Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

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One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Subject: Bibi Ayesha and Ali

dear sir,

QUESTION !:

The Prophet (pbuh) said of Ali, "whosoever is my mawla, Ali is his mawla, whosoever is my enemy he is Ali's enemy" Bibi ayesha waged war on Ali with the bigger battle of Jamal and she was also not an avid supporter of Ali. What then are we to think of Bibi Ayesha. By waging a war you are seen as one's enemy. Would Bibi Ayesha be considered the Prophets enemy as the Propeht did say "whosoever is my enemy is Ali's Enemy". If NOT then does that not negate the authority we give to Ali as the prophet's chosen one?

thank you

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Answer:

Ayesha(r.a.) enemy of Imam 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.

A true believer is one who obeys and follows Allah and His Messenger (saws), loves everything that is pleasing to Allah and His Messenger (saws), and dislikes everything that dis-pleases Allah and His Messenger (saws).

It is indeed unfortunately true, that Bibi Aisha took a stand against Hadrat Ali (r.a.) in the Battle of Jamal. All the historians of Muslim History are unanimous in their opinion that Hadrat Ali (r.a.) was on the side of the Truth and those who opposed him were wrong. The Battle of Jamal was initiated because some unscrupulous political people, under the leadership of Marwan ibn Haqam, created a mis-understanding amongst the muslims which resulted in the Battle of Jamal. This was the result of a ‘fitnah’ created by the enemies of Allah and Islam, and some of the believers became victims to this ‘fitnah’.

Bibi Aisha was defeated in this battle by the forces of Hadrat Ali (r.a.), who recognized and realized that she and her supporters were mis-informed and were victims of a mis-understanding. Subsequently, after the battle, Hadrat Ali (r.a.) ordered that Bibi Aisha be escorted with respect and honor deserving to the ‘mother of the believers’. Bibi Aisha and the other true believers, who had taken a stand against Hadrat Ali (r.a.) in the Battle of Jamal, realized their mistake and apologized to Hadrat Ali (r.a.), who forgave them and always treated them with respect and honor. It is recorded in many books of history that in later years, whenever Bibi Aisha used to remember the ill-fated days of her stand against Hadrat Ali (r.a.) in the Battle of Jamal, she used to weep and cry, and ask forgiveness from Allah Subhanah.

Thus it was not as if that Bibi Aisha was always against Hadrat Ali (r.a.) and held animosity towards him and the descendants of the Prophet (saws), and his noble household. She was an avid supporter of Hadrat Ali (r.a.) and loved him and his family like all the other true believers.

This is a big propaganda and horrendous lie that only the Shias love Hadrat Ali (r.a.), and the rest of the muslims hate him! There is no muslim who does not love Hadrat Ali (r.a.). This noble soul grew up in the house and in the guardianship of the Messenger of Allah (saws), gave unlimited sacrifices for the deen of Islam, and lived all his life in the service of Allah, His Messenger (saws) and the deen of Islam. He was loved by Allah and His Messenger (saws), and it is a duty unto every believer to love him.

But some mis-guided muslims have gone too far in their love for Hadrat Ali (r.a.), and put this noble soul at par with the Messenger of Allah (saws), and sometimes even raise him to the position of a god with Allah! They invoke his name for everything, and even call him names like ‘mushkil-kusha’ (remover of perils), and ‘haajat-rawaa’ (the answerer of prayers); which are attributes that belong to Allah Subhanah Alone! They have even made the grave of this humble and noble soul a shrine and place of worship, and make pilgrimages to his burial site in Najaf! To raise and elevate a humble and noble slave-servant of Allah like Ameer ul Mumineen, Hadrat Ali (r.a.) to the position of the Messenger (saws), and Allah Subhanah is nothing but mis-guidance.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said in an authentic narration about Hadrat Ali (r.a.): “You have the likeness of Isa ibn Maryam in my Ummah. The Christians loved him so much that they claimed he is the ‘son of Allah’, and the Jews hated him so much that they claimed to have killed him!” In later years, Hadrat Ali (r.a.) used to say: “Two kinds of people will be ruined on my account. One who loves me so much, that he will elevate me to a position of worship which does not rightfully belong to me; and the other will hate me so much that he will slander me.”

Your Question: What then are we to think of Bibi Ayesha?

Our opinion of Bibi Aisha should be in line with the declaration of Allah Subhanah in the Holy Quran:

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.

Allah has Himself honored the wives of the Prophet (saws) and given them the title of ‘umm-al-mumineen’ (mother of the believers). And we as muslims must love and honor everyone who were loved and honored by Allah and His Messenger (saws). It does not behove a believer to take an episode from Muslim History and make that an excuse to revile and curse any of the wives, or the noble companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

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