WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.399 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:03.399 --> 00:00:06.860 Treasures of the Prophetic Biography (Seerah). 00:00:06.860 --> 00:00:11.560 The Incident of the Slander (al-Ifk). 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:17.559 "Al-Ifk" signifies an enormous falsehood and slander. 00:00:17.559 --> 00:00:20.359 Imam al-Zuhri, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:27.760 "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: 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:31.160 'Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:33.359 intended to embark on a journey, 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:35.560 he would cast lots among his wives, 00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:37.960 and whichever of them had her lot drawn, 00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:42.920 the Messenger of Allah would take her along with him.' 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:44.119 She continued: 00:00:44.119 --> 00:00:47.520 'So he cast lots between us before a military expedition he undertook, 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:49.320 and my lot was drawn, 00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:53.320 so I set out with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). 00:00:53.320 --> 00:00:56.320 This was after the revelation of the verse of the veil (hijab). 00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:59.920 I was carried in my litter (howdah) and remained in it when we dismounted. 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:04.319 We traveled until the Messenger of Allah completed 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:06.920 that expedition of his and set out to return. 00:01:06.920 --> 00:01:09.920 As we drew near to Medina on our journey back, 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:12.719 he announced the departure one night. 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:15.519 So I arose when they gave the call to march, 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:18.719 and walked ahead until I had passed beyond the army encampment. 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:20.719 When I had relieved myself, 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:23.120 I headed back toward my mount, 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:27.319 only to find that a necklace of mine made of onyx beads from Zafar had broken and fallen off. 00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:28.920 So I went back searching for my necklace, 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:30.920 and the search for it detained me. 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:35.519 Meanwhile, the men who used to saddle my mount for me came, 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:40.319 lifted my litter, and strapped it onto the camel I had been riding, 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:43.120 assuming all the while that I was inside it. 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:47.920 In those days, women were light and slender, not heavy with flesh, 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:51.519 for they ate only tiny morsels of food. 00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:55.719 Thus, the men found nothing unusual about the lightness of the litter as they raised it, 00:01:55.719 --> 00:01:58.920 and I was a young girl of tender years. 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:01.319 So they urged the camel forward and marched on. 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:04.719 I found my necklace after the army had already moved away, 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:09.349 and when I returned to their campsite, there was neither caller nor respondent.' 00:02:09.349 --> 00:02:16.349 Let every woman imagine herself or her daughter in the place of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): 00:02:16.349 --> 00:02:20.550 a young girl alone in the dark of night, 00:02:20.550 --> 00:02:22.349 stranded in a desolate wilderness, 00:02:22.349 --> 00:02:25.539 while everyone had completely departed. 00:02:25.539 --> 00:02:28.539 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) continues: 00:02:28.539 --> 00:02:31.439 'So I headed to the spot where I had been staying, 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:35.539 assuming they would soon miss me and return to fetch me.' 00:02:35.539 --> 00:02:39.740 This demonstrated her sheer acumen and intelligence (may Allah be pleased with her). 00:02:39.740 --> 00:02:42.240 Had it been any other woman, 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:45.740 she would have screamed and started running left and right, 00:02:45.740 --> 00:02:47.340 east and west, 00:02:47.340 --> 00:02:49.340 frantically searching for her people. 00:02:49.340 --> 00:02:53.639 But 'A'ishah, owing to her complete presence of mind, 00:02:53.639 --> 00:02:55.840 remained sitting right in her place, 00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:00.580 knowing that had she set off wandering after them, she would surely have been lost. 00:03:00.580 --> 00:03:01.780 She relates: 00:03:01.780 --> 00:03:04.680 'While I was sitting in my spot, 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:07.379 sleep overcame my eyes, and I drifted off.' 00:03:07.379 --> 00:03:10.379 And this points to two significant matters: 00:03:10.379 --> 00:03:11.580 The first: 00:03:11.580 --> 00:03:14.780 The courage of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her). 00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:16.080 The second: 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:18.180 Allah's divine care over her, 00:03:18.180 --> 00:03:22.580 for Allah, Blessed and Exalted, cast slumber upon her 00:03:22.580 --> 00:03:24.879 so she would not remain terrified over the departed party 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:30.580 or anxious about approaching predators, stray people, or the like. 00:03:30.580 --> 00:03:31.680 She said: 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:35.879 'Safwan ibn al-Mu'attal al-Sulami al-Dhakwani 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:37.879 was lagging behind the army. 00:03:37.879 --> 00:03:40.979 He traveled during the latter part of the night and arrived by my resting place at daybreak.' 00:03:40.979 --> 00:03:44.379 The curious fact about this man (may Allah be pleased with him) 00:03:44.379 --> 00:03:49.780 was that he and his entire clan were notorious for sleeping heavily, 00:03:49.780 --> 00:03:52.280 to the extent that it is mentioned in a hadith 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:58.379 that his wife came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) complaining and saying: 00:03:58.379 --> 00:04:00.180 'O Messenger of Allah, 00:04:00.180 --> 00:04:03.280 Safwan does not pray the Fajr prayer on time!' 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:07.479 So the Prophet (peace be upon him) summoned him and questioned him, 00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:08.379 and he said: 00:04:08.379 --> 00:04:10.080 'O Messenger of Allah! 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:13.580 We are a family known for this disposition; 00:04:13.580 --> 00:04:17.480 we scarcely wake up until the sun has risen.' 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:22.680 The point is that Safwan ibn al-Mu'attal was trailing behind the army, 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:24.980 perhaps because he had overslept, 00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:27.079 and he proceeded along their trail, 00:04:27.079 --> 00:04:32.269 until he stumbled upon 'A'ishah asleep in her spot. 00:04:32.269 --> 00:04:33.970 'A'ishah relates: 00:04:33.970 --> 00:04:37.970 'He caught sight of the outline of a sleeping person from a distance, 00:04:37.970 --> 00:04:40.970 so he approached me and recognized me the moment he saw me,' 00:04:40.970 --> 00:04:43.569 because as she was sleeping, 00:04:43.569 --> 00:04:46.170 her face was uncovered. 00:04:46.170 --> 00:04:47.269 She said: 00:04:47.269 --> 00:04:50.069 'He used to see me before the injunction of the veil was revealed, 00:04:50.069 --> 00:04:53.670 so I woke up at his exclamation of remembrance: "To Allah we belong and to Him we return," when he recognized me. 00:04:53.670 --> 00:04:56.170 I immediately covered my face with my outer garment (jilbab). 00:04:56.170 --> 00:04:58.870 By Allah, he did not utter a single word to me, 00:04:58.870 --> 00:05:02.569 nor did I hear from him anything other than his statement of "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un," 00:05:02.569 --> 00:05:04.970 until he made his camel kneel down 00:05:04.970 --> 00:05:06.870 and stepped on its forelegs. 00:05:06.870 --> 00:05:08.370 So I mounted it, 00:05:08.370 --> 00:05:11.069 and he set off leading the camel by its halter, 00:05:11.069 --> 00:05:16.370 until we reached the army after they had halted to rest during the blistering midday heat.' 00:05:16.370 --> 00:05:18.170 So they caught up with them, 00:05:18.170 --> 00:05:20.069 and those doomed to ruin met their perdition. 00:05:20.069 --> 00:05:23.269 She means that people began to malign her honor 00:05:23.269 --> 00:05:27.500 when they saw her arriving alone with Safwan. 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:31.199 The hypocrites unleashed their malicious rumors, 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:34.899 to the point where among the statements reported from them 00:05:34.899 --> 00:05:39.100 was the vile slander of 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul, who claimed: 00:05:39.100 --> 00:05:44.100 'By Allah, she did not return except after he committed indecency with her and she with him!' 00:05:44.100 --> 00:05:45.800 We seek refuge in Allah! 00:05:45.800 --> 00:05:48.490 May the curse of Allah be upon him. 00:05:48.490 --> 00:05:49.689 She said: 00:05:49.689 --> 00:05:51.490 'So we arrived in Medina, 00:05:51.490 --> 00:05:54.389 and upon our arrival, I fell ill for an entire month, 00:05:54.389 --> 00:05:57.790 while people were circulating the malicious rumors of the slanderers, 00:05:57.790 --> 00:06:00.589 though I was completely unaware of any of it. 00:06:00.589 --> 00:06:07.389 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 00:06:07.389 --> 00:06:10.889 that I used to observe from him whenever I fell ill. 00:06:10.889 --> 00:06:15.389 The Messenger of Allah would merely enter upon me, 00:06:15.389 --> 00:06:17.490 offer greetings of peace, and ask: 00:06:17.490 --> 00:06:19.089 "How is that lady of yours?" 00:06:19.089 --> 00:06:20.689 and then he would leave. 00:06:20.689 --> 00:06:22.790 That was what caused me unease, 00:06:22.790 --> 00:06:25.089 though I still sensed no foul play.' 00:06:25.089 --> 00:06:28.389 For the Prophet (peace be upon him) 00:06:28.389 --> 00:06:30.790 whenever 'A'ishah fell ill, 00:06:30.790 --> 00:06:33.389 would treat her with tenderness and comfort her, 00:06:33.389 --> 00:06:35.490 just as in the famous hadith 00:06:35.490 --> 00:06:38.689 when 'A'ishah said: 00:06:38.689 --> 00:06:40.389 'O, my headache!' 00:06:40.389 --> 00:06:43.689 where the Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: 00:06:43.689 --> 00:06:45.990 'Nay, rather, O, my headache! 00:06:45.990 --> 00:06:48.990 And what harm would it do you, 'A'ishah, if you were to die before me, 00:06:48.990 --> 00:06:51.290 and I would wash you, shroud you, 00:06:51.290 --> 00:06:54.089 pray over you, and bury you?' 00:06:54.089 --> 00:06:58.990 And she was the dearest of all people to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 00:06:58.990 --> 00:07:02.589 as 'Amr ibn al-'As (may Allah be pleased with him) once asked him: 00:07:02.589 --> 00:07:04.990 'Who is the most beloved person to you?' 00:07:04.990 --> 00:07:06.689 He replied: ''A'ishah.' 00:07:06.689 --> 00:07:08.689 He asked: 'And among men?' 00:07:08.689 --> 00:07:10.910 He replied: 'Her father.' 00:07:10.910 --> 00:07:12.610 'A'ishah continued: 00:07:12.610 --> 00:07:15.509 'Until after I had recovered from my illness, I went out 00:07:15.509 --> 00:07:18.810 accompanied by Umm Mistah toward al-Manasi', 00:07:18.810 --> 00:07:20.810 which was our open-air toilet area. 00:07:20.810 --> 00:07:23.810 We only used to go out there at night, 00:07:23.810 --> 00:07:28.509 and that was before privies were constructed near our homes. 00:07:28.509 --> 00:07:30.610 Our custom was like that of the early Arabs, 00:07:30.610 --> 00:07:33.310 going out into the open fields to relieve ourselves, 00:07:33.310 --> 00:07:38.209 as we found having privies built near our houses offensive. 00:07:38.209 --> 00:07:41.009 So I set out with Umm Mistah, 00:07:41.009 --> 00:07:44.310 who was the daughter of Abu Ruhm ibn 'Abd Manaf, 00:07:44.310 --> 00:07:47.009 and her mother was the daughter of Sakhr ibn 'Amir, 00:07:47.009 --> 00:07:49.810 the maternal aunt of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. 00:07:49.810 --> 00:07:53.310 Umm Mistah and I were returning toward my house 00:07:53.310 --> 00:07:56.009 after having relieved ourselves, 00:07:56.009 --> 00:07:59.110 when Umm Mistah tripped over her long dress 00:07:59.110 --> 00:08:02.110 and exclaimed: "May Mistah perish!" 00:08:02.110 --> 00:08:03.709 So I said to her: 00:08:03.709 --> 00:08:05.509 "What a terrible thing you have uttered! 00:08:05.509 --> 00:08:08.610 Do you revile a man who took part in the Battle of Badr?" 00:08:08.610 --> 00:08:09.810 She replied: 00:08:09.810 --> 00:08:11.310 "O innocent one! 00:08:11.310 --> 00:08:13.709 Have you not heard what he has said?" 00:08:13.709 --> 00:08:15.310 'A'ishah said: 00:08:15.310 --> 00:08:16.910 "And what did he say?" 00:08:16.910 --> 00:08:18.610 'A'ishah said: 00:08:18.610 --> 00:08:21.610 'So she informed me of the slander propagated by the people of falsehood, 00:08:21.610 --> 00:08:24.899 whereupon my illness was compounded on top of my sickness.' 00:08:24.899 --> 00:08:27.500 Imagine yourself, my dear sister, 00:08:27.500 --> 00:08:29.800 falsely accused in your chastity and honor: 00:08:29.800 --> 00:08:32.230 how would your life feel, 00:08:32.230 --> 00:08:34.029 and how could you enjoy any peace of mind? 00:08:34.029 --> 00:08:37.230 A woman's most precious possession is her honor. 00:08:37.230 --> 00:08:41.330 She might be falsely accused of lying, stealing, backbiting, 00:08:41.330 --> 00:08:43.929 dealing with usury, or improper display of beauty, 00:08:43.929 --> 00:08:46.629 but for the accusation to strike at her chastity— 00:08:46.629 --> 00:08:50.820 that is the gravest calamity a woman can ever endure. 00:08:50.820 --> 00:08:52.019 She said: 00:08:52.019 --> 00:08:54.419 'So when I returned to my house, 00:08:54.419 --> 00:08:58.519 the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) entered upon me, 00:08:58.519 --> 00:09:00.720 gave the greeting of peace, and asked: "How is that lady of yours?"' 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:06.720 That is, nothing in the Prophet's outward behavior had changed, 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:08.720 but what had changed 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:11.720 was that 'A'ishah now knew the underlying reason; 00:09:11.720 --> 00:09:17.720 she finally realized why the Prophet's disposition toward her had altered. 00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:19.220 'So I said: 00:09:19.220 --> 00:09:22.220 "Will you permit me to go to my parents?" 00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:24.720 The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:25.720 "Yes."' 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:27.720 'A'ishah said: 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:33.720 'My intention at that moment was to verify the news directly from them. 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:35.720 So I arrived at my parents' home 00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:36.720 and said to my mother: 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:38.720 "O my mother, 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:40.720 what are the people talking about?" 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:41.720 She replied: 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:42.720 "O my dear daughter, 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:44.720 do not distress yourself, 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:48.720 for by Allah, rarely has there ever been a beautiful woman 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:52.720 "a beautiful woman who is beloved by her husband and has co-wives, 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:54.720 without them spreading rumors against her." 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:56.789 I exclaimed, "Glory be to Allah! 00:09:56.789 --> 00:09:59.789 Have people really been talking about this?" 00:09:59.789 --> 00:10:02.789 So I wept throughout that entire night until morning came; 00:10:02.789 --> 00:10:04.789 my tears never ceased, 00:10:04.789 --> 00:10:06.789 nor could I taste the solace of sleep, 00:10:06.789 --> 00:10:09.789 and morning found me still weeping. 00:10:09.789 --> 00:10:14.789 Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) summoned 'Ali ibn Abi Talib 00:10:14.789 --> 00:10:17.789 and Usamah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with them both), 00:10:17.789 --> 00:10:19.789 when the revelation had been delayed, 00:10:19.789 --> 00:10:22.789 to consult them regarding parting from his wife. 00:10:22.789 --> 00:10:24.789 And this period— 00:10:24.789 --> 00:10:27.789 it is mentioned that it lasted for more than a month— 00:10:27.789 --> 00:10:31.789 with the people speaking maliciously of 'A'ishah and gossiping about her, 00:10:31.789 --> 00:10:33.789 while the divine revelation remained paused, 00:10:33.789 --> 00:10:38.789 and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not know the actual truth of the matter. 00:10:38.789 --> 00:10:44.789 This clearly demonstrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not possess knowledge of the unseen. 00:10:44.789 --> 00:10:46.789 As for 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), 00:10:46.789 --> 00:10:49.789 he was the husband of his daughter and his paternal cousin, 00:10:49.789 --> 00:10:52.789 and the closest of people to him in kinship; 00:10:53.789 --> 00:10:55.789 whereas Usamah, 00:10:55.789 --> 00:10:59.789 he had been raised in the household of the Prophet (peace be upon him), 00:10:59.789 --> 00:11:04.789 and was the beloved of the Messenger of Allah and the son of his beloved. 00:11:04.789 --> 00:11:09.789 Thus, the Prophet (peace be upon him) sought their counsel 00:11:09.789 --> 00:11:11.789 because of their closeness to his household 00:11:11.789 --> 00:11:15.879 and their firsthand knowledge of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with them). 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:17.879 As for Usamah, 00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:23.879 he advised the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) according to what he knew of his family's innocence, 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:27.879 and the deep affection and esteem he held for them in his heart, 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:32.879 saying: "O Messenger of Allah, they are your family, and we know nothing of them except good." 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:39.879 As for 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, he said: "O Messenger of Allah, Allah has not placed you under constraint, 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:42.879 and there are plenty of women besides her; 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:46.330 yet if you question the maidservant, she will tell you the truth." 00:11:46.330 --> 00:11:52.330 Usamah considered what was best for 'A'ishah and therefore declared her innocent, 00:11:52.330 --> 00:11:57.330 whereas 'Ali looked to the well-being of the Prophet (peace be upon him) 00:11:57.330 --> 00:12:01.330 and the profound distress that had overwhelmed him because of this ordeal. 00:12:01.330 --> 00:12:07.360 So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) summoned Burayrah, 'A'ishah's maidservant, 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:13.360 and asked: "O Burayrah, have you ever seen anything in 'A'ishah that arouses your suspicion?" 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:18.360 Burayrah replied: "No, by the One Who sent you with the truth! 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:21.360 I have never seen any fault in her that I could criticize, 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:27.360 other than that she is a young girl who falls asleep leaving her family's dough unattended, 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:30.360 so that the domestic sheep comes and eats it." 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:34.399 Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stood up 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:38.399 and on that day asked who would excuse him to take action against 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul. 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:42.399 The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said from the pulpit: 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:44.399 "O assembly of Muslims! 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:49.399 Who will excuse me if I retaliate against a man whose slander has reached my family? 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:53.399 For, by Allah, I know nothing of my family except good, 00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:57.399 and they have mentioned a man—meaning Safwan ibn al-Mu'attal— 00:12:57.399 --> 00:13:00.399 about whom I likewise know nothing except good, 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:04.399 and he never entered upon my family except in my company." 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:09.429 Then Sa'd ibn Mu'adh the Ansari, the chieftain of the Aws, stood up 00:13:09.429 --> 00:13:14.429 and said: "O Messenger of Allah, I will excuse you against him; 00:13:14.429 --> 00:13:17.429 if he belongs to the Aws, I will strike off his neck, 00:13:17.429 --> 00:13:20.429 and if he belongs to our brothers of the Khazraj, 00:13:20.429 --> 00:13:23.429 you command us and we shall execute your command." 00:13:23.429 --> 00:13:27.490 But Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah, the chieftain of the Khazraj, 00:13:27.490 --> 00:13:30.490 was seized by tribal fervor and said: 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." 00:13:35.490 --> 00:13:38.490 Thereupon, Usayd ibn Hudayr arose— 00:13:38.490 --> 00:13:40.490 he was the cousin of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, 00:13:40.490 --> 00:13:42.490 and he belonged to the Aws— 00:13:42.490 --> 00:13:44.490 and said to Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah: 00:13:44.490 --> 00:13:48.490 "You have lied, by Allah's life! We will surely kill him, 00:13:48.490 --> 00:13:52.490 for you are a hypocrite arguing on behalf of hypocrites!" 00:13:52.490 --> 00:13:57.490 Meaning: this conduct of yours is the conduct of hypocrites. 00:13:57.490 --> 00:13:59.490 This shows us 00:13:59.490 --> 00:14:02.490 that it is permissible to apply the term "hypocrite" 00:14:02.490 --> 00:14:05.490 to one who displays the behavior of the hypocrites, 00:14:05.490 --> 00:14:07.490 meaning in that particular trait, 00:14:07.490 --> 00:14:10.490 and this is known as practical hypocrisy, 00:14:10.490 --> 00:14:12.490 not hypocrisy in belief. 00:14:12.490 --> 00:14:14.679 'A'ishah said: 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:16.679 "The two tribes became agitated," 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:18.679 and in another narration: 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:20.679 "The two factions leaped at each other," 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:22.679 the Aws and the Khazraj, 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:24.679 to the point that they were on the verge of fighting, 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:27.679 while the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:29.679 was standing upon the pulpit. 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:32.679 The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) kept on 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:36.679 calming them down until they fell silent, and he too fell silent, 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:40.679 and he abandoned the matter of 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul. 00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:42.679 'A'ishah said: 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:44.679 "I remained throughout that entire day, 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:48.679 my tears never ceasing, nor could I taste sleep. 00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:50.679 In the morning, both of my parents were with me, 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:53.679 after I had wept for two nights and a day, 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:57.679 and they thought that my weeping would burst my liver. 00:14:57.679 --> 00:15:01.679 While they were sitting with me and I was weeping, 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:04.679 a woman from the Ansar asked permission to enter upon me, 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:06.679 and she sat down and began to weep with me." 00:15:06.679 --> 00:15:10.679 And this is among the things that bring solace to an afflicted person; 00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:12.679 that is why al-Khansa' said, 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:14.679 when her brother Sakhr died: 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:17.679 "Were it not for the multitude of mourners around me, 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:21.679 weeping over their brothers, I would have killed myself. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:24.679 Yet none of them weeps for the likes of my brother; nevertheless, 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:27.679 I console my soul over him by finding comfort in their sorrow." 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:30.940 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: 00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:32.940 "While we were in that state, 00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:37.940 the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) entered upon us, 00:15:37.940 --> 00:15:39.940 greeted us with peace, and then sat down. 00:15:39.940 --> 00:15:44.940 She said: And he had not sat beside me since the slander was first spoken, 00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:48.940 a full month having passed without any revelation coming to him regarding my affair. 00:15:48.940 --> 00:15:52.940 The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) recited the testimony of faith 00:15:52.940 --> 00:15:53.940 when he sat down, 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:56.940 and then said: 'To proceed: 00:15:56.940 --> 00:16:01.940 O 'A'ishah, such and such news has reached me concerning you. 00:16:01.940 --> 00:16:05.940 If you are innocent, Allah will surely clear your name, 00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:07.940 and if you have committed a sin, 00:16:07.940 --> 00:16:10.940 then seek the forgiveness of Allah and repent to Him, 00:16:10.940 --> 00:16:14.940 for when a servant confesses his sin and then repents to Allah, 00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:16.940 Allah accepts his repentance.' 00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:22.039 When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) finished his words, 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:26.039 my tears dried up completely, until I could not feel a single drop. 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:28.039 So I said to my father: 00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:31.039 'Answer the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)!' 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).' 00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:40.039 Then I said to my mother: 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:44.039 'Answer the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)!' 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).' 00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:53.039 What an astounding situation, 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)! 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. 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:11.440 By Allah, I know that you have heard this talk until it has settled in 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 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:22.980 knows that I am innocent—you will not believe me; and if I were to confess 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, 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 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, 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, 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! 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 00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:04.619 to be recited; rather, I merely hoped that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 00:18:04.619 --> 00:18:09.700 would see a dream in his sleep wherein Allah would vindicate me. By Allah, neither had 00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:14.619 the Messenger of Allah left his seat, nor had anyone of the household 00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:19.900 gone out, before revelation descended upon him. He was seized by the customary agony 00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:25.180 of revelation, so much so that drops of sweat began to stream from him like pearls, 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: 00:18:30.970 --> 00:18:38.920 {Indeed, We shall cast upon you a heavy Word.} She said: When the Messenger of Allah 00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:43.799 (peace be upon him) was relieved of that state, he was smiling, and the very 00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:51.240 first word he uttered was: 'O 'A'ishah, as for Allah, Exalted and Majestic, He has 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, 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:05.200 nor will I praise anyone except Allah, Exalted and Majestic!' So Allah, Blessed and Exalted, revealed: 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) 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) 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) 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...} 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 00:20:48.809 --> 00:20:55.369 “And He expoundeth unto you the revelations. Allah is Knower, Wise.” (24:18) 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) 00:21:06.690 --> 00:21:11.930 {And Allah knows, while you know not.} 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...} 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) 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) 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) 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) 00:21:50.750 --> 00:21:54.430 When Allah revealed verses of the Qur'an confirming my innocence, 00:21:54.430 --> 00:21:57.710 Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him)— 00:21:57.710 --> 00:22:02.430 who used to provide for Mistah due to his kinship and poverty— 00:22:02.430 --> 00:22:07.089 said: "By Allah, I will never spend anything on Mistah ever again!" 00:22:07.089 --> 00:22:09.730 Then Allah, Majestic and Exalted, revealed: 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) 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) 00:22:25.769 --> 00:22:28.369 {...and let them pardon and overlook...} 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) 00:22:33.369 --> 00:22:38.130 {...and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} 00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:41.539 Abu Bakr said: "Yes, indeed, by Allah, 00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:44.539 I love that Allah should forgive me!" 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:46.539 So he resumed spending on him as before. 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:51.859 And this demonstrates how strictly they adhered to the Book of Allah. 00:22:52.930 --> 00:22:59.400 Lessons learned from the Incident of the Slander (al-Ifk): 00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:02.400 Regarding the words of Allah, Blessed and Exalted: 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) 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) 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:14.160 'A'ishah was attacked in her honor, 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:19.160 the Messenger (peace be upon him) was attacked in his honor, 00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:22.160 and he (peace be upon him) was filled with grief. 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:24.160 They remained in that state for an entire month, 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:26.160 with people gossiping about her, 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:29.160 and the hypocrites rejoicing at this. 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:31.160 Where, then, is the good in all this? 00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:34.190 The scholars of Islam have noted many aspects 00:23:34.190 --> 00:23:37.190 in which goodness was manifested through this ordeal, 00:23:37.190 --> 00:23:39.190 including: 00:23:39.190 --> 00:23:40.190 First: 00:23:40.190 --> 00:23:41.190 The test and affliction, 00:23:41.190 --> 00:23:45.190 for Allah tested His Messenger (peace be upon him), 00:23:45.190 --> 00:23:47.190 just as He tested 'A'ishah, 00:23:47.190 --> 00:23:50.190 and He tested Safwan ibn al-Mu'attal, 00:23:50.190 --> 00:23:53.190 and they emerged from the affliction like pure gold; 00:23:53.190 --> 00:23:56.190 and tribulation bears righteous fruits, 00:23:56.190 --> 00:23:58.190 because it elevates one's spiritual ranks. 00:23:58.190 --> 00:24:00.450 Second: 00:24:00.450 --> 00:24:02.450 The purification of the ranks, 00:24:02.450 --> 00:24:04.450 for had this incident not occurred, 00:24:04.450 --> 00:24:08.450 the believers would not have been distinguished from the hypocrites; 00:24:08.450 --> 00:24:10.450 in such crises, 00:24:10.450 --> 00:24:13.450 the hypocrites rear their heads, 00:24:13.450 --> 00:24:14.450 speak out, 00:24:14.450 --> 00:24:17.450 and openly display their insolence, mockery, 00:24:17.450 --> 00:24:19.450 and derision toward the believers. 00:24:19.450 --> 00:24:20.640 Third: 00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:23.640 The immense virtue of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) 00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:25.640 and Allah's love for her, 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:29.769 as He revealed concerning her a Qur'an to be recited. 00:24:29.769 --> 00:24:30.769 Fourth: 00:24:30.769 --> 00:24:35.769 Allah, Blessed and Exalted, defending His believing servants, 00:24:35.769 --> 00:24:38.769 and that is why He said in the Hadith Qudsi: 00:24:38.769 --> 00:24:42.769 "Whoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I have declared war upon him." 00:24:42.769 --> 00:24:44.769 Thus, it became manifest from this story 00:24:45.769 --> 00:24:47.769 that 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, 00:24:47.769 --> 00:24:50.769 is among the devoted allies of Allah, the Blessed and Exalted. 00:24:50.769 --> 00:24:54.769 For that reason, Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, defended her; 00:24:54.769 --> 00:24:57.769 and this grants the pious believer 00:24:57.769 --> 00:25:00.769 reassuring certainty that Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, 00:25:00.769 --> 00:25:01.769 will surely defend him. 00:25:01.769 --> 00:25:03.769 This is why 'A'ishah said: 00:25:03.769 --> 00:25:05.769 "So patience is most fitting." 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) 00:25:09.769 --> 00:25:11.769 Thus, she turned entirely to Allah, 00:25:11.769 --> 00:25:16.059 and her Lord, Glorified and Exalted be He, did not fail her. 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:17.059 Fifth: 00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:21.059 the manifestation of a legal ruling derived from the words of the Exalted and Majestic. 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) 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) 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) 00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:33.059 This ruling would never have been clarified 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:36.059 had this incident not occurred; 00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:39.059 thus, whenever future incidents arise, 00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:43.220 we will know precisely how to address them. 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:44.220 Sixth: 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:48.220 establishing universal legal maxims for such cases, 00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:52.220 such as the principle that a Muslim is fundamentally presumed to be of upright character, 00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:54.220 and that a person is fundamentally presumed innocent 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:56.220 until the accusation is proven. 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:58.220 These overarching legal maxims 00:25:58.220 --> 00:26:00.220 we would not have known 00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:03.470 had this incident not taken place. 00:26:03.470 --> 00:26:04.470 Seventh: 00:26:04.470 --> 00:26:09.500 unmasking the hypocrites and exposing them before the believers. 00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.500 Eighth: 00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:14.500 the profound virtue of Safwan Ibn al-Mu'attal, may Allah be pleased with him, 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:17.500 and that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, defended him 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:21.789 just as He defended 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her. 00:26:21.789 --> 00:26:22.789 Ninth: 00:26:22.789 --> 00:26:24.789 clarifying the legal ruling regarding false accusation of unchastity (qadhf). 00:26:24.789 --> 00:26:29.819 Here, there are matters noted by Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, 00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:33.819 which represent exceedingly precious insights 00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:36.819 recorded in his work, *Zad al-Ma'ad*. 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. 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:42.880 First: 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:44.880 if it should be asked, 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:47.880 "Why did the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:49.880 hesitate regarding her affair, 00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:52.880 inquire about her, investigate, and consult others, 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:55.880 when he knew Allah and his own status with Him best, 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:57.880 as well as what was befitting of his household? 00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:58.880 Why did he not simply declare [what was fitting], 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) 00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:04.880 as the most virtuous among the Companions had declared?" 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:05.880 The answer is 00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:08.880 that this stemmed from the perfection of the profound wisdoms 00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:11.880 for which this incident was made the catalyst, 00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:16.880 serving as a trial and tribulation for the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:20.880 and for the entire Ummah until the Day of Resurrection, 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:24.880 so that through this incident He might elevate certain people and abase others, 00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:28.880 and increase those who are guided in guidance and faith. 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) 00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:34.880 The completeness of the trial and tribulation required 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:38.880 that revelation be withheld from the Messenger, peace be upon him, 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:40.880 for an entire month regarding her matter, 00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:43.880 without anything being revealed to him concerning it, 00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:47.880 so that His decreed and ordained wisdom might be accomplished 00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:49.880 and manifested in the most consummate manner; 00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:52.880 so that the sincere believers might increase 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:55.880 in faith and steadfast adherence to justice and truthfulness, 00:27:55.880 --> 00:27:58.880 harboring good thoughts of Allah, His Messenger, and his household, 00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:01.880 as well as the truthful and upright among His servants; 00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:04.880 and so that the hypocrites might increase in fabrication and hypocrisy, 00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:08.880 while their inward secrets were laid bare before His Messenger and the believers; 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:13.880 and so that the intended servitude of al-Siddiqah and her parents might be perfected, 00:28:13.880 --> 00:28:17.880 as demonstrated when she said, "I complain of my grief and sorrow only to Allah," 00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:21.880 embodying utter destitution and humble submission before Allah, 00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:24.880 having good expectations of Him and reposing all hope in Him, 00:28:24.880 --> 00:28:27.880 so that her hopes in created beings would be entirely severed, 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:30.880 and she would despair of receiving aid and relief 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:32.880 at the hands of any created being whatsoever. 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:35.880 For this reason, she fulfilled the requirements of this station completely 00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:39.880 when her parents said to her, "Stand up and go to him," 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:43.880 after Allah had revealed her innocence, and she responded: 00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:45.880 "By Allah, I will not go to him, 00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:47.880 and I will praise none but Allah; 00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:50.880 He is the One Who revealed my innocence." 00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:54.880 Furthermore, among the wisdoms behind withholding revelation for a month 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:57.880 was that the matter was thoroughly sifted and purified, 00:28:57.880 --> 00:29:00.880 and the hearts of the believers yearned with the utmost anticipation 00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:04.880 for what Allah would reveal to His Messenger regarding it, 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:08.880 longing for it to the very highest degree. 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, 00:29:13.880 --> 00:29:16.880 his household, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and his family, 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:19.880 his Companions, and the believers. 00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:22.880 The revelation came upon him like life-giving rain falling upon parched earth 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:25.880 in its hour of direst need; 00:29:25.880 --> 00:29:28.880 thus, it made the deepest and most tender impression upon them, 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:31.880 filling them with the most complete joy, 00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:34.880 and bringing them the utmost bliss through this revelation. 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:39.880 Had Allah informed His Messenger of the true reality from the very first moment 00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:42.880 and sent down the revelation immediately regarding it, 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:45.880 these profound wisdoms would have been missed many times over, 00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:47.880 indeed, manifold times over. 00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:50.099 Second: 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, 00:29:56.099 --> 00:29:58.099 and their precious standing before Him, 00:29:58.099 --> 00:30:01.099 and to remove His Messenger entirely from personal involvement in this dispute, 00:30:01.099 --> 00:30:06.099 taking it upon Himself, Exalted and Majestic is He, to undertake his defense, 00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:10.099 refuting his enemies, censuring them, and exposing their flaws, 00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:13.099 in a manner in which the Prophet had no personal hand. 00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:15.099 It was not the Messenger, peace be upon him, 00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:18.099 who was to defend his own wife; 00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:22.099 rather, Allah Himself was the One defending His Messenger and his household, 00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:26.099 such that the defense would not be attributed to the Messenger, peace be upon him; 00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:28.099 rather, He alone— 00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:31.099 that is, Allah, Majestic and Exalted—would assume responsibility for that, 00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:34.099 vindicating His Messenger and his household. 00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:36.390 Third: 00:30:36.390 --> 00:30:38.390 the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:30:38.390 --> 00:30:40.390 was the primary target of the harm, 00:30:40.390 --> 00:30:42.390 and the one accused was his own wife. 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— 00:30:46.390 --> 00:30:48.390 nor on his strong presumption that bordered on certainty regarding her innocence, 00:30:48.390 --> 00:30:52.390 as he never harbored any evil suspicion about her at all, 00:30:52.390 --> 00:30:55.390 far be it from him, and far be it from her. 00:30:55.390 --> 00:30:57.390 Far be it from him, and far be it from her! 00:30:57.390 --> 00:31:00.390 That is why, when he sought justification to act against the people of the slander, 00:31:00.390 --> 00:31:01.390 he declared: 00:31:01.390 --> 00:31:05.390 "Who will excuse me if I penalize a man whose slander has reached my family? 00:31:05.390 --> 00:31:09.390 By Allah, I know nothing of my family except good, 00:31:09.390 --> 00:31:13.390 and they have mentioned a man about whom I know nothing except good, 00:31:13.390 --> 00:31:17.390 and he never entered upon my family except in my presence." 00:31:17.390 --> 00:31:20.390 Thus, the Prophet, peace be upon him, possessed 00:31:20.390 --> 00:31:21.390 of contextual indicators 00:31:21.390 --> 00:31:24.390 attesting to the innocence of al-Siddiqah 00:31:24.390 --> 00:31:27.390 far more than what the believers possessed. 00:31:27.390 --> 00:31:31.390 Yet, out of the perfection of his patience, steadfastness, gentleness, 00:31:31.390 --> 00:31:34.390 good thoughts of his Lord, and trust in Him, 00:31:34.390 --> 00:31:36.390 he fulfilled the requirements of the station of patience and perseverance 00:31:36.390 --> 00:31:39.390 until the revelation arrived, 00:31:39.390 --> 00:31:43.390 bringing that which cooled his eyes, gladdened his heart, and magnified his stature, 00:31:43.390 --> 00:31:46.390 making manifest to his Ummah the immense honor his Lord bestowed upon him 00:31:46.390 --> 00:31:49.390 and His supreme care for his affair. 00:31:49.390 --> 00:31:50.390 Fourth: 00:31:50.390 --> 00:31:54.680 whoever reflects upon the words of al-Siddiqah when her parents told her, 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," 00:31:58.680 --> 00:31:59.680 and she replied: 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:03.680 "By Allah, I will not go to him, and I will praise none but Allah," 00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:07.680 whoever considers and ponders these words of hers 00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:10.680 will realize her profound spiritual insight, the strength of her faith, 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, 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:17.680 her uncompromising devotion to pure monotheism (Tawhid), 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:19.680 the steadfastness of her composure, 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:22.680 and the affectionate confidence borne of her verified innocence, 00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:25.680 knowing she had done nothing requiring her to stand before him 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:28.680 in the position of one seeking reconciliation or begging for favor. 00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:30.680 Confident in the love she bore him, 00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:34.680 and assured of the love of the Messenger of Allah for her, 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:36.680 she said what she said 00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:39.680 out of the intimate confidence of a beloved toward her beloved, 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:42.680 especially in such a momentous station, 00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:45.680 which represents the most sublime occasion for such intimate confidence; 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:47.680 thus, she placed it in its rightful place. 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:51.680 By Allah, she was never dearer to him than when she said: 00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:53.680 "I will praise none but Allah, 00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:56.680 for He is the One Who revealed my innocence." 00:32:57.680 --> 00:33:00.680 How wondrous was that steadfastness and emotional composure on her part! 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:03.680 For he was the dearest of all creation to her, 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:05.680 and she could not bear separation from him, 00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:08.680 yet when the heart of her beloved had seemed estranged from her for an entire month, 00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:11.680 and she subsequently witnessed his pleasure and warm approach, 00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:14.680 she did not hastily rush to stand before him 00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:17.680 in immediate delight over his pleasure and proximity, 00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:19.680 despite the intensity of her love for him. 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:22.680 This represents the very pinnacle of steadfastness and inner strength.