Treasury of 'A'ishah

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