Aisha Essay
PART B
Analyse the impact of Aisha bint Abu Bakr on the development and expression of Islam.
Aisha bint Abu Bakr was a leader, a woman, a wife, a theologian, a scholar and a political activist. She was precocious, loyal, brave and remarkably intelligent. These aspects of her humble life have allowed her to make a powerful impact on the development and expression of Islam that “no woman [has] reached”[1]. Not only did she influence the position of women in Islamic society, Islamic ethics, and the understanding and interpretation of the Qur’an, but she also modelled these qualities for the men, women and children of Islam. As a woman in Islamic society, Aisha carried a particularly high status. She was the daughter of Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, who had embraced Islam before she was born. Thus, she was not influenced by the former polytheistic religious tradition of pre-Islamic Arabia, and its stance for gender inequality. Aisha was also the third and favourite wife of the Prophet Muhammad, to whom she was divinely revealed:
From these events, it is evident that Aisha is a model of Islamic ethics and morality for Muslims, by following them diligently throughout her life. This development is an example of Aisha’s impact on Islam through a more passive role as a model of morality in life. An active role Aisha played in her impact on the development and expression of Islam was as a theologian. Her outstanding intelligence, strong power of retention and close companionship with the Prophet allowed her to make this contribution. During her marriage, she spent much time studying the Qur’an, as an eager pupil of the Prophet, and having discussions with him about the issues it contains. In this manner, Aisha was able to gain “knowledge and insight such as no woman has ever acquired.”5 Through her astounding memory, she was able to retain much of the priceless sayings of the Prophet and the divine revelations of Muhammad that she had witnessed, thus allowing
Analyse the impact of Aisha bint Abu Bakr on the development and expression of Islam.
Aisha bint Abu Bakr was a leader, a woman, a wife, a theologian, a scholar and a political activist. She was precocious, loyal, brave and remarkably intelligent. These aspects of her humble life have allowed her to make a powerful impact on the development and expression of Islam that “no woman [has] reached”[1]. Not only did she influence the position of women in Islamic society, Islamic ethics, and the understanding and interpretation of the Qur’an, but she also modelled these qualities for the men, women and children of Islam. As a woman in Islamic society, Aisha carried a particularly high status. She was the daughter of Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, who had embraced Islam before she was born. Thus, she was not influenced by the former polytheistic religious tradition of pre-Islamic Arabia, and its stance for gender inequality. Aisha was also the third and favourite wife of the Prophet Muhammad, to whom she was divinely revealed:
From these events, it is evident that Aisha is a model of Islamic ethics and morality for Muslims, by following them diligently throughout her life. This development is an example of Aisha’s impact on Islam through a more passive role as a model of morality in life. An active role Aisha played in her impact on the development and expression of Islam was as a theologian. Her outstanding intelligence, strong power of retention and close companionship with the Prophet allowed her to make this contribution. During her marriage, she spent much time studying the Qur’an, as an eager pupil of the Prophet, and having discussions with him about the issues it contains. In this manner, Aisha was able to gain “knowledge and insight such as no woman has ever acquired.”5 Through her astounding memory, she was able to retain much of the priceless sayings of the Prophet and the divine revelations of Muhammad that she had witnessed, thus allowing
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