Treasury of Aisha

Dr Sofia Rehman is an independent scholar of Islam trained both traditionally in Syria, Tukey and Wales, and through academia whose PhD focused on the statements of Aisha Bint Abi Bakr as recorded in the work of the 14th century scholar, Imam al-Zarkashi. Her book based on this thesis is entitled, Gendering the Hadith Tradition: Recentering the Authority of Aisha, Mother of the Believers (Oxford University Press). She is a committed advocate of bridging the gap between academic scholarship on Islam and the wider Muslim community, setting up critical reading groups and workshops with global reach to facilitate learning, curiosity and spiritual empowerment. She has also contributed to a number of anthologies including Cut From the Same Cloth? Muslim Women on Life in Britain edited by Sabeena Akhtar (Unbound), Mapping Faith: Theologies of Migration edited by Lia Shimada (Jessica Kingsley), and Violent Phenomena: 21 Essays on Translation edited by Kavita Bhanot and Jeremy Tiang (Tilted Axis).

• Table of ContentsIntroduction                                                                                                                   6Tafsīr of ʿAisha bint Abu Bakr                                                                                    9The power of duʿāʾ and the nearnessof Allah to the believer                              9Every hardship or suffering is an expiationfor the believer                               11Do not use Allah as an excuse to refrainfrom good deeds                                 12Finding strength in the Creator overthe Creation                                               14The importance of the pursuit of justicein the life of Muslims                          15Supplicating to Allah to keep our heartsfirm upon faith                                    17Fiqh of ʿAisha                                                                                                              19Women’s travel                                                                                                   19On the need to unravel braids for ghusl                                                               20On perfume while in a state of Iḥrām                                                                  21When a woman starts her period while sheis performing the Hajj                     21The status of a child born out of wedlock                                                           22On the need to perform wudhu afterperforming ghusl on the Deceased            24Whether a woman nullifies the prayer                                                                 25On Salat al-Duha                                                                                                 26On when to break fast                                                                                          28On ostentatious living                                                                                          28ʿAisha on matters of Aqidah                                                                                       31Women as a source of bad luck                                                                           31Punishment of the believers in the hereafter                                                       32Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah lovesto meet them                                    33The Prophet’s ascension to Allah                                                                        34ʿAisha’s political influence: her SiyāsahSharʿiyya                                                  36Her commitment to the Sunnah                                                                           37ʿAisha’s speech upon hearing ofʿUthman’s murder                                           37ʿAisha’s letter of appeal to theKuffans                                                               39Etiquette of war                                                                                                   40The poetry of ʿAisha and her army                                                                      41ʿAisha’s warning to Muʿāwiyyah                                                                        42ʿAisha on heart softeners                                                                                            44The Prophet would choose the easiestof what is permissible                             44The Prophet loved to show gratitudeto Allah                                                     46Mercy begins at home                                                                                         47The rights of a neighbour                                                                                    49The perfect character of the Prophet                                                                   50On controlling the tongue                                                                                    51On gentleness                                                                                                       53Humility                                                                                                               55Abu Bakr on his deathbed                                                                                   57The ideal duʿāʾ                                                                                                    58The reward for reciting the Qur’an                                                                      59The blessed character of the Prophet(SAW)                                                      60The Prophet’s duʿāʾ  for his ummah                                                                    62At the first sign of hardship the believer’srefuge is in Allah                                 64Bibliography                                                                                                                69Arabic references                                                                                                 69English references                                                                                               70