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"Of the days of her childhood and early education. almost
nothing has been recorded, except that she was an extraordinarily
intelligent and highly precocious child. As she had opened her eyes
and spent the early years of her life in an ideal Muslim family
she was fortunate in having been brought up and trained in a perfectly
Islamic atmosphere. "
It is probable that the Prophet recognised special qualifications
in her, even as a young child. since his tender feelings towards her
while watching, her playing would drive, him, to urge her mother to
take care of her and, keep her in good health. "A touching story is told
of how the Prophet on one of his visits to lab7 Bakrls houses saw the
littlecrisha at the door. of the home crying bitterly. Affected by
her tears,., he., sought, -to comfort the, child and soon discovered that
, parental discipline was the cause of her distress. He gently
,
rebuked her mother,
I Umm Ruýý, and. though she told him thatciisha
had carried tales to, Ab7 Bakr, (which had aroused his temper), yet
Muhammad requested her to be gentle with the child for his sake . 11 2
C-'F
Thus, Aisha lived through the event of the Islamic call at the
time of its emergence. The upbringing she received in a homb which
practised Islamic rituals was reinforced by her studies in the house
of the Prophet, where she learned the true essence of religiong high
moral standards, and humane treatment. She was married to the Prophet
at the early age of nine years, according to some sources, under the
following circumstances:
1.
-, ý Ibid
I-
2. Ibn Sacd, 'al-Zaba -t al-Kubrk, Vol* 89 P-78*
3. Kahk7alah I Umar-, walam IT--wisav, Vol, 3, P. 9, quoted by Abbott
Na; ia, 'Aishah the beloved of Moh'ammed, P. 2
138