Circa 614 - 678
Wife Of Muhammad

The Prophet's Wife. 'A'isha bint Abi Bakr was the daughter of Abu Bakr, a trusted Companion of the Prophet. She was married to the Prophet Muhammad when she was nine and became his favorite wife and confidante. She was also the subject of one of Muhammad's divine revelations, which exonerated her of a charge of adultery brought against her when she was fourteen. She never bore children.

Political Role. After Muhammad's death in 632, when 'A'isha was only eighteen, her father became the Prophet's successor as political leader of the Islamic community, where 'A'isha also played a key political role, lending her support to the opponents of 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth political successor to the Prophet, who was accused of complicity in the murder of his predecessor, 'Uthman (ruled 644-656). She participated in the major military confrontation that...