Shi'a View of Aisha

Shi'a View Of Aisha

The Shi'a view of Aisha is generally a negative one. This is primarily due to what they see as her contempt for the Ahl al-Bayt (the Islamic prophet Muhammad's family) and her attempts to stir up the fitnah (civil war) of the time. Her participation in the Battle of Jamal is widely considered her most significant sign of such contempt. They also do not believe that she conducted herself in an appropriate manner in her role as Muhammad's wife although some still recognize her as the Mother of Believers (Umm al-Mu'minin).

Shi'a also consider Aisha to be a controversial figure because of her political involvement during her lifetime. Aisha came from a political family lineage, as she was the daughter of caliph Abu Bakr. Aisha also played an active role in Muhammad’s political life; she was known to accompany the Prophet to wars, where she learned military skills, such as initiating pre-war negotiations between combatants, conducting battles, and ending wars.