A Treasury of 'A'ishah: A Guidance from the Beloved of the Beloved: 7 (Treasury in Islamic Thought and Civilization, 7)

Product Information

Divided into six chapters, this book pays homage to Aishah's profound impact on various facets of Islamic teachings and historical narratives. I remember wishing I had an extra hour on the train to reflect on everything I read and how it can apply to my life.

Through her collection of hadith, Sofia centralises ‘A’ishah as a figure who is both pious and empowered, and doesn’t think twice before correcting male companions (quite frequently Abu Hurayrah) when she feels they have misspoken in the Prophet’s name.This is not surprising as Sofia Rehman sites Mernissi in this book, and seems to be influenced by her. From lessons on humility to anger management, the scope of the Hadith transmitted by ‘A’ishah is vast, while the language they are communicated and discussed in is colloquial and relatable. This book deviates from the traditional trappings of so many books on women in Islam that merely stress the importance of obedience, chastity and child-raising.

Hailed as a guiding light, a fount of wisdom and a purveyor of the Prophetic mission, Aisha’s words have illuminated Islamic thought in all its branches. Hailed as a guiding light, a fount of wisdom and a purveyor of the Prophetic mission, Aishas words have illuminated Islamic thought in all its branches. Sofia Rehman sheds light on the significance of our lived experiences as Muslim women in relation to how we understand and practice our faith, and each chapter is engaging and beautifully written. However, all of the above are fairly mild and we were able to catch them simply due to our book club's extensive prior readings of both Rehman and other authors she cites. I got the Kindle version, but I have seen the hardback and I think it’s worth owning that (and for that matter, the others in this series from Kube Publishers).

Among the myriad merits of this book, my personal highlight lies in the collection of supplications (Duas) recited by Aishah. Dr Sofia Rehman has compiled the insights of Aishah bint Abu Bakr into categories of Tafsir, Fiqh, Aqidah, Siyasah, and Al-raqa'iq. It gives you a very clear understanding about Aisha (may Allah be please with her) and the important role she played at a time where men dominated society.

Aishah is considered to be one of the greatest scholars, providing insights into the Prophet's actions. This book compiles 40 of her insights and statements in the categories of Qur’anic exegesis (tafsīr), Jurisprudence (Fiqh), Theology (ʿaqīdah), Politics (siyāsah) and Heart Softeners (al-raqā’iq) with commentary for the contemporary Muslim seeking spiritual and moral direction as they traverse through daily life and its challenges and possibilities.Hailed as a guiding light, a fount of wisdom and a purveyor of the Prophetic mission, Aisha's words have illuminated Islamic thought in all its branches. Whether derived from her learnings with the revered Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or those unattributed to him, witnessing Aishah's heartfelt selection and the reasons behind it was truly moving. There is so much about Aisha (RA) that I did not know despite reading about her life over the years. A short and easy read, consisting of 40 collections of hadith/sayings narrated by Aisha (ra), each followed with brief reminders.