Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2661
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ، سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ وَأَفْهَمَنِي بَعْضَهُ أَحْمَدُ حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، وَسَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَعَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ وَقَّاصٍ اللَّيْثِيِّ، وَعُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الإِفْكِ مَا قَالُوا، فَبَرَّأَهَا اللَّهُ مِنْهُ، قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ، وَكُلُّهُمْ حَدَّثَنِي طَائِفَةً مِنْ حَدِيثِهَا وَبَعْضُهُمْ أَوْعَى مِنْ بَعْضٍ، وَأَثْبَتُ لَهُ اقْتِصَاصًا، وَقَدْ وَعَيْتُ عَنْ كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمُ الْحَدِيثَ الَّذِي حَدَّثَنِي عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، وَبَعْضُ حَدِيثِهِمْ يُصَدِّقُ بَعْضًا. زَعَمُوا أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ سَفَرًا أَقْرَعَ بَيْنَ أَزْوَاجِهِ، فَأَيَّتُهُنَّ خَرَجَ سَهْمُهَا خَرَجَ بِهَا مَعَهُ، فَأَقْرَعَ بَيْنَنَا فِي غَزَاةٍ غَزَاهَا فَخَرَجَ سَهْمِي، فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ بَعْدَ مَا أُنْزِلَ الْحِجَابُ، فَأَنَا أُحْمَلُ فِي هَوْدَجٍ وَأُنْزَلُ فِيهِ، فَسِرْنَا حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ غَزْوَتِهِ تِلْكَ، وَقَفَلَ وَدَنَوْنَا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ، آذَنَ لَيْلَةً بِالرَّحِيلِ، فَقُمْتُ حِينَ آذَنُوا بِالرَّحِيلِ، فَمَشَيْتُ حَتَّى جَاوَزْتُ الْجَيْشَ، فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ شَأْنِي أَقْبَلْتُ إِلَى الرَّحْلِ، فَلَمَسْتُ صَدْرِي، فَإِذَا عِقْدٌ لِي مِنْ جَزْعِ أَظْفَارٍ قَدِ انْقَطَعَ، فَرَجَعْتُ فَالْتَمَسْتُ عِقْدِي، فَحَبَسَنِي ابْتِغَاؤُهُ، فَأَقْبَلَ الَّذِينَ يَرْحَلُونَ لِي، فَاحْتَمَلُوا هَوْدَجِي فَرَحَلُوهُ عَلَى بَعِيرِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرْكَبُ، وَهُمْ يَحْسِبُونَ أَنِّي فِيهِ، وَكَانَ النِّسَاءُ إِذْ ذَاكَ خِفَافًا لَمْ يَثْقُلْنَ وَلَمْ يَغْشَهُنَّ اللَّحْمُ، وَإِنَّمَا يَأْكُلْنَ الْعُلْقَةَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ، فَلَمْ يَسْتَنْكِرِ الْقَوْمُ حِينَ رَفَعُوهُ ثِقَلَ الْهَوْدَجِ فَاحْتَمَلُوهُ وَكُنْتُ جَارِيَةً حَدِيثَةَ السِّنِّ، فَبَعَثُوا الْجَمَلَ وَسَارُوا، فَوَجَدْتُ عِقْدِي بَعْدَ مَا اسْتَمَرَّ الْجَيْشُ، فَجِئْتُ مَنْزِلَهُمْ وَلَيْسَ فِيهِ أَحَدٌ، فَأَمَمْتُ مَنْزِلِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ بِهِ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُمْ سَيَفْقِدُونِي فَيَرْجِعُونَ إِلَىَّ، فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسَةٌ غَلَبَتْنِي عَيْنَاىَ فَنِمْتُ، وَكَانَ صَفْوَانُ بْنُ الْمُعَطَّلِ السُّلَمِيُّ ثُمَّ الذَّكْوَانِيُّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْجَيْشِ، فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدَ مَنْزِلِي فَرَأَى سَوَادَ إِنْسَانٍ نَائِمٍ فَأَتَانِي، وَكَانَ يَرَانِي قَبْلَ الْحِجَابِ فَاسْتَيْقَظْتُ بِاسْتِرْجَاعِهِ حِينَ أَنَاخَ رَاحِلَتَهُ، فَوَطِئَ يَدَهَا فَرَكِبْتُهَا فَانْطَلَقَ يَقُودُ بِي الرَّاحِلَةَ، حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الْجَيْشَ بَعْدَ مَا نَزَلُوا مُعَرِّسِينَ فِي نَحْرِ الظَّهِيرَةِ، فَهَلَكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ، وَكَانَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّى الإِفْكَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَىٍّ ابْنُ سَلُولَ، فَقَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ فَاشْتَكَيْتُ بِهَا شَهْرًا، يُفِيضُونَ مِنْ قَوْلِ أَصْحَابِ الإِفْكِ، وَيَرِيبُنِي فِي وَجَعِي أَنِّي لاَ أَرَى مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم اللُّطْفَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرَى مِنْهُ حِينَ أَمْرَضُ، إِنَّمَا يَدْخُلُ فَيُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ " كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ ". لاَ أَشْعُرُ بِشَىْءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى نَقَهْتُ، فَخَرَجْتُ أَنَا وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ قِبَلَ الْمَنَاصِعِ مُتَبَرَّزُنَا، لاَ نَخْرُجُ إِلاَّ لَيْلاً إِلَى لَيْلٍ، وَذَلِكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ نَتَّخِذَ الْكُنُفَ قَرِيبًا مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا، وَأَمْرُنَا أَمْرُ الْعَرَبِ الأُوَلِ فِي الْبَرِّيَّةِ أَوْ فِي التَّنَزُّهِ، فَأَقْبَلْتُ أَنَا وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ بِنْتُ أَبِي رُهْمٍ نَمْشِي، فَعَثُرَتْ فِي مِرْطِهَا فَقَالَتْ تَعِسَ مِسْطَحٌ، فَقُلْتُ لَهَا بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتِ، أَتَسُبِّينَ رَجُلاً شَهِدَ بَدْرًا فَقَالَتْ يَا هَنْتَاهْ أَلَمْ تَسْمَعِي مَا قَالُوا فَأَخْبَرَتْنِي بِقَوْلِ أَهْلِ الإِفْكِ، فَازْدَدْتُ مَرَضًا إِلَى مَرَضِي، فَلَمَّا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى بَيْتِي دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ " كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ ". فَقُلْتُ ائْذَنْ لِي إِلَى أَبَوَىَّ. قَالَتْ وَأَنَا حِينَئِذٍ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْتَيْقِنَ الْخَبَرَ مِنْ قِبَلِهِمَا، فَأَذِنَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَتَيْتُ أَبَوَىَّ فَقُلْتُ لأُمِّي مَا يَتَحَدَّثُ بِهِ النَّاسُ فَقَالَتْ يَا بُنَيَّةُ هَوِّنِي عَلَى نَفْسِكِ الشَّأْنَ، فَوَاللَّهِ لَقَلَّمَا كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ قَطُّ وَضِيئَةٌ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّهَا وَلَهَا ضَرَائِرُ إِلاَّ أَكْثَرْنَ عَلَيْهَا. فَقُلْتُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَلَقَدْ يَتَحَدَّثُ النَّاسُ بِهَذَا قَالَتْ فَبِتُّ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ لاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ، ثُمَّ أَصْبَحْتُ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَأُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ حِينَ اسْتَلْبَثَ الْوَحْىُ، يَسْتَشِيرُهُمَا فِي فِرَاقِ أَهْلِهِ، فَأَمَّا أُسَامَةُ فَأَشَارَ عَلَيْهِ بِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ فِي نَفْسِهِ مِنَ الْوُدِّ لَهُمْ، فَقَالَ أُسَامَةُ أَهْلُكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَلاَ نَعْلَمُ وَاللَّهِ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا، وَأَمَّا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَمْ يُضَيِّقِ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَالنِّسَاءُ سِوَاهَا كَثِيرٌ، وَسَلِ الْجَارِيَةَ تَصْدُقْكَ. فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَرِيرَةَ فَقَالَ " يَا بَرِيرَةُ هَلْ رَأَيْتِ فِيهَا شَيْئًا يَرِيبُكِ ". فَقَالَتْ بَرِيرَةُ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ، إِنْ رَأَيْتُ مِنْهَا أَمْرًا أَغْمِصُهُ عَلَيْهَا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنَّهَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ تَنَامُ عَنِ الْعَجِينَ فَتَأْتِي الدَّاجِنُ فَتَأْكُلُهُ. فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ يَوْمِهِ، فَاسْتَعْذَرَ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُبَىٍّ ابْنِ سَلُولَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ يَعْذِرُنِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ بَلَغَنِي أَذَاهُ فِي أَهْلِي، فَوَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلاَّ خَيْرًا، وَقَدْ ذَكَرُوا رَجُلاً مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا، وَمَا كَانَ يَدْخُلُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلاَّ مَعِي ". فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَا وَاللَّهِ أَعْذِرُكَ مِنْهُ، إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الأَوْسِ ضَرَبْنَا عُنُقَهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِنَا مِنَ الْخَزْرَجِ أَمَرْتَنَا فَفَعَلْنَا فِيهِ أَمْرَكَ. فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ وَهُوَ سَيِّدُ الْخَزْرَجِ، وَكَانَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ رَجُلاً صَالِحًا وَلَكِنِ احْتَمَلَتْهُ الْحَمِيَّةُ فَقَالَ كَذَبْتَ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ، لاَ تَقْتُلُهُ وَلاَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، فَقَامَ أُسَيْدُ بْنُ الْحُضَيْرِ فَقَالَ كَذَبْتَ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ، وَاللَّهِ لَنَقْتُلَنَّهُ، فَإِنَّكَ مُنَافِقٌ تُجَادِلُ عَنِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ. فَثَارَ الْحَيَّانِ الأَوْسُ وَالْخَزْرَجُ حَتَّى هَمُّوا، وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَنَزَلَ فَخَفَّضَهُمْ حَتَّى سَكَتُوا وَسَكَتَ، وَبَكَيْتُ يَوْمِي لاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ، فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدِي أَبَوَاىَ، قَدْ بَكَيْتُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ وَيَوْمًا حَتَّى أَظُنُّ أَنَّ الْبُكَاءَ فَالِقٌ كَبِدِي ـ قَالَتْ ـ فَبَيْنَا هُمَا جَالِسَانِ عِنْدِي وَأَنَا أَبْكِي إِذِ اسْتَأْذَنَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَأَذِنْتُ لَهَا، فَجَلَسَتْ تَبْكِي مَعِي، فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجَلَسَ، وَلَمْ يَجْلِسْ عِنْدِي مِنْ يَوْمِ قِيلَ فِيَّ مَا قِيلَ قَبْلَهَا، وَقَدْ مَكُثَ شَهْرًا لاَ يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ فِي شَأْنِي شَىْءٌ ـ قَالَتْ ـ فَتَشَهَّدَ ثُمَّ قَالَ " يَا عَائِشَةُ فَإِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكِ كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَإِنْ كُنْتِ بَرِيئَةً فَسَيُبَرِّئُكِ اللَّهُ، وَإِنْ كُنْتِ أَلْمَمْتِ فَاسْتَغْفِرِي اللَّهَ وَتُوبِي إِلَيْهِ، فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا اعْتَرَفَ بِذَنْبِهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ". فَلَمَّا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَقَالَتَهُ قَلَصَ دَمْعِي حَتَّى مَا أُحِسُّ مِنْهُ قَطْرَةً وَقُلْتُ لأَبِي أَجِبْ عَنِّي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. قَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَقُلْتُ لأُمِّي أَجِيبِي عَنِّي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِيمَا قَالَ. قَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. قَالَتْ وَأَنَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ لاَ أَقْرَأُ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكُمْ سَمِعْتُمْ مَا يَتَحَدَّثُ بِهِ النَّاسُ، وَوَقَرَ فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَصَدَّقْتُمْ بِهِ، وَلَئِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ. وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنِّي لَبَرِيئَةٌ لاَ تُصَدِّقُونِي بِذَلِكَ، وَلَئِنِ اعْتَرَفْتُ لَكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ، وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ لَتُصَدِّقُنِّي وَاللَّهِ مَا أَجِدُ لِي وَلَكُمْ مَثَلاً إِلاَّ أَبَا يُوسُفَ إِذْ قَالَ ﴿فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ﴾ ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلْتُ عَلَى فِرَاشِي، وَأَنَا أَرْجُو أَنْ يُبَرِّئَنِي اللَّهُ، وَلَكِنْ وَاللَّهِ مَا ظَنَنْتُ أَنْ يُنْزِلَ فِي شَأْنِي وَحْيًا، وَلأَنَا أَحْقَرُ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ أَنْ يُتَكَلَّمَ بِالْقُرْآنِ فِي أَمْرِي، وَلَكِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ يَرَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي النَّوْمِ رُؤْيَا يُبَرِّئُنِي اللَّهُ، فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَامَ مَجْلِسَهُ وَلاَ خَرَجَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ حَتَّى أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ، فَأَخَذَهُ مَا كَانَ يَأْخُذُهُ مِنَ الْبُرَحَاءِ، حَتَّى إِنَّهُ لَيَتَحَدَّرُ مِنْهُ مِثْلُ الْجُمَانِ مِنَ الْعَرَقِ فِي يَوْمٍ شَاتٍ، فَلَمَّا سُرِّيَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ يَضْحَكُ، فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ كَلِمَةٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهَا أَنْ قَالَ لِي " يَا عَائِشَةُ، احْمَدِي اللَّهَ فَقَدْ بَرَّأَكِ اللَّهُ ". فَقَالَتْ لِي أُمِّي قُومِي إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَقُلْتُ لاَ وَاللَّهِ، لاَ أَقُومُ إِلَيْهِ، وَلاَ أَحْمَدُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِنْكُمْ﴾ الآيَاتِ، فَلَمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ هَذَا فِي بَرَاءَتِي قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ وَكَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحِ بْنِ أُثَاثَةَ لِقَرَابَتِهِ مِنْهُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحٍ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا بَعْدَ مَا قَالَ لِعَائِشَةَ. فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى [quran sura="24" aya_start="22" aya_end="22"]{وَلاَ يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ [quran sura="24" aya_start="22" aya_end="22"]{غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ} فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بَلَى، وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأُحِبُّ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لِي، فَرَجَعَ إِلَى مِسْطَحٍ الَّذِي كَانَ يُجْرِي عَلَيْهِ. وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْأَلُ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ جَحْشٍ عَنْ أَمْرِي، فَقَالَ " يَا زَيْنَبُ، مَا عَلِمْتِ مَا رَأَيْتِ ". فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَحْمِي سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي، وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهَا إِلاَّ خَيْرًا، قَالَتْ وَهْىَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تُسَامِينِي، فَعَصَمَهَا اللَّهُ بِالْوَرَعِ. قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، مِثْلَهُ. قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ، عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، وَيَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، مِثْلَهُ.
Narrated Aisha:
(the wife of the Prophet) "Whenever Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) intended to go on a journey, he would draw lots
amongst his wives and would take with him the one upon whom the lot fell. During a Ghazwa of his,
he drew lots amongst us and the lot fell upon me, and I proceeded with him after Allah had decreed
the use of the veil by women. I was carried in a Howdah (on the camel) and dismounted while still in
it. When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was through with his Ghazwa and returned home, and we approached the
city of Medina, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ordered us to proceed at night. When the order of setting off was
given, I walked till I was past the army to answer the call of nature. After finishing I returned (to the
camp) to depart (with the others) and suddenly realized that my necklace over my chest was missing.
So, I returned to look for it and was delayed because of that. The people who used to carry me on the
camel, came to my Howdah and put it on the back of the camel, thinking that I was in it, as, at that
time, women were light in weight, and thin and lean, and did not use to eat much. So, those people did
not feel the difference in the heaviness of the Howdah while lifting it, and they put it over the camel.
At that time I was a young lady. They set the camel moving and proceeded on. I found my necklace
after the army had gone, and came to their camp to find nobody. So, I went to the place where I used
to stay, thinking that they would discover my absence and come back in my search. While in that
state, I felt sleepy and slept.
Safwan bin Mu'attal As-Sulami Adh-Dhakwani was behind the army and reached my abode in the
morning. When he saw a sleeping person, he came to me, and he used to see me before veiling. So, I
got up when I heard him saying, "Inna lil-lah-wa inn a ilaihi rajiun (We are for Allah, and we will
return to Him)." He made his camel knell down. He got down from his camel, and put his leg on the
front legs of the camel and then I rode and sat over it. Safwan set out walking, leading the camel by
the rope till we reached the army who had halted to take rest at midday. Then whoever was meant for
destruction, fell into destruction, (some people accused me falsely) and the leader of the false accusers
was `Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. After that we returned to Medina, and I became ill for one month
while the people were spreading the forged statements of the false accusers. I was feeling during my
ailment as if I were not receiving the usual kindness from the Prophet (ﷺ) which I used to receive from
him when I got sick. But he would come, greet and say, 'How is that (girl)?' I did not know anything
of what was going on till I recovered from my ailment and went out with Um Mistah to the Manasi
where we used to answer the call of nature, and we used not to go to answer the call of nature except
from night to night and that was before we had lavatories near to our houses. And this habit of ours
was similar to the habit of the old 'Arabs in the open country (or away from houses). So. I and Um
Mistah bint Ruhm went out walking. Um Mistah stumbled because of her long dress and on that she
said, 'Let Mistah be ruined.' I said, 'You are saying a bad word. Why are you abusing a man who took
part in (the battle of) Badr?' She said, 'O Hanata (you there) didn't you hear what they said?' Then she
told me the rumors of the false accusers.
My sickness was aggravated, and when I returned home, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to me, and after
greeting he said, 'How is that (girl)?' I requested him to allow me to go to my parents. I wanted then to
be sure of the news through them I Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) allowed me, and I went to my parents and asked
my mother, 'What are the people talking about?' She said, 'O my daughter! Don't worry much about
this matter. By Allah, never is there a charming woman loved by her husband who has other wives,
but the women would forge false news about her.' I said, 'Glorified be Allah! Are the people really
taking of this matter?' That night I kept on weeping and could not sleep till morning. In the morning
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) called `Ali bin Abu Talib and Usama bin Zaid when he saw the Divine Inspiration
delayed, to consul them about divorcing his wife (i.e. `Aisha). Usama bin Zaid said what he knew of
the good reputation of his wives and added, 'O Allah's Messenger! Keep you wife, for, by Allah, we
know nothing about her but good.' `Ali bin Abu Talib said, 'O Allah's Messenger! Allah has no imposed
restrictions on you, and there are many women other than she, yet you may ask the woman-servant
who will tell you the truth.' On that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) called Barirah and said, 'O Barirah. Did you ever
see anything which roused your suspicions about her?' Barirah said, 'No, by Allah Who has sent you
with the Truth, I have never seen in her anything faulty except that she is a girl of immature age, who
sometimes sleeps and leaves the dough for the goats to eat.' On that day Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ascended the
pulpit and requested that somebody support him in punishing `Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. Allah's
Apostle said, 'Who will support me to punish that person (`Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul) who has hurt
me by slandering the reputation of my family? By Allah, I know nothing about my family but good,
and they have accused a person about whom I know nothing except good, and he never entered my
house except in my company.'
Sa`d bin Mu`adh got up and said, 'O Allah's Messenger! by Allah, I will relieve you from him. If that
man is from the tribe of the Aus, then we will chop his head off, and if he is from our brothers, the
Khazraj, then order us, and we will fulfill your order.' On that Sa`d bin 'Ubada, the chief of the
Khazraj and before this incident, he had been a pious man, got up, motivated by his zeal for his tribe
and said, 'By Allah, you have told a lie; you cannot kill him, and you will never be able to kill him.'
On that Usaid bin Al-Hadir got up and said (to Sa`d bin 'Ubada), 'By Allah! you are a liar. By Allah,
we will kill him; and you are a hypocrite, defending the hypocrites.' On this the two tribes of Aus and
Khazraj got excited and were about to fight each other, while Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was standing on the
pulpit. He got down and quieted them till they became silent and he kept quiet. On that day I kept on
weeping so much so that neither did my tears stop, nor could I sleep.
In the morning my parents were with me and I had wept for two nights and a day, till I thought my
liver would burst from weeping. While they were sitting with me and I was weeping, an Ansari
woman asked my permission to enter, and I allowed her to come in. She sat down and started weeping
with me. While we were in this state, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came and sat down and he had never sat with me
since the day they forged the accusation. No revelation regarding my case came to him for a month.
He recited Tashah-hud (i.e. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is His
Apostle) and then said, 'O `Aisha! I have been informed such-and-such about you; if you are innocent,
then Allah will soon reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and
ask Him to forgive you, for when a person confesses his sin and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah
accepts his repentance.' When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) finished his speech my tears ceased completely and
there remained not even a single drop of it. I requested my father to reply to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) on my
behalf. My father said, By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's Messenger.' I said to my mother,
'Talk to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) on my behalf.' She said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's
Apostle.
I was a young girl and did not have much knowledge of the Qur'an. I said. 'I know, by Allah, that you
have listened to what people are saying and that has been planted in your minds and you have taken it
as a truth. Now, if I told you that I am innocent and Allah knows that I am innocent, you would not
believe me and if I confessed to you falsely that I am guilty, and Allah knows that I am innocent you
would believe me. By Allah, I don't compare my situation with you except to the situation of Joseph's
father (i.e. Jacob) who said, 'So (for me) patience is most fitting against that which you assert and it is
Allah (Alone) whose help can be sought.' Then I turned to the other side of my bed hoping that Allah
would prove my innocence. By Allah I never thought that Allah would reveal Divine Inspiration in
my case, as I considered myself too inferior to be talked of in the Holy Qur'an. I had hoped that
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) might have a dream in which Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah, Allah's
Apostle had not got up and nobody had left the house before the Divine Inspiration came to Allah's
Apostle. So, there overtook him the same state which used to overtake him, (when he used to have, on
being inspired divinely). He was sweating so much so that the drops of the sweat were dropping like
pearls though it was a (cold) wintry day. When that state of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was over, he was smiling
and the first word he said, `Aisha! Thank Allah, for Allah has declared your innocence.' My mother
told me to go to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . I replied, 'By Allah I will not go to him and will not thank but Allah.'
So Allah revealed: "Verily! They who spread the slander are a gang among you . . ." (24.11)
When Allah gave the declaration of my Innocence, Abu Bakr, who used to provide for Mistah bin
Uthatha for he was his relative, said, 'By Allah, I will never provide Mistah with anything because of
what he said about Aisha.' But Allah later revealed: --
"And let not those who are good and wealthy among you swear not to help their kinsmen, those in
need and those who left their homes in Allah's Cause. Let them forgive and overlook. Do you not wish
that Allah should forgive you? Verily! Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." (24.22) After that Abu
Bakr said, 'Yes ! By Allah! I like that Allah should forgive me,' and resumed helping Mistah whom he
used to help before.
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) also asked Zainab bint Jahsh (i.e. the Prophet's wife about me saying, 'What do you
know and what did you see?' She replied, 'O Allah's Messenger! I refrain to claim hearing or seeing what
I have not heard or seen. By Allah, I know nothing except goodness about Aisha." Aisha further added
"Zainab was competing with me (in her beauty and the Prophet's love), yet Allah protected her (from
being malicious), for she had piety."
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Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4146
حَدَّثَنِي بِشْرُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي الضُّحَى، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، قَالَ دَخَلْنَا عَلَى عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ وَعِنْدَهَا حَسَّانُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ يُنْشِدُهَا شِعْرًا، يُشَبِّبُ بِأَبْيَاتٍ لَهُ وَقَالَ:
حَصَانٌ رَزَانٌ مَا تُزَنُّ بِرِيبَةٍ وَتُصْبِحُ غَرْثَى مِنْ لُحُومِ الْغَوَافِلِ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ عَائِشَةُ لَكِنَّكَ لَسْتَ كَذَلِكَ. قَالَ مَسْرُوقٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا لِمَ تَأْذَنِينَ لَهُ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ عَلَيْكِ. وَقَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى ﴿وَالَّذِي تَوَلَّى كِبْرَهُ مِنْهُمْ لَهُ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ﴾. فَقَالَتْ وَأَىُّ عَذَابٍ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْعَمَى. قَالَتْ لَهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ يُنَافِحُ ـ أَوْ يُهَاجِي ـ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Narrated Masruq:
We went to `Aisha while Hassan bin Thabit was with her reciting poetry to her from some of his
poetic verses, saying "A chaste wise lady about whom nobody can have suspicion. She gets up with an
empty stomach because she never eats the flesh of indiscreet (ladies)." `Aisha said to him, "But you
are not like that." I said to her, "Why do you grant him admittance, though Allah said:-- "and as for
him among them, who had the greater share therein, his will be a severe torment." (24.11)
On that, `Aisha said, "And what punishment is more than blinding?" She, added, "Hassan used to
defend or say poetry on behalf of Allah's Messenger (against the infidels).
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Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4690
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ صَالِحٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ،. قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا الْحَجَّاجُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ النُّمَيْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ الأَيْلِيُّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الزُّهْرِيَّ، سَمِعْتُ عُرْوَةَ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ، وَسَعِيدَ بْنَ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَعَلْقَمَةَ بْنَ وَقَّاصٍ، وَعُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ حَدِيثِ، عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الإِفْكِ مَا قَالُوا فَبَرَّأَهَا اللَّهُ، كُلٌّ حَدَّثَنِي طَائِفَةً مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنْ كُنْتِ بَرِيئَةً فَسَيُبَرِّئُكِ اللَّهُ، وَإِنْ كُنْتِ أَلْمَمْتِ بِذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرِي اللَّهَ وَتُوبِي إِلَيْهِ ". قُلْتُ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَجِدُ مَثَلاً إِلاَّ أَبَا يُوسُفَ ﴿فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ﴾ وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالإِفْكِ﴾ الْعَشْرَ الآيَاتِ.
Narrated Az-Zuhri:
`Urwa bin Az-Zubair, Sa`id bin Al-Musaiyab, 'Al-Qama bin Waqqas and 'Ubaidullah bin `Abdullah
related the narration of `Aisha, the wife the Prophet, when the slanderers had said about her what they
had said and Allah later declared her innocence. Each of them related a part of the narration (wherein)
the Prophet (ﷺ) said (to `Aisha). "If you are innocent, then Allah will declare your innocence: but if you
have committed a sin, then ask for Allah's Forgiveness and repent to him." `Aisha said, "By Allah, I
find no example for my case except that of Joseph's father (when he said), 'So (for me) patience is
most fitting.' " Then Allah revealed the ten Verses:-- "Verily those who spread the slander are a gang
amongst you.." (24.11)
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Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4749
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها – ﴿وَالَّذِي تَوَلَّى كِبْرَهُ﴾ قَالَتْ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَىٍّ ابْنُ سَلُولَ.
Narrated `Aisha:
And as for him among them who had the greater share..' (24.11) was `Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul.
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Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4750
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، وَسَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَعَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ وَقَّاصٍ، وَعُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنْ حَدِيثِ، عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الإِفْكِ مَا قَالُوا، فَبَرَّأَهَا اللَّهُ مِمَّا قَالُوا وَكُلٌّ حَدَّثَنِي طَائِفَةً مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ، وَبَعْضُ حَدِيثِهِمْ يُصَدِّقُ بَعْضًا، وَإِنْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْعَى لَهُ مِنْ بَعْضٍ الَّذِي حَدَّثَنِي عُرْوَةُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ أَقْرَعَ بَيْنَ أَزْوَاجِهِ، فَأَيَّتُهُنَّ خَرَجَ سَهْمُهَا خَرَجَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَهُ، قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَأَقْرَعَ بَيْنَنَا فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا، فَخَرَجَ سَهْمِي، فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعْدَ مَا نَزَلَ الْحِجَابُ، فَأَنَا أُحْمَلُ فِي هَوْدَجِي وَأُنْزَلُ فِيهِ فَسِرْنَا حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ غَزْوَتِهِ تِلْكَ وَقَفَلَ، وَدَنَوْنَا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ قَافِلِينَ آذَنَ لَيْلَةً بِالرَّحِيلِ، فَقُمْتُ حِينَ آذَنُوا بِالرَّحِيلِ، فَمَشَيْتُ حَتَّى جَاوَزْتُ الْجَيْشَ، فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ شَأْنِي أَقْبَلْتُ إِلَى رَحْلِي، فَإِذَا عِقْدٌ لِي مِنْ جَزْعِ ظَفَارِ قَدِ انْقَطَعَ فَالْتَمَسْتُ عِقْدِي وَحَبَسَنِي ابْتِغَاؤُهُ وَأَقْبَلَ الرَّهْطُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يَرْحَلُونَ لِي، فَاحْتَمَلُوا هَوْدَجِي، فَرَحَلُوهُ عَلَى بَعِيرِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ رَكِبْتُ، وَهُمْ يَحْسِبُونَ أَنِّي فِيهِ، وَكَانَ النِّسَاءُ إِذْ ذَاكَ خِفَافًا لَمْ يُثْقِلْهُنَّ اللَّحْمُ، إِنَّمَا تَأْكُلُ الْعُلْقَةَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَلَمْ يَسْتَنْكِرِ الْقَوْمُ خِفَّةَ الْهَوْدَجِ حِينَ رَفَعُوهُ، وَكُنْتُ جَارِيَةً حَدِيثَةَ السِّنِّ، فَبَعَثُوا الْجَمَلَ وَسَارُوا، فَوَجَدْتُ عِقْدِي بَعْدَ مَا اسْتَمَرَّ الْجَيْشُ، فَجِئْتُ مَنَازِلَهُمْ، وَلَيْسَ بِهَا دَاعٍ وَلاَ مُجِيبٌ، فَأَمَمْتُ مَنْزِلِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ بِهِ وَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُمْ سَيَفْقِدُونِي فَيَرْجِعُونَ إِلَىَّ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسَةٌ فِي مَنْزِلِي غَلَبَتْنِي عَيْنِي فَنِمْتُ، وَكَانَ صَفْوَانُ بْنُ الْمُعَطَّلِ السُّلَمِيُّ ثُمَّ الذَّكْوَانِيُّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْجَيْشِ، فَأَدْلَجَ فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدَ مَنْزِلِي، فَرَأَى سَوَادَ إِنْسَانٍ نَائِمٍ، فَأَتَانِي فَعَرَفَنِي حِينَ رَآنِي، وَكَانَ يَرَانِي قَبْلَ الْحِجَابِ، فَاسْتَيْقَظْتُ بِاسْتِرْجَاعِهِ حِينَ عَرَفَنِي فَخَمَّرْتُ وَجْهِي بِجِلْبَابِي، وَاللَّهِ مَا كَلَّمَنِي كَلِمَةً وَلاَ سَمِعْتُ مِنْهُ كَلِمَةً غَيْرَ اسْتِرْجَاعِهِ، حَتَّى أَنَاخَ رَاحِلَتَهُ فَوَطِئَ عَلَى يَدَيْهَا فَرَكِبْتُهَا فَانْطَلَقَ يَقُودُ بِي الرَّاحِلَةَ حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الْجَيْشَ، بَعْدَ مَا نَزَلُوا مُوغِرِينَ فِي نَحْرِ الظَّهِيرَةِ، فَهَلَكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ، وَكَانَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّى الإِفْكَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أُبَىٍّ ابْنَ سَلُولَ فَقَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ، فَاشْتَكَيْتُ حِينَ قَدِمْتُ شَهْرًا، وَالنَّاسُ يُفِيضُونَ فِي قَوْلِ أَصْحَابِ الإِفْكِ، لاَ أَشْعُرُ بِشَىْءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، وَهْوَ يَرِيبُنِي فِي وَجَعِي أَنِّي لاَ أَعْرِفُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اللَّطَفَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرَى مِنْهُ حِينَ أَشْتَكِي، إِنَّمَا يَدْخُلُ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ " كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ ". ثُمَّ يَنْصَرِفُ، فَذَاكَ الَّذِي يَرِيبُنِي، وَلاَ أَشْعُرُ حَتَّى خَرَجْتُ بَعْدَ مَا نَقَهْتُ، فَخَرَجَتْ مَعِي أُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ قِبَلَ الْمَنَاصِعِ، وَهْوَ مُتَبَرَّزُنَا، وَكُنَّا لاَ نَخْرُجُ إِلاَّ لَيْلاً إِلَى لَيْلٍ، وَذَلِكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ نَتَّخِذَ الْكُنُفَ قَرِيبًا مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا، وَأَمْرُنَا أَمْرُ الْعَرَبِ الأُوَلِ فِي التَّبَرُّزِ قِبَلَ الْغَائِطِ، فَكُنَّا نَتَأَذَّى بِالْكُنُفِ أَنْ نَتَّخِذَهَا عِنْدَ بُيُوتِنَا فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ، وَهْىَ ابْنَةُ أَبِي رُهْمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ، وَأُمُّهَا بِنْتُ صَخْرِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ خَالَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ، وَابْنُهَا مِسْطَحُ بْنُ أُثَاثَةَ، فَأَقْبَلْتُ أَنَا وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ قِبَلَ بَيْتِي، قَدْ فَرَغْنَا مِنْ شَأْنِنَا، فَعَثَرَتْ أُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ فِي مِرْطِهَا فَقَالَتْ تَعِسَ مِسْطَحٌ. فَقُلْتُ لَهَا بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتِ أَتَسُبِّينَ رَجُلاً شَهِدَ بَدْرًا قَالَتْ أَىْ هَنْتَاهُ، أَوَلَمْ تَسْمَعِي مَا قَالَ قَالَتْ قُلْتُ وَمَا قَالَ فَأَخْبَرَتْنِي بِقَوْلِ أَهْلِ الإِفْكِ فَازْدَدْتُ مَرَضًا عَلَى مَرَضِي، فَلَمَّا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى بَيْتِي وَدَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَعْنِي سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَالَ " كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ ". فَقُلْتُ أَتَأْذَنُ لِي أَنْ آتِيَ أَبَوَىَّ قَالَتْ وَأَنَا حِينَئِذٍ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْتَيْقِنَ الْخَبَرَ مِنْ قِبَلِهِمَا، قَالَتْ فَأَذِنَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجِئْتُ أَبَوَىَّ فَقُلْتُ لأُمِّي يَا أُمَّتَاهْ، مَا يَتَحَدَّثُ النَّاسُ قَالَتْ يَا بُنَيَّةُ، هَوِّنِي عَلَيْكَ فَوَاللَّهِ، لَقَلَّمَا كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ قَطُّ وَضِيئَةً عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّهَا وَلَهَا ضَرَائِرُ إِلاَّ كَثَّرْنَ عَلَيْهَا. قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَلَقَدْ تَحَدَّثَ النَّاسُ بِهَذَا قَالَتْ فَبَكَيْتُ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ لاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ، وَلاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ أَبْكِي فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، وَأُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ حِينَ اسْتَلْبَثَ الْوَحْىُ، يَسْتَأْمِرُهُمَا فِي فِرَاقِ أَهْلِهِ، قَالَتْ فَأَمَّا أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ فَأَشَارَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ مِنْ بَرَاءَةِ أَهْلِهِ، وَبِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ لَهُمْ فِي نَفْسِهِ مِنَ الْوُدِّ، فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَهْلَكَ، وَمَا نَعْلَمُ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا، وَأَمَّا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، لَمْ يُضَيِّقِ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَالنِّسَاءُ سِوَاهَا كَثِيرٌ، وَإِنْ تَسْأَلِ الْجَارِيَةَ تَصْدُقْكَ، قَالَتْ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَرِيرَةَ فَقَالَ " أَىْ بَرِيرَةُ، هَلْ رَأَيْتِ عَلَيْهَا مِنْ شَىْءٍ يَرِيبُكِ ". قَالَتْ بَرِيرَةُ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ، إِنْ رَأَيْتُ عَلَيْهَا أَمْرًا أَغْمِصُهُ عَلَيْهَا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنَّهَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ، تَنَامُ عَنْ عَجِينِ أَهْلِهَا، فَتَأْتِي الدَّاجِنُ فَتَأْكُلُهُ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاسْتَعْذَرَ يَوْمَئِذٍ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُبَىٍّ ابْنِ سَلُولَ، قَالَتْ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ " يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَنْ يَعْذِرُنِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ، قَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَذَاهُ فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِي، فَوَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلاَّ خَيْرًا، وَلَقَدْ ذَكَرُوا رَجُلاً، مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا، وَمَا كَانَ يَدْخُلُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلاَّ مَعِي ". فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَا أَعْذِرُكَ مِنْهُ، إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الأَوْسِ، ضَرَبْتُ عُنُقَهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِنَا مِنَ الْخَزْرَجِ، أَمَرْتَنَا، فَفَعَلْنَا أَمْرَكَ، قَالَتْ فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ وَهْوَ سَيِّدُ الْخَزْرَجِ، وَكَانَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ رَجُلاً صَالِحًا، وَلَكِنِ احْتَمَلَتْهُ الْحَمِيَّةُ فَقَالَ لِسَعْدٍ كَذَبْتَ، لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ لاَ تَقْتُلُهُ، وَلاَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى قَتْلِهِ، فَقَامَ أُسَيْدُ بْنُ حُضَيْرٍ وَهْوَ ابْنُ عَمِّ سَعْدٍ، فَقَالَ لِسَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ كَذَبْتَ، لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ لَنَقْتُلَنَّهُ، فَإِنَّكَ مُنَافِقٌ تُجَادِلُ عَنِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ، فَتَثَاوَرَ الْحَيَّانِ الأَوْسُ وَالْخَزْرَجُ حَتَّى هَمُّوا أَنْ يَقْتَتِلُوا، وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَائِمٌ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ، فَلَمْ يَزَلْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُخَفِّضُهُمْ حَتَّى سَكَتُوا وَسَكَتَ، قَالَتْ فَمَكُثْتُ يَوْمِي ذَلِكَ لاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ، قَالَتْ فَأَصْبَحَ أَبَوَاىَ عِنْدِي ـ وَقَدْ بَكَيْتُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ وَيَوْمًا لاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ وَلاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ ـ يَظُنَّانِ أَنَّ الْبُكَاءَ فَالِقٌ كَبِدِي، قَالَتْ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمَا جَالِسَانِ عِنْدِي وَأَنَا أَبْكِي، فَاسْتَأْذَنَتْ عَلَىَّ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ، فَأَذِنْتُ لَهَا، فَجَلَسَتْ تَبْكِي مَعِي، قَالَتْ فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ قَالَتْ وَلَمْ يَجْلِسْ عِنْدِي مُنْذُ قِيلَ مَا قِيلَ قَبْلَهَا، وَقَدْ لَبِثَ شَهْرًا، لاَ يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ فِي شَأْنِي، قَالَتْ فَتَشَهَّدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ جَلَسَ ثُمَّ قَالَ " أَمَّا بَعْدُ يَا عَائِشَةُ، فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكِ كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَإِنْ كُنْتِ بَرِيئَةً فَسَيُبَرِّئُكِ اللَّهُ، وَإِنْ كُنْتِ أَلْمَمْتِ بِذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرِي اللَّهَ وَتُوبِي إِلَيْهِ، فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا اعْتَرَفَ بِذَنْبِهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ". قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَقَالَتَهُ، قَلَصَ دَمْعِي حَتَّى مَا أُحِسُّ مِنْهُ قَطْرَةً، فَقُلْتُ لأَبِي أَجِبْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِيمَا قَالَ. قَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ لأُمِّي أَجِيبِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. قَالَتْ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ وَأَنَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ لاَ أَقْرَأُ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ، إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُمْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ حَتَّى اسْتَقَرَّ فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ، وَصَدَّقْتُمْ بِهِ فَلَئِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ لاَ تُصَدِّقُونِي بِذَلِكَ، وَلَئِنِ اعْتَرَفْتُ لَكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ، وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي مِنْهُ بَرِيئَةٌ لَتُصَدِّقُنِّي، وَاللَّهِ مَا أَجِدُ لَكُمْ مَثَلاً إِلاَّ قَوْلَ أَبِي يُوسُفَ قَالَ ﴿فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ﴾ قَالَتْ ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلْتُ فَاضْطَجَعْتُ عَلَى فِرَاشِي، قَالَتْ وَأَنَا حِينَئِذٍ أَعْلَمُ أَنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ، وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مُبَرِّئِي بِبَرَاءَتِي، وَلَكِنْ وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ أَنَّ اللَّهَ مُنْزِلٌ فِي شَأْنِي وَحْيًا يُتْلَى، وَلَشَأْنِي فِي نَفْسِي كَانَ أَحْقَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ فِيَّ بِأَمْرٍ يُتْلَى، وَلَكِنْ كُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ يَرَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي النَّوْمِ رُؤْيَا يُبَرِّئُنِي اللَّهُ بِهَا، قَالَتْ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلاَ خَرَجَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ حَتَّى أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ، فَأَخَذَهُ مَا كَانَ يَأْخُذُهُ مِنَ الْبُرَحَاءِ حَتَّى إِنَّهُ لَيَتَحَدَّرُ مِنْهُ مِثْلُ الْجُمَانِ مِنَ الْعَرَقِ، وَهْوَ فِي يَوْمٍ شَاتٍ مِنْ ثِقَلِ الْقَوْلِ الَّذِي يُنْزَلُ عَلَيْهِ، قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا سُرِّيَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سُرِّيَ عَنْهُ وَهْوَ يَضْحَكُ، فَكَانَتْ أَوَّلُ كَلِمَةٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهَا " يَا عَائِشَةُ، أَمَّا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَقَدْ بَرَّأَكِ ". فَقَالَتْ أُمِّي قُومِي إِلَيْهِ. قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ، لاَ أَقُومُ إِلَيْهِ، وَلاَ أَحْمَدُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ. وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِنْكُمْ لاَ تَحْسِبُوهُ﴾ الْعَشْرَ الآيَاتِ كُلَّهَا، فَلَمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ هَذَا فِي بَرَاءَتِي قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ وَكَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحِ بْنِ أُثَاثَةَ لِقَرَابَتِهِ مِنْهُ، وَفَقْرِهِ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحٍ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا بَعْدَ الَّذِي قَالَ لِعَائِشَةَ مَا قَالَ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {وَلاَ يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ أَنْ يُؤْتُوا أُولِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا أَلاَ تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ} قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بَلَى، وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لِي، فَرَجَعَ إِلَى مِسْطَحٍ النَّفَقَةَ الَّتِي كَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ، وَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَنْزِعُهَا مِنْهُ أَبَدًا. قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْأَلُ زَيْنَبَ ابْنَةَ جَحْشٍ عَنْ أَمْرِي، فَقَالَ " يَا زَيْنَبُ مَاذَا عَلِمْتِ أَوْ رَأَيْتِ ". فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَحْمِي سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي، مَا عَلِمْتُ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا. قَالَتْ وَهْىَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تُسَامِينِي مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَعَصَمَهَا اللَّهُ بِالْوَرَعِ، وَطَفِقَتْ أُخْتُهَا حَمْنَةُ تُحَارِبُ لَهَا فَهَلَكَتْ فِيمَنْ هَلَكَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الإِفْكِ.
Narrated Aisha:
(The wife of the Prophet) Whenever Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) intended to go on a journey, he used to draw lots
among his wives and would take with him the one on whom the lot had fallen. Once he drew lots
when he wanted to carry out a Ghazwa, and the lot came upon me. So I proceeded with Allah's
Apostle after Allah's order of veiling (the women) had been revealed and thus I was carried in my
howdah (on a camel) and dismounted while still in it. We carried on our journey, and when Allah's
Apostle had finished his Ghazwa and returned and we approached Medina, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ordered to
proceed at night. When the army was ordered to resume the homeward journey, I got up and walked
on till I left the army (camp) behind. When I had answered the call of nature, I went towards my
howdah, but behold ! A necklace of mine made of Jaz Azfar (a kind of black bead) was broken and I
looked for it and my search for it detained me.
The group of people who used to carry me, came and carried my howdah on to the back of my camel
on which I was riding, considering that I was therein. At that time women were light in weight and
were not fleshy for they used to eat little (food), so those people did not feel the lightness of the
howdah while raising it up, and I was still a young lady. They drove away the camel and proceeded.
Then I found my necklace after the army had gone. I came to their camp but found nobody therein so I
went to the place where I used to stay, thinking that they would miss me and come back in my search.
While I was sitting at my place, I felt sleepy and slept. Safwan bin Al-Mu'attil As-Sulami Adh-
Dhakw-ani was behind the army. He had started in the last part of the night and reached my stationing
place in the morning and saw the figure of a sleeping person. He came to me and recognized me on
seeing me for he used to see me before veiling. I got up because of his saying: "Inna Li l-lahi wa inna
ilaihi rajiun," which he uttered on recognizing me. I covered my face with my garment, and by Allah,
he did not say to me a single word except, "Inna Li l-lahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun," till he made his shecamel
kneel down whereupon he trod on its forelegs and I mounted it. Then Safwan set out, leading
the she-camel that was carrying me, till we met the army while they were resting during the hot
midday.
Then whoever was meant for destruction, fell in destruction, and the leader of the Ifk (forged
statement) was `Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. After this we arrived at Medina and I became ill for one
month while the people were spreading the forged statements of the people of the Ifk, and I was not
aware of anything thereof. But what aroused my doubt while I was sick, was that I was no longer
receiving from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) the same kindness as I used to receive when I fell sick. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)
would enter upon me, say a greeting and add, "How is that (lady)?" and then depart.
That aroused my suspicion but I was not aware of the propagated evil till I recovered from my
ailment. I went out with Um Mistah to answer the call of nature towards Al-Manasi, the place where
we used to relieve ourselves, and used not to go out for this purpose except from night to night, and
that was before we had lavatories close to our houses. And this habit of ours was similar to the habit
of the old 'Arabs (in the deserts or in the tents) concerning the evacuation of the bowels, for we
considered it troublesome and harmful to take lavatories in the houses. So I went out with Um Mistah
who was the daughter of Abi Ruhm bin `Abd Manaf, and her mother was daughter of Sakhr bin Amir
who was the aunt of Abi Bakr As-Siddiq, and her son was Mistah bin Uthatha. When we had finished
our affair, Um Mistah and I came back towards my house. Um Mistah stumbled over her robe
whereupon she said, "Let Mistah be ruined ! " I said to her, "What a bad word you have said! Do you
abuse a man who has taken part in the Battle of Badr?' She said, "O you there! Didn't you hear what
he has said?" I said, "And what did he say?" She then told me the statement of the people of the Ifk
(forged statement) which added to my ailment. When I returned home, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to me,
and after greeting, he said, "How is that (lady)?" I said, "Will you allow me to go to my parents?" At
that time I intended to be sure of the news through them. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) allowed me and I went to my
parents and asked my mother, "O my mother! What are the people talking about?" My mother said,
"O my daughter! Take it easy, for by Allah, there is no charming lady who is loved by her husband
who has other wives as well, but that those wives would find fault with her." I said, "Subhan Allah!
Did the people really talk about that?"
That night I kept on weeping the whole night till the morning. My tears never stopped, nor did I sleep,
and morning broke while I was still weeping, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) called `Ali bin Abi Talib and Usama bin
Zaid when the Divine Inspiration delayed, in order to consult them as to the idea of divorcing his wife.
Usama bin Zaid told Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) of what he knew about the innocence of his wife and of his
affection he kept for her. He said, "O Allah's Messenger! She is your wife, and we do not know anything
about her except good." But `Ali bin Abi Talib said, "O Allah's Messenger! Allah does not impose
restrictions on you; and there are plenty of women other than her. If you however, ask (her) slave girl,
she will tell you the truth." `Aisha added: So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) called for Barira and said, "O Barira! Did
you ever see anything which might have aroused your suspicion? (as regards Aisha). Barira said, "By
Allah Who has sent you with the truth, I have never seen anything regarding Aisha which I would
blame her for except that she is a girl of immature age who sometimes sleeps and leaves the dough of
her family unprotected so that the domestic goats come and eat it."
So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) got up (and addressed) the people an asked for somebody who would take revenge
on `Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul then. Allah's Messenger, while on the pulpit, said, "O Muslims! Who
will help me against a man who has hurt me by slandering my family? By Allah, I know nothing
except good about my family, and people have blamed a man of whom I know nothing except good,
and he never used to visit my family except with me," Sa`d bin Mu`adh Al-Ansari got up and said, "O
Allah's Messenger! By Allah, I will relieve you from him. If he be from the tribe of (Bani) Al-Aus, then I
will chop his head off; and if he be from our brethren, the Khazraj, then you give us your order and we
will obey it."
On that, Sa`d bin 'Ubada got up, and he was the chief of the Khazraj, and before this incident he had
been a pious man but he was incited by his zeal for his tribe. He said to Sa`d (bin Mu`adh), "By Allah
the Eternal, you have told a lie! You shall not kill him and you will never be able to kill him!" On that,
Usaid bin Hudair, the cousin of Sa`d (bin Mu`adh) got up and said to Sa`d bin 'Ubada, "You are a liar!
By Allah the Eternal, we will surely kill him; and you are a hypocrite defending the hypocrites!" So
the two tribes of Al-Aus and Al-Khazraj got excited till they were on the point of fighting with each
other while Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was standing on the pulpit. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) continued quietening them till
they became silent whereupon he became silent too. On that day I kept on weeping so much that
neither did my tears stop, nor could I sleep. In the morning my parents were with me, and I had wept
for two nights and a day without sleeping and with incessant tears till they thought that my liver would
burst with weeping. While they were with me and I was weeping, an Ansari woman asked permission
to see me. I admitted her and she sat and started weeping with me. While I was in that state, Allah's
Apostle came to us, greeted, and sat down,. He had never sat with me since the day what was said,
was said. He had stayed a month without receiving any Divine Inspiration concerning my case.
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) recited the Tashahhud after he had sat down, and then said, "Thereafter, O `Aisha! I
have been informed such and-such a thing about you; and if you are innocent, Allah will reveal your
innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then ask for Allah's forgiveness and repent to Him, for
when a slave confesses his sin and then repents to Allah, Allah accepts his repentance." When Allah's
Apostle had finished his speech, my tears ceased completely so that I no longer felt even a drop
thereof. Then I said to my father, "Reply to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) on my behalf as to what he said." He said,
"By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's Messenger." Then I said to my mother, "Reply to Allah's
Apostle."
She said, "I do not know what to say to Allah's Messenger." Still a young girl as I was and though I had
little knowledge of Qur'an, I said, "By Allah, I know that you heard this story (of the Ifk) so much so
that it has been planted in your minds and you have believed it. So now, if I tell you that I am
innocent, and Allah knows that I am innocent, you will not believe me; and if I confess something,
and Allah knows that I am innocent of it, you will believe me. By Allah, I cannot find of you an
example except that of Joseph's father: "So (for me) patience is most fitting against that which you
assert and it is Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought. Then I turned away and lay on my bed, and
at that time I knew that I was innocent and that Allah would reveal my innocence. But by Allah, I
never thought that Allah would sent down about my affair, Divine Inspiration that would be recited
(forever), as I considered myself too unworthy to be talked of by Allah with something that was to be
recited: but I hoped that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) might have a vision in which Allah would prove my
innocence. By Allah, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had not left his seat and nobody had left the house when the
Divine Inspiration came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . So there overtook him the same hard condition which
used to overtake him (when he was Divinely Inspired) so that the drops of his sweat were running
down, like pearls, though it was a (cold) winter day, and that was because of the heaviness of the
Statement which was revealed to him. When that state of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was over, and he was
smiling when he was relieved, the first word he said was, "Aisha, Allah has declared your innocence."
My mother said to me, "Get up and go to him." I said, "By Allah, I will not go to him and I will not
thank anybody but Allah." So Allah revealed: "Verily! They who spread the Slander are a gang among
you. Think it not...." (24.11-20).
When Allah revealed this to confirm my innocence, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq who used to provide for
Mistah bin Uthatha because of the latter's kinship to him and his poverty, said, "By Allah, I will never
provide for Mistah anything after what he has said about Aisha". So Allah revealed:
(continued...)
(continuing... 1): -6.274:... ...
"Let not those among you who are good and are wealthy swear not to give (help) to their kinsmen,
those in need, and those who have left their homes for Allah's Cause. Let them Pardon and forgive
(i.e. do not punish them). Do you not love that should forgive you? Verily Allah is Oft-forgiving.
Most Merciful." (24.22)
Abu Bakr said, "Yes, by Allah, I wish that Allah should forgive me." So he resumed giving Mistah the
aid he used to give him before and said, "By Allah, I will never withold it from him at all." Aisha
further said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) also asked Zainab bint Jahsh about my case. He said, "O Zainab! What
have you seen?" She replied, "O Allah's Messenger! I protect my hearing and my sight (by refraining
from telling lies). I know nothing but good (about Aisha)." Of all the wives of Allah's Messenger, it was
Zainab who aspired to receive from him the same favor as I used to receive, yet, Allah saved her
(from telling lies) because of her piety. But her sister, Hamna, kept on fighting on her behalf so she
was destroyed as were those who invented and spread the slander.
Open at Sunnah.com →
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4756
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، أَنْبَأَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي الضُّحَى، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، قَالَ دَخَلَ حَسَّانُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَشَبَّبَ وَقَالَ حَصَانٌ رَزَانٌ مَا تُزَنُّ بِرِيبَةٍ وَتُصْبِحُ غَرْثَى مِنْ لُحُومِ الْغَوَافِلِ قَالَتْ لَسْتَ كَذَاكَ. قُلْتُ تَدَعِينَ مِثْلَ هَذَا يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْكِ وَقَدْ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﴿وَالَّذِي تَوَلَّى كِبْرَهُ مِنْهُمْ﴾ فَقَالَتْ وَأَىُّ عَذَابٍ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْعَمَى وَقَالَتْ وَقَدْ كَانَ يَرُدُّ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Narrated Masruq:
Hassan came to Aisha and said the following poetic Verse: 'A chaste pious woman who arouses no
suspicion. She never talks against chaste heedless women behind their backs.' `Aisha said, "But you
are not," I said (to `Aisha), "Why do you allow such a person to enter upon you after Allah has
revealed:
"...and as for him among them who had the greater share therein'?" (24.11)
She said, "What punishment is worse than blindness?" She added, "And he used to defend Allah's
Apostle against the pagans (in his poetry).
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Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6679
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ، عَنْ صَالِحٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا الْحَجَّاجُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ النُّمَيْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ الأَيْلِيُّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الزُّهْرِيَّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُرْوَةَ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ، وَسَعِيدَ بْنَ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَعَلْقَمَةَ بْنَ وَقَّاصٍ، وَعُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، عَنْ حَدِيثِ، عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الإِفْكِ مَا قَالُوا، فَبَرَّأَهَا اللَّهُ مِمَّا قَالُوا ـ كُلٌّ حَدَّثَنِي طَائِفَةً مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ ـ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالإِفْكِ﴾ الْعَشْرَ الآيَاتِ كُلَّهَا فِي بَرَاءَتِي. فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ ـ وَكَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحٍ لِقَرَابَتِهِ مِنْهُ ـ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحٍ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا، بَعْدَ الَّذِي قَالَ لِعَائِشَةَ. فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ [quran sura="24" aya_start="22" aya_end="22"]{وَلاَ يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ أَنْ يُؤْتُوا أُولِي الْقُرْبَى} الآيَةَ. قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بَلَى وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأُحِبُّ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لِي. فَرَجَعَ إِلَى مِسْطَحٍ النَّفَقَةَ الَّتِي كَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَنْزِعُهَا عَنْهُ أَبَدًا.
Narrated Az-Zuhri:
I heard `Urwa bin Az-Zubair, Sa`id bin Al-Musaiyab, 'Alqama bin Waqqas and 'Ubaidullah bin
`Abdullah bin `Uqba relating from `Aisha, the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ) the narration of the people (i.e. the
liars) who spread the slander against her and they said what they said, and how Allah revealed her
innocence. Each of them related to me a portion of that narration. (They said that `Aisha said), ''Then
Allah revealed the ten Verses starting with:--'Verily! Those who spread the slander..' (24.11-21)
All these verses were in proof of my innocence. Abu Bakr As-Siddiq who used to provide for Mistah
some financial aid because of his relation to him, said, "By Allah, I will never give anything (in
charity) to Mistah, after what he has said about `Aisha" Then Allah revealed:-- 'And let not those
among you who are good and are wealthy swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kins men....'
(24.22) On that, Abu Bakr said, "Yes, by Allah, I like that Allah should forgive me." and then
resumed giving Mistah the aid he used to give him and said, "By Allah! I will never withhold it from
him."
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Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7500
حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مِنْهَالٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ النُّمَيْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ الأَيْلِيُّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الزُّهْرِيَّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُرْوَةَ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ، وَسَعِيدَ بْنَ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَعَلْقَمَةَ بْنَ وَقَّاصٍ، وَعُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ حَدِيثِ، عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الإِفْكِ مَا قَالُوا فَبَرَّأَهَا اللَّهُ مِمَّا قَالُوا ـ وَكُلٌّ حَدَّثَنِي طَائِفَةً مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ الَّذِي حَدَّثَنِي ـ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ وَلَكِنْ وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُنْزِلُ فِي بَرَاءَتِي وَحْيًا يُتْلَى، وَلَشَأْنِي فِي نَفْسِي كَانَ أَحْقَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ فِيَّ بِأَمْرٍ يُتْلَى، وَلَكِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ يَرَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي النَّوْمِ رُؤْيَا يُبَرِّئُنِي اللَّهُ بِهَا فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالإِفْكِ﴾ الْعَشْرَ الآيَاتِ.
Narrated `Urwa bin Az-Zubair:
Sa`id bin Al-Musaiyab, 'Alqama bin Waqqas and 'Ubaidullah bin `Abdullah regarding the narrating of
the forged statement against `Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, when the slanderers said what they said
and Allah revealed her innocence. `Aisha said, "But by Allah, I did not think that Allah, (to confirm
my innocence), would reveal Divine Inspiration which would be recited, for I consider myself too
unimportant to be talked about by Allah through Divine Inspiration revealed for recitation, but I hoped
that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) might have a dream in which Allah would reveal my innocence. So Allah
revealed:-- 'Verily! Those who spread the slander are a gang among you...' (The ten Verses in Suratan-
Nur) (24.11-20)
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Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7545
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، وَسَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَعَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ وَقَّاصٍ، وَعُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ حَدِيثِ، عَائِشَةَ حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الإِفْكِ مَا قَالُوا ـ وَكُلٌّ حَدَّثَنِي طَائِفَةً مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ ـ قَالَتْ فَاضْطَجَعْتُ عَلَى فِرَاشِي، وَأَنَا حِينَئِذٍ أَعْلَمُ أَنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَرِّئُنِي، وَلَكِنْ وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُنْزِلُ فِي شَأْنِي وَحْيًا يُتْلَى، وَلَشَأْنِي فِي نَفْسِي كَانَ أَحْقَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ فِيَّ بِأَمْرٍ يُتْلَى، وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالإِفْكِ﴾ الْعَشْرَ الآيَاتِ كُلَّهَا.
Narrated `Aisha:
(when the slanderers said what they said about her): I went to my bed knowing at that time that I was
innocent and that Allah would reveal my innocence, but by Allah, I never thought that Allah would
reveal in my favor a revelation which would be recited, for I considered myself too unimportant to be
talked about by Allah in the Divine Revelation that was to be recited. So Allah revealed the ten Verses
(of Surat-an-Nur). 'Those who brought a false charge........' (24.11-20)
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