Education and Personal Development

an important issue: the importance of women’s education in Islam. Aisha did not possess this knowledge by birth, nor could she have done so. She undoubtedly acquired it within the Islamic society of her time. Her father, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, was counted among the small number of people in ancient Arabia who knew how to read and write. Thus, Aisha’s first educational institution was her own home. From her father, she listened to and memorized poetry rich in wisdom and the speeches of renowned Arab orators. She also learned genealogy from him, which was, in effect, a form of knowledge of Arab history. After her marriage, when she came into the household of the Prophet of Islam, she had the opportunity to learn from a teacher such as the Prophet himself. This process continued every day in one form or another. Many examples of this circle of learning are found in the books of Hadith. In addition, Aisha’s residence, which consisted of a single room (Hujrah), adjoined the Prophet’s Mosque as it stood at the time. From her Hujrah, she could listen to the Prophet’s daily teaching sessions held in the mosque. There was no fixed time for learning religious knowledge. Aisha had the companionship of the Prophet day and night. His teaching circles were held regularly in the Prophet’s