IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'PL IBN KATHiR 91those who attrihute purity to themselves? It is God who attributes purity to
whomever He wishes" (szirat al-Nisz'; IV, v.49).
This is an issue subject to much debate among scholars old and new. On one side
of it there are those versions to which members of the Shi'a and others restrict
themselves, considering no woman equal to Khadija because of the greetings
made to her by the Lord and because the only sons of the Prophet (SAAS),
except for Ibrahim, were horn to her. Also they refer to the fact that he married
no other woman until she died, and out of his respect for her acceptance of Islam,
and for her having been of those who trusted. She has the status of having
believed at the beginning of the mission and of devoting herself and her wealth
to the Messenger of God (SAAS).
There are also rzmnt, orthodox, scholars who take extreme positions and
attrihute to each of them special virtues, as is well-known. However, the strength
of their orthodoxy leads them to prefer 'A'isha for having been the daughter of
al-Siddiq, Aba Bakr, "the Trusting", and to her having been more knowledge-
able than Khadija. For in no nation was there ever any woman the like of 'A'isha
in her ability to memorize, in her knowledge, eloquence or intelligence.
Moreover, the Messenger of God (SAAS) did not love any of his wives as much
as he did her. And affirmation of her innocence came down from above the seven
heavens. And she related after he had died a great deal of excellent and highly
valued knowledge of him, to such an extent that many people make reference to
the well-known jadith "Take one half of your religion from al-H~mayra'."~~
The truth is that both of them have virtues so evident as to amaze and dazzle
anyone who might have witnessed them. It is therefore best to defer this matter
to God almighty.
One who possesses irrefutable proof, or is inclined to one new in this regard,
ought to speak on the basis of such knowledge.
Anyone who is hesitant about any such matter will find that the best and the
straightest path is for him to say, "God knows best".
Imm Ahmad, al-Bukhai, Muslim, al-Tirmidhi and al-Nasa'i related,
through Hisham b. Wrwa, from his father, from 'Abd Allah b. Jacfar, from 'Ali
h. Aha Talib, God bless him, who stated, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) said,
'The best of their women was Mary, daughter of 'Imran, and the best of their
women was Khadija, daughter of Khuwaylid."' By this he meant the best
women of their eras.
Shu'ba related, from Mu$wiya b. Qurra, that his father Qurra b. Iyyas, God
be pleased with him, stated, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) said, 'There have
been many perfect men, but only three perfect women. These were Mary,
daughter of 'Imran, Asiyya, the wife of Pharoah, and Khadija, daughter of
- Apparently a nickname applied to 'A'isha. The word, a diminutive form, means high born,
of great excellence, or fair-skinned.