The Shia scholars slander the Prophet’s wives, Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) and Hafsa (رضّى الله عنها). They do not have a good opinion of Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) because she was the daughter of the first Caliph (Abu Bakr [رضّى الله عنه]), and they do not speak well of Hafsa (رضّى الله عنها) because she was the daughter of the second Caliph (Umar bin Khattab [رضّى الله عنه]).
The Shia believe that Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) was a Munafiqh (hypocrite) and Kaffir (disbeliever), and we see this allegation in the well-known books of the Shia: “Aisha was an infidel woman (Kaffir).” (Hayat-ul-Quloob, Vol. No. 2, Page No. 726) It is further stated: “Aisha was a hypocrite (Munafiqh).” (Hayat-ul-Quloob, Page No. 867) And again: “Aisha and Hafsa were hypocrite and infidel women.” (Hayat-ul-Quloob, Vol. No. 2, Page No. 900) The famous Ayatollah, Mullah Baqir Majlisi, states: “She [Aisha] was a traitor.” (Mullah Baqir Majlisi, Tadhkiratul Aimmah, p. 66)
The Shia argue that whoever denies the Imamah of Ali (رضّى الله عنه) is considered a Kaffir, and they say that Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) is one of the leaders (along with Muawiyya [رضّى الله عنه]) in the opposition against Ali’s Imamah (رضّى الله عنه).
Let us see what the popular Shia website, Al-Shia.com, has to say about this:
:”فيمن جحد إمامة أمير المؤمنين والائمة من بعده عليهم السلام بمنزلة ( 6 ) من جحد نبوة الانبياء عليهم السلام . واعتقادنا ”
“فيمن أقر بأمير المؤمنين وأنكر واحدا من بعده من الائمة عليهم السلام أنه بمنزلة من آمن بجميع الانبياء ثم أنكر بنبوة محمد صلى الله عليه وآله “
Source : http://www.al-shia.com/html/ara/books/behar/behar27/a7.html
Translation : Al-Saduk says, “Our belief is that the one who rejects the Imaamat of Ameer ul Mu’mineen [Ali] and the Aimmah after him, has the same position like the one who rejects the Prophethood of the Prophets.”
Further, he states : “And our belief is that the one who accepts Ameer ul Mu’mineen but rejects a single Imaam after him, has the same position like the one who believes in all the Prophets and then rejects the Prophethood of Muhammad (saws).”
Sheykh Mufid declared:
“اتفقت الامامية على أن من أنكر إمامة أحد من الائمة وجحد ما أوجبه الله تعالى له من فرض الطاعة فهو كافر ضال مستحق للخلود في النار”
Source: http://www.al-shia.com/html/ara/books/behar/behar23/a39.html
Translation: “The Imamiyya is in agreement that the one who rejects the Imaamat of one Imaam and rejects the obedience to them which Allah (t) ordered is a misguided Kaffir deserving to remain in Hell-Fire forever.”
Hence, there should be no confusion on this matter that the Shia believe Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) is a disbeliever (Kaffir) destined for Hell-Fire. In fact, the Shia Tafseer on Al-Islam.org declares that Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) is not only a Kaffir but rather she is the very leader of the Kufaar [Imam al-Kufr]. Al-Islam.org quotes the Shia Tafseer for verse 9:12 as :
“According to the Holy Prophet, a-immatal kufr (leaders of infidelity) are also those who opposed and fought against the divinely commissioned Imams of the Ahl ul Bayt…Ali ibn abi Talib had recited this verse at the battle of Jamal and quoted the above noted prophecy of the Holy Prophet.” [Pooya/M.A. Ali 9:12, http://www.al-islam.org/quran/]
In Tafseer Al-Qumi (which is perhaps the most classical of Shia Tafseer), it is said that it is the people whom Ali (رضّى الله عنه) fought in the Battle of Jamal including Aisha (رضّى الله عنها), Talha (رضّى الله عنه), and Zubair (رضّى الله عنه) who are being referred to in this Verse as the “Leaders of Kufr.” This view is also the position of Kashani in his Tafseer Al-Safi, and in other Shia interpretations. The Majma ul Bayan Tafseer also includes Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) as one of the “Aimmatul Kufr” (Imams of Kufr) along with the Quraish polythiests, the Persian Magians, and the Byzantine Christians.
Oftentimes one will find Shias who use Taqiyyah (deception to protect one’s religion) when they debate with the Ahlus Sunnah, and they claim that they don’t say that Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) is a Kaffir. How is this possible when Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) supposedly fought against the so-called Infallible Imam of the Shia? Not only this, but Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) was the sole reason that the Ahlus Sunnah believe Abu Bakr (رضّى الله عنه) to be the first Caliph and not Ali (رضّى الله عنه). To the Shia, Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) thus represents the leader of the enemies of Ali (رضّى الله عنه), a chronic liar and fabricator of Hadith.
Let us now examine what Al-Tijani (a popular Shia scholar) said about Aisha: “…she [Aisha] tried hard to support her father, even by fabricating sayings [Hadith].” (Then I was Guided, p.141). Here, Al-Tijani is accusing the Prophet’s wife of being a liar. It is well accepted that fabricating Hadith is Kufr (disbelief) both in Shia and Sunni schools of thought.
The Shia call Aisha “the horn of Shaitan” and they claim that the Prophet said this. Al-Tijani alleges in his book: “Once the Prophet (saw) was giving a speech, and he pointed towards the house where Aishah was living, then said, ‘There is the trouble … there is the trouble … there is the trouble … from where the devil’s horns come out.’” (Then I was Guided, p.119)
The accusations by the Shia scholars do not stop there. To create a diabolical mystique around Aisha (رضّى الله عنها), they accuse her of hating to even mention the name of Ali (رضّى الله عنه) and that she celebrated on the day that Ali (رضّى الله عنه) died. Al-Tijani says: “she [Aisha] did not like mentioning his [Ali’s] name, and when she learnt of his death she knelt and thanked Allah.” (Then I was Guided, p.117-118)
The Shia scholars even accuse Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) of being an accomplice to murder. They say that Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) advocated the murder of Uthman (رضّى الله عنه), and they quote her as saying “Kill the old fool [Uthman].” Not only did she advocate the murder of Uthman (رضّى الله عنه), but the Shia also say that she then used the murder of Uthman (رضّى الله عنه) as an excuse to wage war against Ali (رضّى الله عنه) and kill even more Muslims. Al-Tijani claims: “she permitted the killing of innocent people and started a war against the commander of the believers and the Companions who voted for him, and she caused the deaths of thousands of Muslims, according to the historians. She did all that because she did not like Ali who advised the Prophet to divorce her.” (Then I was Guided, p.117) Not only this, but the Shia scholars also add that Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) was responsible for the murder of Muawiyya (رضّى الله عنه).
There are even Shia scholars who argue that Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) and Hafsa (رضّى الله عنها) attempted to murder the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) himself: “Aisha and Hafsa poisioned the Prophet.” (Jila-ul-Ayoun, Page No. 118) This is voiced by one of the Shia Maraje, namely Mullah Baqir Majlisi: “Aisha and Hafsa tried to martyr Rasulullaah by giving him poison.” (Vol. 2, Hayat-ul-quloob, page #870, Mullah Baqir Majlisi) And again: “…those two female munafiqs (referring to Aisha and Hafsa) agreed to martyr Rasulullah by administering poison to him.” (Hayatul Quloob, page 745, Vol 2, Mullah Baqir Majlisi) Some of the more liberal Shia will deny that Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) poisioned the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم), but they will not deem it blasphemous to argue this point; in fact, we noticed an entire thread about this topic on Shia-Chat, where poster after poster was arguing that Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) had attempted to poison the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم).
We hope it is becoming more and more apparent that the accusations levied at Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) seem to stem more from emotions, rhetoric, and inherent bias rather than reliable and referenced historical facts. Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) and Hafsa (رضّى الله عنها) are portrayed as being demonically bad people; these being two of the women whom the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) remained married to and loved for his entire life.
The Shia cleric Mutahhiri was quoted in the Tehran Times as saying: “Now that we see Ali, and Ammaar, Uways al-Qarani and others face to face with Aisha and az-Zubayr and Talhah, we do not feel any hesitation, for we see the second group as people with the look of criminals, that is, the effects of evil and treachery are evident on their faces: and when we look at their faces and their treacherous characters we guess that they are people of the Fire.” (Shia cleric Mutahhiri, Tehran Times, 25th August, 1982)
This is voiced again in this Shia book: “…Muawiyya and Aisha were worst people of all times.” (Makalmaat-e-husainia, page #59). And Mullah Baqir Majlisi said: “They [Aisha and Hafsa] were both hypocrites [Munafiqeen].” (Mullah Baqir Majlisi, Hayatul Quloob, 2:745)
And there are even Shia scholars who go to the extreme of saying that Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) and Hafsa (رضّى الله عنها) were indecent women: “Hafsa was an indecent women.” (Tohfa-e-Hanfia Dar Jawab Tohfa-e-Jaffria, Page No. 123) And: “Aisha was charged of committing open vulgarity.” (Quran Majeed by Maqbool Hussain Dehlevi, Page No. 840) Al-Tijani says in his book: “How could Umm al-Mu’mineen Aishah leave her house in which Allah had ordered her to stay, when the most High said: ‘And stay in your houses and do not display your finery like the displaying of the ignorance of yours.’” Is Al-Tijani accusing the Prophet’s own wife of displaying her finery [i.e. showing her breasts, body, etc] to everyone?
The Shia scholars believe that the Mehdi will come and exhume the body of Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) in order to flog her for her sins: “When the Twelvth Imam returns, Aisha will be raised from the dead so as to be whipped as due punishment.” (Al Shafi, Vol. No. 2, Page No. 108) And: “When the Twelvth Imam returns, he will bring Aisha to life so as to torment her.” (Haq-ul-Yaqeen, Page No. 139) As well as: “Imam Mehdi will punish Aisha with stripes.” (Hayat-ul-Quloob, Vol. No. 2, Page No. 901) Mullah Baqir Majlisi says: “When Imam Mahdi arrives, Aisha will be resurrected so that she may be given a prescribed punishment and that Fatima be vindicated.” (Mullah Baqir Majlisi, Haqqul Yaqeen, p. 347)
The Shia accusations against Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) range from the absurd [i.e. that she gave poison to the Prophet] to the outright childish; for example, Al-Islam.org dedicates so much of its webspace to discuss how Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) was an imprudent, rude, and “jealous woman.” Stories will then be cited about how Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) was so jealous and vengeful towards her co-wives and step-child Ibrahim (رضّى الله عنه); the way the Shia describe her makes her sound diabolical, more like the wicked stepmother in the Disney movie “Cinderella” than a real life person. In fact, the Shia will never even name their daughter “Aisha” because to them this name is a cursed and wretched name; this shows the depth of their hatred for Aisha (رضّى الله عنها). The Shia scholars will belittle Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) by saying that she was barren and infertile, citing this as a reason that Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) hated her co-wives and was jealous of Fatima (رضّى الله عنها).
The entire faith of Shi’ism is based upon calling Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) a liar and a fabricator of Hadith. To the Shia, Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) is the chief rejector of the Imamah of Ali (رضّى الله عنه), because of whom the entire Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah supposedly abandoned the Imamah of Ali (رضّى الله عنه). We wonder why then the Shia scholars say that they are the “followers of Ahlel Bayt” since Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) and her co-wives are the Ahlel Bayt! Allah Himself addresses them in the Quran as such.
The Quran specifically refers to the wives of the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) as Ahlel Bayt in the following verse:
“O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other of the women; If you will be on your guard, then be not soft in your speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease yearn; and speak a good word. And stay quietly in your houses, and make not a dazzling display, like that of the former Times of Ignorance; and establish regular Prayer, and give regular Charity; and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, you Ahlel Bayt (People of the House), and to make you pure and spotless.” (Quran, 33:32-33)
The transliteration reads: “Ya nisa al-nabiyi lastuna kahadin mina alnisa-i ini itaqaytuna fala takhdaAAna bialqawli fayatmaAAa allathee fee qalbihi maradun waqulna qawlan maAAroofan Waqarna fee buyootikunna wala tabarrajna tabarruja aljahiliyyati al-oola waaqimna alssalata waateena alzzakata waatiAAna Allaha warasoolahu innama yureedu Allahu liyuthhiba AAankumu alrrijsa Ahlul Bayt-i wayutahhirakum tatheeran” (Quran, 33:32-33)
We ask Allah to shower His infinite blessings upon Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) and Hafsa (رضّى الله عنها), the Mothers of the Believers, and to protect them from the slander of the Nasibis who, while proclaiming what has been mentioned above, can not possibly claim to love the Ahlel Bayt of Muhammad (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) despite whatever they claim of the Ahlel Bayt of Ali (رضّى الله عنه). In future articles, we shall Insha-Allah refute this malicious slander against our beloved Mothers, Aisha (رضّى الله عنها) and Hafsa (رضّى الله عنها).
Article Written By: Ibn al-Hashimi, www.ahlelbayt.com
