How Did Aisha Bint Abu Bakrs Contribution

Aisha Bint Abu Bakr has a noteworthy role in adjusting the Muslim Ummah. Her contrabutions shape the path of islam of both a political and faith level.

Through her large contribution to the Haddith Aisha Bint Abu Bakr changes the life of Islamic followers by guiding them to be more like Muhammad and in turn a line their submission to the will of Allah. Aisha substantial contribution to the Haddith creates redirections to Islam. After Muhammad death in 623ce (Mathew S. Gordon, 2002, p14) Aisha developed 2210 sayings based on the actions and words of the prophet that she had witnessed while married to him in his later life. These 2210 sayings are used in Islamic jurisprudence, the process by which guidelines, rules and regulations
are derived from the Qur’an and then Hadith. (Institute of Islamic Banking and Insurance – Is Islamic Jurisprudence 2010). It is the Hadith that deals with issues adherents might face that have gone unnoted in the Qur’an. Sahih Buhkari volume 1, book8, number 369 she narrates, “The Prophet prayed in a Khamisa (a square garment) having marks. During the prayer, he looked at its marks. So when he finished the prayer he said, "Take this Khamisa of mine to Abu Jahm and get me his Inbijaniya (a woolen garment without marks) as it (the Khamisa) has diverted my attention from the prayer."” Here she outlines that during prayer one is to be focused and like Muhammad eliminate oneself of any distractions they might face during prayer. “When the last Verses of Surat al- Baqara were revealed, the Prophet recited them in the mosque and proclaimed the trade of alcohol as illegal.” (Sahih Bukhari volume 1, book 34, number 297) Aishas narration here proclaims that selling of alcohol is illegal this is a commonly referenced Hadith quote due to a change in society were alcohol is favored. “Muslim scholars believe that without Aishas transformation on such a large number of Hadith sayings, many Islamic teachings on a range of issues would have been lost. (Christopher Hartney, 2008, p.307). Aisha Bint Abu Bakr provided many examples of the prophets’ actions and words. Due to her contribution followers more clearly understand the teachings of Muhammad and are able to more closely remain in submission to the will of Allah.

Aisha Bint Abu Bakrs contribution is to be seen as the most significant reason for Shi’a contempt and the acceleration of the between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims.
The Sunni and Shi’a split came to encompass matters of belief and law, however it developed as a disagreement over leadership (Kim Whitehead, 2004, p34). From the Ka’ba Aisha gathered a small group to revolt against Ali in vengeance of Uthman, Together her group marched to Basragwaq to meet Ali and his supporters. This civil war in 656 CE was entitled the Battle of the Camel because Aisha made her entry mounted on a camel (C. Hartney, J. Nobel, 2008, p306). Although losing the battle Aishas life was spared out of respect for her being the wife of the prophet and the daughter of the first rightly guided caliph Abu Bakr. At the conclusion of the battle the minority group Shi’a applied to those who supported Ali in the battle, because Shi’a sided with Ali they reject the idea that Aisha is the favorite wife of Muhammad and have belief that she did not conduct herself in the right manner as Muhammads’ wife (B. Milton- Edward, 2005, p13). On the contrary to Shi’a Muslims who hold negative connotations to Aishas role in Islam, Sunni Muslims hold Aisha in high regard. Sunni Muslims hold beliefs that Aisha was in fact Muhammads favorite wife and consider her to be Umm Al-Mu’minin the ‘Mother of Believers’ (J. Morrissy, A. Taylor, G. Bailey, P. Mudge, P. Rule, N, Edghill, 2010, p305). Through Her opposition of Ali B Abi Talib
and her contribution in the Battle of the Camel, Aisha acted as a catalyst in the schism between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims.

Aisha Bint Abu bakrs time spent with Muhammad allowed her to work as a catalyst for Muhammad receiving Quir’anic revelations (C.
Hartney, J. Noble, 2008, p305). Islamic adherents and governing Sharia law use the revelations received through elements of Aisha’s actions as guidelines. Her Catalyst of revelations comes from early in her marriage and concerns matters of ‘slander’ and witnesses. During the Islamic year 5 (627 CE) Aisha traveled with Muhammad on his campaign against Banu Mustaliq, on their return journey Aisha became distant from the group reportedly looking for some beads she has lost (C. Hartney, J. Noble, 2008, p305). After not returning it was presumed she was already with the others so they packed and left. Discovering the caravan had one with out her, Aisha waited for someone to collect her. Safwan Ibn Al-Muattal discovered Aisha and took her back to Muhammad. This caused great controversy and Muhammad ceased receiving revelations due to his wife’s feudality (C. Hartney, J. Noble, 2008, p305). After questioning Aisha, Muhammad received a revelation found in the Qur’an, “And those who cast it up on women in wedlock, and then bring not four witnesses, scourge them with eighty stripes do not accept any testimony of theirs ever: those – they are ungodly.” (Sura 24:11-13). In this revelation Allah outlines that with out four witnesses then the accusations are false and those who give the accusation are not to be trusted. Due to the inability to produce four
witnesses Aisha was proclaimed innocent. Aisha’s actions caused the guidance of revelation and the reference to four witnesses is now used under Sharia law as precedent.

Throughout her life Aisha acted as a catalyst for many things, she used her words and actions to benefit the growing faith of Islam. Her addition to the Hadith created redirections to the path of Islam by giving guidance to new adherents on things gone unnoted in the Qur’an. Her contribution at the Battle of the Camel accelerated the split of Sunni and Shi’a giving them contradicting opinions on her, furthermore Aishas presence in Muhammad’s life as his wife impacted his revelations by her actions developing the guidance found in the Qur’an.