The Book of the Kind Treatment of Women

Abu Mūsa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Many men attained perfection, but of women none attained perfection except Āsiyah, the wife of Pharaoh, and Maryam, the daughter of ‘Imrān. Indeed, the superiority of ‘Ā'ishah to other women is like the superiority of Tharīd to other meals."

Abu Mūsa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Many men attained perfection, but of women none attained perfection except Āsiyah, the wife of Pharaoh, and Maryam, the daughter of ‘Imrān. Indeed, the superiority of ‘Ā'ishah to other women is like the superiority of Tharīd to other meals."

‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O ‘Ā'ish, this is Jibrīl greeting you with peace." I said: "May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon him. You see what I can not see," referring to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).

‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O ‘Ā'ish, this is Jibrīl greeting you with peace." I said: "May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon him. You see what I can not see," referring to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).

‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "Should I not tell you about me and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)?" We said: 'Yes.' She said that when it was my turn and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was to spend the night with me, he turned, took off his mantle and his shoes and placed them near his feet. Then, he spread the end of his lower garment on his bed and lay down until he thought that I had gone to sleep. He took hold of his mantle slowly and put on his shoes slowly, and opened the door and went out and then closed it gently. I put on my head cover and my veil and tightened my lower garment, and then went out following his steps until he reached Al-Baqī‘. He stood there for a long time. He then lifted his hands three times, and then returned and I also returned. He hastened his steps and I also hastened my steps. He ran and I ran too. He came (to the house) and I also came (to the house). I, however, preceded him and I entered (the house), and as I lay down in bed, he entered and said: "Why is it, O ‘Ā'ish, that you are out of breath?" I said: 'Nothing.' He said: "Tell me or the Subtle and the Aware will inform me." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you." Then I told him everything. He said: "So, you were the darkness that I saw in front of me?" I said: 'Yes.' He struck me on the chest and it was painful, and then said: "Did you think that Allah and His Messenger would be unfair to you?" I said: "Whatever people conceal, Allah knows it. Yes." He said: "Jibrīl came to me when you saw me. He called me and he concealed it from you. I responded to his call, but I too concealed it from you, as he would never enter upon you while you are undressed. I thought that you had gone to sleep, and I did not like to awaken you, fearing that you might be afraid of being left alone. Jibrīl said to me: 'Your Lord commands you to go to the inhabitants of Al-Baqī‘ and seek forgiveness for them."' I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what should I say to them?" He said: "Say: Peace be upon the inhabitants of this place among the believers and Muslims. May Allah have mercy upon those who have gone on ahead of us and those who come later on, and we will join you, if Allah wills."

‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "Should I not tell you about me and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)?" We said: 'Yes.' She said that when it was my turn and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was to spend the night with me, he turned, took off his mantle and his shoes and placed them near his feet. Then, he spread the end of his lower garment on his bed and lay down until he thought that I had gone to sleep. He took hold of his mantle slowly and put on his shoes slowly, and opened the door and went out and then closed it gently. I put on my head cover and my veil and tightened my lower garment, and then went out following his steps until he reached Al-Baqī‘. He stood there for a long time. He then lifted his hands three times, and then returned and I also returned. He hastened his steps and I also hastened my steps. He ran and I ran too. He came (to the house) and I also came (to the house). I, however, preceded him and I entered (the house), and as I lay down in bed, he entered and said: "Why is it, O ‘Ā'ish, that you are out of breath?" I said: 'Nothing.' He said: "Tell me or the Subtle and the Aware will inform me." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you." Then I told him everything. He said: "So, you were the darkness that I saw in front of me?" I said: 'Yes.' He struck me on the chest and it was painful, and then said: "Did you think that Allah and His Messenger would be unfair to you?" I said: "Whatever people conceal, Allah knows it. Yes." He said: "Jibrīl came to me when you saw me. He called me and he concealed it from you. I responded to his call, but I too concealed it from you, as he would never enter upon you while you are undressed. I thought that you had gone to sleep, and I did not like to awaken you, fearing that you might be afraid of being left alone. Jibrīl said to me: 'Your Lord commands you to go to the inhabitants of Al-Baqī‘ and seek forgiveness for them."' I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what should I say to them?" He said: "Say: Peace be upon the inhabitants of this place among the believers and Muslims. May Allah have mercy upon those who have gone on ahead of us and those who come later on, and we will join you, if Allah wills."