Narrated By Qais bin Ubad : 'Ali said, "I will be the first to kneel before the Beneficent on the Day of Resurrection because of the dispute." Qais said, "This Verse:'These two opponents (believers and disbelievers) dispute with each other about their Lord,' (22.19) was revealed in connection with those who came out for the Battle of Badr, i.e. 'Ali, Hamza, 'Ubaida, Shaiba bin Rabi'a, 'Utba bin Rabi'a and Al-Walid bin Utba."

حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مِنْهَالٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مِجْلَزٍ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ عُبَادٍ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ أَنَا أَوَّلُ، مَنْ يَجْثُو بَيْنَ يَدَىِ الرَّحْمَنِ لِلْخُصُومَةِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ‏.‏ قَالَ قَيْسٌ وَفِيهِمْ نَزَلَتْ ‏{‏هَذَانِ خَصْمَانِ اخْتَصَمُوا فِي رَبِّهِمْ‏}‏ قَالَ هُمُ الَّذِينَ بَارَزُوا يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ عَلِيٌّ وَحَمْزَةُ وَعُبَيْدَةُ وَشَيْبَةُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ وَعُتْبَةُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ وَالْوَلِيدُ بْنُ عُتْبَةَ‏.‏

Narrated By Sahl bin Saud : 'Uwaimir came to 'Asim bin 'Adi who was the chief of Bani Ajlan and said, "What do you say about a man who has found another man with his wife? Should he kill him whereupon you would kill him (i.e. the husband), or what should he do? Please ask Allah's Apostle about this matter on my behalf." Asim then went to the Prophet and said, "O Allah's Apostle! (And asked him that question) but Allah's Apostle disliked the question," When 'Uwaimir asked 'Asim (about the Prophet's answer) 'Asim replied that Allah's Apostle disliked such questions and considered it shameful. "Uwaimir then said, "By Allah, I will not give up asking unless I ask Allah's Apostle about it." Uwaimir came (to the Prophet) and said, "O Allah's Apostle! A man has found another man with his wife! Should he kill him whereupon you would kill him (the husband, in Qisas) or what should he do?" Allah's Apostle said, "Allah has revealed regarding you and your wife's case in the Qur'an "So Allah's Apostle ordered them to perform the measures of Mula'ana according to what Allah had mentioned in His Book. So 'Uwaimir did Mula'ana with her and said, "O Allah's Apostle! If I kept her I would oppress her." So 'Uwaimir divorced her and so divorce became a tradition after them for those who happened to be involved in a case of Mula'ana. Allah's Apostle then said, "Look! If she (Uwaimir's wife) delivers a black child with deep black large eyes, big hips and fat legs, then I will be of the opinion that 'Uwaimir has spoken the truth; but if she delivers a red child looking like a Wahra then we will consider that 'Uwaimir has told a lie against her." Later on she delivered a child carrying the qualities which Allah's Apostle had mentioned as a proof for 'Uwaimir's claim; therefore the child was ascribed to its mother henceforth.

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الزُّهْرِيُّ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، أَنَّ عُوَيْمِرًا، أَتَى عَاصِمَ بْنَ عَدِيٍّ وَكَانَ سَيِّدَ بَنِي عَجْلاَنَ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ تَقُولُونَ فِي رَجُلٍ وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً، أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ سَلْ لِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَأَتَى عَاصِمٌ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، فَكَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَسَائِلَ، فَسَأَلَهُ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَرِهَ الْمَسَائِلَ وَعَابَهَا، قَالَ عُوَيْمِرٌ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَنْتَهِي حَتَّى أَسْأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَجَاءَ عُوَيْمِرٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ رَجُلٌ وَجَدَ مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً، أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ قَدْ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ الْقُرْآنَ فِيكَ وَفِي صَاحِبَتِكَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَأَمَرَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالْمُلاَعَنَةِ بِمَا سَمَّى اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ، فَلاَعَنَهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنْ حَبَسْتُهَا فَقَدْ ظَلَمْتُهَا، فَطَلَّقَهَا، فَكَانَتْ سُنَّةً لِمَنْ كَانَ بَعْدَهُمَا فِي الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ انْظُرُوا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَسْحَمَ أَدْعَجَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ عَظِيمَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ فَلاَ أَحْسِبُ عُوَيْمِرًا إِلاَّ قَدْ صَدَقَ عَلَيْهَا، وَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أُحَيْمِرَ كَأَنَّهُ وَحَرَةٌ فَلاَ أَحْسِبُ عُوَيْمِرًا، إِلاَّ قَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَيْهَا ‏"‏‏.‏ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى النَّعْتِ الَّذِي نَعَتَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ تَصْدِيقِ عُوَيْمِرٍ، فَكَانَ بَعْدُ يُنْسَبُ إِلَى أُمِّهِ‏.‏

Narrated By Sahl bin Sad : A man came to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Suppose a man saw another man with his wife, should he kill him whereupon you might kill him (i.e. the killer) (in Qisas) or what should he do?" So Allah revealed concerning their case what is mentioned of the order of Mula'ana. Allah's Apostle said to the man, "The matter between you and your wife has been decided." So they did Mula'ana in the presence of Allah's Apostle and I was present there, and then the man divorced his wife. So it became a tradition to dissolve the marriage of those spouses who were involved in a case of Mula'ana. The woman was pregnant and the husband denied that he was the cause of her pregnancy, so the son was (later) ascribed to her. Then it became a tradition that such a son would be the heir of his mother, and she would inherit of him what Allah prescribed for her.

حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ، حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلاً رَأَى مَعَ امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً أَيَقْتُلُهُ فَتَقْتُلُونَهُ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَفْعَلُ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِمَا مَا ذُكِرَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ مِنَ التَّلاَعُنِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ قَدْ قُضِيَ فِيكَ وَفِي امْرَأَتِكَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ فَتَلاَعَنَا، وَأَنَا شَاهِدٌ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَفَارَقَهَا فَكَانَتْ سُنَّةً أَنْ يُفَرَّقَ بَيْنَ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ وَكَانَتْ حَامِلاً، فَأَنْكَرَ حَمْلَهَا وَكَانَ ابْنُهَا يُدْعَى إِلَيْهَا، ثُمَّ جَرَتِ السُّنَّةُ فِي الْمِيرَاثِ أَنْ يَرِثَهَا، وَتَرِثَ مِنْهُ مَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ لَهَا‏.‏

Narrated By Ibn Abbas : Hilal bin Umaiya accused his wife of committing illegal sexual intercourse with Sharik bin Sahma' and filed the case before the Prophet. The Prophet said (to Hilal), "Either you bring forth a proof (four witnesses) or you will receive the legal punishment (lashes) on your back." Hilal said, "O Allah's Apostle! If anyone of us saw a man over his wife, would he go to seek after witnesses?" The Prophet kept on saying, "Either you bring forth the witnesses or you will receive the legal punishment (lashes) on your back." Hilal then said, "By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I am telling the truth and Allah will reveal to you what will save my back from legal punishment." Then Gabriel came down and revealed to him:'As for those who accuse their wives...' (24.6-9) The Prophet recited it till he reached: '...(her accuser) is telling the truth.' Then the Prophet left and sent for the woman, and Hilal went (and brought) her and then took the oaths (confirming the claim). The Prophet was saying, "Allah knows that one of you is a liar, so will any of you repent?" Then the woman got up and took the oaths and when she was going to take the fifth one, the people stopped her and said, "It (the fifth oath) will definitely bring Allah's curse on you (if you are guilty)." So she hesitated and recoiled (from taking the oath) so much that we thought that she would withdraw her denial. But then she said, "I will not dishonour my family all through these days," and carried on (the process of taking oaths). The Prophet then said, "Watch her; if she delivers a black-eyed child with big hips and fat shins then it is Sharik bin Sahma's child." Later she delivered a child of that description. So the Prophet said, "If the case was not settled by Allah's Law, I would punish her severely."

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ حَسَّانَ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ، قَذَفَ امْرَأَتَهُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ الْبَيِّنَةَ أَوْ حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُنَا عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ رَجُلاً يَنْطَلِقُ يَلْتَمِسُ الْبَيِّنَةَ‏.‏ فَجَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏"‏ الْبَيِّنَةَ وَإِلاَّ حَدٌّ فِي ظَهْرِكَ ‏"‏ فَقَالَ هِلاَلٌ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنِّي لَصَادِقٌ، فَلَيُنْزِلَنَّ اللَّهُ مَا يُبَرِّئُ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْحَدِّ، فَنَزَلَ جِبْرِيلُ، وَأَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ ‏{‏وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ‏}‏ فَقَرَأَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ ‏{‏إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ‏}‏ فَانْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهَا فَجَاءَ هِلاَلٌ، فَشَهِدَ، وَالنَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمَا كَاذِبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمَا تَائِبٌ ‏"‏‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَشَهِدَتْ فَلَمَّا كَانَتْ عِنْدَ الْخَامِسَةِ وَقَّفُوهَا، وَقَالُوا إِنَّهَا مُوجِبَةٌ‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَتَلَكَّأَتْ وَنَكَصَتْ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهَا تَرْجِعُ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لاَ أَفْضَحُ قَوْمِي سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ، فَمَضَتْ‏.‏ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَبْصِرُوهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِهِ أَكْحَلَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ سَابِغَ الأَلْيَتَيْنِ خَدَلَّجَ السَّاقَيْنِ، فَهْوَ لِشَرِيكِ بْنِ سَحْمَاءَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَجَاءَتْ بِهِ كَذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ لَوْلاَ مَا مَضَى مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ لَكَانَ لِي وَلَهَا شَأْنٌ

Narrated By Ibn Umar : A man accused his wife of illegal sexual intercourse and denied his paternity to her (conceived) child during the lifetime of Allah's Apostle. Allah's Apostle ordered them both to do Mula'ana as Allah decreed and then gave his decision that the child would be for the mother, and a divorce decree was issued for the couple involved in a case of Mula'ana.

حَدَّثَنَا مُقَدَّمُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا عَمِّي الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، وَقَدْ سَمِعَ مِنْهُ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ رَجُلاً، رَمَى امْرَأَتَهُ فَانْتَفَى مِنْ وَلَدِهَا فِي زَمَانِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَمَرَ بِهِمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَتَلاَعَنَا كَمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ قَضَى بِالْوَلَدِ لِلْمَرْأَةِ وَفَرَّقَ بَيْنَ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ‏.‏

Narrated By 'Aisha : (The wife of the Prophet) Whenever Allah's Apostle 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 Apostle 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 Lillahi 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 Lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun," till he made his she-camel 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 Apostle the same kindness as I used to receive when I fell sick. Allah's Apostle 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 Apostle 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 Apostle 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 Apostle 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 Apostle of what he knew about the innocence of his wife and of his affection he kept for her. He said, "O Allah's Apostle! She is your wife, and we do not know anything about her except good." But 'Ali bin Abi Talib said, "O Allah's Apostle! 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 Apostle 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 Apostle got up (and addressed) the people an asked for somebody who would take revenge on 'Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul then. Allah's Apostle, 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," Sad bin Muadh Al-Ansari got up and said, "O Allah's Apostle! 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, Sad 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 Sad (bin Muadh), "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 Sad (bin Muadh) got up and said to Sad 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 Apostle was standing on the pulpit. Allah's Apostle 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 Apostle 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 Apostle on my behalf as to what he said." He said, "By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's Apostle." Then I said to my mother, "Reply to Allah's Apostle."She said, "I do not know what to say to Allah's Apostle." 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 Apostle might have a vision in which Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah, Allah's Apostle had not left his seat and nobody had left the house when the Divine Inspiration came to Allah's Apostle. 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 Apostle 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..."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:"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."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 Apostle also asked Zainab bint Jahsh about my case. He said, "O Zainab! What have you seen?" She replied, "O Allah's Apostle! 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 Apostle, it was Zainab who aspired to receive from him the same favour 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.

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 By Ibn Abu Mulaika : Ibn 'Abbas asked permission to visit 'Aisha before her death, and at that time she was in a state of agony. She then said. "I am afraid that he will praise me too much." And then it was said to her, "He is the cousin of Allah's Apostle and one of the prominent Muslims." Then she said, "Allow him to enter." (When he entered) he said, "How are you?" She replied, "I am Alright if I fear (Allah)." Ibn Abbas said, "Allah willing, you are Alright as you are the wife of Allah's Apostle and he did not marry any virgin except you and proof of your innocence was revealed from the Heaven." Later on Ibn Az-Zubair entered after him and 'Aisha said to him, "Ibn 'Abbas came to me and praised me greatly, but I wish that I was a thing forgotten and out of sight."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي حُسَيْنٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، قَالَ اسْتَأْذَنَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهَا عَلَى عَائِشَةَ، وَهْىَ مَغْلُوبَةٌ قَالَتْ أَخْشَى أَنْ يُثْنِيَ عَلَىَّ‏.‏ فَقِيلَ ابْنُ عَمِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمِنْ وُجُوهِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ‏.‏ قَالَتِ ائْذَنُوا لَهُ‏.‏ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ تَجِدِينَكِ قَالَتْ بِخَيْرٍ إِنِ اتَّقَيْتُ‏.‏ قَالَ فَأَنْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ـ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ ـ زَوْجَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَمْ يَنْكِحْ بِكْرًا غَيْرَكِ، وَنَزَلَ عُذْرُكِ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ‏.‏ وَدَخَلَ ابْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ خِلاَفَهُ فَقَالَتْ دَخَلَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَأَثْنَى عَلَىَّ وَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ نِسْيًا مَنْسِيًّا‏.‏

Narrated By Masruq : 'Aisha said that Hassan bin Thabit came and asked permission to visit her. I said, "How do you permit such a person?" She said, "Hasn't he received a severely penalty?" (Sufyan, the sub-narrator, said: She meant the loss of his sight.) Thereupon Hassan said the following poetic verse:"A chaste pious woman who arouses no suspicion. She never talks about chaste heedless women behind their backs.' On that she said, "But you are not so."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي الضُّحَى، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ جَاءَ حَسَّانُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ يَسْتَأْذِنُ عَلَيْهَا قُلْتُ أَتَأْذَنِينَ لِهَذَا قَالَتْ أَوَلَيْسَ قَدْ أَصَابَهُ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ‏.‏ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ تَعْنِي ذَهَابَ بَصَرِهِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ حَصَانٌ رَزَانٌ مَا تُزَنُّ بِرِيبَةٍ وَتُصْبِحُ غَرْثَى مِنْ لُحُومِ الْغَوَافِلِ قَالَتْ لَكِنْ أَنْتَ‏.‏

Narrated By 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).

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 By 'Aisha : When there was said about me what was said which I myself was unaware of, Allah's Apostle got up and addressed the people. He recited Tashah-hud, and after glorifying and praising Allah as He deserved, he said, "To proceed: O people Give me your opinion regarding those people who made a forged story against my wife. By Allah, I do not know anything bad about her. By Allah, they accused her of being with a man about whom I have never known anything bad, and he never entered my house unless I was present there, and whenever I went on a journey, he went with me." Sad bin Mu'adh got up and said, "O Allah's Apostle Allow me to chop their heads off" Then a man from the Al-Khazraj (Sa'd bin 'Ubada) to whom the mother of (the poet) Hassan bin Thabit was a relative, got up and said (to Sad bin Mu'adh), "You have told a lie! By Allah, if those persons were from the Aus Tribe, you would not like to chop their heads off." It was probable that some evil would take place between the Aus and the Khazraj in the mosque, and I was unaware of all that. In the evening of that day, I went out for some of my needs (i.e. to relieve myself), and Um Mistah was accompanying me. On our return, Um Mistah stumbled and said, "Let Mistah. be ruined" I said to her, "O mother Why do you abuse your Son" On that Um Mistah became silent for a while, and stumbling again, she said, "Let Mistah be ruined" I said to her, "Why do you abuse your son?" She stumbled for the third time and said, "Let Mistah be ruined" whereupon I rebuked her for that. She said, "By Allah, I do not abuse him except because of you." I asked her, "Concerning what of my affairs?" So she disclosed the whole story to me. I said, "Has this really happened?" She replied, "Yes, by Allah." I returned to my house, astonished (and distressed) that I did not know for what purpose I had gone out. Then I became sick (fever) and said to Allah's Apostle "Send me to my father's house." So he sent a slave with me, and when I entered the house, I found Um Rum-an (my mother) downstairs while (my father) Abu Bakr was reciting something upstairs. My mother asked, "What has brought you, O (my) daughter?" I informed her and mentioned to her the whole story, but she did not feel it as I did. She said, "O my daughter! Take it easy, for there is never a charming lady loved by her husband who has other wives but that they feel jealous of her and speak badly of her." But she did not feel the news as I did. I asked (her), "Does my father know about it?" She said, "yes" I asked, Does Allah's Apostle know about it too?" She said, "Yes, Allah's Apostle does too." So the tears filled my eyes and I wept. Abu Bakr, who was reading upstairs heard my voice and came down and asked my mother, "What is the matter with her? " She said, "She has heard what has been said about her (as regards the story of Al-ifk)." On that Abu- Bakr wept and said, "I beseech you by Allah, O my daughter, to go back to your home" I went back to my home and Allah's Apostle had come to my house and asked my maid-servant about me (my character). The maid-servant said, "By Allah, I do not know of any defect in her character except that she sleeps and let the sheep enter (her house) and eat her dough." On that, some of the Prophet's companions spoke harshly to her and said, "Tell the truth to Allah's Apostle." Finally they told her of the affair (of the slander). She said, "Subhan Allah! By Allah, I know nothing against her except what goldsmith knows about a piece of pure gold." Then this news reached the man who was accused, and he said, "Subhan Allah! By Allah, I have never uncovered the private parts of any woman." Later that man was martyred in Allah's Cause. Next morning my parents came to pay me a visit and they stayed with me till Allah's Apostle came to me after he had offered the Asr prayer. He came to me while my parents were sitting around me on my right and my left. He praised and glorified Allah and said, "Now then O 'Aisha! If you have committed a bad deed or you have wronged (yourself), then repent to Allah as Allah accepts the repentance from his slaves." An Al-Ansari woman had come and was sitting near the gate. I said (to the Prophet). "Isn't it improper that you speak in such a way in the presence of this lady? Allah's Apostle then gave a piece of advice and I turned to my father and requested him to answer him (on my behalf). My father said, "What should I say?" Then I turned to my mother and asked her to answer him. She said, "What should I say?" When my parents did not give a reply to the Prophet, I said, "I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Apostle!" And after praising and glorifying Allah as He deserves, I said, "Now then, by Allah, if I were to tell you that I have not done (this evil action) and Allah is a witness that I am telling the truth, that would not be of any use to me on your part because you (people) have spoken about it and your hearts have absorbed it; and if I were to tell you that I have done this sin and Allah knows that I have not done it, then you will say, 'She has confessed herself guilty." By Allah, 'I do not see a suitable example for me and you but the example of (I tried to remember Jacob's name but couldn't) Joseph's father when he said; So (for me) "Patience is most fitting against that which you assert. It is Allah (alone) whose help can be sought.' At that very hour the Divine Inspiration came to Allah's Apostle and we remained silent. Then the Inspiration was over and I noticed the signs of happiness on his face while he was removing (the sweat) from his forehead and saying, "Have the good tidings O 'Aisha!" Allah has revealed your innocence." At that time I was extremely angry. My parents said to me. "Get up and go to him." I said, "By Allah, I will not do it and will not thank him nor thank either of you, but I will thank Allah Who has revealed my innocence. You have heard this story but neither did not deny it nor change it (to defend me)," ('Aisha used to say:) "But as regards Zainab bint Jahsh, (the Prophet's wife), Allah protected her because of her piety, so she did not say anything except good (about me), but her sister, Hamna, was ruined among those who were ruined. Those who used to speak evil about me were Mistah, Hassan bin Thabit, and the hypocrite, Abdullah bin Ubai, who used to spread that news and tempt others to speak of it, and it was he and Hamna who had the greater share therein. Abu Bakr took an oath that he would never do any favour to Mistah at all. Then Allah revealed the Divine Verse:"Let not those among you who are good and wealthy (i.e. Abu Bakr) swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kinsmen, and those in need, (i.e. Mistah)... Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah if Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (24.22)On that, Abu Bakr said, "Yes, by Allah, O our Lord! We wish that You should forgive us." So Abu Bakr again started giving to Mistah the expenditure which he used to give him before.

وَقَالَ أَبُو أُسَامَةَ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ لَمَّا ذُكِرَ مِنْ شَأْنِي الَّذِي ذُكِرَ وَمَا عَلِمْتُ بِهِ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِيَّ خَطِيبًا، فَتَشَهَّدَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَمَّا بَعْدُ أَشِيرُوا عَلَىَّ فِي أُنَاسٍ أَبَنُوا أَهْلِي، وَايْمُ اللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَى أَهْلِي مِنْ سُوءٍ، وَأَبَنُوهُمْ بِمَنْ وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ سُوءٍ قَطُّ، وَلاَ يَدْخُلُ بَيْتِي قَطُّ إِلاَّ وَأَنَا حَاضِرٌ، وَلاَ غِبْتُ فِي سَفَرٍ إِلاَّ غَابَ مَعِي ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ ائْذَنْ لِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنْ نَضْرِبَ أَعْنَاقَهُمْ، وَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي الْخَزْرَجِ، وَكَانَتْ أُمُّ حَسَّانَ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ مِنْ رَهْطِ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلِ، فَقَالَ كَذَبْتَ، أَمَا وَاللَّهِ، أَنْ لَوْ كَانُوا مِنَ الأَوْسِ مَا أَحْبَبْتَ أَنْ تُضْرَبَ أَعْنَاقُهُمْ‏.‏ حَتَّى كَادَ أَنْ يَكُونَ بَيْنَ الأَوْسِ وَالْخَزْرَجِ شَرٌّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ، وَمَا عَلِمْتُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ مَسَاءُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ خَرَجْتُ لِبَعْضِ حَاجَتِي وَمَعِي أُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ‏.‏ فَعَثَرَتْ وَقَالَتْ تَعِسَ مِسْطَحٌ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ أَىْ أُمِّ تَسُبِّينَ ابْنَكِ وَسَكَتَتْ ثُمَّ عَثَرَتِ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَالَتْ تَعِسَ مِسْطَحٌ، فَقُلْتُ لَهَا تَسُبِّينَ ابْنَكِ ثُمَّ عَثَرَتِ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَتْ تَعِسَ مِسْطَحٌ‏.‏ فَانْتَهَرْتُهَا، فَقَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَسُبُّهُ إِلاَّ فِيكِ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ فِي أَىِّ شَأْنِي قَالَتْ فَبَقَرَتْ لِي الْحَدِيثَ فَقُلْتُ وَقَدْ كَانَ هَذَا قَالَتْ نَعَمْ وَاللَّهِ، فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى بَيْتِي كَأَنَّ الَّذِي خَرَجْتُ لَهُ لاَ أَجِدُ مِنْهُ قَلِيلاً وَلاَ كَثِيرًا، وَوُعِكْتُ فَقُلْتُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَرْسِلْنِي إِلَى بَيْتِ أَبِي‏.‏ فَأَرْسَلَ مَعِي الْغُلاَمَ، فَدَخَلْتُ الدَّارَ فَوَجَدْتُ أُمَّ رُومَانَ فِي السُّفْلِ وَأَبَا بَكْرٍ فَوْقَ الْبَيْتِ يَقْرَأُ‏.‏ فَقَالَتْ أُمِّي مَا جَاءَ بِكِ يَا بُنَيَّةُ فَأَخْبَرْتُهَا وَذَكَرْتُ لَهَا الْحَدِيثَ، وَإِذَا هُوَ لَمْ يَبْلُغْ مِنْهَا مِثْلَ مَا بَلَغَ مِنِّي، فَقَالَتْ يَا بُنَيَّةُ خَفِّضِي عَلَيْكِ الشَّأْنَ، فَإِنَّهُ وَاللَّهِ، لَقَلَّمَا كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ حَسْنَاءُ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّهَا، لَهَا ضَرَائِرُ، إِلاَّ حَسَدْنَهَا وَقِيلَ فِيهَا‏.‏ وَإِذَا هُوَ لَمْ يَبْلُغْ مِنْهَا مَا بَلَغَ مِنِّي، قُلْتُ وَقَدْ عَلِمَ بِهِ أَبِي قَالَتْ نَعَمْ‏.‏ قُلْتُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ نَعَمْ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَاسْتَعْبَرْتُ وَبَكَيْتُ، فَسَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ صَوْتِي وَهْوَ فَوْقَ الْبَيْتِ يَقْرَأُ، فَنَزَلَ فَقَالَ لأُمِّي مَا شَأْنُهَا قَالَتْ بَلَغَهَا الَّذِي ذُكِرَ مِنْ شَأْنِهَا‏.‏ فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَاهُ، قَالَ أَقْسَمْتُ عَلَيْكِ أَىْ بُنَيَّةُ إِلاَّ رَجَعْتِ إِلَى بَيْتِكِ، فَرَجَعْتُ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْتِي، فَسَأَلَ عَنِّي خَادِمَتِي فَقَالَتْ لاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهَا عَيْبًا إِلاَّ أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ تَرْقُدُ حَتَّى تَدْخُلَ الشَّاةُ فَتَأْكُلَ خَمِيرَهَا أَوْ عَجِينَهَا‏.‏ وَانْتَهَرَهَا بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ اصْدُقِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى أَسْقَطُوا لَهَا بِهِ فَقَالَتْ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهَا إِلاَّ مَا يَعْلَمُ الصَّائِغُ عَلَى تِبْرِ الذَّهَبِ الأَحْمَرِ‏.‏ وَبَلَغَ الأَمْرُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُ، فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا كَشَفْتُ كَنَفَ أُنْثَى قَطُّ‏.‏ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُتِلَ شَهِيدًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ‏.‏ قَالَتْ وَأَصْبَحَ أَبَوَاىَ عِنْدِي، فَلَمْ يَزَالاَ حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَدْ صَلَّى الْعَصْرَ، ثُمَّ دَخَلَ وَقَدِ اكْتَنَفَنِي أَبَوَاىَ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَعَنْ شِمَالِي، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَمَّا بَعْدُ يَا عَائِشَةُ، إِنْ كُنْتِ قَارَفْتِ سُوءًا أَوْ ظَلَمْتِ، فَتُوبِي إِلَى اللَّهِ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَتْ وَقَدْ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَهْىَ جَالِسَةٌ بِالْبَابِ فَقُلْتُ أَلاَ تَسْتَحِي مِنْ هَذِهِ الْمَرْأَةِ أَنْ تَذْكُرَ شَيْئًا‏.‏ فَوَعَظَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَالْتَفَتُّ إِلَى أَبِي فَقُلْتُ أَجِبْهُ‏.‏ قَالَ فَمَاذَا أَقُولُ فَالْتَفَتُّ إِلَى أُمِّي فَقُلْتُ أَجِيبِيهِ‏.‏ فَقَالَتْ أَقُولُ مَاذَا فَلَمَّا لَمْ يُجِيبَاهُ تَشَهَّدْتُ فَحَمِدْتُ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَيْتُ عَلَيْهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ، ثُمَّ قُلْتُ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَوَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي لَمْ أَفْعَلْ‏.‏ وَاللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَشْهَدُ إِنِّي لَصَادِقَةٌ، مَا ذَاكَ بِنَافِعِي عِنْدَكُمْ، لَقَدْ تَكَلَّمْتُمْ بِهِ وَأُشْرِبَتْهُ قُلُوبُكُمْ، وَإِنْ قُلْتُ إِنِّي فَعَلْتُ‏.‏ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي لَمْ أَفْعَلْ، لَتَقُولُنَّ قَدْ بَاءَتْ بِهِ عَلَى نَفْسِهَا، وَإِنِّي وَاللَّهِ مَا أَجِدُ لِي وَلَكُمْ مَثَلاً ـ وَالْتَمَسْتُ اسْمَ يَعْقُوبَ فَلَمْ أَقْدِرْ عَلَيْهِ ـ إِلاَّ أَبَا يُوسُفَ حِينَ قَالَ ‏{‏فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ‏}‏ وَأُنْزِلَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ سَاعَتِهِ فَسَكَتْنَا، فَرُفِعَ عَنْهُ وَإِنِّي لأَتَبَيَّنُ السُّرُورَ فِي وَجْهِهِ وَهْوَ يَمْسَحُ جَبِينَهُ وَيَقُولُ ‏"‏ أَبْشِرِي يَا عَائِشَةُ، فَقَدْ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بَرَاءَتَكِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَتْ وَكُنْتُ أَشَدَّ مَا كُنْتُ غَضَبًا فَقَالَ لِي أَبَوَاىَ قُومِي إِلَيْهِ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَقُومُ إِلَيْهِ، وَلاَ أَحْمَدُهُ وَلاَ أَحْمَدُكُمَا، وَلَكِنْ أَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ بَرَاءَتِي، لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ، فَمَا أَنْكَرْتُمُوهُ وَلاَ غَيَّرْتُمُوهُ، وَكَانَتْ عَائِشَةُ تَقُولُ أَمَّا زَيْنَبُ ابْنَةُ جَحْشٍ فَعَصَمَهَا اللَّهُ بِدِينِهَا، فَلَمْ تَقُلْ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا، وَأَمَّا أُخْتُهَا حَمْنَةُ فَهَلَكَتْ فِيمَنْ هَلَكَ، وَكَانَ الَّذِي يَتَكَلَّمُ فِيهِ مِسْطَحٌ وَحَسَّانُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ وَالْمُنَافِقُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَىٍّ، وَهْوَ الَّذِي كَانَ يَسْتَوْشِيهِ وَيَجْمَعُهُ، وَهْوَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّى كِبْرَهُ مِنْهُمْ هُوَ وَحَمْنَةُ قَالَتْ فَحَلَفَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَنْ لاَ يَنْفَعَ مِسْطَحًا بِنَافِعَةٍ أَبَدًا، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ‏{‏وَلاَ يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ‏}‏ إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ يَعْنِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ vوَالسَّعَةِ أَنْ يُؤْتُوا أُولِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ‏}‏ ـ يَعْنِي مِسْطَحًا ـ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ ‏{‏أَلاَ تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ‏}‏ حَتَّى قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بَلَى وَاللَّهِ يَا رَبَّنَا إِنَّا لَنُحِبُّ أَنْ تَغْفِرَ لَنَا، وَعَادَ لَهُ بِمَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ‏.‏