Apropos of: Ahlelbayt.com's 'Mothers of Believers'

Note: This page answers only selective parts of the article in question
Please Visit SDOL.org's "Ayesha's Role in Islam".

Source: http://www.ahlelbayt.com/articles/ahlel-bayt/mother The Quran bestows the title of “Mother of the Believers” (Umm Al Mumineen) to Aisha, Hafsa, and the rest of the Prophet’s wives: “The Prophet is closer to the believers than their ownselves, and his wives are their mothers.” (Quran, 33:6) Therefore, anyone who declares “baraa” (disassociation) from Aisha and says that she is not his mother, such a person is not a believer. In order to be a believer, a Muslim must accept all of the Prophet’s wives as his mothers as decreed in the quoted verse. He must treat Aisha with the same respect that he treats his own mother with. Let us see what the Quran says about respecting one’s parents: “Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. And out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: ‘My Lord! bestow on them Your Mercy…’” (Quran, 17:23-24). Allah says again: “And (there is one) who says to his parents ‘oof’ ! …for they are those in loss!” (Quran, 46:17-18) If Aisha is the mother of the believers, then the people who slander her, insult her, and criticize her are not believers. We wonder what will be the fate of those who speak of Aisha with contempt, who repel Aisha, disassociate themselves from her [i.e. “baraa”], and call her an enemy of Islam? How can the mother of Muslims, as declared by Allah, be an enemy of the Muslims?

It is astonishing, the Author writes something against the commentaries of two of the most renowned and Authentic masters of Sunni Tafseers, Ibne Kathir and Abul Aala Maududi.

The Author claims that Because of the title Ummul Momineen, all Muslims must treat Aisha with the same respect they show to their real/own mothers.

(and his wives are their mothers.) means, they are unlawful for marriage. In terms of honor, respect and veneration, it is not permissible for them to be alone with them, and the prohibition of marriage to them does not extend to their daughters and sisters, according to scholarly consensus.
Tafsir Ibne Kathir, Tafsir of Surah 33, verse 6

On the basis of the special relationship mentioned above, another characteristic of the Holy Prophet is that his wives are forbidden to the Muslims just like their own real mothers although their adopted mothers are in no sense their real mothers. This thing is peculiar only to the person of the Holy Prophet and of no other man in the world. In this connection, one should also know that the wives of the Holy Prophet are mothers of the believers only in the sense that the Muslims are under obligation to have reverence and respect for them, and no Muslim could marry them. As for other matters they are not like the mothers. For example, apart from their real relatives, all other Muslims were non-mahram for them from whom they had to observe Purdah; their daughters were not like real sisters for the Muslims, so that no Muslim could marry them; their brothers and sisters were not like the maternal uncles and aunts for the Muslims; they could not be inherited by a Muslim, unless a close relative, as a mother is inherited by her son. Another noteworthy point in this connection is that according to the Qur'an, this status accrues to all the wives of the Holy Prophet among whom Hadrat 'A'ishah is also included.
Tafheem ul Quran by Abul ala Maududi, Tafseer of Surah 33 verse 6

It is clear that because of the honor of Rasool (SAW), his wives were forbid to marry anyone else after him (SAW). Although other women in Islam are allowed this right, his (SAW) wives could not and this is the only reason for their title of mothers of believers.

If what the Author says is right and all of Rasool's (SAW) wives are like the real mothers of all believers, then God forbid, those who married the daughter or daughters of Rasool (SAW) sinned because they married the daughters of their own mothers. Similarly, all Muslims Sahabas who did not leave inheritance to the wives of Rasool (SAW), a mother's share, also transgressed the limits and sinned. I hope this is sufficient for the wise.

We never decline Ayesha being the mother of believers. But because we keep the Ahlulbayt (AS) in high regard and follow the Imamat of Ali, we disapprove of Ayesha's actions in the battle of Jamal. Wouldn't i stop my own mother if she carried a gun and went outside to kill some people, fo whatever reason? Wouldn't i criticize my mother's actions if she was on Baatil, disobeyed Rasool (SAW)? Because it is a sign of faith to atleast criticize something wrong.

In the end, only they are saved who follow Rasool (SAW), be it you, me, companions of Rasool (SAW) or wives of Rasool (SAW). Those who disobey Rasool (SAW) are ruined, irrespective of their relation to him (SAW). The argument over Ayesha is useless. If she was pious, she will be saved, if she transgressed against the limits, she will stand before the justice of Allah. What is the argument about?

O wives of the prophet! whoever of you commits an open indecency, the punishment shall be increased to her doubly; and this IS easy to Allah. And whoever of you is obedient to Allah and His Messenger and does good, We will give to her her reward doubly, and We have prepared for her an honorable sustenance.
Quran [33:30-31]

However I must also clarify that those who abuse Ayesha, Shias or non-shias, are as much wrong as those soldiers of Imam Ali (AS) who betrayed him in the battle of Siffin.

On a critical note, a mother of Muslims can as much be an enemy of the Muslims just like how a brother of Habeel (AS) can be his murderer, or the teacher of angels can be the Satan. I would not call Ayesha an enemy of Muslim. I will just call her a person who rebelled against the Caliph of time, whatever that means to you.

Source: http://www.ahlelbayt.com/articles/ahlel-bayt/mother Why would Allah bestow this honor upon Aisha and Hafsa if they were the enemies of the Muslims? Surely then Allah would have addressed them with the title of Umm Al Nasibioon (Mother of the Nasibis). Why would Allah try to confuse the believers by complimenting a supposed enemy of Islam? Was Allah trying to fool us? In another verse in the Quran, Allah addresses the Prophet’s wives as “Ahlel Bayt”: “O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other of the women; ..........” (Quran, 33:32-33) Allah bestowed upon Aisha and Hafsa the special honor of being addressed in the Quran as both Ahlel Bayt and Umm Al Mumineen, a position of double respect not given to anyone else other than the Prophet’s wives. This is something for our Shia brothers to reflect upon. Do they really feel comfortable criticizing people who have been elevated to such a high status by Allah in the Quran? Can any Shia claim to be mentioned in the Quran in such a manner? No mainstream Muslim is mentioned in the Quran like this either. Based on this, everyone alive today should know their place in this world as inferior to the Prophet’s wives; and inferior people should not criticize those higher in rank than them (i.e. higher in the ranks of Allah). We ask: are any of the contemporary Shia Ayatollahs mentioned in the Quran and bestowed an honor like the Prophet’s wives? The answer is a resounding no: none of them are mentioned in the Quran, and so it is up to the Shia wether or not he chooses to follow those honored in the Quran (i.e. the Prophet’s wives) or those who malign those honored in the Quran.

The Verse of Purity, or Quran [33:33] has already been discussed on many occasions. It clearly did not purify the wives of Rasool (SAW) for if they did, the wives would not be jealous of each other or plot against Rasool (SAW) because those are clearly a sign of impurity. Those who were pure from All Rijs, were certainly another group of people.

Was Allah trying to fool us? God forbid no. However, the Quran does fool and misguide us:

This Book, there is no doubt in it, is a guide to those who guard (against evil).
Quran [2:2]

The Quran is a guide only for those who guard, who are sincere. I appeal to the readers to be sincere with themselves, unbiased.

Coming back to the topic, the author says that Allah bestowed upon Aisha and Hafsa the special honor of being addressed in the Quran. He is absolutely right. Ayesha and Hafsa are not mentioned in Quran [33:33], but another Surah, a Surah totally revealed for them.

“When the Prophet confided unto one of his wives a matter, but when she divulged it (unto others) and God apprised him therefore, he made known a part of it and avoided a part; so when he informed her of it, said she: ‘Who informed thee of this?’ He said: ‘Informed, me, the All-Knowing, the All-Aware’.  If you both (women) repent to Allah, (it is better for you), for your hearts have swerved from the right path and if you supported each other against the Prophet, you should know that Allah is his Protector, and after Him Gabriel and the righteous believers and the angels are his companions and helpers. Happily his Lord if he divorceth you, will give him in your place wives better than you, submissive, faithful, obedient, repentant, prayerful, observers of fast, widows and virgins.”
Quran [66:3-5]

All scholars agree that these verses were for Ayesha and Hafsa.

Narrated Ibn Abbas: I intended to ask 'Umar so I said, "Who were those two ladies who tried to back each other against the Prophet?" I hardly finished my speech when he said, They were 'Aisha and Hafsa."
Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 436

You must note that the hearts of both, Ummul Momineen Ayesha and Hafsa swerved from the right path. This is Rijs in itself and it proves that these two women were not purified from all Rijs as Quran [33:33] did and the Author claimed it was in the honor of wives, including these two women.

From where do the Shia Ayatollahs come in? They are normal human beings and are also answerable for their own actions and beliefs. They are not infallibles. I do not mind the Author criticizing them. But when it comes to the teachings of Aal e Muhammad and Shiaism, then that is what we stand for. We do not stand for a person, we stand for a school of thought.

Source: http://www.ahlelbayt.com/articles/ahlel-bayt/mother Would our Shia brothers enjoy it if their local Ayatollahs delivered sermons denouncing their biological mothers? Would our Shia brothers enjoy it if Al-Islam.org or other Shia websites broadcasted slander against their biological mothers like they dedicate page after page denouncing Aisha? Al-Islam.org has a whole page dedicated to the charge that Aisha was a jealous woman. Answering-Ansar has a page dedicated on their site to condemning the Prophet’s wife. Would believers find it acceptable and within religious protocol to insult their own biological mothers? Yet, an insult against Aisha is a personal insult to all the believers. Recently, the Muslims rallied against the Denmark newspaper which insulted the Prophet; should we not also rally against the forces that insult his wives and the Mothers of all the Believers?

Again, if my biological mother abused Rasool (SAW), God forbid, then I would have no choice other than denouncing her, because that is what my faith tells me to do. If not denouncing, then atleast doing something which shows my disgust at what she did.

What Al-Islam.org said is there business and they should answer for what they write, but just to clarify, Al-Islam.org did not write one word on their own, they simply quoted Imam Muslim and Imam Bukhari. They are the ones who propagated the idea that Ayesha was a jealous woman. Do you think Al-Islam.org would have the guts to claim that Ayesha was a jealous woman, were it not for the texts available in Sahah e Sittah?

Narrated 'Aisha: I did not feel jealous of any of the wives of the Prophet as much as I did of Khadija (although) she died before he married me, for I often heard him mentioning her, and Allah had told him to give her the good tidings that she would have a palace of Qasab (i.e. pipes of precious stones and pearls in Paradise), and whenever he slaughtered a sheep, he would send her women-friends a good share of it
Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 58, Number 164

'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: I felt jealous of the women who offered themselves to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Then when Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this:" You may defer any one of them you wish, and take to yourself any you wish; and if you desire any you have set aside (no sin is chargeable to you)" (xxxiii. 51), I ('A'isha.) said: It seems to me that your Lord hastens to satisfy your desire. 
Sahih Muslim Book 008, Number 3453

I ask the Author. Do Shia really slander mothers of believers? By mothers of believers, I mean Ayesha and Hafsa because these are the only two women on which the Sunnis and Shias disagree. As said earlier, ignorant and extremists who abuse them are on the wrong path themselves.

Shiaism does not slander the wives of Rasool (SAW). If we claim that because these two wives were jealous, plotted against Rasool (SAW) many a times, fought a battle against Imam Ali (AS), thus we do not like to revere them or follow them, is this slander? Is this not a natural reaction of a believer, based on facts which you also agree to?

I will tell you who slanders the wives of Rasool (SAW).

Slander: a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report: a slander against his good name.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/slander

People who claim that Ayesha was not jealous, was the most beloved of Prophet's (SAW) wife, was the most superior woman, are the ones who slander, who slander the Quran as well as other wives of Rasool (SAW).

How you may ask? Read Surah 66 given above:

...  Happily his Lord if he divorceth you, will give him in your place wives better than you, submissive, faithful, obedient, repentant, prayerful, observers of fast, widows and virgins.”
Quran [66:5]

If Ayesha and Hafsa were divorced, Allah would give Rasool (SAW) wives "BETTER" than them. If other women existed at that time, who could be better wives than these, how can some people say that Ayesha was the best woman of All times? It seems she wasn't even the best woman of her own time. Isn't this a slander against the better women?

Similarly, with respect to the Hadith regarding jealousy i quoted above from Sahih Bukhari, isn't it obvious that Ummul Momineen Khadija (RA) was closer to Rasool (SAW) than any other wife? Do not people slander against Khadija (RA) when they claim baselessly that Ayesha was Rasool's (SAW) favorite wife?

The author wants to rally against the forces which insult the mothers of believers. Unfortunately, he is 1400 years late. The author must first rally against Abu Bakr, for he slapped his own mother (according to the Author's literal approach);

Narrated 'Aisha: (the wife of the Prophet) We set out with Allahs Apostle on one of his journeys till we reached Al-Baida' or Dhatul-Jaish, a necklace of mine was broken (and lost). Allah's Apostle stayed there to search for it, and so did the people along with him. There was no water at that place, so the people went to Abu- Bakr As-Siddiq and said, "Don't you see what 'Aisha has done? She has made Allah's Apostle and the people stay where there is no water and they have no water with them." Abu Bakr came while Allah's Apostle was sleeping with his head on my thigh, He said, to me: "You have detained Allah's Apostle and the people where there is no water and they have no water with them.

So he admonished me and said what Allah wished him to say and hit me on my flank with his hand. Nothing prevented me from moving (because of pain) but the position of Allah's Apostle on my thigh. .....
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 7, Number 330

Narrated Aisha: Abu Bakr came to towards me and struck me violently with his fist and said, "You have detained the people because of your necklace." But I remained motionless as if I was dead lest I should awake Allah's Apostle although that hit was very painful.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, Book 82, Number 828:

Abu Bakr hit Ayesha which caused her pain. Isn't a physical aggression, slapping your own mother causing her pain a bigger sin when compared to dissociation from her?

Then the author should rally against another Sahabi and Khalifa e Rashida, Ali (AS), because he fought a battle against Ayesha for what ever reason, and assaulting your own mother is a greater sin rather than criticizing her actions on a webpage.

I only intend to clarify confusions. As said again an again, we must live and let live. Let nothing create grudges amongst us. Diversity in beliefs is something which we can never change.

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