The Shi'a view of Aisha is generally unfavourable. This is primarily due to what they see as her contempt for the Ahl al-Bayt (the Islamic prophet Muhammad's family) and her actions in the First Fitna (civil war) of the time. Her participation in the Battle of the Camel is widely considered her most significant sign of such contempt. Shi'a also consider Aisha to be a controversial figure because of her political involvement during her lifetime. Aisha came from a political family lineage, as she was the daughter of Abu Bakr, the first caliph. Aisha also played an active role in Muhammad's political life; she was known to accompany him to wars, where she learned military skills, such as initiating pre-war negotiations between combatants, conducting battles, and ending wars.
Lawfulness of criticism
Sunnis assert that because Aisha is the wife of Muhammad, criticizing her is tantamount to criticizing him. The Shi'a counter this by referring to the situation of both Nuh and Lut's wives told in the Qur'an:
Ismail ibn Kathir, a renowned commentator on the Qur'an, said on this verse: "Therefore, all the intimate knowledge of their husbands neither helped them nor prevented punishment, hence Allah's statement, (So, they availed them not against Allah) means, because their wives were disbelievers"
Wife of Muhammad
Status as favorite wife
Shias reject the idea that Aisha was Muhammad's favorite wife and believe that Muhammad favored none of his wives in compliance with the Qur'anic verse:
They also quote Muhammad: "When a man has two wives and he is inclined to one of them, he will come on the Day of resurrection with a side hanging down."
Others believe that Umm Salama was his favorite wife due to her dedication to the Ahl al-Bayt. Umm Salama is presented as a contrast to Aisha through her loyalty to Muhammad's family as well as obedience to his commands after his death. Unlike Aisha, who raised an army against Ali, Umm Salama tried to calm tensions. She also warned Ali of Aisha's intentions when dissuading Aisha from rebellion was unsuccessful.
It is generally accepted by Sunnis and Shias that Khadijah was Muhammad's favorite wife without contest, and that Aisha or Umm Salama were only the favorite of his later wives. Some use the fact that Muhammad was only in a monogamous relationship with Khadijah as evidence of her superiority to his later wives. One opinion is that Muhammad's marriage to Aisha was only prescribed to ease his suffering after Khadijah's death, diminishing the implications of divine intent for the union.
Muhammad's love and gratitude for Khadijah was so great that Aisha would become jealous. One time, Khadijah's sister Hala whose voice sounded exactly like Khadijah came to visit the Muhammad, as soon as he heard the familiar voice, he said "It must be Hala, her voice is just like that of Khadijah." At this, Aisha burst forth "How is it that you always think of that old woman who is no more living when Allah has given you much better wives." Mohammed replied, "Never better". On another occasion, he said: "Aisha! Khadijah's love was given to me by Allah; never did Allah give me a better wife than Khadijah."
Character
The Shi'a reject the general Sunni belief that Aisha was the best woman of her time. Shi'as uphold that Fatimah, Muhammad's daughter and wife of Ali ibn Abi Talib was the greatest woman while they also view her as infallible. Shia consider Fatima's ideal of the innocent and long-suffering as the counterpart to the sexual and political misdemeanors of which they accuse Aisha. Fatima is described as an exemplary wife, daughter, and mother and the only woman of the Fourteen Perfect of Pure Ones in Shia tradition. They cite the following hadith:
Ahmad ibn Hanbal records:
Anas narrated that the prophet (s) said: "The most excellent of the women of all worlds are: Maryam the daughter of al-Imran, Khadijah the daughter of Khuwaylid, Fatimah the daughter of Muhammad, and Asiyah the wife of Pharaoh"
Although Sunnis attribute thousands of hadith to Aisha, Shias do not consider her a reputable source of hadith. She is deemed an untrustworthy and unreliable source because of her partisanship. Instead, Fatima and Ali are considered the best sources of hadith and are included as authoritative sources by both Shias and Sunnis. However, Aisha is used in certain hadith to serve as an example of how proper women should not behave.
Her character is further questioned by an accusation that she secretly disliked Ali, as related in Maria Dakake's The Charismatic Community.