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Safar 12, 1330
1) The mother of the believers `Áyesha enjoys a special status, and she has her own contribution standing to her credit, but she is not the best of the Prophet's wives. How can she be the best since one authentic <ádíth quotes her saying, "The Messenger of Alláh, peace be upon him and his progeny, once mentioned Khadíja, and I objected by saying: `She was an old woman, and such and such, and Alláh has granted you someone better than her [meaning herself].' He said: `Not at all; Alláh has not granted me better than her; she believed in me when people denounced me, and she believed in me when people called me a liar; she shared her wealth with me when people deprived me, and Alláh blessed me with children by her while depriving me of the children of all others'"? `Ayesha is also reported as having said, "The Messenger of Alláh, peace be upon him and his progeny, never left home before mentioning Khadija and praising her. One day, he mentioned her, and I felt jealous. I said: `Was she but an old woman, while Alláh has blessed you with someone better than her?' He became so offended that his front hair shook in anger, then he said: `No, by Alláh! Alláh did not bless me with anyone better than her! She believed in me when people disbelieved; she held me truthful when people called me a liar; she gave me an equal share of her wealth when people deprived me, and Alláh blessed me with children by her while depriving me the children of other women.'"[1]
2) The best of the Prophet's (pbuh) consorts, therefore, is Khadíja al-Kubra, the truthful of this nation, the foremost in believing in Alláh and His Book, and in solacing His Prophet. Alláh has inspired His Messenger (pbuh) to convey the good news to her that she had in Paradise a house built of stalks of gold and silver,[2] and that she had been a favourite of Alláh. The Almighty said of her: "The best of the women of Paradise are Khadíja daughter of Khuaylid, Fá>ima daughter of Mu<ammad, Ásiya daughter of Muzá<im, and Mary daughter of `Umrán (Amram)." He, peace be upon him and his progeny, has said: "Among all the women of the world, commended are Khadíja daughter of Khuaylid, Fá>ima daughter of Mu<ammad, Ásiya daughter of Muzá<im, and Mary daughter of `Umrán." There are other a<ádíth which are among the most authentic and reliable emphasizing the same.[3]
It cannot also be said that `Áyesha was the best among the mothers of believers save Khadíja. Reliable traditions and recorded events refuse to favour her over the others, as is obvious to the wise. She probably thought of herself as being superior to all others, and the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, did not agree with her selfassessment. The same happened with @afiyya daughter of \uyay when the Messenger of Alláh, peace be upon him and his progeny, entered her room once and found her weeping. He asked her: "What grieves you?" She answered: "I have come to know that both `Áyesha and \afsa speak ill of me and say that they are better than me." He, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "Couldn't you have told them: `How can you be better than me, since my father is Aaron, my uncle is Moses, and my husband is Mu<ammad?'"[4] Whoever traces the mother of the believers `Áyesha in her deeds and statements will find her as we indicate here.
3) The reason why we have discarded her <ádíth regarding the will is due to the fact that it does not constitute an argument, and please do not ask me to elaborate on this point, Wassalam.
Sincerely,
Sh
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[1] This <ádíth and the one that follows it are among detailed a<ádíth narrated by Sunnis. Refer to them in the discussion of Khadija al-Kubra (as) in the Isti`áb, and you will find them as we have quoted them here verbatim. They are quoted by al-Bukhári and Muslim in their #a<í<s in almost similar wording.
[2] As narrated by al-Bukhári in his chapter on women's jealousy and sentimentality, near the conclusion of his treatise on marriage, page 175, Vol. 3, of his @a<í<.
[3] We have quoted it in the second paragraph of our celebrated statement, and anyone who wishes to research is referred thereto.
[4] This is quoted by al-Tirmithi from Kinánah, slave of the mother of believers @afiyya, and it is transmitted by Ibn `Abd al-Birr in his biography of @afiyya in the Isti`áb, Ibn \ajar in her biography in Al-I#ábah, by Shaykh Rashíd Ri_a at the end of page 589, Vol. 12, of his Manár, in addition to many other traditionists.