Many of the learned companions of the Prophet and their followers benefited from A'ishah's
knowledge. Abu Musa al-Ashari once said:
"If we companions of the Messenger of God had any difficulty on a matter, we asked
A'ishah about it."
Her nephew Urwah asserts that she was proficient not only in fiqh but also in medicine
(tibb) and poetry. Many of the senior companions of the Prophet came to her to ask for
advice concerning questions of inheritance which required a highly skilled mathematical
mind. Scholars regard her as one of the earliest fuqaha of Islam along with persons like
Umar ibn al-Khattab, Ali and Abdullah ibn Abbas. The Prophet referring to her extensive
knowledge of Islam is reported to have said:
"Learn a portion of your religion (din) from this red coloured lady."
"Humayra" meaning "Red-coloured" was an epithet given to A'ishah by
the Prophet.
A'ishah not only possessed great knowledge but took an active part in education and social
reform. As a teacher she had a clear and persuasive manner of speech and her power of
oratory has been described in superlative terms by al-Ahnaf who said:
"I have heard speeches of Abu Bakr and Umar, Uthman and Ali and the Khulafa up to
this day, but I have not heard speech more persuasive and more beautiful from the mouth of
any person than from the mouth of A'ishah."