daughter of Abu Bakr: Part 1

The Virtues of Aa’ishah Al-Siddiqah, Daughter of Abu Bakr: Part 2

The Virtues of Aa’ishah Al-Siddiqah, Daughter of Abu Bakr: Part 3