AYESHAH, the favorite wife of 31ohatruned. was b. at Medina 610 or 611 A.n.
She was only nine years of age when shy tarried the prophet. Her father's name was Abdullah, but he was surnamed Abu-Bckr, " father of the virgin," in consequence, it is said, of his daughter being the only one of Mohammed's wives who was a virgin. Although A. bore no children to Mohammed, she was so tenderly beloved by him, that he was wont to say that she would be the first of his wives to whom the gates of Para dise be opened. It is stated by Mohammedan historians, that to the charms of her beauty she added a knowledge of mathematics, rhetoric, and music. But this state ment is improbable. She was accused of adultery, but Mohammed having produced a revelation from heaven to the effect that she was innocent, punished her accusers, and made it an article of faith for all time, that whoever should not believe in her purity should endure the pains of hell forever. In his last illness, _Mohammed, by his request,
was carried to her house, and expired in her arms. After the prophet's death, A. took an active part in the plot which deprived kalif Othman of his power and life, and headed a force to resist the accession of Ali. After some partial success, however, the troops under her were effectually defeated by Ali, and she was taken prisoner. Ali spared her life, and allowed her to reside in any town in Arabia she chose, provided she did not inter fere with state affairs. She d. at Medina (677 A.D.). In spite of her political adversi ties, A. was highly venerated by all true Mussulmans, and named the prophetess, and the mother of believers. She was consulted on divers points of the Koran, and her inter pretations were held to be binding. They have been collected in the Surma (q.v.).