She is Aa'ishah, the daughter of Abu Bakr (radiallahu anhu) (see his lineage in this article) through Umm Roomaan bint Aamir bin Uwaymir bin Abd Shams bin Itaab bin Udhaynah bin Subay' bin Dahmaan bin al-Haarith bin al-Ghanam bin Maalik al-Kinaaniyyah, and she was born after the messengership by around four years or so.

The Virtues of Aa'ishah: Part 1

That which is transmitted by tawaatur (large-scale transmission) in meaning from many different routes is that Aa'ishah (radiallaahu anhaa) is the wife of the Prophet (alayhis salaam) in this life and the next, that she is amongst the most learned of the Ummah and the most beloved of the Ummah to the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallaam). And these are some of the texts which establish this:

The Hadeeth of Abu Moosaa

Al-Tirmidhi narrates in Kitab al-Manaaqib in "Chapter: The Virtues of Aa'isah (may Allaah be pleased with her)" from Abu Moosaa who said, "Never did any hadeeth become difficult for us, the companions of Allaah's Messenger, and we asked Aa'ishah except that we found she had knowledge regarding it." Saheeh (Saheeh Sunan al-Tirmidhi, no. 3883).

The Hadeeth of Moosa bin Talhah

Al-Tirmidhi narrates in Kitab al-Manaaqib in "Chapter: The Virtues of Aa'isah (may Allaah be pleased with her)" from Moosaa bin Talhah, who said, "I have not seen anyone more eloquent (afsah) than Aa'ishah." Saheeh (Saheeh Sunan al-Tirmidhi, no. 3884).

The Hadeeth of Amr bin al-Aas and Anas bin Malik

Al-Tirmidhi narrates in Kitab al-Manaaqib in "Chapter: The Virtues of Aa'isah (may Allaah be pleased with her)" through a number of different isnaads from Amr bin al-Aas who said he came to the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) and said, "O Messenger of Allaah! Which of the people is most beloved to you?" He said, "Aa'ishah." I said, "And from the men?" He said, "Her father." Saheeh (Saheeh Sunan al-Tirmidhi, no. 3885). This hadeeth is also reported from Anas bin Malik (no. 3890) and it is Saheeh.

The Hadeeth of Anas bin Malik

Al-Tirmidhi narrates in Kitab al-Manaaqib in "Chapter: The Virtues of Aa'isah (may Allaah be pleased with her)" from Anas bin Malik who said that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said, "The excellence of Aa'ishah over all women is like the excellence of al-Thareed (pieces of bread in vegetable or meat broth) over all other foods." This hadeeth is Saheeh (Saheeh Sunan al-Tirmidhi, no. 3888).

The Hadeeth of Ammaar bin Yaasir

Al-Tirmidhi narrates in Kitab al-Manaaqib in "Chapter: The Virtues of Aa'isah (may Allaah be pleased with her)" from Abdullah bin Ziyaad al-Asadee who said: I heard Ammaar bin Yaasir saying, "She is his wife in this life and the hereafter - meaning Aa'ishah (radiallaahu anha)." This hadeeth is Saheeh (Saheeh Sunan al-Tirmidhi, no. 3889).

Summary

Aa'ishah (radiallaahu anhaa):

• Was a scholar of Islam and of the hadeeth and she was a reference point for knowledge and fiqh.
• Was most eloquent in her speech and expression.
• Was the most beloved to the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) along with her father, Abu Bakr (radiallaahu anhu).
• Has an excellence over all other women.
• Was the wife of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) in this life and will be in the next.