Aisha bint Abi Bakr

Aisha was the daughter of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. She was known from her youth for her sharp intelligence, remarkable memory, and quick wit. The Prophet married her in Madinah, and she became one of his most beloved wives. The Prophet said: 'The superiority of Aisha over other women is like the superiority of tharid (a dish) over other food.' When asked who he loved most, he said: 'Aisha.' When asked among men, he said: 'Her father.' She was one of the foremost scholars among the Companions. Senior Companions including Abu Hurayrah, Ibn Abbas, and Ibn Umar would consult her on matters of jurisprudence, hadith, and medicine. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari said: 'Whenever we Companions had a difficulty regarding a hadith, we would ask Aisha and find that she had knowledge about it.' She corrected the errors of other Companions in hadith narration and provided context that only someone in the Prophet's household would know. She narrated approximately 2,210 hadiths, making her one of the most prolific narrators. She was also knowledgeable in poetry, genealogy, history, and medicine. Urwah ibn az-Zubayr (her nephew) said: 'I never saw anyone more knowledgeable in fiqh, medicine, or poetry than Aisha.' The Prophet's final illness was spent primarily in her room, and he passed away with his head resting against her chest. She continued to teach and issue fatwas for decades after his death, and scholars would travel from across the Muslim world to learn from her.