The Light - The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam

20 Pages·2003·0.13 MB·English

by  Zahid Aziz

“Call to the path of thy Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation,
and argue with people in the best manner.” (The Holy Quran, 16:125)

• •

The Light
Exponent Presents
of Islam Islam as:
and the
PEACEFUL
Lahore & Islamic Review
TOLERANT
Ahmadiyya
RATIONAL
Movement
INSPIRING
for over
•
eighty
October – December 2002
years
•

Published on the World-Wide Web at: www.muslim.org

Vol. 79 CONTENTS No. 4
(cid:0)
Passing away of Dr. Asghar Hameed,
Head of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement ...................... 3
(cid:0)
Some recollections and impressions about
the late Dr. Asghar Hameed
Compiled by the Editor. ........................................................ 4
(cid:0)
New Head of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement:
Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed....................................................... 6
(cid:0)
Age of Aisha (ra) at time of her marriage
A new researched article
by Dr. Zahid Aziz, Editor The Light....................................... 7
(cid:0)
The analogy of the “Garden”
Speech, August 2002, by Fazeel Sahukhan.......................... 13
(cid:0)
Attacks on Islam
A Friday Khutba, by Muhammad Sadiq .............................. 16
(cid:0)
The Quran of Islam
by Nikki Dawson ................................................................. 19

روه(cid:4) م(cid:6)(cid:7)ا (cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)ا ن(cid:14)(cid:15)(cid:16)ا (cid:17)(cid:18)د(cid:14)(cid:20)ا

(cid:1) Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha‘at Islam Lahore Inc., U.S.A. (cid:1)
P.O. Box 3370, Dublin, Ohio 43016, U.S.A.
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2 THE LIGHT OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2002

The Light was founded in 1921 as the organ of the AHMADIYYA About ourselves
ANJUMAN ISHA‘AT ISLAM (Ahmadiyya Association for the Propaga-
tion of Islam) of Lahore, Pakistan. The Islamic Review was published Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha‘at Islam Lahore
has branches in many countries including:
in England from 1913 for over 50 years, and in the U.S.A. from 1980
to 1991. The present periodical represents the beliefs of the world- U.S.A. Australia
wide branches of the Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha‘at Islam, Lahore. U.K. Canada
Holland Fiji
ISSN: 1060–4596
Indonesia Germany
Suriname India
Editor: Dr. Zahid Aziz. Format and Design: The Editor.
Trinidad South Africa
Circulation: Mrs. Samina Malik. Guyana
Achievements:
Contact information:
The Anjuman has produced extensive
‘The Light’, P.O. Box 3370, Dublin, Ohio 43016, U.S.A. literature on Islam, originally in English
●
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] and Urdu, including translations of the
● Holy Quran with commentaries. These
E-mails: [email protected] [email protected]
books are being translated into other
Website: www.muslim.org languages, including French, German,
Spanish, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, and

Arabic. The Anjuman has run several
The main object of the A.A.I.I.L. is to present the true, original Muslim missions around the world,
message of Islam to the whole world — Islam as it is found in the including the first ever in Western Europe.
Holy Quran and the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, obscured
History:
today by grave misconceptions and wrong popular notions.
1889: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
Islam seeks to attract the hearts and minds of people towards the founded the Ahmadiyya Movement.
truth, by means of reasoning and the natural beauty of its principles.
1901: Movement given name Ahmadiyya
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (d. 1908), our Founder, arose to after Holy Prophet Muhammad’s
remind the world that Islam is: other famous name Ahmad.
International: It recognizes prophets being raised among all 1905: Hazrat Mirza appoints central body
nations and requires Muslims to believe in them all. Truth and (Anjuman) to manage the Movement.
goodness can be found in all religions. God treats all human
1908: Death of Hazrat Mirza. Succeeded
beings equally, regardless of race, nationality or religion.
by Maulana Nur-ud-Din as Head.
Peaceful: Allows use of force only in unavoidable self-defence.
1914: Death of Maulana Nur-ud-Din.
Teaches Muslims to live peacefully under any rule which
Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha‘at Islam
accords them freedom of religion. founded at Lahore as continuation of
Tolerant: Gives full freedom to everyone to hold and practise the original Anjuman. Maulana
Muhammad Ali elected as Head.
any creed or religion. Requires us to tolerate differences of
belief and opinion. 1951: Death of Maulana Muhammad Ali
after fifty years of glorious service to
Rational: In all matters, it urges use of human reason and
the cause of Islam. Maulana Sadr-ud-
knowledge. Blind following is condemned and independence
Din (d. 1981) becomes Head.
of thought is granted.
1981–1996: Dr. Saeed Ahmad Khan, an
Inspiring: Worship is not a ritual, but provides living contact
eminent medical doctor and religious
with a Living God, Who answers prayers and speaks to His
scholar, led the Movement, at a time
righteous servants even today as in the past. of intense persecution.
Non-sectarian: Every person professing Islam by the words La
1996–2002: Prof. Dr. Asghar Hameed, a
ilaha ill-Allah, Muhammad-ur rasul-ullah (There is no god but distinguished retired University
Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) is a Professor of Mathematics, and learned
Muslim. A Muslim cannot be expelled from Islam by anyone. Islamic scholar, served as Head.
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad taught that no prophet, old or new, 2002: Prof. Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed elected
Head.
is to arise after the Holy Prophet Muhammad. However, Mujaddids
will be raised by God to revive and rekindle the light of Islam.
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THE LIGHT OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2002 3
Passing away of
Dr. Asghar Hameed,
Head of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement
Brilliant University academician and outstanding scholar of Islam
It is with the deepest sadness that we have to report
the death, in Lahore on 14th October 2002, of the
Head of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement, Hazrat
Ameer Professor Dr. Asghar Hameed sahib — inná
li-lláhi wa inná ilai-hi ráji‘ún (‘We belong to Allah,
and to Him do we return’).
Dr. Asghar Hameed had been Head of the
Movement since 1996, following Dr. Saeed Ahmad
Khan sahib in this office.
A life-sketch
Dr. Asghar Hameed was born in Lahore in 1919. He
received his primary and secondary education in his
ancestral hometown, Amritsar (now in India). He
passed his Matriculation examination from the
Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (M.A.O.) High
School, which was being run by the Anjuman-i-
Islamiyya Amritsar. By the time he passed his
Matriculation examination in 1933, the school was
upgraded to an Intermediate College, so he
continued his studies there and passed his
Intermediate examination from the same institution.
In 1935 he came to Lahore to pursue higher
studies and entered the famous Government College.
He graduated with honours in Mathematics in 1937,
and obtained his Master’s degree in Mathematics
from the University of Punjab in 1939. Dr. Asghar
Hameed started his career as a lecturer of Mathe- During his service, he was reputed to be a
matics at the Engineering College, Lahore. In due dedicated teacher, a hard-working academician and
course, he proceeded abroad for further studies and an able administrator. He enjoyed the respect both of
did his Doctorate in Mathematics from the Univer- his colleagues and students alike. On his retirement
sity of Edinburgh, U.K., in 1947. He was appointed he was awarded a purse and the Keys of the
Head of the Mathematics Department at the University and paid glowing tributes in the citation
Engineering College Lahore and held this position presented to him.
for many years. In 1961, the Engineering College He has compiled a family-tree and brief history
was elevated to the status of a university. Dr. Asghar of his family (The Mantoo Family of Amritsar),
Hameed was appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of which includes some well-known jurists, and politi-
Architecture and Planning in the University of cal and literary figures.
Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore. He held
After his retirement he moved to Darus Salaam,
this prestigious appointment for several years. He
the precincts in suburban Lahore where the head-
retired as Professor of Mathematics in 1979.
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4 THE LIGHT OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2002
quarters of the Jama‘at are located, and decided to Some recollections and
devote all his time and energy to the cause of the
Ahmadiyya Movement. He worked very closely impressions about the late
with and under the guidance of the late Hazrat
Dr. Asghar Hameed
Ameer Dr. Saeed Ahmad Khan sahib. He delivered
the Friday sermons on a regular basis. Some of
these, including those on ‘The Reformative Contri-
Compiled by the Editor
butions of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’, were

published in the Paigham Sulh. He translated the
1. First I must add my own tribute. Besides his
Promised Messiah’s book Kitab al-Bariyya into
recognized learning in his professional field of
English, and while doing so he compiled a glossary
mathematics, Dr. Asghar Hameed was also highly
of the difficult words and terminology found therein.
knowledgeable in the books of Hazrat Mirza
He taught the meanings of the Holy Quran (Dars-i-
Ghulam Ahmad and Maulana Muhammad Ali and
Quran) at Darus Salaam for a period of six years.
Lahore Ahmadiyya writings in general, as I came to
During this time he completed his commentary three
know personally. He had a phenomenal memory,
times. His special interest has been the study of the
and in any religious discussion or when asked a
Urdu and English translations and commentaries of
question he could point you to a reference in the
the Holy Quran by Maulana Muhammad Ali. While
appropriate book almost instantly. He could reflect
doing so, he prepared lists of printing errors in these
over new and difficult issues and come up with
translations. He has also done a wonderful job by
possible solutions in the light of Islam. Almost every
preparing an abridged edition of that encyclopedic
time that I spoke to him, even when he was very ill, I
work by Maulana Muhammad Ali The Religion of
gained some piece of interesting and useful
Islam. As he said: “It will prove useful to an average
knowledge from him. He suggested some lines of
person interested in the study of the basic knowledge
research to be followed up.
of Islam”.
This high degree of knowledge and intelligence
He was a man of great moral courage and
was combined with a deep humility and an abso-
strength. In the 1974 anti-Ahmadiyya agitation his
lutely unassuming manner. In the early 1990s I was
house was attacked by an unruly mob, who burnt his
passed the typescript of his English translation of the
car and threatened the household. He withstood
Promised Messiah’s book Kitab al-Bariyya for revi-
these tribulations with great courage. He was a
sion and finalization for publication. He had done
straightforward, humble and sincere person, who
the translation most meticulously, with great
disliked flattery and hypocrisy. He was a
precision and attention to detail. As he expressed the
knowledgeable man, dedicated to the cause of the
wish to remain anonymous I have paid him the
Ahmadiyya Movement. Above all, he had the spiri-
following tribute in my Foreword to the second, the
tual qualities to lead a Jama‘at committed to the
main, part of this publication (entitled An Account of
propagation of Islam.
Exoneration) :
The year before he was elected Ameer was a
year of sorrows and tribulations for him. During this “The translation of this entire book was first
period, he lost his young and talented son Dr. Asif prepared by a highly learned and scholarly,
Hameed, his devoted wife and his brother-in-law. senior figure in the Lahore Ahmadiyya
The late Hazrat Ameer’s firm faith in Allah and Movement in Lahore, Pakistan, who did the
sincere commitment to the Ahmadiyya Movement work most meticulously with great accuracy.
gave him the strength to bear these bereavements May Allah bless and reward him profusely
with great fortitude. Despite these blows, his spiri- for his labour!”
tual zeal and devotion for the cause of the Ahmad-
When he read these words in a pre-publication copy,
iyya Movement grew in strength, and he undertook
three years ago, he said to me: “These words of
the responsibility of leading the members of the
praise were not necessary”.
Ahmadiyya Anjuman Lahore. May Allah the Merci-
His reading was broader than his career subject
ful grant him a high station in the heavens and
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and the religious publications of our Movement, and
shower His blessings upon him — Ameen.
included, for example, works of English literature. I
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THE LIGHT OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2002 5
myself heard him, on a social occasion, relating in alleviated for this student by at least a glass of cool
some detail the plots of Great Expectations by lemonade every time.
Charles Dickens and Les Miserables by Victor
I have nothing but fond memories of this
Hugo.
amazing man. Mathematics was not my strong suit
When he was yet a youngman of 25 years, his (probably never will be) but it was not for any lack
name was mentioned by Maulana Muhammad Ali in of patience and effort on his part. He was one of the
a Friday khutba published in Paigham Sulh (issue most patient teachers that I have ever had the
dated 23 February 1944). Maulana Muhammad Ali pleasure of learning from. There was never a time
had been appealing to young persons of the Jama‘at when I felt fear in his presence, as one might when
to learn foreign languages so that they could trans- studying under someone who has reached a high
late our literature into them. He then added: point in his career. I always had a sense of gratitude
and desire to do more for him. Even when he was
“There is a young friend of ours sitting here.
explaining a complex problem to me for the third
His name is Hameed Asghar and he is a
time (just for that day) he would at times chuckle a
lecturer in a college. He has interest in
little as if he and I together discovered the mistake in
gaining religious knowledge and he comes
my approach to the problem.
to see me sometimes to learn from me. I
mentioned to him my idea that after the War Later on I also got to know him as an Imam,
[the Second World War] we should spread who gave impeccable Friday sermons. I am sure that
the Holy Quran and Islamic literature in his abilities as a teacher came into play, but the
Russia. This has made him think of learning presentation of his thoughts flowed so well, and
the Russian language. God has brought towards the end of the sermon the ideas presented
about the resources for him and he is now felt complete and fulfilling. He delivered these
learning this language.” sermons in such an unassuming yet direct manner, as
if he was carrying on a personal conversation with
Although Dr. Asghar Hameed did learn some
the audience.
Russian in those days, but the plan in mind could not
I had also heard from my elder brother, who was
be followed up, especially as our Jama‘at lost its
at the UET (University of Engineering and
focus on its translations projects shortly afterwards.
Technology) when Dr. Asghar Hameed sahib was
Amazing are the ways of Almighty God, however,
the head of a department there, that he was known as
that only a few months after he became Ameer of our
a man of integrity and tremendous backbone. It was
Jama‘at, the time also came when our Russian
known among students that once he made up his
translation and commentary of the Holy Quran,
mind and deemed a course of action to be right, no
which had been in preparation for the previous seven
one could make him waver an inch from it.
years, was published by the A.A.I.I.L., U.S.A., and
its initial distribution in Russia also coincided with By the time he became the Ameer I was no
his period of headship. May Allah grant him longer in Pakistan, but during my visits, I made it a
forgiveness and protection, and admit him among point to spend some time with him. I always found
His righteous servants — Ameen. him in a simple white shilwar kameez suit and he
would receive guests in his living room. He always
2. Tariq Ahmad writes: talked straight and spoke plainly and truthfully. An
individual who did not care for anyone once he
May Allah have mercy on our beloved Hazrat
knew that he was doing the right thing. A very polite
Ameer, Dr. Asghar Hameed sahib and grant patience
man, yet he spoke as he saw things to be; a rare
to his family and to our Jama‘at to bear his loss.
quality among people these days.
Hazrat Ameer was one of my teachers during
May Allah give our beloved Hazrat Ameer, Dr.
my early college days in Pakistan. He was kind
Asghar Hameed sahib a place close to Him in the
enough to tutor me in Mathematics at his home
hereafter. May He make him sit with those in whose
during two summers. He had retired from his
footsteps he so carefully followed, and faithfully and
University position by that time. He not only did this
to the best of his ability discharged his duty as the
free of charge but was generous with his hospitality,
Ameer of Ahmadiyya Anjuman Lahore.
making sure that the heat of the summer was
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6 THE LIGHT OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2002
3. Rashid Jahangiri writes: in the way of God. He advised others to do the same
and stated something to the nature of why wait till
Dr. Asghar Hameed sahib was a very humble person
death to do this good work. He was straight forward
indeed. In December 1998 on the occasion of the
and a man of principle. Once he decided something
annual Jalsa of our Ahmadiyya Anjuman in Lahore,
based on principles he was immovable. He was a
it was the first and the last time I had the chance to
meet the late Dr. Asghar Hameed sahib. humble man and would no doubt be s(cid:0)urprised about
the profound effect he had on others.
On the first day of the Jalsa, we reached Lahore

late. The evening session had already started. After
the session, I was sitting in the mosque, next to my
father, when we saw a man who, on sighting my
New Head of Lahore
father, waved his hand and started walking towards
us. My father asked him, “You stay there and I will Ahmadiyya Movement:
myself come”, but still that person came and before
my father could get up from the carpet he reached us Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed
and shook our hands and sat opposite to us on the
carpet, and started conversation with my father.
After he left, my father making a reference to
arrogant religious leaders, said: “Did you notice how
humble is our Ameer?”
Next morning I went for Fajar prayer. I was the
third person in the mosque. Dr. Asghar Hameed
sahib was sitting on the carpet. In a few moments
other people started coming in. There was no such
protocol that others should be in the mosque before
the Ameer arrives. Even the prayers were not led by
him. After the Fajar prayer, I introduced myself to
him and requested him to pray for me as I was about
to take my professional exam in a few weeks.
Listening to my request, he tried to make it clear to
me that he was not a holy man of God. I understood
the point he was making. So I asked him, “you pray Following the death of Dr. Asghar Hameed, the new
for me, I will pray for you”, to which he agreed. Ameer and Head of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Anjuman
has been elected to be Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed.
My short interactions with him left a profound
impression of his humility on me. I wish I had more Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed was born on 28th
time to know him. February 1945 at Dadar in the North West Frontier
Province of Pakistan. His grandfather, Hazrat
4. Yahya Ahmad writes: Maulvi Muhammad Yahya, an early companion of
the Promised Messiah, named him Abdul Karim.
Dr. Asghar Hameed continued to live in the same
house and buy groceries for his household even after Dr. Saeed attended Burn Hall School in
his election as our Ameer. The Anjuman voted to Abbottabad and Forman Christian College in Lahore
grant him a driver and even employed somebody for before joining medical school. He graduated as a
this job. He refused to make any personal use of the doctor from King Edward Medical College Lahore
driver, but stated as he had been employed it would in 1968. Dr. Saeed was inclined towards religion
now be unfair to discharge him, so the Anjuman from early childhood. He benefited a lot from the
could use him for its official work. discourses on the Holy Quran and Hadith and
readings from the books of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam
He believed deeply in fully following the
Ahmad that his father, the late Hazrat Ameer Dr.
Shariat. He once said: “If you find anything against
Saeed Ahmad Khan, conducted almost on a daily
the Shariat then leave it”. He made his wasiyyat
basis. He was also very much influenced by lectures
(will) in his lifetime and gave his property gradually
and Quran teaching of the late Maulana Abdul Haq
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THE LIGHT OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2002 7
Vidyarthi, Naseer Ahmad Faruqui and Maulana Age of Aisha (ra) at time of
Hafiz Sher Mohammad. As a student in a missionary
school he did not hesitate to engage the Christian her marriage
priests in discussions about the death of Jesus Christ
or to explain the truth of the claims of Hazrat Mirza
by Zahid Aziz, Editor The Light
sahib to fellow students and teachers. He has been
continuously building on this firm foundation and is
Qualities of Aisha and her role in Islam
today considered one of the most learned members
In any discussion on the age of Aisha (ra: may Allah
of the Movement.
be pleased with her) at the time of her marriage with
Dr. Saeed started his medical career in Mayo the Holy Prophet Muhammad (may peace and the
Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, and later moved to New blessings of Allah be upon him), it is of the greatest
Zealand, followed by the U.K. where he obtained relevance to note the pivotal role she played as a
Membership of the Royal College of Physicians. He teacher, exponent and interpreter of the religion of
moved back to Pakistan in April 1981 and took up a Islam. Aisha was an exceptionally intelligent and
teaching position in Ayub Medical College, Abbott- astute woman, a young prodigy, and this was the
abad. He was promoted as Professor of Medicine in main reason why she was got married to the Holy
1987 and appointed Head of the Department of Prophet, as is clearly proved by events after the Holy
Medicine in 1991. In 2001, he was selected to Prophet’s life. She entered his household, shortly
become Principal of the College but his appointment after his emigration to Madina, just at the time when
was cancelled by the government under pressure the teachings of Islam in all fields of life for the
from the anti-Ahmadiyya religious lobby. Dr. Saeed Muslim community were starting to be revealed to
also has the distinction of being conferred the the Holy Prophet and demonstrated by him by his
Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Physicians example and practice. An intellectually gifted person
London (1994), and Fellowship of the College of was required who would have daily contact with the
Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan, in 2001. He is Holy Prophet at the closest and most personal level,
also serving as a member/chairman of a large so as to absorb the teachings that he was giving on
number of professional committees. all aspects of life by his words and actions. Such a
He has remained a staunch member of the person would need to possess the following
Jama‘at, and has shown great patience and commit- qualities:
ment to the Movement in times of adversity and • an excellent, precise memory to retain a vast
persecution by the opponents of the Movement. His
amount of detail accurately,
love for the Holy Quran is exemplary. Dr. Saeed was
• the understanding to grasp the significance
elected a member of the General Council of Trustees
and the principles of the teachings,
of the Ahmadiyya Anjuman Lahore in 1992 and has
retained this honour and served the Jama‘at in that • powers of reasoning, criticism and deduction
capacity ever since. He commands great respect for to resolve problems on the basis of those
his rectitude and uprightness. He has always made teachings,
very positive contributions to the affairs of the • the skills to convey knowledge to a wide
Movement, and been a regular speaker at the Annual
range of audience,
Ahmadiyya Gathering in Lahore for over 20 years.
• and, finally, have the prospect of living for a
On 3rd November 2002, Dr. A.K. Saeed was
considerable period of time after the death
unanimously elected as Ameer and President of the
of the Holy Prophet in order to spread his
Ahmadiyya Anjuman Lahore. Being at the pinnacle
message to distant generations.
of his career, he has accepted this responsibility at a
tremendous sacrifice. We request all readers to pray
for his success in uplifting the Movement, and that That Aisha possessed all these qualities and carried
may Allah give him the strength, wisdom and out this mission is an absolutely positive and
spiritual prowess to lead us to successfully spread undeniable, historical fact. After the Holy Prophet’s
the mess(cid:0)age of Islam to the corners of the world — death, she acted as a teacher and interpreter of Islam,
Ameen. providing guidance to even the greatest of the male
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8 THE LIGHT OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2002
Companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. They of Islam, who are reviling the Holy Prophet
made a special point of going to her to gain Muhammad on the basis of his marriage with Aisha,
knowledge and seek her opinion. A vast number of whether they can point out any example of a woman
sayings and actions of the Holy Prophet are reported in their religions who played a role like that of
from her in books of Hadith. She not only quoted his Aisha in learning the religion from its founder and
sayings and reported her observations of events, but becoming the teacher and instructor of all his
interpreted them to provide solutions to questions. followers, including men, after his death.
Whenever necessary, she corrected the views of the
Age of Aisha at time of marriage with Holy
greatest of the Companions of the Holy Prophet. She
Prophet Muhammad
made rulings and judgments on which Islamic law is
based. It is believed on the authority of some Hadith reports
that the marriage ceremony (known as nikah,
The following are two examples of what the
amounting to betrothal) of Aisha with the Holy
Holy Prophet’s male Companions said about her:
Prophet Muhammad took place when she was six
“Abu Musa said: Whenever there was any years of age, and that she joined the Holy Prophet as
hadith that was difficult [to understand] for his wife three years later at the age of nine. We
us, the Companions of the Messenger of quote below from two such reports in Bukhari.
Allah, and we asked Aisha we always found
“It is reported from Aisha that she said: The
that she had knowledge about that hadith.”
Prophet entered into marriage with me when
“Musa ibn Talha said: I never saw anyone I was a girl of six … and at the time [of
more eloquent than Aisha.” joining his household] I was a girl of nine
— Tirmidhi, Abwab-ul-Manaqib, i.e. Chapters on years of age.”
Excellences, under ‘Virtues of Aisha’.
“Khadija died three years before the Prophet
In the famous compilation of the lives of saints in departed to Medina. He stayed [alone] for
Islam, Tadhkirat-ul-Auliya, the author Farid-ud-Din two years or so. He married Aisha when she
Attar, who lived eight centuries ago, introduces the was a girl of six years of age, and he
life of the early female saint Rabia of Basra as consummated that marriage when she was
follows: nine years old.”
— Bukhari, Book of Qualities of the Ansar, chapter:
“If anyone says, ‘Why have you included
‘The Holy Prophet’s marriage with Aisha, and his
Rabia in the rank of men?’, my answer is
coming to Madina and the consummation of marriage
that the Prophet himself said, ‘God does not with her’.
regard your outward forms’. … Moreover, if
it is proper to derive two-thirds of our As to the authenticity of these reports, it may be
religion from Aisha, surely it is permissible noted that the compilers of the books of Hadith did
to take religious instruction from a not apply the same stringent tests when accepting
handmaid of Aisha.” reports relating to historical matters as they did
before accepting reports relating to the practical
— Muslim Saints and Mystics, abridged English
teachings and laws of Islam. The reason is that the
translation of Tadhkirat-ul-Auliya, by A.J. Arberry, p.
40. former type of report was regarded as merely of
academic interest while the latter type of report had
It is thus recognised, from the earliest times in Islam, a direct bearing on the practical duties of a Muslim
that some two-thirds of Islamic Sharia is based on and on what was allowed to them and what was
reports and interpretations that have come from prohibited. Thus the occurrence of reports such as
Aisha. the above about the marriage of Aisha in books of
In view of these exceptional qualities of Aisha Hadith, even in Bukhari, is not necessarily a proof of
and the towering role played by her in the trans- their credibility.
mission of the teachings of Islam, it is simply
Determination of the true age of Aisha
preposterous and outrageous to suggest that she was
the victim of some form of child and marital abuse. It appears that Maulana Muhammad Ali was the first
We ask in particular the Christian and Jewish critics Islamic scholar directly to challenge the notion that
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THE LIGHT OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2002 9
Aisha was aged six and nine, respectively, at the To facilitate understanding dates of these events,
time of her nikah and consummation of marriage. please note that it was in the tenth year of the Call,
This he did in, at least, the following writings: his i.e. the tenth year after the Holy Prophet Muhammad
English booklet Prophet of Islam, his larger English received his calling from God to his mission of
book Muhammad, the Prophet, and in the footnotes prophethood, that his wife Khadija passed away, and
in his voluminous Urdu translation and commentary the approach was made to Abu Bakr for the hand of
of Sahih Bukhari entitled Fadl-ul-Bari, these three his daughter Aisha. The hijra or emigration of the
writings being published in the 1920s and 1930s. In Holy Prophet to Madina took place three years later,
the booklet Prophet of Islam, which was later and Aisha came to the household of the Holy
incorporated in 1948 as the first chapter of his book Prophet in the second year after hijra. So if Aisha
Living Thoughts of the Prophet Muhammad, he was born in the year of the Call, she would be ten
writes in a lengthy footnote as follows: years old at the time of the nikah and fifteen years
old at the time of the consummation of the marriage.
“
A great misconception prevails as to the age at
which Aisha was taken in marriage by the Prophet. Later research
Ibn Sa‘d has stated in the Tabaqat that when Abu Research subsequent to the time of Maulana
Bakr [father of Aisha] was approached on behalf of Muhammad Ali has shown that she was older than
the Holy Prophet, he replied that the girl had already
this. The following information has been brought to
been betrothed to Jubair, and that he would have to
light.
settle the matter first with him. This shows that
Aisha must have been approaching majority at the 1. The famous classical historian of Islam, Ibn Jarir
time. Again, the Isaba, speaking of the Prophet’s Tabari, wrote in his ‘History’:
daughter Fatima, says that she was born five years
“In the time before Islam, Abu Bakr married
before the Call and was about five years older than
two women. The first was Fatila daughter of
Aisha. This shows that Aisha must have been about
Abdul Uzza, from whom Abdullah and
ten years at the time of her betrothal to the Prophet,
Asma were born. Then he married Umm
and not six years as she is generally supposed to be.
Ruman, from whom Abdur Rahman and
This is further borne out by the fact that Aisha
Aisha were born. These four were born
herself is reported to have stated that when the
chapter [of the Holy Quran] entitled The Moon, the before Islam.”
fifty-fourth chapter, was revealed, she was a girl — Tarikh Tabari, vol. 4, p. 50.
playing about and remembered certain verses then
Being born before Islam means being born before
revealed. Now the fifty-fourth chapter was
undoubtedly revealed before the sixth year of the the Call.
Call. All these considerations point to but one
2. The compiler of the famous Hadith collection
conclusion, viz., that Aisha could not have been less
Mishkat al-Masabih, Imam Wali-ud-Din
than ten years of age at the time of her nikah, which
Muhammad ibn Abdullah Al-Khatib, who died 700
was virtually only a betrothal. And there is one
years ago, has also written brief biographical notes
report in the Tabaqat that Aisha was nine years of
on the narrators of Hadith reports. He writes under
age at the time of nikah. Again it is a fact admitted
Asma, the older daughter of Abu Bakr:
on all hands that the nikah of Aisha took place in the
tenth year of the Call in the month of Shawwal, “She was the sister of Aisha Siddiqa, wife of
while there is also preponderance of evidence as to the Holy Prophet, and was ten years older
the consummation of her marriage taking place in than her. … In 73 A.H. … Asma died at the
the second year of Hijra in the same month, which
age of one hundred years.”
shows that full five years had elapsed between the
— Mishkat al-Masabih, Edition with Urdu translation
nikah and the consummation. Hence there is not the
published in Lahore, 1986, vol. 3, p. 300–301.
least doubt that Aisha was at least nine or ten years
of age at the time of betrothal, and fourteen or This would make Asma 28 years of age in 1 A.H.,
fifteen years at the time of marriage.” (Bolding is the year of the Hijra, thus making Aisha 18 years
mine.) old in 1 A.H. So Aisha would be 19 years old at the
— Living Thoughts of the Prophet Muhammad, 1992 U.S.A. time of the consummation of her marriage, and 14 or
edition, p. 30, note 40.
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1 0 THE LIGHT OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2002
15 years old at the time of her nikah. It would place been born later than the year of the Call. These are
her year of birth at four or five years before the Call. as follows.
3. The same statement is made by the famous 1. The above mentioned statement by Aisha in
classical commentator of the Holy Quran, Ibn Bukhari, about her earliest memory of her parents
Kathir, in his book Al-bidayya wal-nihaya: being that they were followers of Islam, begins with
the following words in its version in Bukhari’s
“Asma died in 73 A.H. at the age of one
Kitab-ul-Kafalat. We quote this from the English
hundred years. She was ten years older than
translation of Bukhari by M. Muhsin Khan:
her sister Aisha.”
“Since I reached the age when I could
— Vol. 8, p. 346.
remember things, I have seen my parents
4. The birth of Aisha being a little before the Call is worshipping according to the right faith of
also consistent with the opening words of a Islam. Not a single day passed but Allah’s
statement by her which is recorded four times in Apostle visited us both in the morning and
Bukhari. Those words are as follows: in the evening. When the Muslims were
persecuted, Abu Bakr set out for Ethiopia as
“Ever since I can remember (or understand
an emigrant.”
things) my parents were following the
— Muhsin Khan’s English translation of Bukhari,
religion of Islam.”
Volume 3, Book 37, Number 494.
— Those four places in Sahih Bukhari are the
following: Kitab-us-Salat, ch. ‘A mosque which is in Commenting on this report, Maulana Muhammad
the way but does not inconvenience people’; Kitab-ul-
Ali writes:
Kafalat, ch. ‘Abu Bakr under the protection of a non-
Muslim in the time of the Holy Prophet and his pact
“This report sheds some light on the
with him’; Kitab Manaqib-ul-Ansar, ch. ‘Emigration
question of the age of Aisha. … The
of the Holy Prophet and his Companions to Madina’;
and Kitab-ul-Adab, ch. ‘Should a person visit mention of the persecution of Muslims
everyday, or morning and evening’. along with the emigration to Ethiopia clearly
shows that this refers to the fifth or the sixth
This is tantamount to saying that she was born
year of the Call. … At that time Aisha was
sometime before her parents accepted Islam but she
of an age to discern things, and so her birth
can only remember them practising Islam. No doubt
could not have been later than the first year
she and her parents knew well whether she was born
of the Call.”
before or after they accepted Islam, as their accept-
— Fadl-ul-Bari, vol. 1, p. 501, footnote 1.
ance of Islam was such a landmark event in their life
which took place just after the Holy Prophet Again, this would make her more than fourteen at
received his mission from God. If she had been born the time of the consummation of her marriage.
after they accepted Islam it would make no sense for
2. There is a report in Sahih Bukhari as follows:
her to say that she always remembered them as
following Islam. Only if she was born before they “On the day (of the battle) of Uhud when
accepted Islam, would it make sense for her to say (some) people retreated and left the Prophet,
that she can only remember them being Muslims, as I saw Aisha daughter of Abu Bakr and Umm
she was too young to remember things before their Sulaim, with their robes tucked up so that
conversion. This is consistent with her being born the bangles around their ankles were visible
before the Call, and being perhaps four or five years hurrying with their water skins (in another
old at the time of the Call, which was also almost the narration it is said, ‘carrying the water skins
time when her parents accepted Islam. on their backs’). Then they would pour the
water in the mouths of the people, and return
Two further evidences cited by Maulana
to fill the water skins again and came back
Muhammad Ali
again to pour water in the mouths of the
In the footnotes of his Urdu translation and people.”
commentary of Sahih Bukhari, entitled Fadl-ul-Bari, — Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Jihad wal-Siyar, Chapter:
Maulana Muhammad Ali had pointed out reports of ‘Women in war and their fighting alongside men’.
two events which show that Aisha could not have