The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 2 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'TL IBN KATH~R 89
Al-Bukhxi also related it, as did Muslim, in lines from Isma'il b. Abn Khdid.
Al-Suhayli stated, "He only announced good news of her having a house made
of qasab, pearl shell, in paradise, because she had won the qasab, the first prize,
(in the race) to faith. There was to be 'no discord or distress' there because she
never raised her voice to the Prophet (SAAS), never once caused hi trouble or
was discordant with him, and never harmed him."
Both scholars gave it in the ~abih collections, from a hadith of Hisham b.
'Urwa, from his father that 'A'isha, God bless her, said, "The only one of the
wives of the Prophet (SAAS) of whom I was jealous was Khadija - who died
before he married me - and this was because of how I would hear him mention
her.
"And God ordered him to announce to her the tidings of a house of pearl shell
for her in paradise; and if he slaughtered a sheep he would present to her friends
as much of it as they wanted."
These are the words of al-Bukhzri.
In another version from 'A'isha, she said, "I was never so jealous of any
woman as I was of Khadija; this was due to the frequency with which the
Messenger of God (SAAS) would mention her. He married me three years after
(her death). And his Lord, or Gabriel, ordered him to announce the tidings of
her having a house of pearl shell in paradise."
In another of his variant wordings, she said, "I was never so jealous of any of
the wives of the Prophet (SAAS) as I was of Khadija. I did not see her, but he
talked often of her. He sometimes slaughtered a sheep then would cut off its
limbs for her and send them off to Khadija's women friends. I would say, 'Why,
it's as if Khadija were the only woman in the world!' and he would reply, 'She
was what she certainly was, and I had a son by her."'
Then al-Bukhiri stated, "Isma'il b. Khalil related to us, 'Ali b. Mushir
informed us, from Hisham b. 'Urwa, from his father, that 'A'isha said, 'Hala,
daughter of Khuwaylid, Khadija's sister, asked to come in to see the Messenger
of God (SAAS), and he thought of it as Khadija's asking for entry; he was
confused, then said, "0 God, it's Hala! "'"
'A'isha went on, "And SO I was jealous and commented, 'Why think back on
some red-mouthed old woman of Quraysh who died long ago and whom God has
replaced for you with someone better!'"
Muslim related this thus, from Suwayd b. Sa'id, from 'Ali b. Mushir.
This comment gives clear evidence that 'A'isha was better than Khadija,
either in her personal or in her wifely qualities, for he did not contradict her or
answer her back, as is obvious from the course of the account of al-Bukhiri, God
bless him!
However, Imam Ahmad said, "Mu'ammil Abn 'Abd al-Ra?lman related to us,
quoting Hammid b. Salama, from 'Abd al-Malik - he being Ibn Wmayr - from
Miisa b. Talha, from 'A'isha, who said, 'One day the Messenger of God (SAAS)
referred to Khadija and began speaking excessive praise for her. I was overcome