THE ANGEL’S GIFT

The tenth year of the Master’s mission was a year of unusual gloom. He
suffered two severe blows, one on the heels of the other. At first his uncle
Abu Talib, and then his faithful wife, Khadija, passed away. Both of them
had been the source of real strength to him.

Khadija’s death was particularly unfortunate. It put an end to the comforts

of a happy home. Khadija was much more than a wife. Being the first to
Islam, she was the sanest adviser and the best companion the Master had.
Her death created a gap which seemed impossible to fill. Persecution by
the Meccans now came to have a double sting. This made the Master
unusually sad. His natural cheerfulness was gone.

One night the Master lay in bed. Presently an angel came down, carrying
something wrapped in silken cloth. He presented it to the Master. “What is
this?” the Master demanded. “This is your wife,” was the reply. The master
removed the cloth and found Aisha inside.

The meaning of the vision was too evident to miss. The master needed a
companion to carry on his difficult mission. The companion had to have
unusual talents. The choice was not easy to make. The Divine Will made
the choice for the Master. It chose Aisha to fill the gap created by Khadija’s
death. Aisha was chosen by Providence, not only to provide the comforts of
a happy home , but also to pass on to generations of mankind, the graphic
picture of ideal virtues.

Childhood

Aisha was the daughter of Abu Bakr, the bosom friend of the Master. Her
mother, Ummi-Ruman, was at first married to another man. She became a
widow and married Abu Bakr. She bore him two children, viz., Aisha and
Abdur Rahman.

Aisha was born towards the end of the fourth year of the Master’s mission.
Her date of birth is not exactly unknown. However, she was between eight
and nine when the flight to Medina began.
Aisha grew in a home saturated with the true spirit of Islam. The master
was a frequent visitor in this home. He and Abu Bakr sat here for hours,
discussing plans. Little Aisha played around. But even at this tender age,
her keen mind was quick to absorb the spirit of the global revolution under
way.

Aisha’s parents were the leaders of the Muslim brotherhood. Her father
built little mosque in his courtyard, where he said his prayers and recited
the Holy Quran. Little Aisha eagerly picked up the principles and practices
of Islam. She became a devout Muslim from the moment she came to
understand the world around her.

Aisha was precocious child. Her physical and mental growth amazed
everybody. Even at tender age, she asked extremely intelligent questions.
She examined everything carefully and tried to dig out reasons behind what
she saw. She had a wonderful memory. Her comments about persons and
things amazed her parents.

Naturally, little Aisha was fond of playing with Dolls and the swing had the
greatest attraction for her. Even when a small child, she was very
respectful to the Master. When he came, she hid away her dolls. He little
playmates also followed her example. But the Master was fond of seeing
little children play. He did not like that children should get scared by
anybody. So he called Aisha and her little friends and said, “Why did you
stop playing? Feel perfectly free and go on with your play.”

One day Aisha was busy with her dolls when the Master dropped in. he
saw a small winged horse standing close to the dolls. “What is this, Aisha?”
he asked pointing to the toy-horse.

“A horse, sir,” came the reply.

“But horses don’t have wings, do they?” he remarked.

“Why not?” protested little Aisha, “Soloman’s horses had wings.”

Such was Aisha’s reasoning power at this tenderage. So wonderful was her
memory that she several portions of the Holy Quran by heart when only a
little child. She picked up tese verses from her father. She was a little over
eight when the flight to Medina took place. Years later, no one could
recount the details of the flight as exactly as Aisha could.

MARRIAGE

When the angel told the Master that Aisha had been tipped to be his wife,
she was only a girl of six, but she looked older than her years. The Master
was sure that she would soon grow up to be a woman of remarkable
talents.

Othman bin Muzoon was a closed comanion of the Master. He talked to his
wife how Khadija’s death had cast a gloom over the Master’s life. His wife,
Khaula gave careful thought to the question. At last she came to the Master
one day and said, “Messenger of Allah, you better marry another wife”

“Marry whom?” he asked.

“Well, there are virgins as well as widows,” she answered. “If you permit
me, I can start talk with someone.”

“But whom do you have in mind?” the master demanded.

“Sauda daughter of Zama is the widow, I have in mind,” she replied, “and
Aisha daughter of Abu Bakr is the virgin.”

“All right,” said the Master, “contact the guardians of both.”

When Khaula took up the matter with Abu Bakr his first reaction was of
surprise and he said, “The Master and I have always looked upon wach
other as brothers. Aisha is his niece. How can she be married to him?”

Khaula conveyed the reply to the Master. “But Abu Bakr is not my real
brother,” observed the Master. “He is only my brother in faith. Islam does
not forbid marriage with the daughter of such a brother.”

Khaula conveyed the Master’s comments of Abu Bakr. The report made
him extremely happy. By giving him his daughter in marriage, he could raw
still closed to the Master. However, there was still one obstacle left. Aisha
had already been engaged. However, they boy and his parents were still
non-believers. Abu Bakr thought it fit to settle this question first. He went to
the boy’s father and said, “I want a definite answer with respect to Aisha’s
engagement.”

The man consulted his wife. “We had better break the engagement,” she
said. “The Muslim girl is sure to lure our son away from the religion of our
ancestors.” So the man told Abu Bakr that he did not want his son to marry
Aisha.

Abu Bakr felt ever joyed. He was now free to marry his daughter to the
Master and win an immortal honour.

A few days latter the marriage took place. It was the simplest affair
imaginable. Aisha was playing with her dolls, when the maid came and took
her to her father. Abu Bakr himself conducted the marriage ceremony, little
Aisha knowing nothing about what was going on. It was only when her
mother explained the matter to her, that she came to know about her
marriage. From the time on she started staying indoors.

For three years after marriage, Aisha stayed with her parents. Most of the
time she was busy in her play and was sometimes a little naughty. Theis
provoked rebuke and sometimes even a slight beating from the mother.
However, the Master was against any punishment and told the mother
about it. One day he found Aisha sobbing , standing beside the door. “You
have not cared for my request,” he said to Ummi-Ruman. “She carries tales
against me to the father,” was the explanation. “No matter what she does,”
observed the Master, “she should have no beating.”

FATHER’S INFLUENCE

Aisha grew up under the care of a father whose greatest passion was to
serve Allah and his Messenger. Abu Bakr recited the Holy Quran with such
fervor that the hearers could not but feel more. He started reciting the Holy
Book in the streets and began drawing crowds around him. This frightened
the Meccans. “This man might charm our wives and children into Islam,”
they declared. “He must be stopped, by force if necessary. “Before long,
Abu Bakr became the victim of persecution.
The persecution induced Abu Bakr to migrate Abyssinia. With wife and
children, he set out on the journey. On the way he met an influential chief,
Ibn Daghna by name. “What place are you bound for, Abu Bakr?” he
asked. “I am migrating to Abyssinia,” was the reply. “How unfortunate for
the Quresh!” he remarked “that a man like you should leave them. Get back
home. I will put you under protection.”

So Abu Bakr was back in Mecca. Ibn Daghna told the Meccans that Abu
Bakr was under his protection. He assured them, however, that Abu Bakr
would no longer recite the Holy Quran in the streets. But Abu Bakr’s
passion to declare the truth was uncontrollable. He built a mosque by the
side of his door and started reciting the Quran there. Soon he was again
attracting crowds. The Meccans complained to Ibn Daghna who requested
Abu Bakr not to make his position difficult. This made Abu Bakr desperate.
“I do not need your protection,” he told Ibn Daghna, “Allah is enough for
me.”

One more Abu Bakr was publicly reciting the Holy Quran, not caring for the
persecution of the Deccans. This went on till he finally migrated to Medina.

The example of the father had its effect on the daughter. From early
childhood Aisha learnt to stand fast and suffer for the truth. She learnt how
to uphold and work for a noble cause.

FLIGHT TO MEDINA

Aisha had been married to the Master for almost two years and a half.
Persecution by the Quresh had been mounting to ever new heights through
this period, till it became unbearable. One by one the Muslims left for
Medina for safety. Only the Master, Abu Bakr and a gew other were the
only Mulsim souls left in Mecca. The Master daily visited Abu Bakr and both
thought over ways for advancing the cause of truth.

One unusually hot noon, Mecca lay still in the sizzling heat of the merciless
sun. Aisha and her sister sat by their father. Presently there was a knock at
the door. Abu Bakr ran out and found the Master standing at the door. “Abu
Bakr!” he said, “let your womenfolk draw aside. I have something very
important to discuss with you.”

“Please Master!” replied Abu Bakr, “there is no one in the house except
your own family. So please walk in.”

The Master came in and explained his plant to leave for Medina the same
night. Abu Bakr had already completed all arrangements. He asked his
daughters to start getting everything ready. At the dead of night, the Master
and Abu Bakr both rode on camels and were off to Medina. The families of
the two were to wait at Mecca till they could be sent for.

After some weeks Abu Bakr sent word to his son, Abdullah, to bring to
Medina the family of the Master and his own mother and sisters. Abdullah
obeyed. The caravan consisted of the Master’s wife, Sauda, his two
daughters, Abu Bakr’s wife and her two daughters. On the way, the camel
on which Aisha was riding got out of control and ran away. It seemed that
Aisha would tumble down any minute. He mother felt nervous and started
weeping. However, Aisha kept her nerve and sat firmly in her seat. To the
great relief of everyone, the camel was caught and brought under control.
By the time the party reached Medina, the Master had his living quarters
ready. These consisted of mud huts, close to the mosque. Sauda and her
step-daughters , Fatima and Ummi-Kulthum, occupied these quarters. Abu
Bakr obtained a house in another part of the city. Aisha lived in this house
with her parents for eight months.

ILLNESS

The climate of Medina did not at first suit many of the refugees, who fell ill.
Abu Bakr was also one of them. He had a high fever looked after her sick
father day and night. Abu Bakr’s condition became quite grave. He lay
helpless in bed and repeated this verse again and again.

“Every man is being waylaid before the very eyes of his family. Death is
nearer than even the laces of his shoes.”

Aisha went to the Master and requested him to pray for her father’s death.
This he did and Abu Bakr was soon well.
Before long, Aisha fell ill. Her illness was equally severe. The loving father
sat her bed-side day and night. At last the fever left and she began to
recover. But such was the severity of the disease that she lost her hair.

FAREWELL TO THE PARENTAL HOME

When Aisha had fully recovered, Abu Bakr came to the Master one day and
said: “Messenger of Allah? Why don’t you bring your wife in your own home
now?”

“I have no money to the pay the dower,” was the reply.

“You can borrow money from me, said Abu Bakr. So the Master borrowed
five hundred dirhams and sent the money to Aisha.

On the following day, the Master sent some Ansari women to bring Aisha to
the new home. When these ladies called at Abu Bakr’s house, Aisha was
enjoying her swing. The mother washed her up, dressed her hair and led
her into the room where the ladies sat. the Ansari women shouted out in a
chorus: “May you prove auspicious! May you bring good luck!”

In the meantime the Master also came. There was nothing in the home,
except a bowl of milk. This was offered to the little milk. He then passed the
milk to Aisha. Very bashfully she took the bowl and sipped a little milk. She
then put down the bowl. “Give the milk to your friends,” the Master
suggested “No,” shouted out the girls, “We have no appetite.”

“Don’t speak the untruth,” remarked the Master, “Every word of what one
says is taken down.”

After this simple ceremony Aisha bade good-bye to her parents and went to
live with her glorious husband. She was nine years of age. Hostile critics
have declared this as too early an age for material duties. They forget that
the rate of Aisha’s physical and mental growth was unusually rapid and that
Arabia is a hot country. If a girl can become a mother at nine in a temperate
climate like that of United States of America, there is much more reason to
believe that Aisha was quite mature when she left for her husband’s home.
Aisha went to live in her new home in the month of Shawwal. Three years
ago, she had been married in the same month. The Arabs looked upon
Shawwal as unlucky month and no marriage ceremonies were performed in
this month. Aisha’s marriage swept away this superstition, as it had swept
off several silly rites connected with marriage ceremonies.

REGULAR EDUCATION BEGINS

Formal schooling was unknown in the Arabia of those days. Literacy was a
thing. With the coming of Islam the value of literacy grew. The Holy Quran
was in a book form. The Master himself encouraged literacy. One of the
conditions for the Badr prisoners to win their freedom was to make ten
Muslims literate. At the Master’s instance his own wife, Hafsa, had learnt to
read and write. Aisha only learnt how to read and write. Aisha only learnt
how to read. She first learn to read the Holy Quran. Aisha’s education
started in the home of her father. Abu Bakr was noted for his knowledge of
poetry and tribal ancestry. Aisha inherited her father’s knowledge.

Of far greater consequence than literacy are the refinement of manners

and the formation of character, Islam want education to lay stress on these
goals. Literacy is only a means of achieving them. The greatest miracle of
history is the revolution caused by the Master in the minds of millions of
men. Aisha’s higher education took place under the direct care of the
greatest teacher of history. With a very definite aim he started shaping the
mind of the lady who was destined to convey and interpret his teaching to
the feminine world.

With amazing eagerness Aisha pressed her remarkable talents in the

service of her education. Every kind of human virtue found its consummate
perfection in the personality of the Master. Aisha was exposed to the fullest
pull of this unique personality. This was a rare opportunity fortune had
thrown in her way. She grasped the opportunity and did her best to perfect
her education. She was always full of question. The moment the Master
stepped into her apartment, she started shooting all kinds of questions at
him. The door of her apartment opened in the courtyard of the mosque.
When the Master sat in the mosque teaching people and explaining things
to them, Aisha sat by her door, listening to each word he said. The result
was astoundingly wide knowledge and deep understanding. Very few of the
companions could equal Aisha in understanding the Holy Quran and the
Sunna.

Aisha’s spirit of inquiry did permanent service to Islam. Her questions were
the cause of throwing useful light on several important problems. Here are
a few examples:

Fighting for the cause of Allah is the duty of every Muslim. One day Aisha
asked: “O Messenger of Allah, should women also go to the battlefield like
men?”

“No,” came to reply, “the pilgrimage is enough for them.”

One day she asked: “Messenger of Allah, is a women’s consent necessary

before she is married?” “Yes”, was the reply.

“But girls are generally too bashful to express their consent,” she went on.

“Their silence amounts to consent,” explained the Master. Once the Master
said:

“Allah likes to meet the man who likes meet him and he dislikes to meet
him who does not like to meet Him.”

At the Aisha remarked: “Messenger of Allah, none of us like to die.”

“True,” said the Master, “But my point is this: When a believer hears of
Allah’s bounty, His forgiveness and of the Paradise, he comes to love Allah
all the more. Allah, too becomes fond of him. But when a disbeliever hears
about the punishment in store for him, he gets afraid of facing Allah. Allah
also starts disliking him.”

Once the Master declared: “Follow the middle course. Try to bring people
closer. Tell them that they will enter heaven, not purely on merit but due to
Divine grace.”

The announcement sounded a little strange in Aisha’s ears. So she asked:

“Messenger of Allah! Does this apply to you too?”
“Yes,” answered the Master, “I too pray for Allah’s mercy and his
forgiveness.”

Referring to Safia, he co-wife, Aisha once said: “Oh! she is a pigmy.” The
Master at once spoke out, “Aisha, you have uttered something which can
pollute all the water of the sea.”

“Please Master,” said Aisha in apology, “I have only stated a fact.”

“Well,” said the Master, “No amount of money will induce me to make such
a remark about anybody.”

Once someone stole something belonging to Aisha. She cursed the thief.
Hearing the curse the Master said, “Don’t take away from that person’s sin
and your own recompense by uttering curses.”

This sort of education went on day and night. Aisha entered the Master’s
home when she was nine and she was eighteen at the time of his death.
This she spent the nine most formative years of life under the loving care of
the world’s Greatest Teacher.