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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

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Treasures of the Prophetic Biography (Seerah).

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The Incident of the Slander (al-Ifk).

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"Al-Ifk" signifies an enormous falsehood and slander.

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Imam al-Zuhri, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

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"Urwah narrated to me that 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), said:

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'Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)

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intended to embark on a journey,

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he would cast lots among his wives,

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and whichever of them had her lot drawn,

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the Messenger of Allah would take her along with him.'

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She continued:

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'So he cast lots between us before a military expedition he undertook,

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and my lot was drawn,

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so I set out with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).

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This was after the revelation of the verse of the veil (hijab).

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I was carried in my litter (howdah) and remained in it when we dismounted.

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We traveled until the Messenger of Allah completed

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that expedition of his and set out to return.

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As we drew near to Medina on our journey back,

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he announced the departure one night.

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So I arose when they gave the call to march,

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and walked ahead until I had passed beyond the army encampment.

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When I had relieved myself,

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I headed back toward my mount,

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only to find that a necklace of mine made of onyx beads from Zafar had broken and fallen off.

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So I went back searching for my necklace,

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and the search for it detained me.

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Meanwhile, the men who used to saddle my mount for me came,

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lifted my litter, and strapped it onto the camel I had been riding,

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assuming all the while that I was inside it.

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In those days, women were light and slender, not heavy with flesh,

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for they ate only tiny morsels of food.

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Thus, the men found nothing unusual about the lightness of the litter as they raised it,

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and I was a young girl of tender years.

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So they urged the camel forward and marched on.

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I found my necklace after the army had already moved away,

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and when I returned to their campsite, there was neither caller nor respondent.'

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Let every woman imagine herself or her daughter in the place of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):

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a young girl alone in the dark of night,

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stranded in a desolate wilderness,

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while everyone had completely departed.

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'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) continues:

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'So I headed to the spot where I had been staying,

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assuming they would soon miss me and return to fetch me.'

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This demonstrated her sheer acumen and intelligence (may Allah be pleased with her).

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Had it been any other woman,

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she would have screamed and started running left and right,

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east and west,

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frantically searching for her people.

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But 'A'ishah, owing to her complete presence of mind,

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remained sitting right in her place,

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knowing that had she set off wandering after them, she would surely have been lost.

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She relates:

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'While I was sitting in my spot,

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sleep overcame my eyes, and I drifted off.'

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And this points to two significant matters:

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The first:

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The courage of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her).

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The second:

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Allah's divine care over her,

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for Allah, Blessed and Exalted, cast slumber upon her

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so she would not remain terrified over the departed party

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or anxious about approaching predators, stray people, or the like.

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She said:

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'Safwan ibn al-Mu'attal al-Sulami al-Dhakwani

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was lagging behind the army.

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He traveled during the latter part of the night and arrived by my resting place at daybreak.'

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The curious fact about this man (may Allah be pleased with him)

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was that he and his entire clan were notorious for sleeping heavily,

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to the extent that it is mentioned in a hadith

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that his wife came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) complaining and saying:

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'O Messenger of Allah,

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Safwan does not pray the Fajr prayer on time!'

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So the Prophet (peace be upon him) summoned him and questioned him,

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and he said:

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'O Messenger of Allah!

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We are a family known for this disposition;

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we scarcely wake up until the sun has risen.'

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The point is that Safwan ibn al-Mu'attal was trailing behind the army,

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perhaps because he had overslept,

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and he proceeded along their trail,

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until he stumbled upon 'A'ishah asleep in her spot.

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'A'ishah relates:

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'He caught sight of the outline of a sleeping person from a distance,

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so he approached me and recognized me the moment he saw me,'

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because as she was sleeping,

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her face was uncovered.

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She said:

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'He used to see me before the injunction of the veil was revealed,

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so I woke up at his exclamation of remembrance: "To Allah we belong and to Him we return," when he recognized me.

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I immediately covered my face with my outer garment (jilbab).

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By Allah, he did not utter a single word to me,

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nor did I hear from him anything other than his statement of "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un,"

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until he made his camel kneel down

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and stepped on its forelegs.

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So I mounted it,

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and he set off leading the camel by its halter,

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until we reached the army after they had halted to rest during the blistering midday heat.'

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So they caught up with them,

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and those doomed to ruin met their perdition.

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She means that people began to malign her honor

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when they saw her arriving alone with Safwan.

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The hypocrites unleashed their malicious rumors,

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to the point where among the statements reported from them

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was the vile slander of 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul, who claimed:

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'By Allah, she did not return except after he committed indecency with her and she with him!'

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We seek refuge in Allah!

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May the curse of Allah be upon him.

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She said:

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'So we arrived in Medina,

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and upon our arrival, I fell ill for an entire month,

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while people were circulating the malicious rumors of the slanderers,

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though I was completely unaware of any of it.

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What raised my suspicions during my sickness was that I no longer noticed from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) the customary gentle kindness

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that I used to observe from him whenever I fell ill.

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The Messenger of Allah would merely enter upon me,

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offer greetings of peace, and ask:

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"How is that lady of yours?"

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and then he would leave.

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That was what caused me unease,

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though I still sensed no foul play.'

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For the Prophet (peace be upon him)

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whenever 'A'ishah fell ill,

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would treat her with tenderness and comfort her,

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just as in the famous hadith

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when 'A'ishah said:

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'O, my headache!'

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where the Prophet (peace be upon him) replied:

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'Nay, rather, O, my headache!

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And what harm would it do you, 'A'ishah, if you were to die before me,

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and I would wash you, shroud you,

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pray over you, and bury you?'

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And she was the dearest of all people to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him),

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as 'Amr ibn al-'As (may Allah be pleased with him) once asked him:

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'Who is the most beloved person to you?'

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He replied: ''A'ishah.'

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He asked: 'And among men?'

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He replied: 'Her father.'

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'A'ishah continued:

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'Until after I had recovered from my illness, I went out

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accompanied by Umm Mistah toward al-Manasi',

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which was our open-air toilet area.

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We only used to go out there at night,

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and that was before privies were constructed near our homes.

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Our custom was like that of the early Arabs,

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going out into the open fields to relieve ourselves,

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as we found having privies built near our houses offensive.

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So I set out with Umm Mistah,

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who was the daughter of Abu Ruhm ibn 'Abd Manaf,

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and her mother was the daughter of Sakhr ibn 'Amir,

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the maternal aunt of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq.

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Umm Mistah and I were returning toward my house

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after having relieved ourselves,

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when Umm Mistah tripped over her long dress

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and exclaimed: "May Mistah perish!"

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So I said to her:

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"What a terrible thing you have uttered!

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Do you revile a man who took part in the Battle of Badr?"

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She replied:

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"O innocent one!

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Have you not heard what he has said?"

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'A'ishah said:

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"And what did he say?"

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'A'ishah said:

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'So she informed me of the slander propagated by the people of falsehood,

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whereupon my illness was compounded on top of my sickness.'

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Imagine yourself, my dear sister,

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falsely accused in your chastity and honor:

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how would your life feel,

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and how could you enjoy any peace of mind?

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A woman's most precious possession is her honor.

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She might be falsely accused of lying, stealing, backbiting,

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dealing with usury, or improper display of beauty,

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but for the accusation to strike at her chastity—

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that is the gravest calamity a woman can ever endure.

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She said:

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'So when I returned to my house,

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the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) entered upon me,

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gave the greeting of peace, and asked: "How is that lady of yours?"'

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That is, nothing in the Prophet's outward behavior had changed,

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but what had changed

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was that 'A'ishah now knew the underlying reason;

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she finally realized why the Prophet's disposition toward her had altered.

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'So I said:

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"Will you permit me to go to my parents?"

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The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied:

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"Yes."'

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'A'ishah said:

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'My intention at that moment was to verify the news directly from them.

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So I arrived at my parents' home

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and said to my mother:

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"O my mother,

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what are the people talking about?"

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She replied:

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"O my dear daughter,

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do not distress yourself,

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for by Allah, rarely has there ever been a beautiful woman

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"a beautiful woman who is beloved by her husband and has co-wives,

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without them spreading rumors against her."

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I exclaimed, "Glory be to Allah!

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Have people really been talking about this?"

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So I wept throughout that entire night until morning came;

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my tears never ceased,

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nor could I taste the solace of sleep,

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and morning found me still weeping.

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Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) summoned 'Ali ibn Abi Talib

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and Usamah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with them both),

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when the revelation had been delayed,

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to consult them regarding parting from his wife.

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And this period—

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it is mentioned that it lasted for more than a month—

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with the people speaking maliciously of 'A'ishah and gossiping about her,

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while the divine revelation remained paused,

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and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not know the actual truth of the matter.

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This clearly demonstrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not possess knowledge of the unseen.

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As for 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him),

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he was the husband of his daughter and his paternal cousin,

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and the closest of people to him in kinship;

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whereas Usamah,

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he had been raised in the household of the Prophet (peace be upon him),

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and was the beloved of the Messenger of Allah and the son of his beloved.

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Thus, the Prophet (peace be upon him) sought their counsel

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because of their closeness to his household

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and their firsthand knowledge of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with them).

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As for Usamah,

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he advised the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) according to what he knew of his family's innocence,

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and the deep affection and esteem he held for them in his heart,

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saying: "O Messenger of Allah, they are your family, and we know nothing of them except good."

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As for 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, he said: "O Messenger of Allah, Allah has not placed you under constraint,

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and there are plenty of women besides her;

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yet if you question the maidservant, she will tell you the truth."

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Usamah considered what was best for 'A'ishah and therefore declared her innocent,

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whereas 'Ali looked to the well-being of the Prophet (peace be upon him)

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and the profound distress that had overwhelmed him because of this ordeal.

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So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) summoned Burayrah, 'A'ishah's maidservant,

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and asked: "O Burayrah, have you ever seen anything in 'A'ishah that arouses your suspicion?"

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Burayrah replied: "No, by the One Who sent you with the truth!

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I have never seen any fault in her that I could criticize,

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other than that she is a young girl who falls asleep leaving her family's dough unattended,

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so that the domestic sheep comes and eats it."

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Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stood up

243
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and on that day asked who would excuse him to take action against 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul.

244
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The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said from the pulpit:

245
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"O assembly of Muslims!

246
00:12:44,399 --> 00:12:49,399
Who will excuse me if I retaliate against a man whose slander has reached my family?

247
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For, by Allah, I know nothing of my family except good,

248
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and they have mentioned a man—meaning Safwan ibn al-Mu'attal—

249
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about whom I likewise know nothing except good,

250
00:13:00,399 --> 00:13:04,399
and he never entered upon my family except in my company."

251
00:13:04,399 --> 00:13:09,429
Then Sa'd ibn Mu'adh the Ansari, the chieftain of the Aws, stood up

252
00:13:09,429 --> 00:13:14,429
and said: "O Messenger of Allah, I will excuse you against him;

253
00:13:14,429 --> 00:13:17,429
if he belongs to the Aws, I will strike off his neck,

254
00:13:17,429 --> 00:13:20,429
and if he belongs to our brothers of the Khazraj,

255
00:13:20,429 --> 00:13:23,429
you command us and we shall execute your command."

256
00:13:23,429 --> 00:13:27,490
But Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah, the chieftain of the Khazraj,

257
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was seized by tribal fervor and said:

258
00:13:30,490 --> 00:13:35,490
"You have lied, by Allah's life! You will not kill him, nor do you have the power to kill him."

259
00:13:35,490 --> 00:13:38,490
Thereupon, Usayd ibn Hudayr arose—

260
00:13:38,490 --> 00:13:40,490
he was the cousin of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh,

261
00:13:40,490 --> 00:13:42,490
and he belonged to the Aws—

262
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and said to Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah:

263
00:13:44,490 --> 00:13:48,490
"You have lied, by Allah's life! We will surely kill him,

264
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for you are a hypocrite arguing on behalf of hypocrites!"

265
00:13:52,490 --> 00:13:57,490
Meaning: this conduct of yours is the conduct of hypocrites.

266
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This shows us

267
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that it is permissible to apply the term "hypocrite"

268
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to one who displays the behavior of the hypocrites,

269
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meaning in that particular trait,

270
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and this is known as practical hypocrisy,

271
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not hypocrisy in belief.

272
00:14:12,490 --> 00:14:14,679
'A'ishah said:

273
00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:16,679
"The two tribes became agitated,"

274
00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:18,679
and in another narration:

275
00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:20,679
"The two factions leaped at each other,"

276
00:14:20,679 --> 00:14:22,679
the Aws and the Khazraj,

277
00:14:22,679 --> 00:14:24,679
to the point that they were on the verge of fighting,

278
00:14:24,679 --> 00:14:27,679
while the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)

279
00:14:27,679 --> 00:14:29,679
was standing upon the pulpit.

280
00:14:29,679 --> 00:14:32,679
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) kept on

281
00:14:32,679 --> 00:14:36,679
calming them down until they fell silent, and he too fell silent,

282
00:14:36,679 --> 00:14:40,679
and he abandoned the matter of 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul.

283
00:14:40,679 --> 00:14:42,679
'A'ishah said:

284
00:14:42,679 --> 00:14:44,679
"I remained throughout that entire day,

285
00:14:44,679 --> 00:14:48,679
my tears never ceasing, nor could I taste sleep.

286
00:14:48,679 --> 00:14:50,679
In the morning, both of my parents were with me,

287
00:14:50,679 --> 00:14:53,679
after I had wept for two nights and a day,

288
00:14:53,679 --> 00:14:57,679
and they thought that my weeping would burst my liver.

289
00:14:57,679 --> 00:15:01,679
While they were sitting with me and I was weeping,

290
00:15:01,679 --> 00:15:04,679
a woman from the Ansar asked permission to enter upon me,

291
00:15:04,679 --> 00:15:06,679
and she sat down and began to weep with me."

292
00:15:06,679 --> 00:15:10,679
And this is among the things that bring solace to an afflicted person;

293
00:15:10,679 --> 00:15:12,679
that is why al-Khansa' said,

294
00:15:12,679 --> 00:15:14,679
when her brother Sakhr died:

295
00:15:14,679 --> 00:15:17,679
"Were it not for the multitude of mourners around me,

296
00:15:17,679 --> 00:15:21,679
weeping over their brothers, I would have killed myself.

297
00:15:21,679 --> 00:15:24,679
Yet none of them weeps for the likes of my brother; nevertheless,

298
00:15:24,679 --> 00:15:27,679
I console my soul over him by finding comfort in their sorrow."

299
00:15:27,679 --> 00:15:30,940
'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:

300
00:15:30,940 --> 00:15:32,940
"While we were in that state,

301
00:15:33,940 --> 00:15:37,940
the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) entered upon us,

302
00:15:37,940 --> 00:15:39,940
greeted us with peace, and then sat down.

303
00:15:39,940 --> 00:15:44,940
She said: And he had not sat beside me since the slander was first spoken,

304
00:15:44,940 --> 00:15:48,940
a full month having passed without any revelation coming to him regarding my affair.

305
00:15:48,940 --> 00:15:52,940
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) recited the testimony of faith

306
00:15:52,940 --> 00:15:53,940
when he sat down,

307
00:15:53,940 --> 00:15:56,940
and then said: 'To proceed:

308
00:15:56,940 --> 00:16:01,940
O 'A'ishah, such and such news has reached me concerning you.

309
00:16:01,940 --> 00:16:05,940
If you are innocent, Allah will surely clear your name,

310
00:16:05,940 --> 00:16:07,940
and if you have committed a sin,

311
00:16:07,940 --> 00:16:10,940
then seek the forgiveness of Allah and repent to Him,

312
00:16:10,940 --> 00:16:14,940
for when a servant confesses his sin and then repents to Allah,

313
00:16:14,940 --> 00:16:16,940
Allah accepts his repentance.'

314
00:16:16,940 --> 00:16:22,039
When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) finished his words,

315
00:16:22,039 --> 00:16:26,039
my tears dried up completely, until I could not feel a single drop.

316
00:16:26,039 --> 00:16:28,039
So I said to my father:

317
00:16:28,039 --> 00:16:31,039
'Answer the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)!'

318
00:16:31,039 --> 00:16:38,039
He said: 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).'

319
00:16:38,039 --> 00:16:40,039
Then I said to my mother:

320
00:16:40,039 --> 00:16:44,039
'Answer the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)!'

321
00:16:44,039 --> 00:16:51,039
She said: 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).'

322
00:16:51,039 --> 00:16:53,039
What an astounding situation,

323
00:16:53,039 --> 00:16:58,039
and what a trial from Allah, Blessed and Exalted, for 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her)!

324
00:16:58,039 --> 00:17:05,200
She said: 'So I said: I am a young girl and do not recite much of the Qur'an.

325
00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:11,440
By Allah, I know that you have heard this talk until it has settled in

326
00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:17,359
your hearts and you have come to believe it. If I tell you that I am innocent—and Allah

327
00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:22,980
knows that I am innocent—you will not believe me; and if I were to confess

328
00:17:22,980 --> 00:17:29,420
to a matter—while Allah knows that I am innocent of it—you would believe me! By Allah,

329
00:17:29,420 --> 00:17:36,019
I find no analogy for you and me except the words of the father of Yusuf: "So patience is most fitting, and Allah

330
00:17:36,019 --> 00:17:42,019
alone is sought for help against what you describe."' Then I turned away and lay down on my bed,

331
00:17:42,019 --> 00:17:48,660
knowing full well at that time that I was innocent and that Allah would vindicate me. Yet,

332
00:17:48,660 --> 00:17:53,579
by Allah, I never imagined that Allah would reveal concerning my matter a revelation to be recited!

333
00:17:53,579 --> 00:17:59,220
My own worth in my eyes was far too insignificant for Allah to speak about me in a matter

334
00:17:59,220 --> 00:18:04,619
to be recited; rather, I merely hoped that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)

335
00:18:04,619 --> 00:18:09,700
would see a dream in his sleep wherein Allah would vindicate me. By Allah, neither had

336
00:18:09,700 --> 00:18:14,619
the Messenger of Allah left his seat, nor had anyone of the household

337
00:18:14,619 --> 00:18:19,900
gone out, before revelation descended upon him. He was seized by the customary agony

338
00:18:19,900 --> 00:18:25,180
of revelation, so much so that drops of sweat began to stream from him like pearls,

339
00:18:25,180 --> 00:18:30,970
even though it was a cold winter day, from the sheer weight of the Word being revealed to him. Allah the Exalted said:

340
00:18:30,970 --> 00:18:38,920
{Indeed, We shall cast upon you a heavy Word.} She said: When the Messenger of Allah

341
00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:43,799
(peace be upon him) was relieved of that state, he was smiling, and the very

342
00:18:43,799 --> 00:18:51,240
first word he uttered was: 'O 'A'ishah, as for Allah, Exalted and Majestic, He has

343
00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:58,880
cleared your name!' My mother said to me: 'Stand up and go to him!' I said: 'By Allah, I will not stand up to him,

344
00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:05,200
nor will I praise anyone except Allah, Exalted and Majestic!' So Allah, Blessed and Exalted, revealed:

345
00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:13,480
“Lo! they who spread the slander are a gang among you. Deem it not a bad thing for you; nay, it is good for you. Unto every man of them (will be paid) that which he hath earned of the sin; and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be an awful doom.” (24:11)

346
00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:21,160
“Lo! they who spread the slander are a gang among you. Deem it not a bad thing for you; nay, it is good for you. Unto every man of them (will be paid) that which he hath earned of the sin; and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be an awful doom.” (24:11)

347
00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:28,000
“Lo! they who spread the slander are a gang among you. Deem it not a bad thing for you; nay, it is good for you. Unto every man of them (will be paid) that which he hath earned of the sin; and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be an awful doom.” (24:11)

348
00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:34,279
{Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of one another...}

349
00:19:34,279 --> 00:19:40,880
“Why did not the believers, men and women, when ye heard it, think good of their own own folk, and say: It is a manifest untruth?” (24:12)

350
00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:57,809
“Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they produce not witnesses, they verily are liars in the sight of Allah.” (24:13)

351
00:19:57,809 --> 00:20:10,410
“Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy unto you in the world and the Hereafter an awful doom had overtaken you for that whereof ye murmured.” (24:14)

352
00:20:10,450 --> 00:20:19,890
“When ye welcomed it with your tongues, and uttered with your mouths that whereof ye had no knowledge, ye counted it a trifle. In the sight of Allah it is very great.” (24:15)

353
00:20:19,890 --> 00:20:26,609
“When ye welcomed it with your tongues, and uttered with your mouths that whereof ye had no knowledge, ye counted it a trifle. In the sight of Allah it is very great.” (24:15)

354
00:20:26,609 --> 00:20:35,410
“Wherefor, when ye heard it, said ye not: It is not for us to speak of this. Glory be to Thee (O Allah)! This is awful calumny.” (24:16)

355
00:20:35,410 --> 00:20:39,809
“Wherefor, when ye heard it, said ye not: It is not for us to speak of this. Glory be to Thee (O Allah)! This is awful calumny.” (24:16)

356
00:20:39,809 --> 00:20:48,809
“Allah admonisheth you that ye repeat not the like thereof ever, if ye are (in truth) believers.” (24:17)

357
00:20:48,809 --> 00:20:55,369
“And He expoundeth unto you the revelations. Allah is Knower, Wise.” (24:18)

358
00:20:55,369 --> 00:21:06,690
“Lo! those who love that slander should be spread concerning those who believe, theirs will be a painful punishment in the world and the Hereafter. Allah knoweth. Ye know not.” (24:19)

359
00:21:06,690 --> 00:21:11,930
{And Allah knows, while you know not.}

360
00:21:11,930 --> 00:21:19,529
{And were it not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, and that Allah is Kind and Merciful...}

361
00:21:19,529 --> 00:21:25,410
“O ye who believe! Follow not the footsteps of the devil. Unto whomsoever followeth the footsteps of the devil, lo! he commandeth filthiness and wrong. Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy unto you, not one of you would ever have grown pure. But Allah causeth whom He will to grow. And Allah is Hearer, Knower.” (24:21)

362
00:21:25,410 --> 00:21:34,450
“O ye who believe! Follow not the footsteps of the devil. Unto whomsoever followeth the footsteps of the devil, lo! he commandeth filthiness and wrong. Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy unto you, not one of you would ever have grown pure. But Allah causeth whom He will to grow. And Allah is Hearer, Knower.” (24:21)

363
00:21:34,490 --> 00:21:42,289
“O ye who believe! Follow not the footsteps of the devil. Unto whomsoever followeth the footsteps of the devil, lo! he commandeth filthiness and wrong. Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy unto you, not one of you would ever have grown pure. But Allah causeth whom He will to grow. And Allah is Hearer, Knower.” (24:21)

364
00:21:42,289 --> 00:21:50,750
“O ye who believe! Follow not the footsteps of the devil. Unto whomsoever followeth the footsteps of the devil, lo! he commandeth filthiness and wrong. Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy unto you, not one of you would ever have grown pure. But Allah causeth whom He will to grow. And Allah is Hearer, Knower.” (24:21)

365
00:21:50,750 --> 00:21:54,430
When Allah revealed verses of the Qur'an confirming my innocence,

366
00:21:54,430 --> 00:21:57,710
Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him)—

367
00:21:57,710 --> 00:22:02,430
who used to provide for Mistah due to his kinship and poverty—

368
00:22:02,430 --> 00:22:07,089
said: "By Allah, I will never spend anything on Mistah ever again!"

369
00:22:07,089 --> 00:22:09,730
Then Allah, Majestic and Exalted, revealed:

370
00:22:09,730 --> 00:22:22,329
“And let not those who possess dignity and ease among you swear not to give to the near of kin and to the needy, and to fugitives for the cause of Allah. Let them forgive and show indulgence. Yearn ye not that Allah may forgive you? Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (24:22)

371
00:22:22,329 --> 00:22:25,769
“And let not those who possess dignity and ease among you swear not to give to the near of kin and to the needy, and to fugitives for the cause of Allah. Let them forgive and show indulgence. Yearn ye not that Allah may forgive you? Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (24:22)

372
00:22:25,769 --> 00:22:28,369
{...and let them pardon and overlook...}

373
00:22:28,369 --> 00:22:33,369
“And let not those who possess dignity and ease among you swear not to give to the near of kin and to the needy, and to fugitives for the cause of Allah. Let them forgive and show indulgence. Yearn ye not that Allah may forgive you? Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (24:22)

374
00:22:33,369 --> 00:22:38,130
{...and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.}

375
00:22:38,539 --> 00:22:41,539
Abu Bakr said: "Yes, indeed, by Allah,

376
00:22:41,539 --> 00:22:44,539
I love that Allah should forgive me!"

377
00:22:44,539 --> 00:22:46,539
So he resumed spending on him as before.

378
00:22:46,539 --> 00:22:51,859
And this demonstrates how strictly they adhered to the Book of Allah.

379
00:22:52,930 --> 00:22:59,400
Lessons learned from the Incident of the Slander (al-Ifk):

380
00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,400
Regarding the words of Allah, Blessed and Exalted:

381
00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:07,160
“Lo! they who spread the slander are a gang among you. Deem it not a bad thing for you; nay, it is good for you. Unto every man of them (will be paid) that which he hath earned of the sin; and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be an awful doom.” (24:11)

382
00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:12,160
“Lo! they who spread the slander are a gang among you. Deem it not a bad thing for you; nay, it is good for you. Unto every man of them (will be paid) that which he hath earned of the sin; and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be an awful doom.” (24:11)

383
00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:14,160
'A'ishah was attacked in her honor,

384
00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:19,160
the Messenger (peace be upon him) was attacked in his honor,

385
00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:22,160
and he (peace be upon him) was filled with grief.

386
00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:24,160
They remained in that state for an entire month,

387
00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:26,160
with people gossiping about her,

388
00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:29,160
and the hypocrites rejoicing at this.

389
00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:31,160
Where, then, is the good in all this?

390
00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:34,190
The scholars of Islam have noted many aspects

391
00:23:34,190 --> 00:23:37,190
in which goodness was manifested through this ordeal,

392
00:23:37,190 --> 00:23:39,190
including:

393
00:23:39,190 --> 00:23:40,190
First:

394
00:23:40,190 --> 00:23:41,190
The test and affliction,

395
00:23:41,190 --> 00:23:45,190
for Allah tested His Messenger (peace be upon him),

396
00:23:45,190 --> 00:23:47,190
just as He tested 'A'ishah,

397
00:23:47,190 --> 00:23:50,190
and He tested Safwan ibn al-Mu'attal,

398
00:23:50,190 --> 00:23:53,190
and they emerged from the affliction like pure gold;

399
00:23:53,190 --> 00:23:56,190
and tribulation bears righteous fruits,

400
00:23:56,190 --> 00:23:58,190
because it elevates one's spiritual ranks.

401
00:23:58,190 --> 00:24:00,450
Second:

402
00:24:00,450 --> 00:24:02,450
The purification of the ranks,

403
00:24:02,450 --> 00:24:04,450
for had this incident not occurred,

404
00:24:04,450 --> 00:24:08,450
the believers would not have been distinguished from the hypocrites;

405
00:24:08,450 --> 00:24:10,450
in such crises,

406
00:24:10,450 --> 00:24:13,450
the hypocrites rear their heads,

407
00:24:13,450 --> 00:24:14,450
speak out,

408
00:24:14,450 --> 00:24:17,450
and openly display their insolence, mockery,

409
00:24:17,450 --> 00:24:19,450
and derision toward the believers.

410
00:24:19,450 --> 00:24:20,640
Third:

411
00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:23,640
The immense virtue of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her)

412
00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:25,640
and Allah's love for her,

413
00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:29,769
as He revealed concerning her a Qur'an to be recited.

414
00:24:29,769 --> 00:24:30,769
Fourth:

415
00:24:30,769 --> 00:24:35,769
Allah, Blessed and Exalted, defending His believing servants,

416
00:24:35,769 --> 00:24:38,769
and that is why He said in the Hadith Qudsi:

417
00:24:38,769 --> 00:24:42,769
"Whoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I have declared war upon him."

418
00:24:42,769 --> 00:24:44,769
Thus, it became manifest from this story

419
00:24:45,769 --> 00:24:47,769
that 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her,

420
00:24:47,769 --> 00:24:50,769
is among the devoted allies of Allah, the Blessed and Exalted.

421
00:24:50,769 --> 00:24:54,769
For that reason, Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, defended her;

422
00:24:54,769 --> 00:24:57,769
and this grants the pious believer

423
00:24:57,769 --> 00:25:00,769
reassuring certainty that Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He,

424
00:25:00,769 --> 00:25:01,769
will surely defend him.

425
00:25:01,769 --> 00:25:03,769
This is why 'A'ishah said:

426
00:25:03,769 --> 00:25:05,769
"So patience is most fitting."

427
00:25:05,769 --> 00:25:09,769
“And they came with false blood on his shirt. He said: Nay, but your minds have beguiled you into something. (My course is) comely patience. And Allah it is Whose help is to be sought in that (predicament) which ye describe.” (12:18)

428
00:25:09,769 --> 00:25:11,769
Thus, she turned entirely to Allah,

429
00:25:11,769 --> 00:25:16,059
and her Lord, Glorified and Exalted be He, did not fail her.

430
00:25:16,059 --> 00:25:17,059
Fifth:

431
00:25:17,059 --> 00:25:21,059
the manifestation of a legal ruling derived from the words of the Exalted and Majestic.

432
00:25:21,059 --> 00:25:25,059
“Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they produce not witnesses, they verily are liars in the sight of Allah.” (24:13)

433
00:25:25,059 --> 00:25:27,059
“Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they produce not witnesses, they verily are liars in the sight of Allah.” (24:13)

434
00:25:27,059 --> 00:25:31,059
“Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they produce not witnesses, they verily are liars in the sight of Allah.” (24:13)

435
00:25:31,059 --> 00:25:33,059
This ruling would never have been clarified

436
00:25:33,059 --> 00:25:36,059
had this incident not occurred;

437
00:25:36,059 --> 00:25:39,059
thus, whenever future incidents arise,

438
00:25:39,059 --> 00:25:43,220
we will know precisely how to address them.

439
00:25:43,220 --> 00:25:44,220
Sixth:

440
00:25:44,220 --> 00:25:48,220
establishing universal legal maxims for such cases,

441
00:25:48,220 --> 00:25:52,220
such as the principle that a Muslim is fundamentally presumed to be of upright character,

442
00:25:52,220 --> 00:25:54,220
and that a person is fundamentally presumed innocent

443
00:25:54,220 --> 00:25:56,220
until the accusation is proven.

444
00:25:56,220 --> 00:25:58,220
These overarching legal maxims

445
00:25:58,220 --> 00:26:00,220
we would not have known

446
00:26:00,220 --> 00:26:03,470
had this incident not taken place.

447
00:26:03,470 --> 00:26:04,470
Seventh:

448
00:26:04,470 --> 00:26:09,500
unmasking the hypocrites and exposing them before the believers.

449
00:26:09,500 --> 00:26:10,500
Eighth:

450
00:26:10,500 --> 00:26:14,500
the profound virtue of Safwan Ibn al-Mu'attal, may Allah be pleased with him,

451
00:26:14,500 --> 00:26:17,500
and that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, defended him

452
00:26:17,500 --> 00:26:21,789
just as He defended 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her.

453
00:26:21,789 --> 00:26:22,789
Ninth:

454
00:26:22,789 --> 00:26:24,789
clarifying the legal ruling regarding false accusation of unchastity (qadhf).

455
00:26:24,789 --> 00:26:29,819
Here, there are matters noted by Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him,

456
00:26:29,819 --> 00:26:33,819
which represent exceedingly precious insights

457
00:26:33,819 --> 00:26:36,819
recorded in his work, *Zad al-Ma'ad*.

458
00:26:36,819 --> 00:26:41,819
We mention them in the hope that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, may benefit us through them.

459
00:26:41,819 --> 00:26:42,880
First:

460
00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:44,880
if it should be asked,

461
00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,880
"Why did the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

462
00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:49,880
hesitate regarding her affair,

463
00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:52,880
inquire about her, investigate, and consult others,

464
00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:55,880
when he knew Allah and his own status with Him best,

465
00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:57,880
as well as what was befitting of his household?

466
00:26:57,880 --> 00:26:58,880
Why did he not simply declare [what was fitting],

467
00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:01,880
“Wherefor, when ye heard it, said ye not: It is not for us to speak of this. Glory be to Thee (O Allah)! This is awful calumny.” (24:16)

468
00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:04,880
as the most virtuous among the Companions had declared?"

469
00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:05,880
The answer is

470
00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:08,880
that this stemmed from the perfection of the profound wisdoms

471
00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:11,880
for which this incident was made the catalyst,

472
00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:16,880
serving as a trial and tribulation for the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,

473
00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:20,880
and for the entire Ummah until the Day of Resurrection,

474
00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:24,880
so that through this incident He might elevate certain people and abase others,

475
00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:28,880
and increase those who are guided in guidance and faith.

476
00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,880
“And We reveal of the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy for believers though it increase the evil-doers in naught save ruin.” (17:82)

477
00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:34,880
The completeness of the trial and tribulation required

478
00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:38,880
that revelation be withheld from the Messenger, peace be upon him,

479
00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:40,880
for an entire month regarding her matter,

480
00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:43,880
without anything being revealed to him concerning it,

481
00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:47,880
so that His decreed and ordained wisdom might be accomplished

482
00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:49,880
and manifested in the most consummate manner;

483
00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:52,880
so that the sincere believers might increase

484
00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,880
in faith and steadfast adherence to justice and truthfulness,

485
00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:58,880
harboring good thoughts of Allah, His Messenger, and his household,

486
00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:01,880
as well as the truthful and upright among His servants;

487
00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:04,880
and so that the hypocrites might increase in fabrication and hypocrisy,

488
00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:08,880
while their inward secrets were laid bare before His Messenger and the believers;

489
00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:13,880
and so that the intended servitude of al-Siddiqah and her parents might be perfected,

490
00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:17,880
as demonstrated when she said, "I complain of my grief and sorrow only to Allah,"

491
00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:21,880
embodying utter destitution and humble submission before Allah,

492
00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:24,880
having good expectations of Him and reposing all hope in Him,

493
00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:27,880
so that her hopes in created beings would be entirely severed,

494
00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:30,880
and she would despair of receiving aid and relief

495
00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:32,880
at the hands of any created being whatsoever.

496
00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:35,880
For this reason, she fulfilled the requirements of this station completely

497
00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:39,880
when her parents said to her, "Stand up and go to him,"

498
00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:43,880
after Allah had revealed her innocence, and she responded:

499
00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:45,880
"By Allah, I will not go to him,

500
00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:47,880
and I will praise none but Allah;

501
00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:50,880
He is the One Who revealed my innocence."

502
00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:54,880
Furthermore, among the wisdoms behind withholding revelation for a month

503
00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:57,880
was that the matter was thoroughly sifted and purified,

504
00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:00,880
and the hearts of the believers yearned with the utmost anticipation

505
00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:04,880
for what Allah would reveal to His Messenger regarding it,

506
00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:08,880
longing for it to the very highest degree.

507
00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:13,880
Thus, the revelation descended when it was most desperately needed by the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,

508
00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:16,880
his household, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and his family,

509
00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:19,880
his Companions, and the believers.

510
00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:22,880
The revelation came upon him like life-giving rain falling upon parched earth

511
00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:25,880
in its hour of direst need;

512
00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:28,880
thus, it made the deepest and most tender impression upon them,

513
00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:31,880
filling them with the most complete joy,

514
00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:34,880
and bringing them the utmost bliss through this revelation.

515
00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:39,880
Had Allah informed His Messenger of the true reality from the very first moment

516
00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:42,880
and sent down the revelation immediately regarding it,

517
00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:45,880
these profound wisdoms would have been missed many times over,

518
00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:47,880
indeed, manifold times over.

519
00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:50,099
Second:

520
00:29:50,099 --> 00:29:56,099
Allah, Glorified be He, willed to manifest the noble status of His Messenger and his household with Him,

521
00:29:56,099 --> 00:29:58,099
and their precious standing before Him,

522
00:29:58,099 --> 00:30:01,099
and to remove His Messenger entirely from personal involvement in this dispute,

523
00:30:01,099 --> 00:30:06,099
taking it upon Himself, Exalted and Majestic is He, to undertake his defense,

524
00:30:06,099 --> 00:30:10,099
refuting his enemies, censuring them, and exposing their flaws,

525
00:30:10,099 --> 00:30:13,099
in a manner in which the Prophet had no personal hand.

526
00:30:13,099 --> 00:30:15,099
It was not the Messenger, peace be upon him,

527
00:30:15,099 --> 00:30:18,099
who was to defend his own wife;

528
00:30:18,099 --> 00:30:22,099
rather, Allah Himself was the One defending His Messenger and his household,

529
00:30:22,099 --> 00:30:26,099
such that the defense would not be attributed to the Messenger, peace be upon him;

530
00:30:26,099 --> 00:30:28,099
rather, He alone—

531
00:30:28,099 --> 00:30:31,099
that is, Allah, Majestic and Exalted—would assume responsibility for that,

532
00:30:31,099 --> 00:30:34,099
vindicating His Messenger and his household.

533
00:30:34,099 --> 00:30:36,390
Third:

534
00:30:36,390 --> 00:30:38,390
the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,

535
00:30:38,390 --> 00:30:40,390
was the primary target of the harm,

536
00:30:40,390 --> 00:30:42,390
and the one accused was his own wife.

537
00:30:42,390 --> 00:30:46,390
It was therefore not fitting for him to testify to her innocence based solely on his personal knowledge—for that alone would not suffice—

538
00:30:46,390 --> 00:30:48,390
nor on his strong presumption that bordered on certainty regarding her innocence,

539
00:30:48,390 --> 00:30:52,390
as he never harbored any evil suspicion about her at all,

540
00:30:52,390 --> 00:30:55,390
far be it from him, and far be it from her.

541
00:30:55,390 --> 00:30:57,390
Far be it from him, and far be it from her!

542
00:30:57,390 --> 00:31:00,390
That is why, when he sought justification to act against the people of the slander,

543
00:31:00,390 --> 00:31:01,390
he declared:

544
00:31:01,390 --> 00:31:05,390
"Who will excuse me if I penalize a man whose slander has reached my family?

545
00:31:05,390 --> 00:31:09,390
By Allah, I know nothing of my family except good,

546
00:31:09,390 --> 00:31:13,390
and they have mentioned a man about whom I know nothing except good,

547
00:31:13,390 --> 00:31:17,390
and he never entered upon my family except in my presence."

548
00:31:17,390 --> 00:31:20,390
Thus, the Prophet, peace be upon him, possessed

549
00:31:20,390 --> 00:31:21,390
of contextual indicators

550
00:31:21,390 --> 00:31:24,390
attesting to the innocence of al-Siddiqah

551
00:31:24,390 --> 00:31:27,390
far more than what the believers possessed.

552
00:31:27,390 --> 00:31:31,390
Yet, out of the perfection of his patience, steadfastness, gentleness,

553
00:31:31,390 --> 00:31:34,390
good thoughts of his Lord, and trust in Him,

554
00:31:34,390 --> 00:31:36,390
he fulfilled the requirements of the station of patience and perseverance

555
00:31:36,390 --> 00:31:39,390
until the revelation arrived,

556
00:31:39,390 --> 00:31:43,390
bringing that which cooled his eyes, gladdened his heart, and magnified his stature,

557
00:31:43,390 --> 00:31:46,390
making manifest to his Ummah the immense honor his Lord bestowed upon him

558
00:31:46,390 --> 00:31:49,390
and His supreme care for his affair.

559
00:31:49,390 --> 00:31:50,390
Fourth:

560
00:31:50,390 --> 00:31:54,680
whoever reflects upon the words of al-Siddiqah when her parents told her,

561
00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:58,680
"Stand up and go to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,"

562
00:31:58,680 --> 00:31:59,680
and she replied:

563
00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:03,680
"By Allah, I will not go to him, and I will praise none but Allah,"

564
00:32:03,680 --> 00:32:07,680
whoever considers and ponders these words of hers

565
00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:10,680
will realize her profound spiritual insight, the strength of her faith,

566
00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:15,680
her absolute reliance on her Lord, her singling Him out alone for praise in that momentous station,

567
00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:17,680
her uncompromising devotion to pure monotheism (Tawhid),

568
00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:19,680
the steadfastness of her composure,

569
00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:22,680
and the affectionate confidence borne of her verified innocence,

570
00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:25,680
knowing she had done nothing requiring her to stand before him

571
00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:28,680
in the position of one seeking reconciliation or begging for favor.

572
00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:30,680
Confident in the love she bore him,

573
00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:34,680
and assured of the love of the Messenger of Allah for her,

574
00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:36,680
she said what she said

575
00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:39,680
out of the intimate confidence of a beloved toward her beloved,

576
00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:42,680
especially in such a momentous station,

577
00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:45,680
which represents the most sublime occasion for such intimate confidence;

578
00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:47,680
thus, she placed it in its rightful place.

579
00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:51,680
By Allah, she was never dearer to him than when she said:

580
00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:53,680
"I will praise none but Allah,

581
00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:56,680
for He is the One Who revealed my innocence."

582
00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:00,680
How wondrous was that steadfastness and emotional composure on her part!

583
00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:03,680
For he was the dearest of all creation to her,

584
00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:05,680
and she could not bear separation from him,

585
00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:08,680
yet when the heart of her beloved had seemed estranged from her for an entire month,

586
00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:11,680
and she subsequently witnessed his pleasure and warm approach,

587
00:33:11,680 --> 00:33:14,680
she did not hastily rush to stand before him

588
00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:17,680
in immediate delight over his pleasure and proximity,

589
00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:19,680
despite the intensity of her love for him.

590
00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:22,680
This represents the very pinnacle of steadfastness and inner strength.