Ai'sha

Aisha Bint Abu Bakr is known as ‘The Mother of Believers’ and is perhaps the most influential women in Islam. Aisha was the third wife of Prophet Muhammad, and the daughter of Abu Bakr- a close friend of the Prophet, and the first of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs.  Aisha was raised in a deeply religious household. Being typical of the time, she was betrothed to Muhammad at an early age.
During her nine year marriage with the Prophet, Aisha bore witness to the great events that would shape Islamic history.  Aisha was in fact, the only of the Prophet’s wives to be present during his revelations, and also the only to come in contact with an angel.
Due to her closeness to the Prophet, she acquired from him knowledge and insight such as no woman has ever acquired and became an authority of what the prophet said. After Khadijah and Fatima, Aisha as ‘Siddique’ is regarded as the best woman in Islam. She was a leader in every field of knowledge, in society, in politics and in war. She was one of the four people who transmitted more than two thousand Hadiths during her lifetime. 

Aisha helped preserve ways of Muhammad by memorising the texts but also by teaching it to others and contributed to the ongoing of Islamic faith.

She was called on for advice and interpretation of the Qur’an by scholars after Muhammad’s death and was the most proficient scholar on the Qur’an contributing to the understanding of the faith.
It is reported from Masrûq – Allah have mercy on him – that he said:

نحن نقسم من الله, شاهدنا كبار مرافقيه الله رسول الله, نعم للسلام عليه-أن يسأل عن 'â` ishah والميراث. وأصبحت مهمة وهي أن المجتمع الاسلامي تأويل ما يقال له محمد بعد موته الذي ساعد في تطوير للاسلام وتعاليمه.

We swear by Allah, we have seen senior Companions of Allah’s Messenger – Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – asking ‘Â`ishah about inheritance laws.

She became important to the Islamic community as she could interpret what Muhammad had said after his death which helped in the development of Islam and its teachings.

Aisha was a role model for all Islamic people, particularly for women and shaped attitudes towards them creating equality, as Allah said there should be between men and women.  She was an active Muslim promoting others to be too by participating in the Hajj, many religious festivals and contributing to zakat. She gave other women hope to see they can be active in their faith and strengthen it.

The Hajj is the final Pillar of the Five Pillars of Faith, and one must complete it at least once during their life. It is an integral part of the Islamic faith, as explained by the Prophet Muhammad.
الْإِسْلَامُ أَنْ تَشْهَدَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةَ وَتُؤْتِيَ الزَّكَاةَ وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ وَتَحُجَّ الْبَيْتَ إِنْ اسْتَطَعْتَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا (مسلم ،  رقم: 8)
Islam means that you openly state that there is no god except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; establish the prayer, pay Zakah; fast during the month of Ramadan and offer the Hajj of the House of Allah if you are able to afford journey to it. (Muslim, No: 8)

Aisha, as an active Muslim role model participated in the Hajj, completing the Five Pillars of faith. There are many accounts of her journey in which she describes the journey, and its neccesity these include:
In the last Hajj of Allah's Apostle I assume the Ihram for Hajj along with Allah Apostle. I was one of those who intended Tamattu' (to perform Hajj an 'Umra) and did not take the Hadi (animal for sacrifice) with me. I got my menses and was not clean till the night of 'Arafa I said, "O Allah's Apostle! It is the night of the day of 'Arafat and I intended to perform the Hajj Tamattu' with 'Umra Allah's Apostle told me to undo my hair and comb it and to postpone the 'Umra. I did the same and completed the Hajj. On the night of Al-Hasba (i.e. place outside Mecca where the pilgrims go after finishing all the ceremonies Hajj at Mina) he (the Prophet ordered 'Abdur Rahman ('Aisha's brother) to take me to At-Tan'im to assume the lhram for'Umra in lieu of that of Hajj-atTamattu' which I had intended to perform.

Aisha also conveys her sense of female equality whilst completing the Hajj.
عائشة قال: "خرجنا مع بنية وحيدة من أداء مناسك الحج، وعندما وصلنا إلى الصريف، (مكان على بعد ستة أميال من مكة

المكرمة) حصلت على الحيض بلدي. الله والرسول وجاء لي حين كنت تبكي. وقال" ما هو يهم معك؟ هل لديك الحيض الخاص بك؟ "أجبته: "نعم." وقال: "هذا هو الشيء الذي قد فرض الله على بنات آدم. تفعل ذلك كل ما يفعل الحاج باستثناء الجولة (طواف) تو-AF الكعبة". "وأضاف عائشة،" الله والرسول وضحى الأبقار باسم زوجاته ". (كتاب رقم 6، الحديث # 293)

(11) Narrated Al-Qasim: 'Aisha said, "We set out with the sole intention of performing Hajj and when we reached Sarif, (a place six miles from Mecca) I got my menses. Allah's Apostle came to me while I was weeping. He said 'What is the matter with you? Have you got your menses?' I replied, 'Yes.' He said, 'This is a thing which Allah has ordained for the daughters of Adam. So do what all the pilgrims do with the exception of the Taw-af (Circumambulation) round the Ka'ba." 'Aisha added, "Allah's Apostle sacrificed cows on behalf of his wives."  (Book #6, Hadith #293)

Aisha lead by example, and for many Islamic feminists still leads.

She contributed to the Qur’an in two different incidents which promoted equality and respect for Islamic women and contributed to Islam.

One incident was the “affair of the Sander” when after accepting a ride after getting lost back to Makkah, her infidelity was questioned. She was told to repent and after insisting she had done nothing wrong a revelation appeared to Muhammad clearing her name and stating from then on, four witnesses must be known if adultery is to be accused of. This is seen in the Qur’an in Sura 24-4 and shows how Aisha directly contributed to the Qur’an therefore contributing to Islam as traditions were put in place.

Aisha also contributed to the Qur’an indirectly which changed Islam. Visitors from outside Arabia insulted Muhammad’s wives, one being Aisha, on being uncovered but weren’t slaves. Since then the Hijab was instituted for Muhammad’s wives as protection and the rest of the Muslim community followed suit as the Qur’an in Sura 33-59 legitimised the custom that is still in place today. Through this, Aisha contributed to Islam as traditions were influenced by her.

An incident giving women an idea that they are powerful too and creating a definite contribution to Islam was the “Battle of the Camel” in Basra. To see who would take on leadership after Muhammad’s death, Aisha led Uthman’s forces, who were in the running for leadership against Ali for the position. Ali won but a divide between these two groups in Islam still exist today that being Sunni followers of Uthman and Shi’a followers of Ali. Aisha contributed to this divide in Islam hence contributing to the Islamic faith. She also showed Muslim women independence and strength contributing to the equality of men and women in Islam.

Aisha bint Abu Bakr was a strong intelligent woman who is still recognised and studied today as a strong contributor to Islam through her closeness with Muhammad and her contributing of traditions and her attitudes towards equality for women. Her presence and influence can be felt even today, Aisha assisted in the development, but most importantly the expression of Islam. She will forever be remember and regarded as perhaps the most Influential Woman in Islam.