Men and women came from far and wide to benefit from her knowledge. The number of women is
said to have been greater than that of men. Besides answering enquiries, she took boys and
girls, some of them orphans, into her custody and trained them under her care and
guidance. This was in addition to her relatives who received instruction from her. Her
house thus became a school and an academy.
Some of her students were outstanding. We have already mentioned her nephew Urwah as a
distinguished reporter of hadith. Among her women pupils is the name of Umrah bint Abdur
Rahman. She is regarded by scholars as one of the trustworthy narrators of hadith and is
said to have acted as A'ishah's secretary receiving and replying to letters addressed to
her. The example of A'ishah in promoting education and in particular the education of
Muslim women in the laws and teachings of Islam is one which needs to be followed.
After Khadijah al-Kubra (the Great) and Fatimah az-Zahra (the Resplendent), A'ishah
as-Siddiqah (the one who affirms the Truth) is regarded as the best woman in Islam.
Because of the strength of her personality, she was a leader in every field in knowledge,
in society, in politics and in war. She often regretted her involvement in war but lived
long enough to regain position as the most respected woman of her time. She died in the
year 58 A.H. in the month of Ramadan and as she instructed, was buried in the Jannat
al-Baqi in the City of Light, beside other companions of the Prophet.
Radiya Allahu anha wa rahimaha.