Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

16. During her lifetime Hadhrath Ayesha was a severe critic of Hadhrath Uthman, to the point that she advocated his killing. How is it that following his murder, she chose to rebel against Imam Ali (as) on the premise that his killers should be apprehended? Why did she leave Makkah, portray Hadhrath Uthman as a victim and mobilise opposition from Basrah? Was this decision based on her desire to defend Hadhrath Uthman or was it motivated by her animosity towards Hadhrath Ali (as)? History records that she said the following about Hadhrath Uthman "Kill this old fool (Na'thal), for he is unbeliever", see History of
Ibn Athir, v3, p206, Lisan al-Arab, v14, p141, al-Iqd al-Farid, v4, p290 and Sharh Ibn Abi al-Hadid, v16, pp 220-223

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Answer:

Aisha (r.a.) against Uthman (r.a.) and Ali (r.a)

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 6:Indeed, the Prophet is preferable for the believers to their own selves, and the Prophet’s wives are their mothers.

After the death of the Prophet (saws), all the wives, including Hadrat Aisha were accorded the respect of beings the ‘mothers of the believers’. Hadrat Aisha was a great scholar in her own right, and time and again she had advised and warned Hadrat Uthman about the state of matters during his Khalifite. But to accuse the ‘mother of the believers’ Hadrat Aisha of advocating the killing of a believer, that too a believer of the status of Hadrat Uthman is ridiculous!

When Hadrat Aisha heard about the brutal murder of Hadrat Uthman, and in the manner in which she was told the whole gruesome episode, she took a position to bring the criminals who had murdered Hadrat Uthman to justice! There is no doubt that she was a victim of mis-information, which resulted in her mobilizing the opposition at the Battle of Jamal. Hadrat Aisha later in her recordings admitted her mistake at mobilizing the opposition, and would regret the stand she had taken against Hadrat Ali (r.a.).

But for us to sit down and decide today after 1400 years, about what was Hadrat Aisha’s intentions, or what made her decide what she did, or if her motivation was her ‘supposed’ animosity towards Hadrat Ali (r.a.), is nothing short of absurdity! Allah, the All Knowing, The All Wise was watching over everything and He will decide with Justice regarding everyone on the Day of Judgment. He has neither made it our responsibility nor our duty to judge the intentions of the people and episodes that took place in the History of the Muslims!

The deen of Islam was completed, the Quran revealed, and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was established at the time of the death of the Prophet (saws). Whatever happened after the death of the Prophet (saws) is the History of the Muslims, and this is in the knowledge of Allah Alone. Allah will not hold us accountable for the deeds of these people, nor ask us about them on the Day of Judgment. We will be asked about our deeds and what did we do for the cause of Islam.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 134: They were a people who passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned, and you shall have the reward of what you will earn. And you will not be questioned as to what they did.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother in Islam,

Burhan