growing up learning a patriarchal, western history, it is always so fulfilling reading about an islamic past populated with respected, empowered women. hazrat ayesha was not only the most loved wife of the prophet (pbuh) but was also one of the most educated, reliable sources of religious information at the time. the mother of the believers, she interacted extensively with the community -- she gave speeches, held sermons, engaged in the political fields, taught students on the words of the prophet (pbuh) (what really struck me was the fact of her making non-mahram students her foster children by wet nursing them through her relatives so she could educate them without the purdah!) holding such influence over a society of the time feels surprising to read of now, but at the same time, it makes complete sense. hazrat ayesha's status in islam, along with her teachings, is a clear demonstration of the way islam elevates women, the way that they are to be respected, and, most importantly, the way that they are not expected to sacrifice their ambition for the sake of patriarchal constraints. hazrat ayesha is truly a formidable woman, and this short read did a good job in exploring that.

my low rating, however, is due to two things that i couldn't ignore -- the style of writing, along with many errors in spelling. it's a shame because this could've been a five-star book, but i feel like it was far too short and written in a much too over simplified, undetailed style to really delve into the significance of hazrat ayesha's life and achievements. but, still, the content itself is very good, especially towards the end of the book!