Virtues of the Ahlul Bayt

Imam Tirmidhi R reports:
قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ عَائِشَةُ قِيلَ مِنْ الرِّجَالِ قَالَ أَبُوهَا
Sayyidina ‘Amr ibn al ‘Aas رضي الله عنه asked Nabi ﷺ:
Who is the most beloved person to you?

“Aisha,” he replied.
“From the men?”
“Her father,” was the reply.

Famous personalities from the Ahlul Bayt: Aisha رضي الله عنها
Living with Rasulullah صلى الله عليه و سلم
Rasulullah ﷺ began living with Aisha RA after his return from the Battle of Badr. [Siyar A’lam al Nubala’] Despite her young age and liberty to spend time with her friends who would visit her [Bukhari], she fulfilled her household chores and served Rasulullah ﷺ diligently. She would knead the dough for bread, [Bukhari] put in place the water for Rasulullah’s ﷺ wudu’, [Musnad Ahmed] oil his hair,[Bukhari] wash his clothes,[Bukhari] etc. One can well imagine the place she earned herself in the heart of Rasulullah ﷺ by doing all of this.

Rasulullah’s ﷺ Love for Her Becomes Apparent to a Co-wife
When Saudah RA feared that Rasulullah ﷺ might divorce her, she approached him and asked him to keep her as a wife so that she may be raised with him as his wife on the Day of Qiyamah. As far as her turn was concerned, she gifted it to Aisha RA, [Bukhari] knowing that this would earn her the pleasure of Rasulullah ﷺ.

A Lesson-Packed Hadith Regarding Rasulullah’s ﷺ Love for Her
Imam Bukhari R reports from Aisha RA:
The Muslims were well-aware of Rasulullah’s ﷺ love for Aisha RA. Consequently, if one of them had a gift which he wished to give to Rasulullah ﷺ, he would delay (the giving of it) until Rasulullah ﷺ was in the house of Aisha RA, whereupon they would send it. Thus, the other wives requested Umm Salamah RA to speak to Rasulullah ﷺ and say to him that he should address the people and say to them, “Whoever wishes to give a gift to Rasulullah ﷺ, he should do so, wherever he may be.”
Umm Salamah RA complied with their request, but Rasulullah ﷺ did not reply to her. The other wives asked her (on her return) as to what had happened.

She replied, “He did not say anything to me.”
Thereupon, they asked her to speak to him a second time.
Hence, when Rasulullah ﷺ visited her (as it was her turn), she spoke to him, but he did not respond to her. They again asked her as to what had transpired.

She replied, “He did not say anything to me.”
They persisted, “Speak to him.”
When Rasulullah ﷺ visited her again, she spoke to him.

He ﷺ replied, “Do not cause me grief regarding Aisha, for revelation does not descend upon me when I am under the (same) sheet with any woman except Aisha.”
Umm Salamah RA replied, “I repent to Allah from causing you any inconvenience, O Rasulullah.”
Thereafter, they sent Fatimah bint Rasulillah ﷺ.
She said (to Rasulullah ﷺ), “Your wives are demanding equality in the matter of the daughter of Abu Bakr.”
After she spoke, Rasulullah ﷺ said, “O my beloved daughter, do you not love those whom I love?”
She replied, “Definitely!”
Rasulullah ﷺ said, “Then love Aisha.”

She then returned to them and informed them (of the conversation). They asked her to go back, but she refused. [Bukhari]

Lessons
• It was known to all the Muslims that Aisha RA was the favourite of Rasulullah ﷺ.
• Since there was no injustice on the part of Rasulullah ﷺ, he felt no need to deprive his favourite one of this advantage.
• The wives of Rasulullah ﷺ had such a good relationship with Fatimah RA, that she interceded on their behalf.
• Rasulullah ﷺ instructed his most beloved daughter and the queen of Jannat, Fatimah RA, to love Aisha RA.
• Revelation descended upon Nabi ﷺ whilst he was in her bed.
• Rasulullah’s ﷺ love for her was not only a natural feeling, but on account of her virtue as well.
• Rasulullah ﷺ did not scold his wives for their rivalry regarding him.