I said to Ibn ʿAbbas, "Nauf Al-Bikali claims that Moses, the companion of Al-Khadir was not the Moses of the children of Israel" Ibn ʿAbbas said, "The enemy of Allah (Nauf) told a lie." Narrated Ubai bin Kaʿb that he heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "Moses got up to deliver a speech before the children of Israel and he was asked, Who is the most learned person among the people?' Moses replied, 'I (am the most learned).' Allah admonished him for he did not ascribe knowledge to Allah alone. So Allah revealed to him: 'At the junction of the two seas there is a slave of Ours who is more learned than you.' Moses asked, 'O my Lord, how can I meet him?' Allah said, 'Take a fish and put it in a basket (and set out), and where you, will lose the fish, you will find him.' So Moses (took a fish and put it in a basket and) set out, along with his boy-servant Yushaʿ bin Noon, till they reached a rock (on which) they both lay their heads and slept. The fish moved vigorously in the basket and got out of it and fell into the sea and there it took its way through the sea (straight) as in a tunnel). (18.61) Allah stopped the current of water on both sides of the way created by the fish, and so that way was like a tunnel. When Moses got up, his companion forgot to tell him about the fish, and so they carried on their journey during the rest of the day and the whole night. The next morning Moses asked his boy-servant 'Bring us our early meal; no doubt, we have suffered much fatigue in this journey of ours.' (18.62) Moses did not get tired till he had passed the place which Allah had ordered him to seek after. His boy-servant then said to him,' 'Do you remember when we be-took ourselves to the rock I indeed forgot the fish, none but Satan made me forget to remember it. It took its course into the sea in a marvelous way.' (18.63) There was a tunnel for the fish and for Moses and his boy-servant there was astonishment. Moses said, 'That is what we have been seeking'. So they went back retracing their footsteps. (18.64) They both returned, retracing their steps till they reached the rock. Behold ! There they found a man covered with a garment. Moses greeted him. Al-Khadir said astonishingly. 'Is there such a greeting in your land?' Moses said, 'I am Moses.' He said, 'Are you the Moses of the children of Israel?' Moses said, 'I have come to you so that you may teach me of what you have been taught. Al-Khadir said, 'You will not be able to have patience with me. (18.66) O Moses! I have some of Allah's knowledge which He has bestowed upon me but you do not know it; and you too, have some of Allah's knowledge which He has bestowed upon you, but I do not know it." Moses said, "Allah willing, you will find me patient, and I will not disobey you in anything.' (18.6) Al-Khadir said to him. 'If you then follow me, do not ask me about anything until I myself speak to you concerning it.' (18.70), After that both of them proceeded along the sea coast, till a boat passed by and they requested the crew to let them go on board. The crew recognized Al-Khadir and allowed them to get on board free of charge. When they got on board suddenly Moses saw that Al-Khadir had pulled out one of the planks of the boat with an adze. Moses said to him.' These people gave us a free lift, yet you have scuttled their boat so as to drown its people! Truly, you have done a dreadful thing.' (18.71) Al-Khadir said, 'Didn't I say that you can have no patience with me ?' (18.72) Moses said, 'Call me not to account for what I forgot and be not hard upon me for my affair (with you.)" (18.73) Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The first excuse given by Moses, was that he had forgotten. Then a sparrow came and sat over the edge of the boat and dipped its beak once in the sea. Al-Khadir said to Moses, 'My knowledge and your knowledge, compared to Allah's knowledge is like what this sparrow has taken out of the sea.' Then they both got out of the boat, and while they were walking on the sea shore, Al-Khadir saw a boy playing with other boys. Al-Khadir got hold of the head of that boy and pulled it out with his hands and killed him. Moses said, 'Have you killed an innocent soul who has killed nobody! Truly, you have done an illegal thing.' (18.74) He said, "Didn't I tell you that you can have no patience with me?' (18.75) (The sub narrator said, the second blame was stronger than the first one.) Moses said, 'If I ask you about anything after this, keep me not in your company, you have received an excuse from me.' (18.76) Then they both proceeded until they came to the inhabitants of a town. They asked them food but they refused to entertain them. (In that town) they found there a wall on the point of falling down. (18.77) Al-Khadir set it up straight with his own hands. Moses said, 'These are people to whom we came, but they neither fed us nor received us as guests. If you had wished, you could surely have exacted some recompense for it. Al-Khadir said, 'This is the parting between me and you ..that is the interpretation of (those things) over which you were unable to hold patience.' (18.78-82) Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "We wished that Moses could have been more patient so that Allah might have described to us more about their story."

قُلْتُ لاِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ إِنَّ نَوْفًا الْبَكَالِيَّ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ مُوسَى صَاحِبَ الْخَضِرِ لَيْسَ هُوَ مُوسَى صَاحِبَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ كَذَبَ عَدُوُّ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنِي أُبَىُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ مُوسَى قَامَ خَطِيبًا فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فَسُئِلَ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَعْلَمُ فَقَالَ أَنَا فَعَتَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ إِذْ لَمْ يَرُدَّ الْعِلْمَ إِلَيْهِ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ إِنَّ لِي عَبْدًا بِمَجْمَعِ الْبَحْرَيْنِ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكَ قَالَ مُوسَى يَا رَبِّ فَكَيْفَ لِي بِهِ قَالَ تَأْخُذُ مَعَكَ حُوتًا فَتَجْعَلُهُ فِي مِكْتَلٍ فَحَيْثُمَا فَقَدْتَ الْحُوتَ فَهْوَ ثَمَّ فَأَخَذَ حُوتًا فَجَعَلَهُ فِي مِكْتَلٍ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ وَانْطَلَقَ مَعَهُ بِفَتَاهُ يُوشَعَ بْنِ نُونٍ حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَيَا الصَّخْرَةَ وَضَعَا رُءُوسَهُمَا فَنَامَا وَاضْطَرَبَ الْحُوتُ فِي الْمِكْتَلِ فَخَرَجَ مِنْهُ فَسَقَطَ فِي الْبَحْرِ فَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا وَأَمْسَكَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْحُوتِ جِرْيَةَ الْمَاءِ فَصَارَ عَلَيْهِ مِثْلَ الطَّاقِ فَلَمَّا اسْتَيْقَظَ نَسِيَ صَاحِبُهُ أَنْ يُخْبِرَهُ بِالْحُوتِ فَانْطَلَقَا بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِهِمَا وَلَيْلَتَهُمَا حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ مِنَ الْغَدِ قَالَ مُوسَى لِفَتَاهُ آتِنَا غَدَاءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِنْ سَفَرِنَا هَذَا نَصَبًا قَالَ وَلَمْ يَجِدْ مُوسَى النَّصَبَ حَتَّى جَاوَزَ الْمَكَانَ الَّذِي أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ فَتَاهُ أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَا أَنْسَانِيهِ إِلاَّ الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا قَالَ فَكَانَ لِلْحُوتِ سَرَبًا وَلِمُوسَى وَلِفَتَاهُ عَجَبًا فَقَالَ مُوسَى ذَلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِي فَارْتَدَّا عَلَى آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا قَالَ رَجَعَا يَقُصَّانِ آثَارَهُمَا حَتَّى انْتَهَيَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ مُسَجًّى ثَوْبًا فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ مُوسَى فَقَالَ الْخَضِرُ وَأَنَّى بِأَرْضِكَ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ أَنَا مُوسَى قَالَ مُوسَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ قَالَ نَعَمْ أَتَيْتُكَ لِتُعَلِّمَنِي مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رَشَدًا قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِي صَبْرًا يَا مُوسَى إِنِّي عَلَى عِلْمٍ مِنْ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ عَلَّمَنِيهِ لاَ تَعْلَمُهُ أَنْتَ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى عِلْمٍ مِنْ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ عَلَّمَكَ اللَّهُ لاَ أَعْلَمُهُ فَقَالَ مُوسَى سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ صَابِرًا وَلاَ أَعْصِي لَكَ أَمْرًا فَقَالَ لَهُ الْخَضِرُ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِي فَلاَ تَسْأَلْنِي عَنْ شَىْءٍ حَتَّى أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا فَانْطَلَقَا يَمْشِيَانِ عَلَى سَاحِلِ الْبَحْرِ فَمَرَّتْ سَفِينَةٌ فَكَلَّمُوهُمْ أَنْ يَحْمِلُوهُمْ فَعَرَفُوا الْخَضِرَ فَحَمَلُوهُ بِغَيْرِ نَوْلٍ فَلَمَّا رَكِبَا فِي السَّفِينَةِ لَمْ يَفْجَأْ إِلاَّ وَالْخَضِرُ قَدْ قَلَعَ لَوْحًا مِنْ أَلْوَاحِ السَّفِينَةِ بِالْقَدُومِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى قَوْمٌ حَمَلُونَا بِغَيْرِ نَوْلٍ عَمَدْتَ إِلَى سَفِينَتِهِمْ فَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا إِمْرًا قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِي صَبْرًا قَالَ لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا نَسِيتُ وَلاَ تُرْهِقْنِي مِنْ أَمْرِي عُسْرًا قَالَ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَكَانَتِ الأُولَى مِنْ مُوسَى نِسْيَانًا قَالَ وَجَاءَ عُصْفُورٌ فَوَقَعَ عَلَى حَرْفِ السَّفِينَةِ فَنَقَرَ فِي الْبَحْرِ نَقْرَةً فَقَالَ لَهُ الْخَضِرُ مَا عِلْمِي وَعِلْمُكَ مِنْ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ مِثْلُ مَا نَقَصَ هَذَا الْعُصْفُورُ مِنْ هَذَا الْبَحْرِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَا مِنَ السَّفِينَةِ فَبَيْنَا هُمَا يَمْشِيَانِ عَلَى السَّاحِلِ إِذْ أَبْصَرَ الْخَضِرُ غُلاَمًا يَلْعَبُ مَعَ الْغِلْمَانِ فَأَخَذَ الْخَضِرُ رَأْسَهُ بِيَدِهِ فَاقْتَلَعَهُ بِيَدِهِ فَقَتَلَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا زَاكِيَةً بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا نُكْرًا قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكَ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِي صَبْرًا قَالَ وَهَذَا أَشَدُّ مِنَ الأُولَى قَالَ إِنْ سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ شَىْءٍ بَعْدَهَا فَلاَ تُصَاحِبْنِي قَدْ بَلَغْتَ مِنْ لَدُنِّي عُذْرًا فَانْطَلَقَا حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَيَا أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ اسْتَطْعَمَا أَهْلَهَا فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَارًا يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَنْقَضَّ قَالَ مَائِلٌ فَقَامَ الْخَضِرُ فَأَقَامَهُ بِيَدِهِ فَقَالَ مُوسَى قَوْمٌ أَتَيْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ يُطْعِمُونَا وَلَمْ يُضَيِّفُونَا لَوْ شِئْتَ لاَتَّخَذْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا قَالَ {هَذَا فِرَاقُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنِكَ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {ذَلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِعْ عَلَيْهِ صَبْرًا} فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَدِدْنَا أَنَّ مُوسَى كَانَ صَبَرَ حَتَّى يَقُصَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ خَبَرِهِمَا قَالَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ فَكَانَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ يَقْرَأُ وَكَانَ أَمَامَهُمْ مَلِكٌ يَأْخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ صَالِحَةٍ غَصْبًا وَكَانَ يَقْرَأُ وَأَمَّا الْغُلاَمُ فَكَانَ كَافِرًا وَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ مُؤْمِنَيْنِ

(The wife of the Prophet) Whenever Messenger of Allah ﷺ intended to go on a journey, he used to draw lots among his wives and would take with him the one on whom the lot had fallen. Once he drew lots when he wanted to carry out a Ghazwa, and the lot came upon me. So I proceeded with Allah's Apostle after Allah's order of veiling (the women) had been revealed and thus I was carried in my howdah (on a camel) and dismounted while still in it. We carried on our journey, and when Allah's Apostle had finished his Ghazwa and returned and we approached Medina, Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered to proceed at night. When the army was ordered to resume the homeward journey, I got up and walked on till I left the army (camp) behind. When I had answered the call of nature, I went towards my howdah, but behold ! A necklace of mine made of Jaz Azfar (a kind of black bead) was broken and I looked for it and my search for it detained me. The group of people who used to carry me, came and carried my howdah on to the back of my camel on which I was riding, considering that I was therein. At that time women were light in weight and were not fleshy for they used to eat little (food), so those people did not feel the lightness of the howdah while raising it up, and I was still a young lady. They drove away the camel and proceeded. Then I found my necklace after the army had gone. I came to their camp but found nobody therein so I went to the place where I used to stay, thinking that they would miss me and come back in my search. While I was sitting at my place, I felt sleepy and slept. Safwan bin Al-Mu'attil As-Sulami Adh- Dhakw-ani was behind the army. He had started in the last part of the night and reached my stationing place in the morning and saw the figure of a sleeping person. He came to me and recognized me on seeing me for he used to see me before veiling. I got up because of his saying: "Inna Li l-lahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun," which he uttered on recognizing me. I covered my face with my garment, and by Allah, he did not say to me a single word except, "Inna Li l-lahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun," till he made his shecamel kneel down whereupon he trod on its forelegs and I mounted it. Then Safwan set out, leading the she-camel that was carrying me, till we met the army while they were resting during the hot midday. Then whoever was meant for destruction, fell in destruction, and the leader of the Ifk (forged statement) was ʿAbdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. After this we arrived at Medina and I became ill for one month while the people were spreading the forged statements of the people of the Ifk, and I was not aware of anything thereof. But what aroused my doubt while I was sick, was that I was no longer receiving from Messenger of Allah ﷺ the same kindness as I used to receive when I fell sick. Messenger of Allah ﷺ would enter upon me, say a greeting and add, "How is that (lady)?" and then depart. That aroused my suspicion but I was not aware of the propagated evil till I recovered from my ailment. I went out with Um Mistah to answer the call of nature towards Al-Manasi, the place where we used to relieve ourselves, and used not to go out for this purpose except from night to night, and that was before we had lavatories close to our houses. And this habit of ours was similar to the habit of the old 'Arabs (in the deserts or in the tents) concerning the evacuation of the bowels, for we considered it troublesome and harmful to take lavatories in the houses. So I went out with Um Mistah who was the daughter of Abi Ruhm bin ʿAbd Manaf, and her mother was daughter of Sakhr bin Amir who was the aunt of Abi Bakr As-Siddiq, and her son was Mistah bin Uthatha. When we had finished our affair, Um Mistah and I came back towards my house. Um Mistah stumbled over her robe whereupon she said, "Let Mistah be ruined ! " I said to her, "What a bad word you have said! Do you abuse a man who has taken part in the Battle of Badr?' She said, "O you there! Didn't you hear what he has said?" I said, "And what did he say?" She then told me the statement of the people of the Ifk (forged statement) which added to my ailment. When I returned home, Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to me, and after greeting, he said, "How is that (lady)?" I said, "Will you allow me to go to my parents?" At that time I intended to be sure of the news through them. Messenger of Allah ﷺ allowed me and I went to my parents and asked my mother, "O my mother! What are the people talking about?" My mother said, "O my daughter! Take it easy, for by Allah, there is no charming lady who is loved by her husband who has other wives as well, but that those wives would find fault with her." I said, "Subhan Allah! Did the people really talk about that?" That night I kept on weeping the whole night till the morning. My tears never stopped, nor did I sleep, and morning broke while I was still weeping, Messenger of Allah ﷺ called ʿAli bin Abi Talib and Usama bin Zaid when the Divine Inspiration delayed, in order to consult them as to the idea of divorcing his wife. Usama bin Zaid told Messenger of Allah ﷺ of what he knew about the innocence of his wife and of his affection he kept for her. He said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! She is your wife, and we do not know anything about her except good." But ʿAli bin Abi Talib said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Allah does not impose restrictions on you; and there are plenty of women other than her. If you however, ask (her) slave girl, she will tell you the truth." ʿAisha added: So Messenger of Allah ﷺ called for Barira and said, "O Barira! Did you ever see anything which might have aroused your suspicion? (as regards Aisha). Barira said, "By Allah Who has sent you with the truth, I have never seen anything regarding Aisha which I would blame her for except that she is a girl of immature age who sometimes sleeps and leaves the dough of her family unprotected so that the domestic goats come and eat it." So Messenger of Allah ﷺ got up (and addressed) the people an asked for somebody who would take revenge on ʿAbdullah bin Ubai bin Salul then. Messenger of Allah ﷺ, while on the pulpit, said, "O Muslims! Who will help me against a man who has hurt me by slandering my family? By Allah, I know nothing except good about my family, and people have blamed a man of whom I know nothing except good, and he never used to visit my family except with me," Saʿd bin Muʿadh Al-Ansari got up and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! By Allah, I will relieve you from him. If he be from the tribe of (Bani) Al-Aus, then I will chop his head off; and if he be from our brethren, the Khazraj, then you give us your order and we will obey it." On that, Saʿd bin 'Ubada got up, and he was the chief of the Khazraj, and before this incident he had been a pious man but he was incited by his zeal for his tribe. He said to Saʿd (bin Muʿadh), "By Allah the Eternal, you have told a lie! You shall not kill him and you will never be able to kill him!" On that, Usaid bin Hudair, the cousin of Saʿd (bin Muʿadh) got up and said to Saʿd bin 'Ubada, "You are a liar! By Allah the Eternal, we will surely kill him; and you are a hypocrite defending the hypocrites!" So the two tribes of Al-Aus and Al-Khazraj got excited till they were on the point of fighting with each other while Messenger of Allah ﷺ was standing on the pulpit. Messenger of Allah ﷺ continued quietening them till they became silent whereupon he became silent too. On that day I kept on weeping so much that neither did my tears stop, nor could I sleep. In the morning my parents were with me, and I had wept for two nights and a day without sleeping and with incessant tears till they thought that my liver would burst with weeping. While they were with me and I was weeping, an Ansari woman asked permission to see me. I admitted her and she sat and started weeping with me. While I was in that state, Allah's Apostle came to us, greeted, and sat down,. He had never sat with me since the day what was said, was said. He had stayed a month without receiving any Divine Inspiration concerning my case. Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited the Tashahhud after he had sat down, and then said, "Thereafter, O ʿAisha! I have been informed such and-such a thing about you; and if you are innocent, Allah will reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then ask for Allah's forgiveness and repent to Him, for when a slave confesses his sin and then repents to Allah, Allah accepts his repentance." When Allah's Apostle had finished his speech, my tears ceased completely so that I no longer felt even a drop thereof. Then I said to my father, "Reply to Messenger of Allah ﷺ on my behalf as to what he said." He said, "By Allah, I do not know what to say to Messenger of Allah ﷺ." Then I said to my mother, "Reply to Allah's Apostle." She said, "I do not know what to say to Messenger of Allah ﷺ." Still a young girl as I was and though I had little knowledge of Qur'an, I said, "By Allah, I know that you heard this story (of the Ifk) so much so that it has been planted in your minds and you have believed it. So now, if I tell you that I am innocent, and Allah knows that I am innocent, you will not believe me; and if I confess something, and Allah knows that I am innocent of it, you will believe me. By Allah, I cannot find of you an example except that of Joseph's father: "So (for me) patience is most fitting against that which you assert and it is Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought. Then I turned away and lay on my bed, and at that time I knew that I was innocent and that Allah would reveal my innocence. But by Allah, I never thought that Allah would sent down about my affair, Divine Inspiration that would be recited (forever), as I considered myself too unworthy to be talked of by Allah with something that was to be recited: but I hoped that Messenger of Allah ﷺ might have a vision in which Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah, Messenger of Allah ﷺ had not left his seat and nobody had left the house when the Divine Inspiration came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ . So there overtook him the same hard condition which used to overtake him (when he was Divinely Inspired) so that the drops of his sweat were running down, like pearls, though it was a (cold) winter day, and that was because of the heaviness of the Statement which was revealed to him. When that state of Messenger of Allah ﷺ was over, and he was smiling when he was relieved, the first word he said was, "Aisha, Allah has declared your innocence." My mother said to me, "Get up and go to him." I said, "By Allah, I will not go to him and I will not thank anybody but Allah." So Allah revealed: "Verily! They who spread the Slander are a gang among you. Think it not...." (24.11-20). When Allah revealed this to confirm my innocence, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq who used to provide for Mistah bin Uthatha because of the latter's kinship to him and his poverty, said, "By Allah, I will never provide for Mistah anything after what he has said about Aisha". So Allah revealed: (continued...) (continuing... 1): -6.274:... ... "Let not those among you who are good and are wealthy swear not to give (help) to their kinsmen, those in need, and those who have left their homes for Allah's Cause. Let them Pardon and forgive (i.e. do not punish them). Do you not love that should forgive you? Verily Allah is Oft-forgiving. Most Merciful." (24.22) Abu Bakr said, "Yes, by Allah, I wish that Allah should forgive me." So he resumed giving Mistah the aid he used to give him before and said, "By Allah, I will never withold it from him at all." Aisha further said: Messenger of Allah ﷺ also asked Zainab bint Jahsh about my case. He said, "O Zainab! What have you seen?" She replied, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I protect my hearing and my sight (by refraining from telling lies). I know nothing but good (about Aisha)." Of all the wives of Messenger of Allah ﷺ, it was Zainab who aspired to receive from him the same favor as I used to receive, yet, Allah saved her (from telling lies) because of her piety. But her sister, Hamna, kept on fighting on her behalf so she was destroyed as were those who invented and spread the slander.

حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الإِفْكِ مَا قَالُوا فَبَرَّأَهَا اللَّهُ مِمَّا قَالُوا وَكُلٌّ حَدَّثَنِي طَائِفَةً مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ وَبَعْضُ حَدِيثِهِمْ يُصَدِّقُ بَعْضًا وَإِنْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْعَى لَهُ مِنْ بَعْضٍ الَّذِي حَدَّثَنِي عُرْوَةُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ؓ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ ؓ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ أَقْرَعَ بَيْنَ أَزْوَاجِهِ فَأَيَّتُهُنَّ خَرَجَ سَهْمُهَا خَرَجَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَعَهُ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَأَقْرَعَ بَيْنَنَا فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا فَخَرَجَ سَهْمِي فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعْدَ مَا نَزَلَ الْحِجَابُ فَأَنَا أُحْمَلُ فِي هَوْدَجِي وَأُنْزَلُ فِيهِ فَسِرْنَا حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ غَزْوَتِهِ تِلْكَ وَقَفَلَ وَدَنَوْنَا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ قَافِلِينَ آذَنَ لَيْلَةً بِالرَّحِيلِ فَقُمْتُ حِينَ آذَنُوا بِالرَّحِيلِ فَمَشَيْتُ حَتَّى جَاوَزْتُ الْجَيْشَ فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ شَأْنِي أَقْبَلْتُ إِلَى رَحْلِي فَإِذَا عِقْدٌ لِي مِنْ جَزْعِ ظَفَارِ قَدِ انْقَطَعَ فَالْتَمَسْتُ عِقْدِي وَحَبَسَنِي ابْتِغَاؤُهُ وَأَقْبَلَ الرَّهْطُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يَرْحَلُونَ لِي فَاحْتَمَلُوا هَوْدَجِي فَرَحَلُوهُ عَلَى بَعِيرِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ رَكِبْتُ وَهُمْ يَحْسِبُونَ أَنِّي فِيهِ وَكَانَ النِّسَاءُ إِذْ ذَاكَ خِفَافًا لَمْ يُثْقِلْهُنَّ اللَّحْمُ إِنَّمَا تَأْكُلُ الْعُلْقَةَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَلَمْ يَسْتَنْكِرِ الْقَوْمُ خِفَّةَ الْهَوْدَجِ حِينَ رَفَعُوهُ وَكُنْتُ جَارِيَةً حَدِيثَةَ السِّنِّ فَبَعَثُوا الْجَمَلَ وَسَارُوا فَوَجَدْتُ عِقْدِي بَعْدَ مَا اسْتَمَرَّ الْجَيْشُ فَجِئْتُ مَنَازِلَهُمْ وَلَيْسَ بِهَا دَاعٍ وَلاَ مُجِيبٌ فَأَمَمْتُ مَنْزِلِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ بِهِ وَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُمْ سَيَفْقِدُونِي فَيَرْجِعُونَ إِلَىَّ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسَةٌ فِي مَنْزِلِي غَلَبَتْنِي عَيْنِي فَنِمْتُ وَكَانَ صَفْوَانُ بْنُ الْمُعَطَّلِ السُّلَمِيُّ ثُمَّ الذَّكْوَانِيُّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْجَيْشِ فَأَدْلَجَ فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدَ مَنْزِلِي فَرَأَى سَوَادَ إِنْسَانٍ نَائِمٍ فَأَتَانِي فَعَرَفَنِي حِينَ رَآنِي وَكَانَ يَرَانِي قَبْلَ الْحِجَابِ فَاسْتَيْقَظْتُ بِاسْتِرْجَاعِهِ حِينَ عَرَفَنِي فَخَمَّرْتُ وَجْهِي بِجِلْبَابِي وَاللَّهِ مَا كَلَّمَنِي كَلِمَةً وَلاَ سَمِعْتُ مِنْهُ كَلِمَةً غَيْرَ اسْتِرْجَاعِهِ حَتَّى أَنَاخَ رَاحِلَتَهُ فَوَطِئَ عَلَى يَدَيْهَا فَرَكِبْتُهَا فَانْطَلَقَ يَقُودُ بِي الرَّاحِلَةَ حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الْجَيْشَ بَعْدَ مَا نَزَلُوا مُوغِرِينَ فِي نَحْرِ الظَّهِيرَةِ فَهَلَكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ وَكَانَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّى الإِفْكَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أُبَىٍّ ابْنَ سَلُولَ فَقَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ فَاشْتَكَيْتُ حِينَ قَدِمْتُ شَهْرًا وَالنَّاسُ يُفِيضُونَ فِي قَوْلِ أَصْحَابِ الإِفْكِ لاَ أَشْعُرُ بِشَىْءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَهْوَ يَرِيبُنِي فِي وَجَعِي أَنِّي لاَ أَعْرِفُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ اللَّطَفَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرَى مِنْهُ حِينَ أَشْتَكِي إِنَّمَا يَدْخُلُ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَيُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ ثُمَّ يَنْصَرِفُ فَذَاكَ الَّذِي يَرِيبُنِي وَلاَ أَشْعُرُ حَتَّى خَرَجْتُ بَعْدَ مَا نَقَهْتُ فَخَرَجَتْ مَعِي أُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ قِبَلَ الْمَنَاصِعِ وَهْوَ مُتَبَرَّزُنَا وَكُنَّا لاَ نَخْرُجُ إِلاَّ لَيْلاً إِلَى لَيْلٍ وَذَلِكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ نَتَّخِذَ الْكُنُفَ قَرِيبًا مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا وَأَمْرُنَا أَمْرُ الْعَرَبِ الأُوَلِ فِي التَّبَرُّزِ قِبَلَ الْغَائِطِ فَكُنَّا نَتَأَذَّى بِالْكُنُفِ أَنْ نَتَّخِذَهَا عِنْدَ بُيُوتِنَا فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ وَهْىَ ابْنَةُ أَبِي رُهْمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ وَأُمُّهَا بِنْتُ صَخْرِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ خَالَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ وَابْنُهَا مِسْطَحُ بْنُ أُثَاثَةَ فَأَقْبَلْتُ أَنَا وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ قِبَلَ بَيْتِي قَدْ فَرَغْنَا مِنْ شَأْنِنَا فَعَثَرَتْ أُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ فِي مِرْطِهَا فَقَالَتْ تَعِسَ مِسْطَحٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتِ أَتَسُبِّينَ رَجُلاً شَهِدَ بَدْرًا قَالَتْ أَىْ هَنْتَاهُ أَوَلَمْ تَسْمَعِي مَا قَالَ قَالَتْ قُلْتُ وَمَا قَالَ فَأَخْبَرَتْنِي بِقَوْلِ أَهْلِ الإِفْكِ فَازْدَدْتُ مَرَضًا عَلَى مَرَضِي فَلَمَّا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى بَيْتِي وَدَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَعْنِي سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَالَ كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ فَقُلْتُ أَتَأْذَنُ لِي أَنْ آتِيَ أَبَوَىَّ قَالَتْ وَأَنَا حِينَئِذٍ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْتَيْقِنَ الْخَبَرَ مِنْ قِبَلِهِمَا قَالَتْ فَأَذِنَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجِئْتُ أَبَوَىَّ فَقُلْتُ لأُمِّي يَا أُمَّتَاهْ مَا يَتَحَدَّثُ النَّاسُ قَالَتْ يَا بُنَيَّةُ هَوِّنِي عَلَيْكَ فَوَاللَّهِ لَقَلَّمَا كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ قَطُّ وَضِيئَةً عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّهَا وَلَهَا ضَرَائِرُ إِلاَّ كَثَّرْنَ عَلَيْهَا قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَلَقَدْ تَحَدَّثَ النَّاسُ بِهَذَا قَالَتْ فَبَكَيْتُ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ لاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ أَبْكِي فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَأُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ ؓ حِينَ اسْتَلْبَثَ الْوَحْىُ يَسْتَأْمِرُهُمَا فِي فِرَاقِ أَهْلِهِ قَالَتْ فَأَمَّا أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ فَأَشَارَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ مِنْ بَرَاءَةِ أَهْلِهِ وَبِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ لَهُمْ فِي نَفْسِهِ مِنَ الْوُدِّ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَهْلَكَ وَمَا نَعْلَمُ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا وَأَمَّا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَمْ يُضَيِّقِ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَالنِّسَاءُ سِوَاهَا كَثِيرٌ وَإِنْ تَسْأَلِ الْجَارِيَةَ تَصْدُقْكَ قَالَتْ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَرِيرَةَ فَقَالَ أَىْ بَرِيرَةُ هَلْ رَأَيْتِ عَلَيْهَا مِنْ شَىْءٍ يَرِيبُكِ قَالَتْ بَرِيرَةُ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنْ رَأَيْتُ عَلَيْهَا أَمْرًا أَغْمِصُهُ عَلَيْهَا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنَّهَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ تَنَامُ عَنْ عَجِينِ أَهْلِهَا فَتَأْتِي الدَّاجِنُ فَتَأْكُلُهُ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَاسْتَعْذَرَ يَوْمَئِذٍ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُبَىٍّ ابْنِ سَلُولَ قَالَتْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهْوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَنْ يَعْذِرُنِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَذَاهُ فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِي فَوَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلاَّ خَيْرًا وَلَقَدْ ذَكَرُوا رَجُلاً مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا وَمَا كَانَ يَدْخُلُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلاَّ مَعِي فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَا أَعْذِرُكَ مِنْهُ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الأَوْسِ ضَرَبْتُ عُنُقَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِنَا مِنَ الْخَزْرَجِ أَمَرْتَنَا فَفَعَلْنَا أَمْرَكَ قَالَتْ فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ وَهْوَ سَيِّدُ الْخَزْرَجِ وَكَانَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ رَجُلاً صَالِحًا وَلَكِنِ احْتَمَلَتْهُ الْحَمِيَّةُ فَقَالَ لِسَعْدٍ كَذَبْتَ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ لاَ تَقْتُلُهُ وَلاَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى قَتْلِهِ فَقَامَ أُسَيْدُ بْنُ حُضَيْرٍ وَهْوَ ابْنُ عَمِّ سَعْدٍ فَقَالَ لِسَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ كَذَبْتَ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ لَنَقْتُلَنَّهُ فَإِنَّكَ مُنَافِقٌ تُجَادِلُ عَنِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فَتَثَاوَرَ الْحَيَّانِ الأَوْسُ وَالْخَزْرَجُ حَتَّى هَمُّوا أَنْ يَقْتَتِلُوا وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَائِمٌ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُخَفِّضُهُمْ حَتَّى سَكَتُوا وَسَكَتَ قَالَتْ فَمَكُثْتُ يَوْمِي ذَلِكَ لاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ قَالَتْ فَأَصْبَحَ أَبَوَاىَ عِنْدِي وَقَدْ بَكَيْتُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ وَيَوْمًا لاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ وَلاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ يَظُنَّانِ أَنَّ الْبُكَاءَ فَالِقٌ كَبِدِي قَالَتْ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمَا جَالِسَانِ عِنْدِي وَأَنَا أَبْكِي فَاسْتَأْذَنَتْ عَلَىَّ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَأَذِنْتُ لَهَا فَجَلَسَتْ تَبْكِي مَعِي قَالَتْ فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ قَالَتْ وَلَمْ يَجْلِسْ عِنْدِي مُنْذُ قِيلَ مَا قِيلَ قَبْلَهَا وَقَدْ لَبِثَ شَهْرًا لاَ يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ فِي شَأْنِي قَالَتْ فَتَشَهَّدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِينَ جَلَسَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ يَا عَائِشَةُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَإِنْ كُنْتِ بَرِيئَةً فَسَيُبَرِّئُكِ اللَّهُ وَإِنْ كُنْتِ أَلْمَمْتِ بِذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرِي اللَّهَ وَتُوبِي إِلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا اعْتَرَفَ بِذَنْبِهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَقَالَتَهُ قَلَصَ دَمْعِي حَتَّى مَا أُحِسُّ مِنْهُ قَطْرَةً فَقُلْتُ لأَبِي أَجِبْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِيمَا قَالَ قَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ لأُمِّي أَجِيبِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ وَأَنَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ لاَ أَقْرَأُ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُمْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ حَتَّى اسْتَقَرَّ فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَصَدَّقْتُمْ بِهِ فَلَئِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ لاَ تُصَدِّقُونِي بِذَلِكَ وَلَئِنِ اعْتَرَفْتُ لَكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي مِنْهُ بَرِيئَةٌ لَتُصَدِّقُنِّي وَاللَّهِ مَا أَجِدُ لَكُمْ مَثَلاً إِلاَّ قَوْلَ أَبِي يُوسُفَ قَالَ {فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ} قَالَتْ ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلْتُ فَاضْطَجَعْتُ عَلَى فِرَاشِي قَالَتْ وَأَنَا حِينَئِذٍ أَعْلَمُ أَنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مُبَرِّئِي بِبَرَاءَتِي وَلَكِنْ وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ أَنَّ اللَّهَ مُنْزِلٌ فِي شَأْنِي وَحْيًا يُتْلَى وَلَشَأْنِي فِي نَفْسِي كَانَ أَحْقَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ فِيَّ بِأَمْرٍ يُتْلَى وَلَكِنْ كُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ يَرَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي النَّوْمِ رُؤْيَا يُبَرِّئُنِي اللَّهُ بِهَا قَالَتْ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلاَ خَرَجَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ حَتَّى أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَخَذَهُ مَا كَانَ يَأْخُذُهُ مِنَ الْبُرَحَاءِ حَتَّى إِنَّهُ لَيَتَحَدَّرُ مِنْهُ مِثْلُ الْجُمَانِ مِنَ الْعَرَقِ وَهْوَ فِي يَوْمٍ شَاتٍ مِنْ ثِقَلِ الْقَوْلِ الَّذِي يُنْزَلُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا سُرِّيَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ سُرِّيَ عَنْهُ وَهْوَ يَضْحَكُ فَكَانَتْ أَوَّلُ كَلِمَةٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهَا يَا عَائِشَةُ أَمَّا اللَّهُ ﷻ فَقَدْ بَرَّأَكِ فَقَالَتْ أُمِّي قُومِي إِلَيْهِ قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَقُومُ إِلَيْهِ وَلاَ أَحْمَدُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِنْكُمْ لاَ تَحْسِبُوهُ} الْعَشْرَ الآيَاتِ كُلَّهَا فَلَمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ هَذَا فِي بَرَاءَتِي قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ ؓ وَكَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحِ بْنِ أُثَاثَةَ لِقَرَابَتِهِ مِنْهُ وَفَقْرِهِ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحٍ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا بَعْدَ الَّذِي قَالَ لِعَائِشَةَ مَا قَالَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {وَلاَ يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ أَنْ يُؤْتُوا أُولِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا أَلاَ تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ} قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بَلَى وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لِي فَرَجَعَ إِلَى مِسْطَحٍ النَّفَقَةَ الَّتِي كَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَنْزِعُهَا مِنْهُ أَبَدًا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَسْأَلُ زَيْنَبَ ابْنَةَ جَحْشٍ عَنْ أَمْرِي فَقَالَ يَا زَيْنَبُ مَاذَا عَلِمْتِ أَوْ رَأَيْتِ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَحْمِي سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي مَا عَلِمْتُ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا قَالَتْ وَهْىَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تُسَامِينِي مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَعَصَمَهَا اللَّهُ بِالْوَرَعِ وَطَفِقَتْ أُخْتُهَا حَمْنَةُ تُحَارِبُ لَهَا فَهَلَكَتْ فِيمَنْ هَلَكَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الإِفْكِ

Abu Sufyan narrated to me personally, saying, "I set out during the Truce that had been concluded between me and Messenger of Allah ﷺ. While I was in Sham, a letter sent by the Prophet ﷺ was brought to Heraclius. Dihya Al-Kalbi had brought and given it to the governor of Busra, and the latter forwarded it to Heraclius. Heraclius said, 'Is there anyone from the people of this man who claims to be a prophet?' The people replied, 'Yes.' So I along with some of Quraishi men were called and we entered upon Heraclius, and we were seated in front of him. Then he said, 'Who amongst you is the nearest relative to the man who claims to be a prophet?' So they made me sit in front of him and made my companions sit behind me. Then he called upon his translator and said (to him). 'Tell them ( i.e. Abu Sufyan's companions) that I am going to ask him (i.e. Abu Sufyan) regarding that man who claims to be a prophet. So, if he tell me a lie, they should contradict him (instantly).' By Allah, had I not been afraid that my companions would consider me a liar, I would have told lies. Heraclius then said to his translator, 'Ask him: What is his (i.e. the Prophet's) family status amongst you? I said, 'He belongs to a noble family amongst us." Heraclius said, 'Was any of his ancestors a king?' I said, 'No.' He said, 'Did you ever accuse him of telling lies before his saying what he has said?' I said, 'No.' He said, 'Do the nobles follow him or the poor people?' I said, 'It is the poor who followed him.' He said, 'Is the number of his follower increasing or decreasing?' I said, 'The are increasing.' He said, 'Does anyone renounce his religion (i.e. Islam) after embracing it, being displeased with it?' I said, 'No.' He said, 'Did you fight with him?' I replied, 'Yes.' He said, 'How was your fighting with him?' I said, 'The fighting between us was undecided and victory was shared by him and us by turns. He inflicts casualties upon us and we inflict casualties upon him.' He said, 'Did he ever betray?' I said, 'No, but now we are away from him in this truce and we do not know what he will do in it" Abu Sufyan added, "By Allah, I was not able to insert in my speech a word (against him) except that. Heraclius said, 'Did anybody else (amongst you) ever claimed the same (i.e. Islam) before him? I said, 'No.' Then Heraclius told his translator to tell me (i.e. Abu Sufyan), 'I asked you about his family status amongst you, and you told me that he comes from a noble family amongst you Verily, all Apostles come from the noblest family among their people. Then I asked you whether any of his ancestors was a king, and you denied that. Thereupon I thought that had one of his fore-fathers been a king, I would have said that he (i.e. Muhammad) was seeking to rule the kingdom of his fore-fathers. Then I asked you regarding his followers, whether they were the noble or the poor among the people, and you said that they were only the poor (who follow him). In fact, such are the followers of the Apostles. Then I asked you whether you have ever accused him of telling lies before saying what he said, and your reply was in the negative. Therefore, I took for granted that a man who did not tell a lie about others, could ever tell a lie about Allah. Then I asked you whether anyone of his followers had renounced his religion (i.e. Islam) after embracing it, being displeased with it, and you denied that. And such is Faith when it mixes with the cheerfulness of the hearts. Then I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You claimed that they were increasing. That is the way of true faith till it is complete. Then I asked you whether you had ever fought with him, and you claimed that you had fought with him and the battle between you and him was undecided and the victory was shared by you and him in turns; he inflicted casual ties upon you and you inflicted casualties upon them. Such is the case with the Apostles; they are out to test and the final victory is for them. Then I asked you whether he had ever betrayed; you claimed that he had never betrayed. I need, Apostles never betray. Then I asked you whether anyone had said this statement before him; and you denied that. Thereupon I thought if somebody had said that statement before him, then I would have said that he was but a man copying some sayings said before him." Abu Safyan said, "Heraclius then asked me, 'What does he order you to do?' I said, 'He orders us (to offer) prayers and (to pay) Zakat and to keep good relationship with the Kith and kin and to be chaste.' Then Heraclius said, 'If whatever you have said, is true, he is really a prophet, and I knew that he ( i.e. the Prophet ﷺ ) was going to appear, but I never thought that he would be from amongst you. If I were certain that I can reach him, I would like to meet him and if I were with him, I would wash his feet; and his kingdom will expand (surely to what is under my feet.' Then Heraclius asked for the letter of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and read it wherein was written: "In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. This letter is) from Muhammad, Apostle of Allah, to Heraclius, the sovereign of Byzantine........ Peace be upon him who follows the Right Path. Now then, I call you to embrace Islam. Embrace Islam and you will be saved (from Allah's Punishment); embrace Islam, and Allah will give you a double reward, but if you reject this, you will be responsible for the sins of the tillers (i.e. the people of your kingdom) and (Allah's Statement):--"O the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Come to a word common to you and us that we worship None but Allah....bear witness that we are Muslims.' (3.64) When he finished reading the letter, voices grew louder near him and there was a great hue and cry, and we were ordered to go out." Abu Sufyan added, "While coming out, I said to my companions, 'The situation of Ibn Abu Kabsha (i.e. Muhammad) has become strong; even the king of Banu Al14 Asfar is afraid of him.' So I continued to believe that Messenger of Allah ﷺ would be victorious, till Allah made me embrace Islam." Az-Zuhri said, "Heraclius then invited all the chiefs of the Byzantines and had them assembled in his house and said, 'O group of Byzantines! Do you wish to have a permanent success and guidance and that your kingdom should remain with you?' (Immediately after hearing that), they rushed towards the gate like onagers, but they found them closed. Heraclius then said, 'Bring them back to me.' So he called them and said, 'I just wanted to test the strength of your adherence to your religion. Now I have observed of you that which I like.' Then the people fell in prostration before him and became pleased with him." (See Hadith No. 6,Vol 1)

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سُفْيَانَ مِنْ فِيهِ إِلَى فِيَّ قَالَ انْطَلَقْتُ فِي الْمُدَّةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا بِالشَّأْمِ إِذْ جِيءَ بِكِتَابٍ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ قَالَ وَكَانَ دِحْيَةُ الْكَلْبِيُّ جَاءَ بِهِ فَدَفَعَهُ إِلَى عَظِيمِ بُصْرَى فَدَفَعَهُ عَظِيمُ بُصْرَى إِلَى هِرَقْلَ قَالَ فَقَالَ هِرَقْلُ هَلْ هَا هُنَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ قَوْمِ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ فَقَالُوا نَعَمْ قَالَ فَدُعِيتُ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَى هِرَقْلَ فَأُجْلِسْنَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمْ أَقْرَبُ نَسَبًا مِنْ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ فَقَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ فَقُلْتُ أَنَا فَأَجْلَسُونِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَجْلَسُوا أَصْحَابِي خَلْفِي ثُمَّ دَعَا بِتُرْجُمَانِهِ فَقَالَ قُلْ لَهُمْ إِنِّي سَائِلٌ هَذَا عَنْ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ فَإِنْ كَذَبَنِي فَكَذِّبُوهُ قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ وَايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْلاَ أَنْ يُؤْثِرُوا عَلَىَّ الْكَذِبَ لَكَذَبْتُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِتُرْجُمَانِهِ سَلْهُ كَيْفَ حَسَبُهُ فِيكُمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ هُوَ فِينَا ذُو حَسَبٍ قَالَ فَهَلْ كَانَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ مَلِكٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ فَهَلْ كُنْتُمْ تَتَّهِمُونَهُ بِالْكَذِبِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا قَالَ قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ أَيَتَّبِعُهُ أَشْرَافُ النَّاسِ أَمْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ بَلْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ قَالَ يَزِيدُونَ أَوْ يَنْقُصُونَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لاَ بَلْ يَزِيدُونَ قَالَ هَلْ يَرْتَدُّ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ فِيهِ سَخْطَةً لَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ فَهَلْ قَاتَلْتُمُوهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ قِتَالُكُمْ إِيَّاهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ تَكُونُ الْحَرْبُ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُ سِجَالاً يُصِيبُ مِنَّا وَنُصِيبُ مِنْهُ قَالَ فَهَلْ يَغْدِرُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لاَ وَنَحْنُ مِنْهُ فِي هَذِهِ الْمُدَّةِ لاَ نَدْرِي مَا هُوَ صَانِعٌ فِيهَا قَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَمْكَنَنِي مِنْ كَلِمَةٍ أُدْخِلُ فِيهَا شَيْئًا غَيْرَ هَذِهِ قَالَ فَهَلْ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ أَحَدٌ قَبْلَهُ قُلْتُ لاَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِتُرْجُمَانِهِ قُلْ لَهُ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ حَسَبِهِ فِيكُمْ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُ فِيكُمْ ذُو حَسَبٍ وَكَذَلِكَ الرُّسُلُ تُبْعَثُ فِي أَحْسَابِ قَوْمِهَا وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ كَانَ فِي آبَائِهِ مَلِكٌ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ فَقُلْتُ لَوْ كَانَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ مَلِكٌ قُلْتُ رَجُلٌ يَطْلُبُ مُلْكَ آبَائِهِ وَسَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ أَتْبَاعِهِ أَضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ أَمْ أَشْرَافُهُمْ فَقُلْتَ بَلْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ وَهُمْ أَتْبَاعُ الرُّسُلِ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ كُنْتُمْ تَتَّهِمُونَهُ بِالْكَذِبِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا قَالَ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ فَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيَدَعَ الْكَذِبَ عَلَى النَّاسِ ثُمَّ يَذْهَبَ فَيَكْذِبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ يَرْتَدُّ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ فِيهِ سَخْطَةً لَهُ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ وَكَذَلِكَ الإِيمَانُ إِذَا خَالَطَ بَشَاشَةَ الْقُلُوبِ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ يَزِيدُونَ أَمْ يَنْقُصُونَ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُمْ يَزِيدُونَ وَكَذَلِكَ الإِيمَانُ حَتَّى يَتِمَّ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ قَاتَلْتُمُوهُ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّكُمْ قَاتَلْتُمُوهُ فَتَكُونُ الْحَرْبُ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُ سِجَالاً يَنَالُ مِنْكُمْ وَتَنَالُونَ مِنْهُ وَكَذَلِكَ الرُّسُلُ تُبْتَلَى ثُمَّ تَكُونُ لَهُمُ الْعَاقِبَةُ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ يَغْدِرُ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُ لاَ يَغْدِرُ وَكَذَلِكَ الرُّسُلُ لاَ تَغْدِرُ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ قَالَ أَحَدٌ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ قَبْلَهُ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ فَقُلْتُ لَوْ كَانَ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ أَحَدٌ قَبْلَهُ قُلْتُ رَجُلٌ ائْتَمَّ بِقَوْلٍ قِيلَ قَبْلَهُ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ بِمَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَأْمُرُنَا بِالصَّلاَةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ وَالصِّلَةِ وَالْعَفَافِ قَالَ إِنْ يَكُ مَا تَقُولُ فِيهِ حَقًّا فَإِنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ وَقَدْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ خَارِجٌ وَلَمْ أَكُ أَظُنُّهُ مِنْكُمْ وَلَوْ أَنِّي أَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أَخْلُصُ إِلَيْهِ لأَحْبَبْتُ لِقَاءَهُ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ عِنْدَهُ لَغَسَلْتُ عَنْ قَدَمَيْهِ وَلَيَبْلُغَنَّ مُلْكُهُ مَا تَحْتَ قَدَمَىَّ قَالَ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِكِتَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَرَأَهُ فَإِذَا فِيهِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ عَظِيمِ الرُّومِ سَلاَمٌ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي أَدْعُوكَ بِدِعَايَةِ الإِسْلاَمِ أَسْلِمْ تَسْلَمْ وَأَسْلِمْ يُؤْتِكَ اللَّهُ أَجْرَكَ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ إِثْمَ الأَرِيسِيِّينَ وَ{يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَنْ لاَ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ} فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ قِرَاءَةِ الْكِتَابِ ارْتَفَعَتِ الأَصْوَاتُ عِنْدَهُ وَكَثُرَ اللَّغَطُ وَأُمِرَ بِنَا فَأُخْرِجْنَا قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لأَصْحَابِي حِينَ خَرَجْنَا لَقَدْ أَمِرَ أَمْرُ ابْنِ أَبِي كَبْشَةَ أَنَّهُ لَيَخَافُهُ مَلِكُ بَنِي الأَصْفَرِ فَمَا زِلْتُ مُوقِنًا بِأَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ سَيَظْهَرُ حَتَّى أَدْخَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَىَّ الإِسْلاَمَ قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ فَدَعَا هِرَقْلُ عُظَمَاءَ الرُّومِ فَجَمَعَهُمْ فِي دَارٍ لَهُ فَقَالَ يَا مَعْشَرَ الرُّومِ هَلْ لَكُمْ فِي الْفَلاَحِ وَالرَّشَدِ آخِرَ الأَبَدِ وَأَنْ يَثْبُتَ لَكُمْ مُلْكُكُمْ قَالَ فَحَاصُوا حَيْصَةَ حُمُرِ الْوَحْشِ إِلَى الأَبْوَابِ فَوَجَدُوهَا قَدْ غُلِقَتْ فَقَالَ عَلَىَّ بِهِمْ فَدَعَا بِهِمْ فَقَالَ إِنِّي إِنَّمَا اخْتَبَرْتُ شِدَّتَكُمْ عَلَى دِينِكُمْ فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ مِنْكُمُ الَّذِي أَحْبَبْتُ فَسَجَدُوا لَهُ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ

(the wife of the Prophet) I never remembered my parents believing in any religion other than the true religion (i.e. Islam), and (I don't remember) a single day passing without our being visited by Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the morning and in the evening. When the Muslims were put to test (i.e. troubled by the pagans), Abu Bakr set out migrating to the land of Ethiopia, and when he reached Bark-al-Ghimad, Ibn Ad-Daghina, the chief of the tribe of Qara, met him and said, "O Abu Bakr! Where are you going?" Abu Bakr replied, "My people have turned me out (of my country), so I want to wander on the earth and worship my Lord." Ibn Ad-Daghina said, "O Abu Bakr! A man like you should not leave his home-land, nor should he be driven out, because you help the destitute, earn their livings, and you keep good relations with your Kith and kin, help the weak and poor, entertain guests generously, and help the calamity-stricken persons. Therefore I am your protector. Go back and worship your Lord in your town." So Abu Bakr returned and Ibn Ad-Daghina accompanied him. In the evening Ibn Ad-Daghina visited the nobles of Quraish and said to them. "A man like Abu Bakr should not leave his homeland, nor should he be driven out. Do you (i.e. Quraish) drive out a man who helps the destitute, earns their living, keeps good relations with his Kith and kin, helps the weak and poor, entertains guests generously and helps the calamity-stricken persons?" So the people of Quraish could not refuse Ibn Ad-Daghina's protection, and they said to Ibn Ad-Daghina, "Let Abu Bakr worship his Lord in his house. He can pray and recite there whatever he likes, but he should not hurt us with it, and should not do it publicly, because we are afraid that he may affect our women and children." Ibn Ad-Daghina told Abu Bakr of all that. Abu Bakr stayed in that state, worshipping his Lord in his house. He did not pray publicly, nor did he recite Quran outside his house. Then a thought occurred to Abu Bakr to build a mosque in front of his house, and there he used to pray and recite the Quran. The women and children of the pagans began to gather around him in great number. They used to wonder at him and look at him. Abu Bakr was a man who used to weep too much, and he could not help weeping on reciting the Quran. That situation scared the nobles of the pagans of Quraish, so they sent for Ibn Ad-Daghina. When he came to them, they said, "We accepted your protection of Abu Bakr on condition that he should worship his Lord in his house, but he has violated the conditions and he has built a mosque in front of his house where he prays and recites the Quran publicly. We are now afraid that he may affect our women and children unfavorably. So, prevent him from that. If he likes to confine the worship of his Lord to his house, he may do so, but if he insists on doing that openly, ask him to release you from your obligation to protect him, for we dislike to break our pact with you, but we deny Abu Bakr the right to announce his act publicly." Ibn Ad-Daghina went to Abu- Bakr and said, ("O Abu Bakr!) You know well what contract I have made on your behalf; now, you are either to abide by it, or else release me from my obligation of protecting you, because I do not want the 'Arabs hear that my people have dishonored a contract I have made on behalf of another man." Abu Bakr replied, "I release you from your pact to protect me, and am pleased with the protection from Allah." At that time the Prophet ﷺ was in Mecca, and he said to the Muslims, "In a dream I have been shown your migration place, a land of date palm trees, between two mountains, the two stony tracts." So, some people migrated to Medina, and most of those people who had previously migrated to the land of Ethiopia, returned to Medina. Abu Bakr also prepared to leave for Medina, but Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him, "Wait for a while, because I hope that I will be allowed to migrate also." Abu Bakr said, "Do you indeed expect this? Let my father be sacrificed for you!" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Yes." So Abu Bakr did not migrate for the sake of Messenger of Allah ﷺ in order to accompany him. He fed two she-camels he possessed with the leaves of As-Samur tree that fell on being struck by a stick for four months. One day, while we were sitting in Abu Bakr's house at noon, someone said to Abu Bakr, "This is Messenger of Allah ﷺ with his head covered coming at a time at which he never used to visit us before." Abu Bakr said, "May my parents be sacrificed for him. By Allah, he has not come at this hour except for a great necessity." So Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and asked permission to enter, and he was allowed to enter. When he entered, he said to Abu Bakr. "Tell everyone who is present with you to go away." Abu Bakr replied, "There are none but your family. May my father be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ!" The Prophet ﷺ said, "i have been given permission to migrate." Abu Bakr said, "Shall I accompany you? May my father be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ!" Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Yes." Abu Bakr said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! May my father be sacrificed for you, take one of these two she-camels of mine." Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, "(I will accept it) with payment." So we prepared the baggage quickly and put some journey food in a leather bag for them. Asma, Abu Bakr's daughter, cut a piece from her waist belt and tied the mouth of the leather bag with it, and for that reason she was named Dhat-un-Nitaqain (i.e. the owner of two belts). Then Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Abu Bakr reached a cave on the mountain of Thaur and stayed there for three nights. 'Abdullah bin Abi Bakr who was intelligent and a sagacious youth, used to stay (with them) aver night. He used to leave them before day break so that in the morning he would be with Quraish as if he had spent the night in Mecca. He would keep in mind any plot made against them, and when it became dark he would (go and) inform them of it. 'Amir bin Fuhaira, the freed slave of Abu Bakr, used to bring the milch sheep (of his master, Abu Bakr) to them a little while after nightfall in order to rest the sheep there. So they always had fresh milk at night, the milk of their sheep, and the milk which they warmed by throwing heated stones in it. 'Amir bin Fuhaira would then call the herd away when it was still dark (before daybreak). He did the same in each of those three nights. Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Abu Bakr had hired a man from the tribe of Bani Ad-Dail from the family of Bani Abd bin Adi as an expert guide, and he was in alliance with the family of Al-'As bin Wail As-Sahmi and he was on the religion of the infidels of Quraish. The Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr trusted him and gave him their two she-camels and took his promise to bring their two she camels to the cave of the mountain of Thaur in the morning after three nights later. And (when they set out), 'Amir bin Fuhaira and the guide went along with them and the guide led them along the sea-shore.

أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ ؓ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَتْ لَمْ أَعْقِلْ أَبَوَىَّ قَطُّ إِلاَّ وَهُمَا يَدِينَانِ الدِّينَ وَلَمْ يَمُرَّ عَلَيْنَا يَوْمٌ إِلاَّ يَأْتِينَا فِيهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ طَرَفَىِ النَّهَارِ بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيَّةً فَلَمَّا ابْتُلِيَ الْمُسْلِمُونُ خَرَجَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مُهَاجِرًا نَحْوَ أَرْضِ الْحَبَشَةِ حَتَّى بَلَغَ بَرْكَ الْغِمَادِ لَقِيَهُ ابْنُ الدَّغِنَةِ وَهْوَ سَيِّدُ الْقَارَةِ فَقَالَ أَيْنَ تُرِيدُ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَخْرَجَنِي قَوْمِي فَأُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسِيحَ فِي الأَرْضِ وَأَعْبُدَ رَبِّي قَالَ ابْنُ الدَّغِنَةِ فَإِنَّ مِثْلَكَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ لاَ يَخْرُجُ وَلاَ يُخْرَجُ إِنَّكَ تَكْسِبُ الْمَعْدُومَ وَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ فَأَنَا لَكَ جَارٌ ارْجِعْ وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ بِبَلَدِكَ فَرَجَعَ وَارْتَحَلَ مَعَهُ ابْنُ الدَّغِنَةِ فَطَافَ ابْنُ الدَّغِنَةِ عَشِيَّةً فِي أَشْرَافِ قُرَيْشٍ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ لاَ يَخْرُجُ مِثْلُهُ وَلاَ يُخْرَجُ أَتُخْرِجُونَ رَجُلاً يَكْسِبُ الْمَعْدُومَ وَيَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ وَيَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ وَيَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ وَيُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ فَلَمْ تُكَذِّبْ قُرَيْشٌ بِجِوَارِ ابْنِ الدَّغِنَةِ وَقَالُوا لاِبْنِ الدَّغِنَةِ مُرْ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيَعْبُدْ رَبَّهُ فِي دَارِهِ فَلْيُصَلِّ فِيهَا وَلْيَقْرَأْ مَا شَاءَ وَلاَ يُؤْذِينَا بِذَلِكَ وَلاَ يَسْتَعْلِنْ بِهِ فَإِنَّا نَخْشَى أَنْ يَفْتِنَ نِسَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَنَا فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ ابْنُ الدَّغِنَةِ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ فَلَبِثَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِذَلِكَ يَعْبُدُ رَبَّهُ فِي دَارِهِ وَلاَ يَسْتَعْلِنُ بِصَلاَتِهِ وَلاَ يَقْرَأُ فِي غَيْرِ دَارِهِ ثُمَّ بَدَا لأَبِي بَكْرٍ فَابْتَنَى مَسْجِدًا بِفِنَاءِ دَارِهِ وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي فِيهِ وَيَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ فَيَنْقَذِفُ عَلَيْهِ نِسَاءُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَأَبْنَاؤُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَعْجَبُونَ مِنْهُ وَيَنْظُرُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ رَجُلاً بَكَّاءً لاَ يَمْلِكُ عَيْنَيْهِ إِذَا قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ وَأَفْزَعَ ذَلِكَ أَشْرَافَ قُرَيْشٍ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَأَرْسَلُوا إِلَى ابْنِ الدَّغِنَةِ فَقَدِمَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا كُنَّا أَجَرْنَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ بِجِوَارِكَ عَلَى أَنْ يَعْبُدَ رَبَّهُ فِي دَارِهِ فَقَدْ جَاوَزَ ذَلِكَ فَابْتَنَى مَسْجِدًا بِفِنَاءِ دَارِهِ فَأَعْلَنَ بِالصَّلاَةِ وَالْقِرَاءَةِ فِيهِ وَإِنَّا قَدْ خَشِينَا أَنْ يَفْتِنَ نِسَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَنَا فَانْهَهُ فَإِنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَقْتَصِرَ عَلَى أَنْ يَعْبُدَ رَبَّهُ فِي دَارِهِ فَعَلَ وَإِنْ أَبَى إِلاَّ أَنْ يُعْلِنَ بِذَلِكَ فَسَلْهُ أَنْ يَرُدَّ إِلَيْكَ ذِمَّتَكَ فَإِنَّا قَدْ كَرِهْنَا أَنْ نُخْفِرَكَ وَلَسْنَا مُقِرِّينَ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ الاِسْتِعْلاَنَ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَأَتَى ابْنُ الدَّغِنَةِ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ الَّذِي عَاقَدْتُ لَكَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِمَّا أَنْ تَقْتَصِرَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَىَّ ذِمَّتِي فَإِنِّي لاَ أُحِبُّ أَنْ تَسْمَعَ الْعَرَبُ أَنِّي أُخْفِرْتُ فِي رَجُلٍ عَقَدْتُ لَهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَإِنِّي أَرُدُّ إِلَيْكَ جِوَارَكَ وَأَرْضَى بِجِوَارِ اللَّهِ ﷻ وَالنَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِمَكَّةَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ إِنِّي أُرِيتُ دَارَ هِجْرَتِكُمْ ذَاتَ نَخْلٍ بَيْنَ لاَبَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا الْحَرَّتَانِ فَهَاجَرَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ قِبَلَ الْمَدِينَةِ وَرَجَعَ عَامَّةُ مَنْ كَانَ هَاجَرَ بِأَرْضِ الْحَبَشَةِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَتَجَهَّزَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ قِبَلَ الْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ فَإِنِّي أَرْجُو أَنْ يُؤْذَنَ لِي فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَهَلْ تَرْجُو ذَلِكَ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَحَبَسَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ نَفْسَهُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِيَصْحَبَهُ وَعَلَفَ رَاحِلَتَيْنِ كَانَتَا عِنْدَهُ وَرَقَ السَّمُرِ وَهْوَ الْخَبَطُ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ قَالَ عُرْوَةُ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَبَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ يَوْمًا جُلُوسٌ فِي بَيْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فِي نَحْرِ الظَّهِيرَةِ قَالَ قَائِلٌ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ هَذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مُتَقَنِّعًا فِي سَاعَةٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَأْتِينَا فِيهَا فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فِدَاءٌ لَهُ أَبِي وَأُمِّي وَاللَّهِ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ فِي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ إِلاَّ أَمْرٌ قَالَتْ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَاسْتَأْذَنَ فَأُذِنَ لَهُ فَدَخَلَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ أَخْرِجْ مَنْ عِنْدَكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّمَا هُمْ أَهْلُكَ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَإِنِّي قَدْ أُذِنَ لِي فِي الْخُرُوجِ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصَّحَابَةُ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَعَمْ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَخُذْ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِحْدَى رَاحِلَتَىَّ هَاتَيْنِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالثَّمَنِ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَجَهَّزْنَاهُمَا أَحَثَّ الْجَهَازِ وَصَنَعْنَا لَهُمَا سُفْرَةً فِي جِرَابٍ فَقَطَعَتْ أَسْمَاءُ بِنْتُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ قِطْعَةً مَنْ نِطَاقِهَا فَرَبَطَتْ بِهِ عَلَى فَمِ الْجِرَابِ فَبِذَلِكَ سُمِّيَتْ ذَاتَ النِّطَاقِ قَالَتْ ثُمَّ لَحِقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ بِغَارٍ فِي جَبَلِ ثَوْرٍ فَكَمَنَا فِيهِ ثَلاَثَ لَيَالٍ يَبِيتُ عِنْدَهُمَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَهْوَ غُلاَمٌ شَابٌّ ثَقِفٌ لَقِنٌ فَيُدْلِجُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِمَا بِسَحَرٍ فَيُصْبِحُ مَعَ قُرَيْشٍ بِمَكَّةَ كَبَائِتٍ فَلاَ يَسْمَعُ أَمْرًا يُكْتَادَانِ بِهِ إِلاَّ وَعَاهُ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُمَا بِخَبَرِ ذَلِكَ حِينَ يَخْتَلِطُ الظَّلاَمُ وَيَرْعَى عَلَيْهِمَا عَامِرُ بْنُ فُهَيْرَةَ مَوْلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ مِنْحَةً مِنْ غَنَمٍ فَيُرِيحُهَا عَلَيْهِمَا حِينَ يَذْهَبُ سَاعَةٌ مِنَ الْعِشَاءِ فَيَبِيتَانِ فِي رِسْلٍ وَهْوَ لَبَنُ مِنْحَتِهِمَا وَرَضِيفِهِمَا حَتَّى يَنْعِقَ بِهَا عَامِرُ بْنُ فُهَيْرَةَ بِغَلَسٍ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ تِلْكَ اللَّيَالِي الثَّلاَثِ وَاسْتَأْجَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ رَجُلاً مِنْ بَنِي الدِّيلِ وَهْوَ مِنْ بَنِي عَبْدِ بْنِ عَدِيٍّ هَادِيًا خِرِّيتًا وَالْخِرِّيتُ الْمَاهِرُ بِالْهِدَايَةِ قَدْ غَمَسَ حِلْفًا فِي آلِ الْعَاصِ بْنِ وَائِلٍ السَّهْمِيِّ وَهْوَ عَلَى دِينِ كُفَّارِ قُرَيْشٍ فَأَمِنَاهُ فَدَفَعَا إِلَيْهِ رَاحِلَتَيْهِمَا وَوَاعَدَاهُ غَارَ ثَوْرٍ بَعْدَ ثَلاَثِ لَيَالٍ بِرَاحِلَتَيْهِمَا صُبْحَ ثَلاَثٍ وَانْطَلَقَ مَعَهُمَا عَامِرُ بْنُ فُهَيْرَةَ وَالدَّلِيلُ فَأَخَذَ بِهِمْ طَرِيقَ السَّوَاحِلِ

Whenever Messenger of Allah ﷺ intended to go on a journey, he used to draw lots amongst his wives, and Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to take with him the one on whom lot fell. He drew lots amongst us during one of the Ghazwat which he fought. The lot fell on me and so I proceeded with Messenger of Allah ﷺ after Allah's order of veiling (the women) had been revealed. I was carried (on the back of a camel) in my howdah and carried down while still in it (when we came to a halt). So we went on till Messenger of Allah ﷺ had finished from that Ghazwa of his and returned. When we approached the city of Medina he announced at night that it was time for departure. So when they announced the news of departure, I got up and went away from the army camps, and after finishing from the call of nature, I came back to my riding animal. I touched my chest to find that my necklace which was made of Zifar beads (i.e. Yemenite beads partly black and partly white) was missing. So I returned to look for my necklace and my search for it detained me. (In the meanwhile) the people who used to carry me on my camel, came and took my howdah and put it on the back of my camel on which I used to ride, as they considered that I was in it. In those days women were light in weight for they did not get fat, and flesh did not cover their bodies in abundance as they used to eat only a little food. Those people therefore, disregarded the lightness of the howdah while lifting and carrying it; and at that time I was still a young girl. They made the camel rise and all of them left (along with it). I found my necklace after the army had gone. Then I came to their camping place to find no call maker of them, nor one who would respond to the call. So I intended to go to the place where I used to stay, thinking that they would miss me and come back to me (in my search). While I was sitting in my resting place, I was overwhelmed by sleep and slept. Safwan bin Al-Muattal As-Sulami Adh-Dhakwani was behind the army. When he reached my place in the morning, he saw the figure of a sleeping person and he recognized me on seeing me as he had seen me before the order of compulsory veiling (was prescribed). So I woke up when he recited Istirja' (i.e. "Inna li l-lahi wa inna llaihi raji'un") as soon as he recognized me. I veiled my face with my head cover at once, and by Allah, we did not speak a single word, and I did not hear him saying any word besides his Istirja'. He dismounted from his camel and made it kneel down, putting his leg on its front legs and then I got up and rode on it. Then he set out leading the camel that was carrying me till we overtook the army in the extreme heat of midday while they were at a halt (taking a rest). (Because of the event) some people brought destruction upon themselves and the one who spread the Ifk (i.e. slander) more, was ʿAbdullah bin Ubai Ibn Salul." (Urwa said, "The people propagated the slander and talked about it in his (i.e. ʿAbdullah's) presence and he confirmed it and listened to it and asked about it to let it prevail." ʿUrwa also added, "None was mentioned as members of the slanderous group besides (ʿAbdullah) except Hassan bin Thabit and Mistah bin Uthatha and Hamna bint Jahsh along with others about whom I have no knowledge, but they were a group as Allah said. It is said that the one who carried most of the slander was ʿAbdullah bin Ubai bin Salul." ʿUrwa added, "ʿAisha disliked to have Hassan abused in her presence and she used to say, 'It was he who said: My father and his (i.e. my father's) father and my honor are all for the protection of Muhammad's honor from you."). ʿAisha added, "After we returned to Medina, I became ill for a month. The people were propagating the forged statements of the slanderers while I was unaware of anything of all that, but I felt that in my present ailment, I was not receiving the same kindness from Messenger of Allah ﷺ as I used to receive when I got sick. (But now) Messenger of Allah ﷺ would only come, greet me and say,' How is that (lady)?' and leave. That roused my doubts, but I did not discover the evil (i.e. slander) till I went out after my convalescence, I went out with Um Mistah to Al-Manasi' where we used to answer the call of nature and we used not to go out (to answer the call of nature) except at night, and that was before we had latrines near our houses. And this habit of our concerning evacuating the bowels, was similar to the habits of the old 'Arabs living in the deserts, for it would be troublesome for us to take latrines near our houses. So I and Um Mistah who was the daughter of Abu Ruhm bin Al-Muttalib bin ʿAbd Manaf, whose mother was the daughter of Sakhr bin 'Amir and the aunt of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and whose son was Mistah bin Uthatha bin ʿAbbas bin Al-Muttalib, went out. I and Um Mistah returned to my house after we finished answering the call of nature. Um Mistah stumbled by getting her foot entangled in her covering sheet and on that she said, 'Let Mistah be ruined!' I said, 'What a hard word you have said. Do you abuse a man who took part in the battle of Badr?' On that she said, 'O you Hantah! Didn't you hear what he (i.e. Mistah) said? 'I said, 'What did he say?' Then she told me the slander of the people of Ifk. So my ailment was aggravated, and when I reached my home, Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to me, and after greeting me, said, 'How is that (lady)?' I said, 'Will you allow me to go to my parents?' as I wanted to be sure about the news through them. Allah's Apostle allowed me (and I went to my parents) and asked my mother, 'O mother! What are the people talking about?' She said, 'O my daughter! Don't worry, for scarcely is there a charming woman who is loved by her husband and whose husband has other wives besides herself that they (i.e. women) would find faults with her.' I said, 'Subhan-Allah! (I testify the uniqueness of Allah). Are the people really talking in this way?' I kept on weeping that night till dawn I could neither stop weeping nor sleep then in the morning again, I kept on weeping. When the Divine Inspiration was delayed. Messenger of Allah ﷺ called ʿAli bin Abi Talib and Usama bin Zaid to ask and consult them about divorcing me. Usama bin Zaid said what he knew of my innocence, and the respect he preserved in himself for me. Usama said, '(O Messenger of Allah ﷺ!) She is your wife and we do not know anything except good about her.' ʿAli bin Abi Talib said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Allah does not put you in difficulty and there are plenty of women other than she, yet, ask the maid-servant who will tell you the truth.' On that Messenger of Allah ﷺ called Barira (i.e. the maid-servant) and said, 'O Barira! Did you ever see anything which aroused your suspicion?' Barira said to him, 'By Him Who has sent you with the Truth. I have never seen anything in her (i.e. Aisha) which I would conceal, except that she is a young girl who sleeps leaving the dough of her family exposed so that the domestic goats come and eat it.' So, on that day, Messenger of Allah ﷺ got up on the pulpit and complained about ʿAbdullah bin Ubai (bin Salul) before his companions, saying, 'O you Muslims! Who will relieve me from that man who has hurt me with his evil statement about my family? By Allah, I know nothing except good about my family and they have blamed a man about whom I know nothing except good and he used never to enter my home except with me.' Saʿd bin Muʿadh the brother of Banu ʿAbd Al-Ashhal got up and said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I will relieve you from him; if he is from the tribe of Al-Aus, then I will chop his head off, and if he is from our brothers, i.e. Al-Khazraj, then order us, and we will fulfill your order.' On that, a man from Al-Khazraj got up. Um Hassan, his cousin, was from his branch tribe, and he was Saʿd bin Ubada, chief of Al-Khazraj. Before this incident, he was a pious man, but his love for his tribe goaded him into saying to Saʿd (bin Muʿadh). 'By Allah, you have told a lie; you shall not and cannot kill him. If he belonged to your people, you would not wish him to be killed.' On that, Usaid bin Hudair who was the cousin of Saʿd (bin Muʿadh) got up and said to Saʿd bin 'Ubada, 'By Allah! You are a liar! We will surely kill him, and you are a hypocrite arguing on the behalf of hypocrites.' On this, the two tribes of Al-Aus and Al Khazraj got so much excited that they were about to fight while Messenger of Allah ﷺ was standing on the pulpit. Messenger of Allah ﷺ kept on quietening them till they became silent and so did he. All that day I kept on weeping with my tears never ceasing, and I could never sleep. In the morning my parents were with me and I wept for two nights and a day with my tears never ceasing and I could never sleep till I thought that my liver would burst from weeping. So, while my parents were sitting with me and I was weeping, an Ansari woman asked me to grant her admittance. I allowed her to come in, and when she came in, she sat down and started weeping with me. While we were in this state, Messenger of Allah ﷺ came, greeted us and sat down. He had never sat with me since that day of the slander. A month had elapsed and no Divine Inspiration came to him about my case. Allah's Apostle then recited Tashah-hud and then said, 'Amma Badu, O ʿAisha! I have been informed so-andso about you; if you are innocent, then soon Allah will reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him for forgiveness for when a slave confesses his sins and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance.' (continued...) (continuing... 1): -5.462:... ... When Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished his speech, my tears ceased flowing completely that I no longer felt a single drop of tear flowing. I said to my father, 'Reply to Messenger of Allah ﷺ on my behalf concerning what he has said.' My father said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to Messenger of Allah ﷺ .' Then I said to my mother, 'Reply to Messenger of Allah ﷺ on my behalf concerning what he has said.' She said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to Messenger of Allah ﷺ.' In spite of the fact that I was a young girl and had a little knowledge of Qur'an, I said, 'By Allah, no doubt I know that you heard this (slanderous) speech so that it has been planted in your hearts (i.e. minds) and you have taken it as a truth. Now if I tell you that I am innocent, you will not believe me, and if confess to you about it, and Allah knows that I am innocent, you will surely believe me. By Allah, I find no similitude for me and you except that of Joseph's father when he said, '(For me) patience in the most fitting against that which you assert; it is Allah (Alone) Whose Help can be sought.' Then I turned to the other side and lay on my bed; and Allah knew then that I was innocent and hoped that Allah would reveal my innocence. But, by Allah, I never thought that Allah would reveal about my case, Divine Inspiration, that would be recited (forever) as I considered myself too unworthy to be talked of by Allah with something of my concern, but I hoped that Messenger of Allah ﷺ might have a dream in which Allah would prove my innocence. But, by Allah, before Messenger of Allah ﷺ left his seat and before any of the household left, the Divine inspiration came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ. So there overtook him the same hard condition which used to overtake him, (when he used to be inspired Divinely). The sweat was dropping from his body like pearls though it was a wintry day and that was because of the weighty statement which was being revealed to him. When that state of Messenger of Allah ﷺ was over, he got up smiling, and the first word he said was, 'O ʿAisha! Allah has declared your innocence!' Then my Mother said to me, 'Get up and go to him (i.e. Messenger of Allah ﷺ). I replied, 'By Allah, I will not go to him, and I praise none but Allah. So Allah revealed the ten Verses:- - "Verily! They who spread the slander Are a gang, among you............." (24.11-20) Allah revealed those Qur'anic Verses to declare my innocence. Abu Bakr As-Siddiq who used to disburse money for Mistah bin Uthatha because of his relationship to him and his poverty, said, 'By Allah, I will never give to Mistah bin Uthatha anything after what he has said about Aisha.' Then Allah revealed:-- "And let not those among you who are good and wealthy swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kinsmen, those in need, and those who have left their homes for Allah's cause, let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is oft-Forgiving Most Merciful." (24.22) Abu Bakr As-Siddiq said, 'Yes, by Allah, I would like that Allah forgive me.' and went on giving Mistah the money he used to give him before. He also added, 'By Allah, I will never deprive him of it at all.' Aisha further said:." Messenger of Allah ﷺ also asked Zainab bint Jahsh (i.e. his wife) about my case. He said to Zainab, 'What do you know and what did you see?" She replied, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I refrain from claiming falsely that I have heard or seen anything. By Allah, I know nothing except good (about ʿAisha).' From amongst the wives of the Prophet ﷺ Zainab was my peer (in beauty and in the love she received from the Prophet) but Allah saved her from that evil because of her piety. Her sister Hamna, started struggling on her behalf and she was destroyed along with those who were destroyed. The man who was blamed said, 'Subhan-Allah! By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, I have never uncovered the cover (i.e. veil) of any female.' Later on the man was martyred in Allah's Cause."

حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الإِفْكِ مَا قَالُوا وَكُلُّهُمْ حَدَّثَنِي طَائِفَةً مِنْ حَدِيثِهَا وَبَعْضُهُمْ كَانَ أَوْعَى لِحَدِيثِهَا مِنْ بَعْضٍ وَأَثْبَتَ لَهُ اقْتِصَاصًا وَقَدْ وَعَيْتُ عَنْ كُلِّ رَجُلٍ مِنْهُمُ الْحَدِيثَ الَّذِي حَدَّثَنِي عَنْ عَائِشَةَ وَبَعْضُ حَدِيثِهِمْ يُصَدِّقُ بَعْضًا وَإِنْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْعَى لَهُ مِنْ بَعْضٍ قَالُوا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَرَادَ سَفَرًا أَقْرَعَ بَيْنَ أَزْوَاجِهِ فَأَيُّهُنَّ خَرَجَ سَهْمُهَا خَرَجَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَعَهُ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَأَقْرَعَ بَيْنَنَا فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا فَخَرَجَ فِيهَا سَهْمِي فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعْدَ مَا أُنْزِلَ الْحِجَابُ فَكُنْتُ أُحْمَلُ فِي هَوْدَجِي وَأُنْزَلُ فِيهِ فَسِرْنَا حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ غَزْوَتِهِ تِلْكَ وَقَفَلَ دَنَوْنَا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ قَافِلِينَ آذَنَ لَيْلَةً بِالرَّحِيلِ فَقُمْتُ حِينَ آذَنُوا بِالرَّحِيلِ فَمَشَيْتُ حَتَّى جَاوَزْتُ الْجَيْشَ فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ شَأْنِي أَقْبَلْتُ إِلَى رَحْلِي فَلَمَسْتُ صَدْرِي فَإِذَا عِقْدٌ لِي مِنْ جَزْعِ ظَفَارِ قَدِ انْقَطَعَ فَرَجَعْتُ فَالْتَمَسْتُ عِقْدِي فَحَبَسَنِي ابْتِغَاؤُهُ قَالَتْ وَأَقْبَلَ الرَّهْطُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يُرَحِّلُونِي فَاحْتَمَلُوا هَوْدَجِي فَرَحَلُوهُ عَلَى بَعِيرِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرْكَبُ عَلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَحْسِبُونَ أَنِّي فِيهِ وَكَانَ النِّسَاءُ إِذْ ذَاكَ خِفَافًا لَمْ يَهْبُلْنَ وَلَمْ يَغْشَهُنَّ اللَّحْمُ إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلْنَ الْعُلْقَةَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَلَمْ يَسْتَنْكِرِ الْقَوْمُ خِفَّةَ الْهَوْدَجِ حِينَ رَفَعُوهُ وَحَمَلُوهُ وَكُنْتُ جَارِيَةً حَدِيثَةَ السِّنِّ فَبَعَثُوا الْجَمَلَ فَسَارُوا وَوَجَدْتُ عِقْدِي بَعْدَ مَا اسْتَمَرَّ الْجَيْشُ فَجِئْتُ مَنَازِلَهُمْ وَلَيْسَ بِهَا مِنْهُمْ دَاعٍ وَلاَ مُجِيبٌ فَتَيَمَّمْتُ مَنْزِلِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ بِهِ وَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُمْ سَيَفْقِدُونِي فَيَرْجِعُونَ إِلَىَّ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسَةٌ فِي مَنْزِلِي غَلَبَتْنِي عَيْنِي فَنِمْتُ وَكَانَ صَفْوَانُ بْنُ الْمُعَطَّلِ السُّلَمِيُّ ثُمَّ الذَّكْوَانِيُّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْجَيْشِ فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدَ مَنْزِلِي فَرَأَى سَوَادَ إِنْسَانٍ نَائِمٍ فَعَرَفَنِي حِينَ رَآنِي وَكَانَ رَآنِي قَبْلَ الْحِجَابِ فَاسْتَيْقَظْتُ بِاسْتِرْجَاعِهِ حِينَ عَرَفَنِي فَخَمَّرْتُ وَجْهِي بِجِلْبَابِي وَاللَّهِ مَا تَكَلَّمْنَا بِكَلِمَةٍ وَلاَ سَمِعْتُ مِنْهُ كَلِمَةً غَيْرَ اسْتِرْجَاعِهِ وَهَوَى حَتَّى أَنَاخَ رَاحِلَتَهُ فَوَطِئَ عَلَى يَدِهَا فَقُمْتُ إِلَيْهَا فَرَكِبْتُهَا فَانْطَلَقَ يَقُودُ بِي الرَّاحِلَةَ حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الْجَيْشَ مُوغِرِينَ فِي نَحْرِ الظَّهِيرَةِ وَهُمْ نُزُولٌ قَالَتْ فَهَلَكَ {فِيَّ} مَنْ هَلَكَ وَكَانَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّى كِبْرَ الإِفْكِ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أُبَىٍّ ابْنَ سَلُولَ قَالَ عُرْوَةُ أُخْبِرْتُ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يُشَاعُ وَيُتَحَدَّثُ بِهِ عِنْدَهُ فَيُقِرُّهُ وَيَسْتَمِعُهُ وَيَسْتَوْشِيهِ وَقَالَ عُرْوَةُ أَيْضًا لَمْ يُسَمَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الإِفْكِ أَيْضًا إِلاَّ حَسَّانُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ وَمِسْطَحُ بْنُ أُثَاثَةَ وَحَمْنَةُ بِنْتُ جَحْشٍ فِي نَاسٍ آخَرِينَ لاَ عِلْمَ لِي بِهِمْ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُمْ عُصْبَةٌ كَمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَإِنَّ كُبْرَ ذَلِكَ يُقَالُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَىٍّ ابْنُ سَلُولَ قَالَ عُرْوَةُ كَانَتْ عَائِشَةُ تَكْرَهُ أَنْ يُسَبَّ عِنْدَهَا حَسَّانُ وَتَقُولُ إِنَّهُ الَّذِي قَالَ فَإِنَّ أَبِي وَوَالِدَهُ وَعِرْضِي لِعِرْضِ مُحَمَّدٍ مِنْكُمْ وِقَاءُ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ فَاشْتَكَيْتُ حِينَ قَدِمْتُ شَهْرًا وَالنَّاسُ يُفِيضُونَ فِي قَوْلِ أَصْحَابِ الإِفْكِ لاَ أَشْعُرُ بِشَىْءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَهْوَ يَرِيبُنِي فِي وَجَعِي أَنِّي لاَ أَعْرِفُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ اللُّطْفَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرَى مِنْهُ حِينَ أَشْتَكِي إِنَّمَا يَدْخُلُ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَيُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ ثُمَّ يَنْصَرِفُ فَذَلِكَ يَرِيبُنِي وَلاَ أَشْعُرُ بِالشَّرِّ حَتَّى خَرَجْتُ حِينَ نَقَهْتُ فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَ أُمِّ مِسْطَحٍ قِبَلَ الْمَنَاصِعِ وَكَانَ مُتَبَرَّزَنَا وَكُنَّا لاَ نَخْرُجُ إِلاَّ لَيْلاً إِلَى لَيْلٍ وَذَلِكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ نَتَّخِذَ الْكُنُفَ قَرِيبًا مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا قَالَتْ وَأَمْرُنَا أَمْرُ الْعَرَبِ الأُوَلِ فِي الْبَرِّيَّةِ قِبَلَ الْغَائِطِ وَكُنَّا نَتَأَذَّى بِالْكُنُفِ أَنْ نَتَّخِذَهَا عِنْدَ بُيُوتِنَا قَالَتْ فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ وَهْىَ ابْنَةُ أَبِي رُهْمِ بْنِ الْمُطَّلِبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ وَأُمُّهَا بِنْتُ صَخْرِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ خَالَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ وَابْنُهَا مِسْطَحُ بْنُ أُثَاثَةَ بْنِ عَبَّادِ بْنِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَأَقْبَلْتُ أَنَا وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ قِبَلَ بَيْتِي حِينَ فَرَغْنَا مِنْ شَأْنِنَا فَعَثَرَتْ أُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ فِي مِرْطِهَا فَقَالَتْ تَعِسَ مِسْطَحٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتِ أَتَسُبِّينَ رَجُلاً شَهِدَ بَدْرًا فَقَالَتْ أَىْ هَنْتَاهْ وَلَمْ تَسْمَعِي مَا قَالَ قَالَتْ وَقُلْتُ مَا قَالَ فَأَخْبَرَتْنِي بِقَوْلِ أَهْلِ الإِفْكِ قَالَتْ فَازْدَدْتُ مَرَضًا عَلَى مَرَضِي فَلَمَّا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى بَيْتِي دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَالَ كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَتَأْذَنُ لِي أَنْ آتِيَ أَبَوَىَّ قَالَتْ وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْتَيْقِنَ الْخَبَرَ مِنْ قِبَلِهِمَا قَالَتْ فَأَذِنَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ لأُمِّي يَا أُمَّتَاهُ مَاذَا يَتَحَدَّثُ النَّاسُ قَالَتْ يَا بُنَيَّةُ هَوِّنِي عَلَيْكِ فَوَاللَّهِ لَقَلَّمَا كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ قَطُّ وَضِيئَةً عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّهَا لَهَا ضَرَائِرُ إِلاَّ كَثَّرْنَ عَلَيْهَا قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ أَوَلَقَدْ تَحَدَّثَ النَّاسُ بِهَذَا قَالَتْ فَبَكَيْتُ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ لاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحْتُ أَبْكِي قَالَتْ وَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَأُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ حِينَ اسْتَلْبَثَ الْوَحْىُ يَسْأَلُهُمَا وَيَسْتَشِيرُهُمَا فِي فِرَاقِ أَهْلِهِ قَالَتْ فَأَمَّا أُسَامَةُ فَأَشَارَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ مِنْ بَرَاءَةِ أَهْلِهِ وَبِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ لَهُمْ فِي نَفْسِهِ فَقَالَ أُسَامَةُ أَهْلَكَ وَلاَ نَعْلَمُ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا وَأَمَّا عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَمْ يُضَيِّقِ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَالنِّسَاءُ سِوَاهَا كَثِيرٌ وَسَلِ الْجَارِيَةَ تَصْدُقْكَ قَالَتْ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَرِيرَةَ فَقَالَ أَىْ بَرِيرَةُ هَلْ رَأَيْتِ مِنْ شَىْءٍ يَرِيبُكِ قَالَتْ لَهُ بَرِيرَةُ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا رَأَيْتُ عَلَيْهَا أَمْرًا قَطُّ أَغْمِصُهُ غَيْرَ أَنَّهَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ تَنَامُ عَنْ عَجِينِ أَهْلِهَا فَتَأْتِي الدَّاجِنُ فَتَأْكُلُهُ قَالَتْ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ يَوْمِهِ فَاسْتَعْذَرَ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُبَىٍّ وَهْوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَقَالَ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَنْ يَعْذِرُنِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي عَنْهُ أَذَاهُ فِي أَهْلِي وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلاَّ خَيْرًا وَلَقَدْ ذَكَرُوا رَجُلاً مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا وَمَا يَدْخُلُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلاَّ مَعِي قَالَتْ فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ أَخُو بَنِي عَبْدِ الأَشْهَلِ فَقَالَ أَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَعْذِرُكَ فَإِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الأَوْسِ ضَرَبْتُ عُنُقَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِنَا مِنَ الْخَزْرَجِ أَمَرْتَنَا فَفَعَلْنَا أَمْرَكَ قَالَتْ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْخَزْرَجِ وَكَانَتْ أُمُّ حَسَّانَ بِنْتَ عَمِّهِ مِنْ فَخِذِهِ وَهْوَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ وَهْوَ سَيِّدُ الْخَزْرَجِ قَالَتْ وَكَانَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ رَجُلاً صَالِحًا وَلَكِنِ احْتَمَلَتْهُ الْحَمِيَّةُ فَقَالَ لِسَعْدٍ كَذَبْتَ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ لاَ تَقْتُلُهُ وَلاَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى قَتْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ رَهْطِكَ مَا أَحْبَبْتَ أَنْ يُقْتَلَ فَقَامَ أُسَيْدُ بْنُ حُضَيْرٍ وَهْوَ ابْنُ عَمِّ سَعْدٍ فَقَالَ لِسَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ كَذَبْتَ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ لَنَقْتُلَنَّهُ فَإِنَّكَ مُنَافِقٌ تُجَادِلُ عَنِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ قَالَتْ فَثَارَ الْحَيَّانِ الأَوْسُ وَالْخَزْرَجُ حَتَّى هَمُّوا أَنْ يَقْتَتِلُوا وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَائِمٌ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ قَالَتْ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُخَفِّضُهُمْ حَتَّى سَكَتُوا وَسَكَتَ قَالَتْ فَبَكَيْتُ يَوْمِي ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ لاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ قَالَتْ وَأَصْبَحَ أَبَوَاىَ عِنْدِي وَقَدْ بَكَيْتُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ وَيَوْمًا لاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ حَتَّى إِنِّي لأَظُنُّ أَنَّ الْبُكَاءَ فَالِقٌ كَبِدِي فَبَيْنَا أَبَوَاىَ جَالِسَانِ عِنْدِي وَأَنَا أَبْكِي فَاسْتَأْذَنَتْ عَلَىَّ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَأَذِنْتُ لَهَا فَجَلَسَتْ تَبْكِي مَعِي قَالَتْ فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَيْنَا فَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ قَالَتْ وَلَمْ يَجْلِسْ عِنْدِي مُنْذُ قِيلَ مَا قِيلَ قَبْلَهَا وَقَدْ لَبِثَ شَهْرًا لاَ يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ فِي شَأْنِي بِشَىْءٍ قَالَتْ فَتَشَهَّدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِينَ جَلَسَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَإِنْ كُنْتِ بَرِيئَةً فَسَيُبَرِّئُكِ اللَّهُ وَإِنْ كُنْتِ أَلْمَمْتِ بِذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرِي اللَّهَ وَتُوبِي إِلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا اعْتَرَفَ ثُمَّ تَابَ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَقَالَتَهُ قَلَصَ دَمْعِي حَتَّى مَا أُحِسُّ مِنْهُ قَطْرَةً فَقُلْتُ لأَبِي أَجِبْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنِّي فِيمَا قَالَ فَقَالَ أَبِي وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ لأُمِّي أَجِيبِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِيمَا قَالَ قَالَتْ أُمِّي وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ وَأَنَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ لاَ أَقْرَأُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ كَثِيرًا إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُمْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ حَتَّى اسْتَقَرَّ فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَصَدَّقْتُمْ بِهِ فَلَئِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ لاَ تُصَدِّقُونِي وَلَئِنِ اعْتَرَفْتُ لَكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي مِنْهُ بَرِيئَةٌ لَتُصَدِّقُنِّي فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ أَجِدُ لِي وَلَكُمْ مَثَلاً إِلاَّ أَبَا يُوسُفَ حِينَ قَالَ {فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ} ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلْتُ وَاضْطَجَعْتُ عَلَى فِرَاشِي وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي حِينَئِذٍ بَرِيئَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مُبَرِّئِي بِبَرَاءَتِي وَلَكِنْ وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ أَنَّ اللَّهَ مُنْزِلٌ فِي شَأْنِي وَحْيًا يُتْلَى لَشَأْنِي فِي نَفْسِي كَانَ أَحْقَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ فِيَّ بِأَمْرٍ وَلَكِنْ كُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ يَرَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي النَّوْمِ رُؤْيَا يُبَرِّئُنِي اللَّهُ بِهَا فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَجْلِسَهُ وَلاَ خَرَجَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ حَتَّى أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَخَذَهُ مَا كَانَ يَأْخُذُهُ مِنَ الْبُرَحَاءِ حَتَّى إِنَّهُ لَيَتَحَدَّرُ مِنْهُ مِنَ الْعَرَقِ مِثْلُ الْجُمَانِ وَهْوَ فِي يَوْمٍ شَاتٍ مِنْ ثِقَلِ الْقَوْلِ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ قَالَتْ فَسُرِّيَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهْوَ يَضْحَكُ فَكَانَتْ أَوَّلَ كَلِمَةٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهَا أَنْ قَالَ يَا عَائِشَةُ أَمَّا اللَّهُ فَقَدْ بَرَّأَكِ قَالَتْ فَقَالَتْ لِي أُمِّي قُومِي إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَقُومُ إِلَيْهِ فَإِنِّي لاَ أَحْمَدُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ قَالَتْ وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالإِفْكِ} الْعَشْرَ الآيَاتِ ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ هَذَا فِي بَرَاءَتِي قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ وَكَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحِ بْنِ أُثَاثَةَ لِقَرَابَتِهِ مِنْهُ وَفَقْرِهِ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحٍ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا بَعْدَ الَّذِي قَالَ لِعَائِشَةَ مَا قَالَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ { وَلاَ يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ} قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ بَلَى وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأُحِبُّ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لِي فَرَجَعَ إِلَى مِسْطَحٍ النَّفَقَةَ الَّتِي كَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لَا أَنْزِعُهَا مِنْهُ أَبَدًا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ سَأَلَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ جَحْشٍ عَنْ أَمْرِي فَقَالَ لِزَيْنَبَ مَاذَا عَلِمْتِ أَوْ رَأَيْتِ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَحْمِي سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ إِلَّا خَيْرًا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ وَهِيَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تُسَامِينِي مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَعَصَمَهَا اللَّهُ بِالْوَرَعِ قَالَتْ وَطَفِقَتْ أُخْتُهَا حَمْنَةُ تُحَارِبُ لَهَا فَهَلَكَتْ فِيمَنْ هَلَكَ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَهَذَا الَّذِي بَلَغَنِي مِنْ حَدِيثِ هَؤُلَاءِ الرَّهْطِ ثُمَّ قَالَ عُرْوَةُ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ وَاللَّهِ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُ مَا قِيلَ لَيَقُولُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا كَشَفْتُ مِنْ كَنَفِ أُنْثَى قَطُّ قَالَتْ ثُمَّ قُتِلَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

I had been eager to ask ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab about the two ladies from among the wives of the Prophet regarding whom Allah said 'If you two (wives of the Prophet ﷺ namely Aisha and Hafsa) turn in repentance to Allah, your hearts are indeed so inclined (to oppose what the Prophet ﷺ likes). (66.4) till ʿUmar performed the Hajj and I too, performed the Hajj along with him. (On the way) ʿUmar went aside to answer the call of nature, and I also went aside along with him carrying a tumbler full of water, and when ʿUmar had finished answering the call of nature, I poured water over his hands and he performed the ablution. Then I said to him, "O chief of the Believers! Who were the two ladies from among the wives of the Prophet ﷺ regarding whom Allah said: 'If you two (wives of the Prophet) turn in repentance to Allah your hearts are indeed so inclined (to oppose what the Prophet ﷺ likes)?" (66.4) He said, "I am astonished at your question, O Ibn ʿAbbas. They were ʿAisha and Hafsa." Then ʿUmar went on narrating the Hadith and said, "I and an Ansari neighbor of mine from Bani Umaiyya bin Zaid who used to live in ʿAwali-al-Medina, used to visit the Prophet ﷺ in turn. He used to go one day and I another day. When I went, I would bring him the news of what had happened that day regarding the Divine Inspiration and other things, and when he went, he used to do the same for me. We, the people of Quraish used to have the upper hand over our wives, but when we came to the Ansar, we found that their women had the upper hand over their men, so our women also started learning the ways of the Ansari women. I shouted at my wife and she retorted against me and I disliked that she should answer me back. She said to me, 'Why are you so surprised at my answering you back? By Allah, the wives of the Prophet answer him back and some of them may leave (does not speak to) him throughout the day till the night.' The (talk) scared me and I said to her, 'Whoever has done so will be ruined!' Then I proceeded after dressing myself, and entered upon Hafsa and said to her, 'Does anyone of you keep the Prophet ﷺ angry till night?' She said, 'Yes.' I said, 'You are a ruined losing person! Don't you fear that Allah may get angry for the anger of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and thus you will be ruined? So do not ask more from the Prophet ﷺ and do not answer him back and do not give up talking to him. Ask me whatever you need and do not be tempted to imitate your neighbor (i.e., ʿAisha) in her manners for she is more charming than you and more beloved to the Prophet ﷺ ." ʿUmar added,"At that time a talk was circulating among us that (the tribe of) Ghassan were preparing their horses to invade us. My Ansari companion, on the day of his turn, went (to the town) and returned to us at night and knocked at my door violently and asked if I was there. I became horrified and came out to him. He said, 'Today a great thing has happened.' I asked, 'What is it? Have (the people of) Ghassan come?' He said, 'No, but (What has happened) is greater and more horrifying than that: Messenger of Allah ﷺ; has divorced his wives. ʿUmar added, "The Prophet ﷺ kept away from his wives and I said "Hafsa is a ruined loser.' I had already thought that most probably this (divorce) would happen in the near future. So I dressed myself and offered the morning prayer with the Prophet ﷺ and then the Prophet; entered an upper room and stayed there in seclusion. I entered upon Hafsa and saw her weeping. I asked, 'What makes you weep? Did I not warn you about that? Did the Prophet ﷺ divorce you all?' She said, 'I do not know. There he is retired alone in the upper room.' I came out and sat near the pulpit and saw a group of people sitting around it and some of them were weeping. I sat with them for a while but could not endure the situation, so I went to the upper room where the Prophet; was and said to a black slave of his, 'Will you get the permission (of the Prophet ﷺ ) for ʿUmar (to enter)?' The slave went in, talked to the Prophet ﷺ about it and then returned saying, 'I have spoken to the Prophet ﷺ and mentioned you but he kept quiet.' Then I returned and sat with the group of people sitting near the pulpit. but I could not bear the situation and once again I said to the slave, 'Will you get the permission for ʿUmar?' He went in and returned saying, 'I mentioned you to him but he kept quiet.' So I returned again and sat with the group of people sitting near the pulpit, but I could not bear the situation, and so I went to the slave and said, 'Will you get the permission for ʿUmar?' He went in and returned to me saying, 'I mentioned you to him but he kept quiet.' When I was leaving, behold! The slave called me, saying, 'The Prophet ﷺ has given you permission.' Then I entered upon Messenger of Allah ﷺ and saw him Lying on a bed made of stalks of date palm leaves and there was no bedding between it and him. The stalks left marks on his side and he was leaning on a leather pillow stuffed with date-palm fires. I greeted him and while still standing I said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Have you divorced your wives?' He looked at me and said, 'No.' I said, 'Allah Akbar!' And then, while still standing, I said chatting, 'Will you heed what I say, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ? We, the people of Quraish used to have power over our women, but when we arrived at Medina we found that the men (here) were overpowered by their women.' The Prophet ﷺ smiled and then I said to him, 'Will you heed what I say, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ? I entered upon Hafsa and said to her, "Do not be tempted to imitate your companion (ʿAisha), for she is more charming than you and more beloved to the Prophet.' " The Prophet ﷺ smiled for a second time. When I saw him smiling, I sat down. Then I looked around his house, and by Allah, I could not see anything of importance in his house except three hides, so I said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Invoke Allah to make your followers rich, for the Persians and the Romans have been made prosperous and they have been given (the pleasures of the world), although they do not worship Allah.' Thereupon the Prophet ﷺ sat up as he was reclining. and said, 'Are you of such an opinion, O the son of Al-Khattab? These are the people who have received the rewards for their good deeds in this world.' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Ask Allah to forgive me.' Then the Prophet ﷺ kept away from his wives for twenty-nine days because of the story which Hafsa had disclosed to ʿAisha. The Prophet ﷺ had said, 'I will not enter upon them (my wives) for one month,' because of his anger towards them, when Allah had admonished him. So, when twenty nine days had passed, the Prophet ﷺ first entered upon ʿAisha. ʿAisha said to him, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! You had sworn that you would not enter upon us for one month, but now only twenty-nine days have passed, for I have been counting them one by one.' The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The (present) month is of twenty nine days.' ʿAisha added, 'Then Allah revealed the Verses of the option. (2) And out of all his-wives he asked me first, and I chose him.' Then he gave option to his other wives and they said what ʿAisha had said . " (1) The Prophet, ' had decided to abstain from eating a certain kind of food because of a certain event, so Allah blamed him for doing so. Some of his wives were the cause of him taking that decision, therefore he deserted them for one month. See Qur'an: (66.4)

لَمْ أَزَلْ حَرِيصًا أَنْ أَسْأَلَ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ عَنِ الْمَرْأَتَيْنِ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ اللَّتَيْنِ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {إِنْ تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا} حَتَّى حَجَّ وَحَجَجْتُ مَعَهُ وَعَدَلَ وَعَدَلْتُ مَعَهُ بِإِدَاوَةٍ فَتَبَرَّزَ ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَسَكَبْتُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ مِنْهَا فَتَوَضَّأَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَنِ الْمَرْأَتَانِ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ اللَّتَانِ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {إِنْ تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا} قَالَ وَاعَجَبًا لَكَ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ هُمَا عَائِشَةُ وَحَفْصَةُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقْبَلَ عُمَرُ الْحَدِيثَ يَسُوقُهُ قَالَ كُنْتُ أَنَا وَجَارٌ لِي مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فِي بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ وَهُمْ مِنْ عَوَالِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَكُنَّا نَتَنَاوَبُ النُّزُولَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَيَنْزِلُ يَوْمًا وَأَنْزِلُ يَوْمًا فَإِذَا نَزَلْتُ جِئْتُهُ بِمَا حَدَثَ مِنْ خَبَرِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ مِنَ الْوَحْىِ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ وَإِذَا نَزَلَ فَعَلَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَكُنَّا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ نَغْلِبُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا عَلَى الأَنْصَارِ إِذَا قَوْمٌ تَغْلِبُهُمْ نِسَاؤُهُمْ فَطَفِقَ نِسَاؤُنَا يَأْخُذْنَ مِنْ أَدَبِ نِسَاءِ الأَنْصَارِ فَصَخِبْتُ عَلَى امْرَأَتِي فَرَاجَعَتْنِي فَأَنْكَرْتُ أَنْ تُرَاجِعَنِي قَالَتْ وَلِمَ تُنْكِرُ أَنْ أُرَاجِعَكَ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّ أَزْوَاجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لَيُرَاجِعْنَهُ وَإِنَّ إِحْدَاهُنَّ لَتَهْجُرُهُ الْيَوْمَ حَتَّى اللَّيْلِ فَأَفْزَعَنِي ذَلِكَ وَقُلْتُ لَهَا وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُنَّ ثُمَّ جَمَعْتُ عَلَىَّ ثِيَابِي فَنَزَلْتُ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا أَىْ حَفْصَةُ أَتُغَاضِبُ إِحْدَاكُنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ الْيَوْمَ حَتَّى اللَّيْلِ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ قَدْ خِبْتِ وَخَسِرْتِ أَفَتَأْمَنِينَ أَنْ يَغْضَبَ اللَّهُ لِغَضَبِ رَسُولِهِ ﷺ فَتَهْلِكِي لاَ تَسْتَكْثِرِي النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَلاَ تُرَاجِعِيهِ فِي شَىْءٍ وَلاَ تَهْجُرِيهِ وَسَلِينِي مَا بَدَا لَكِ وَلاَ يَغُرَّنَّكِ أَنْ كَانَتْ جَارَتُكِ أَوْضَأَ مِنْكِ وَأَحَبَّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ يُرِيدُ عَائِشَةَ قَالَ عُمَرُ وَكُنَّا قَدْ تَحَدَّثْنَا أَنَّ غَسَّانَ تُنْعِلُ الْخَيْلَ لِغَزْوِنَا فَنَزَلَ صَاحِبِي الأَنْصَارِيُّ يَوْمَ نَوْبَتِهِ فَرَجَعَ إِلَيْنَا عِشَاءً فَضَرَبَ بَابِي ضَرْبًا شَدِيدًا وَقَالَ أَثَمَّ هُوَ فَفَزِعْتُ فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ قَدْ حَدَثَ الْيَوْمَ أَمْرٌ عَظِيمٌ قُلْتُ مَا هُوَ أَجَاءَ غَسَّانُ قَالَ لاَ بَلْ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَأَهْوَلُ طَلَّقَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ نِسَاءَهُ فَقُلْتُ خَابَتْ حَفْصَةُ وَخَسِرَتْ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ هَذَا يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَكُونَ فَجَمَعْتُ عَلَىَّ ثِيَابِي فَصَلَّيْتُ صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَدَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مَشْرُبَةً لَهُ فَاعْتَزَلَ فِيهَا وَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَبْكِي فَقُلْتُ مَا يُبْكِيكِ أَلَمْ أَكُنْ حَذَّرْتُكِ هَذَا أَطَلَّقَكُنَّ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ قَالَتْ لاَ أَدْرِي هَا هُوَ ذَا مُعْتَزِلٌ فِي الْمَشْرُبَةِ فَخَرَجْتُ فَجِئْتُ إِلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَإِذَا حَوْلَهُ رَهْطٌ يَبْكِي بَعْضُهُمْ فَجَلَسْتُ مَعَهُمْ قَلِيلاً ثُمَّ غَلَبَنِي مَا أَجِدُ فَجِئْتُ الْمَشْرُبَةَ الَّتِي فِيهَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ لِغُلاَمٍ لَهُ أَسْوَدَ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِعُمَرَ فَدَخَلَ الْغُلاَمُ فَكَلَّمَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَقَالَ كَلَّمْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَذَكَرْتُكَ لَهُ فَصَمَتَ فَانْصَرَفْتُ حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ مَعَ الرَّهْطِ الَّذِينَ عِنْدَ الْمِنْبَرِ ثُمَّ غَلَبَنِي مَا أَجِدُ فَجِئْتُ فَقُلْتُ لِلْغُلاَمِ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِعُمَرَ فَدَخَلَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَقَالَ قَدْ ذَكَرْتُكَ لَهُ فَصَمَتَ فَرَجَعْتُ فَجَلَسْتُ مَعَ الرَّهْطِ الَّذِينَ عِنْدَ الْمِنْبَرِ ثُمَّ غَلَبَنِي مَا أَجِدُ فَجِئْتُ الْغُلاَمَ فَقُلْتُ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِعُمَرَ فَدَخَلَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ قَدْ ذَكَرْتُكَ لَهُ فَصَمَتَ فَلَمَّا وَلَّيْتُ مُنْصَرِفًا قَالَ إِذَا الْغُلاَمُ يَدْعُونِي فَقَالَ قَدْ أَذِنَ لَكَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُضْطَجِعٌ عَلَى رِمَالِ حَصِيرٍ لَيْسَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهُ فِرَاشٌ قَدْ أَثَّرَ الرِّمَالُ بِجَنْبِهِ مُتَّكِئًا عَلَى وِسَادَةٍ مِنْ أَدَمٍ حَشْوُهَا لِيفٌ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ وَأَنَا قَائِمٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَطَلَّقْتَ نِسَاءَكَ فَرَفَعَ إِلَىَّ بَصَرَهُ فَقَالَ لاَ فَقُلْتُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ وَأَنَا قَائِمٌ أَسْتَأْنِسُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ رَأَيْتَنِي وَكُنَّا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ نَغْلِبُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ إِذَا قَوْمٌ تَغْلِبُهُمْ نِسَاؤُهُمْ فَتَبَسَّمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ رَأَيْتَنِي وَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا لاَ يَغُرَّنَّكِ أَنْ كَانَتْ جَارَتُكِ أَوْضَأَ مِنْكِ وَأَحَبَّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ يُرِيدُ عَائِشَةَ فَتَبَسَّمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ تَبَسُّمَةً أُخْرَى فَجَلَسْتُ حِينَ رَأَيْتُهُ تَبَسَّمَ فَرَفَعْتُ بَصَرِي فِي بَيْتِهِ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْتُ فِي بَيْتِهِ شَيْئًا يَرُدُّ الْبَصَرَ غَيْرَ أَهَبَةٍ ثَلاَثَةٍ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ادْعُ اللَّهَ فَلْيُوَسِّعْ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ فَإِنَّ فَارِسًا وَالرُّومَ قَدْ وُسِّعَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأُعْطُوا الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ لاَ يَعْبُدُونَ اللَّهَ فَجَلَسَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَكَانَ مُتَّكِئًا فَقَالَ أَوَفِي هَذَا أَنْتَ يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ إِنَّ أُولَئِكَ قَوْمٌ عُجِّلُوا طَيِّبَاتِهِمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اسْتَغْفِرْ لِي فَاعْتَزَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ نِسَاءَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ الْحَدِيثِ حِينَ أَفْشَتْهُ حَفْصَةُ إِلَى عَائِشَةَ تِسْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً وَكَانَ قَالَ مَا أَنَا بِدَاخِلٍ عَلَيْهِنَّ شَهْرًا مِنْ شِدَّةِ مَوْجِدَتِهِ عَلَيْهِنَّ حِينَ عَاتَبَهُ اللَّهُ فَلَمَّا مَضَتْ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ لَيْلَةً دَخَلَ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَبَدَأَ بِهَا فَقَالَتْ لَهُ عَائِشَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ كُنْتَ قَدْ أَقْسَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَدْخُلَ عَلَيْنَا شَهْرًا وَإِنَّمَا أَصْبَحْتَ مِنْ تِسْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً أَعُدُّهَا عَدًّا فَقَالَ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ فَكَانَ ذَلِكَ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى آيَةَ التَّخَيُّرِ فَبَدَأَ بِي أَوَّلَ امْرَأَةٍ مِنْ نِسَائِهِ فَاخْتَرْتُهُ ثُمَّ خَيَّرَ نِسَاءَهُ كُلَّهُنَّ فَقُلْنَ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ

that Heraclius had sent a messenger to him while he had been accompanying a caravan from Quraish. They were merchants doing business in Shām (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan), at the time when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had a truce with Abū Sufyān and the Quraysh. So Abū Sufyān and his companions went to Heraclius at Ilyāʾ (Jerusalem).

Heraclius called them in the court and he had all the senior Roman dignitaries around him. He called for his translator who, translating Heraclius's question said to them, "Who amongst you is closely related to that man who claims to be a Prophet?" Abū Sufyān replied, "I am the nearest relative to him (amongst the group)." Heraclius said, "Bring him (Abū Sufyān) close to me and make his companions stand behind him." Abu Sufyan added, Heraclius told his translator to tell my companions that he wanted to put some questions to me regarding that man (the Prophet ﷺ) and that if I told a lie they (my companions) should contradict me." Abu Sufyan added, "By Allah! Had I not been afraid of my companions labeling me a liar, I would not have spoken the truth about the Prophet.

(1) The first question he asked me about him was: 'What is his family status among you?' I replied, 'He belongs to a good (noble) family amongst us.'

(2) Heraclius further asked, 'Has anybody amongst you ever claimed the same (i.e. to be a Prophet) before him?' I replied, 'No.'

(3) He said, 'Was anybody amongst his ancestors a king?' I replied, 'No.'

(4) Heraclius asked, 'Do the nobles or the poor follow him?' I replied, 'It is the poor who follow him.'

(5) He said, 'Are his followers increasing or decreasing (day by day)?' I replied, 'They are increasing.'

(6) He then asked, 'Does anybody amongst those who embrace his religion become displeased and renounce the religion afterward?' I replied, 'No.'

(7) Heraclius said, 'Have you ever accused him of telling lies before his claim (to be a Prophet)?' I replied, 'No. '

(8) Heraclius said, 'Does he break his promises?' I replied, 'No. We are at truce with him but we do not know what he will do in it.' I could not find an opportunity to say anything against him except that.

(9) Heraclius asked, 'Have you ever had a war with him?' I replied, 'Yes.'

(10) Then he said, 'What was the outcome of the battles?' I replied, 'Sometimes he was victorious, and sometimes we.'

(11) Heraclius said, 'What does he order you to do?' I said, 'He tells us to worship Allah and Allah alone and not to worship anything along with Him, and to renounce all that our ancestors had said. He orders us to pray, to speak the truth, to be chaste, and to keep good relations with our kith and kin.'

Heraclius asked the translator to convey to me the following:

(1) I asked you about his family and your reply was that he belonged to a very noble family. In fact, all the Apostles come from noble families amongst their respective peoples.

(2) I questioned you whether anybody else amongst you claimed such a thing, your reply was in the negative. If the answer had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man was following the previous man's statement.

(3) Then I asked you whether anyone of his ancestors was a king. Your reply was in the negative, and if it had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take back his ancestral kingdom.

(7) I further asked whether he was ever accused of telling lies before he said what he said, and your reply was in the negative. So I wondered how a person who does not tell a lie about others could ever tell a lie about Allah.

(4) I, then asked you whether the rich people followed him or the poor. You replied that it was the poor who followed him. And in fact, all the Apostles have been followed by this very class of people.

(5) Then I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You replied that they were increasing, and in fact, this is the way of true faith, till it is complete in all respects.

(6) I further asked you whether there was anybody, who, after embracing his religion, became displeased and discarded his religion. Your reply was in the negative, and in fact, this is (the sign of) true faith, when its delight enters the hearts and mixes with them completely.

(8) I asked you whether he had ever betrayed. You replied in the negative and likewise, the Apostles never betray.

(11) Then I asked you what he ordered you to do. You replied that he ordered you to worship Allah and Allah alone and not to worship anything along with Him and forbade you to worship idols and ordered you to pray, to speak the truth, and to be chaste. If what you have said is true, he will very soon occupy this place underneath my feet and I knew it (from the scriptures) that he was going to appear but I did not know that he would be from you, and if I could reach him definitely, I would go immediately to meet him and if I were with him, I would certainly wash his feet.'

Heraclius then asked for the letter addressed by Allah's Apostle which was delivered by Diḥyah to the Governor of Busra, who forwarded it to Heraclius to read. The contents of the letter were as follows: "In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful. (This letter is) from Muḥammad, the servant of Allah and His Apostle to Heraclius, the ruler of Byzantine. Peace be upon him, who follows the right path. Furthermore, I invite you to Islam, and if you become a Muslim you will be safe, and Allah will double your reward, and if you reject this invitation of Islam you will be committing a sin of Arisiyin (tillers, farmers i.e. your people). And (Allah's Statement:) 'O people of the scripture! Come to a word common to you and us that we worship none but Allah and that we associate nothing in worship with Him, and that none of us shall take others as Lords beside Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: Bear witness that we are Muslims (those who have surrendered to Allah).' (Āl ʿImrān 3:64).

Abū Sufyān then added, "When Heraclius had finished his speech and had read the letter, there was a great hue and cry in the Royal Court. So we were turned out of the court. I told my companions that the question of Ibn Abī Kabshah (the Prophet ﷺ Muhammad) has become so prominent that even the King of Banū al-Aṣfar (Byzantine) is afraid of him. Then I started to become sure that he (the Prophet) would be the conqueror in the near future till I embraced Islam (i.e. Allah guided me to it)."

The sub-narrator adds, "Ibn al-Natur was the Governor of llyāʾ (Jerusalem) and Heraclius was the head of the Christians of Sham. Ibn al-Natur narrates that once while Heraclius was visiting ilya' (Jerusalem), he got up in the morning in a sad mood. Some of his priests asked him why he was in that mood. Heraclius was a foreteller and an astrologer. He replied, 'At night when I looked at the stars, I saw that the leader of those who practice circumcision had appeared (become the conqueror). Who are they who practice circumcision?' The people replied, 'Except for the Jews nobody practices circumcision, so you should not be afraid of them (Jews). 'Just issue orders to kill every Jew present in the country.' While they were discussing it, a messenger sent by the king of Ghassān to convey the news of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to Heraclius was brought in. Having heard the news, he (Heraclius) ordered the people to go and see whether the messenger of Ghassān was circumcised. The people, after seeing him, told Heraclius that he was circumcised. Heraclius then asked him about the Arabs. The messenger replied, 'Arabs also practice circumcision.' (After hearing that) Heraclius remarked that the sovereignty of the 'Arabs had appeared. Heraclius then wrote a letter to his friend in Rome who was as good as Heraclius in knowledge. Heraclius then left for Homs (a town in Syria) and stayed there till he received the reply to his letter from his friend who agreed with him in his opinion about the emergence of the Prophet ﷺ and the fact that he was a Prophet. On that, Heraclius invited all the heads of the Byzantines to assemble in his palace in Homs. When they assembled, he ordered that all the doors of his palace be closed. Then he came out and said, 'O Byzantines! If success is your desire and if you seek the right guidance and want your empire to remain then give a pledge of allegiance to this Prophet.' (On hearing the views of Heraclius) the people ran towards the gates of the palace like onagers but found the doors closed. Heraclius realized their hatred towards Islam and when he lost hope of their embracing Islam, he ordered that they should be brought back in audience. (When they returned) he said, 'What was already said was just to test the strength of your conviction and I have seen it.' The people prostrated before him and became pleased with him, and this was the end of Heraclius's story.

أَنَّ هِرَقْلَ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ فِي رَكْبٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ۔ وَكَانُوا تُجَّارًا بِالشَّأْمِ فِي الْمُدَّةِ الَّتِي كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَادَّ فِيهَا أَبَا سُفْيَانَ وَكُفَّارَ قُرَيْشٍ۔ فَأَتَوْهُ وَهُمْ بِإِيلِيَاءَ۔

فَدَعَاهُمْ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ وَحَوْلَهُ عُظَمَاءُ الرُّومِ ثُمَّ دَعَاهُمْ، وَدَعَا بِتَرْجُمَانِهِ۔ فَقَالَ: أَيُّكُمْ أَقْرَبُ نَسَبًا بِهَذَا الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ؟ فَقَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ فَقُلْتُ: أَنَا أَقْرَبُهُمْ نَسَبًا۔ فَقَالَ: أَدْنُوهُ مِنِّي وَقَرِّبُوا أَصْحَابَهُ فَاجْعَلُوهُمْ عِنْدَ ظَهْرِهِ۔ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِتَرْجُمَانِهِ: قُلْ لَهُمْ إِنِّي سَائِلٌ هَذَا عَنْ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ، فَإِنْ كَذَبَنِي فَكَذِّبُوهُ، فَوَاللَّهِ لَوْلاَ الْحَيَاءُ مِنْ أَنْ يَأْثِرُوا عَلَىَّ كَذِبًا لَكَذَبْتُ عَنْهُ۔ ثُمَّ كَانَ أَوَّلَ مَا سَأَلَنِي عَنْهُ أَنْ
(١) قَالَ: كَيْفَ نَسَبُهُ فِيكُمْ؟ قُلْتُ: هُوَ فِينَا ذُو نَسَبٍ۔
(٢) قَالَ: فَهَلْ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ مِنْكُمْ أَحَدٌ قَطُّ قَبْلَهُ؟ قُلْتُ: لاَ۔
(٣) قَالَ: فَهَلْ كَانَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ مِنْ مَلِكٍ؟ قُلْتُ: لاَ۔
(٤) قَالَ: فَأَشْرَافُ النَّاسِ يَتَّبِعُونَهُ أَمْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ؟ فَقُلْتُ: بَلْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ۔
(٥) قَالَ: أَيَزِيدُونَ أَمْ يَنْقُصُونَ؟ قُلْتُ: بَلْ يَزِيدُونَ۔
(٦) قَالَ: فَهَلْ يَرْتَدُّ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ سَخْطَةً لِدِينِهِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ فِيهِ؟ قُلْتُ: لاَ۔
(٧) قَالَ: فَهَلْ كُنْتُمْ تَتَّهِمُونَهُ بِالْكَذِبِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا قَالَ؟ قُلْتُ: لاَ۔
(٨) قَالَ: فَهَلْ يَغْدِرُ؟ قُلْتُ: لاَ، وَنَحْنُ مِنْهُ فِي مُدَّةٍ لاَ نَدْرِي مَا هُوَ فَاعِلٌ فِيهَا۔ قَالَ: وَلَمْ تُمْكِنِّي كَلِمَةٌ أُدْخِلُ فِيهَا شَيْئًا غَيْرُ هَذِهِ الْكَلِمَةِ۔
(٩) قَالَ: فَهَلْ قَاتَلْتُمُوهُ؟ قُلْتُ: نَعَمْ۔
(١٠) قَالَ: فَكَيْفَ كَانَ قِتَالُكُمْ إِيَّاهُ؟ قُلْتُ: الْحَرْبُ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُ سِجَالٌ يَنَالُ مِنَّا وَنَنَالُ مِنْهُ۔
(١١) قَالَ: مَاذَا يَأْمُرُكُمْ؟ قُلْتُ: يَقُولُ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ وَلاَ تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا، وَاتْرُكُوا مَا يَقُولُ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَيَأْمُرُنَا بِالصَّلاَةِ وَالصِّدْقِ وَالْعَفَافِ وَالصِّلَةِ۔
فَقَالَ لِلتَّرْجُمَانِ قُلْ لَهُ:
(١) سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ نَسَبِهِ فَذَكَرْتَ أَنَّهُ فِيكُمْ ذُو نَسَبٍ، فَكَذَلِكَ الرُّسُلُ تُبْعَثُ فِي نَسَبِ قَوْمِهَا۔
(٢) وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ قَالَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ فَذَكَرْتَ أَنْ لاَ، فَقُلْتُ لَوْ كَانَ أَحَدٌ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ قَبْلَهُ لَقُلْتُ رَجُلٌ يَأْتَسِي بِقَوْلٍ قِيلَ قَبْلَهُ۔
(٣) وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ كَانَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ مِنْ مَلِكٍ فَذَكَرْتَ أَنْ لاَ، قُلْتُ فَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ مِنْ مَلِكٍ قُلْتُ رَجُلٌ يَطْلُبُ مُلْكَ أَبِيهِ۔
(٧) وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ كُنْتُمْ تَتَّهِمُونَهُ بِالْكَذِبِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا قَالَ فَذَكَرْتَ أَنْ لاَ، فَقَدْ أَعْرِفُ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيَذَرَ الْكَذِبَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكْذِبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ۔
(٤) وَسَأَلْتُكَ أَشْرَافُ النَّاسِ اتَّبَعُوهُ أَمْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ فَذَكَرْتَ أَنَّ ضُعَفَاءَهُمُ اتَّبَعُوهُ، وَهُمْ أَتْبَاعُ الرُّسُلِ۔
(٥) وَسَأَلْتُكَ أَيَزِيدُونَ أَمْ يَنْقُصُونَ فَذَكَرْتَ أَنَّهُمْ يَزِيدُونَ، وَكَذَلِكَ أَمْرُ الإِيمَانِ حَتَّى يَتِمَّ۔
(٦) وَسَأَلْتُكَ أَيَرْتَدُّ أَحَدٌ سَخْطَةً لِدِينِهِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ فِيهِ فَذَكَرْتَ أَنْ لاَ، وَكَذَلِكَ الإِيمَانُ حِينَ تُخَالِطُ بَشَاشَتُهُ الْقُلُوبَ۔
(٨) وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ يَغْدِرُ فَذَكَرْتَ أَنْ لاَ، وَكَذَلِكَ الرُّسُلُ لاَ تَغْدِرُ۔
(١١) وَسَأَلْتُكَ بِمَا يَأْمُرُكُمْ فَذَكَرْتَ أَنَّهُ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلاَ تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَيَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْ عِبَادَةِ الأَوْثَانِ وَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ وَالصِّدْقِ وَالْعَفَافِ، فَإِنْ كَانَ مَا تَقُولُ حَقًّا فَسَيَمْلِكُ مَوْضِعَ قَدَمَىَّ هَاتَيْنِ، وَقَدْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ خَارِجٌ لَمْ أَكُنْ أَظُنُّ أَنَّهُ مِنْكُمْ، فَلَوْ أَنِّي أَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أَخْلُصُ إِلَيْهِ لَتَجَشَّمْتُ لِقَاءَهُ، وَلَوْ كُنْتُ عِنْدَهُ لَغَسَلْتُ عَنْ قَدَمِهِ۔
ثُمَّ دَعَا بِكِتَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ الَّذِي بَعَثَ بِهِ دِحْيَةُ إِلَى عَظِيمِ بُصْرَى فَدَفَعَهُ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ فَقَرَأَهُ فَإِذَا فِيهِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ عَظِيمِ الرُّومِ سَلاَمٌ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي أَدْعُوكَ بِدِعَايَةِ الإِسْلاَمِ أَسْلِمْ تَسْلَمْ يُؤْتِكَ اللَّهُ أَجْرَكَ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ إِثْمَ الأَرِيسِيِّينَ وَ{يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَنْ لاَ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَلاَ نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ}
قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ فَلَمَّا قَالَ مَا قَالَ وَفَرَغَ مِنْ قِرَاءَةِ الْكِتَابِ كَثُرَ عِنْدَهُ الصَّخَبُ وَارْتَفَعَتِ الأَصْوَاتُ وَأُخْرِجْنَا فَقُلْتُ لأَصْحَابِي حِينَ أُخْرِجْنَا لَقَدْ أَمِرَ أَمْرُ ابْنِ أَبِي كَبْشَةَ إِنَّهُ يَخَافُهُ مَلِكُ بَنِي الأَصْفَرِ فَمَا زِلْتُ مُوقِنًا أَنَّهُ سَيَظْهَرُ حَتَّى أَدْخَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَىَّ الإِسْلاَمَ۔وَكَانَ ابْنُ النَّاظُورِ صَاحِبُ إِيلِيَاءَ وَهِرَقْلَ سُقُفًّا عَلَى نَصَارَى الشَّأْمِ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ هِرَقْلَ حِينَ قَدِمَ إِيلِيَاءَ أَصْبَحَ يَوْمًا خَبِيثَ النَّفْسِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُ بَطَارِقَتِهِ قَدِ اسْتَنْكَرْنَا هَيْئَتَكَ قَالَ ابْنُ النَّاظُورِ وَكَانَ هِرَقْلُ حَزَّاءً يَنْظُرُ فِي النُّجُومِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ حِينَ سَأَلُوهُ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ اللَّيْلَةَ حِينَ نَظَرْتُ فِي النُّجُومِ مَلِكَ الْخِتَانِ قَدْ ظَهَرَ فَمَنْ يَخْتَتِنُ مِنْ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ قَالُوا لَيْسَ يَخْتَتِنُ إِلاَّ الْيَهُودُ فَلاَ يُهِمَّنَّكَ شَأْنُهُمْ وَاكْتُبْ إِلَى مَدَايِنِ مُلْكِكَ فَيَقْتُلُوا مَنْ فِيهِمْ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ عَلَى أَمْرِهِمْ أُتِيَ هِرَقْلُ بِرَجُلٍ أَرْسَلَ بِهِ مَلِكُ غَسَّانَ يُخْبِرُ عَنْ خَبَرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا اسْتَخْبَرَهُ هِرَقْلُ قَالَ اذْهَبُوا فَانْظُرُوا أَمُخْتَتِنٌ هُوَ أَمْ لاَ فَنَظَرُوا إِلَيْهِ فَحَدَّثُوهُ أَنَّهُ مُخْتَتِنٌ وَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ الْعَرَبِ فَقَالَ هُمْ يَخْتَتِنُونَ فَقَالَ هِرَقْلُ هَذَا مَلِكُ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ قَدْ ظَهَرَ ثُمَّ كَتَبَ هِرَقْلُ إِلَى صَاحِبٍ لَهُ بِرُومِيَةَ وَكَانَ نَظِيرَهُ فِي الْعِلْمِ وَسَارَ هِرَقْلُ إِلَى حِمْصَ فَلَمْ يَرِمْ حِمْصَ حَتَّى أَتَاهُ كِتَابٌ مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ يُوَافِقُ رَأْىَ هِرَقْلَ عَلَى خُرُوجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَأَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ فَأَذِنَ هِرَقْلُ لِعُظَمَاءِ الرُّومِ فِي دَسْكَرَةٍ لَهُ بِحِمْصَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِأَبْوَابِهَا فَغُلِّقَتْ ثُمَّ اطَّلَعَ فَقَالَ يَا مَعْشَرَ الرُّومِ هَلْ لَكُمْ فِي الْفَلاَحِ وَالرُّشْدِ وَأَنْ يَثْبُتَ مُلْكُكُمْ فَتُبَايِعُوا هَذَا النَّبِيَّ فَحَاصُوا حَيْصَةَ حُمُرِ الْوَحْشِ إِلَى الأَبْوَابِ فَوَجَدُوهَا قَدْ غُلِّقَتْ فَلَمَّا رَأَى هِرَقْلُ نَفْرَتَهُمْ وَأَيِسَ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ قَالَ رُدُّوهُمْ عَلَىَّ وَقَالَ إِنِّي قُلْتُ مَقَالَتِي آنِفًا أَخْتَبِرُ بِهَا شِدَّتَكُمْ عَلَى دِينِكُمْ فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ فَسَجَدُوا لَهُ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ فَكَانَ ذَلِكَ آخِرَ شَأْنِ هِرَقْلَ

On the authority of Abu Huraira: The people said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Do you have any difficulty in seeing the moon on a full moon night?" They said, "No, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ." He said, "Do you have any difficulty in seeing the sun when there are no clouds?" They said, "No, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ." He said, "So you will see Him, like that. Allah will gather all the people on the Day of Resurrection, and say, 'Whoever worshipped something (in the world) should follow (that thing),' so, whoever worshipped the sun will follow the sun, and whoever worshiped the moon will follow the moon, and whoever used to worship certain (other false) deities, he will follow those deities. And there will remain only this nation with its good people (or its hypocrites). (The sub-narrator, Ibrahim is in doubt.) Allah will come to them and say, 'I am your Lord.' They will (deny Him and) say, 'We will stay here till our Lord comes, for when our Lord comes, we will recognize Him.' So Allah will come to them in His appearance which they know, and will say, 'I am your Lord.' They will say, 'You are our Lord,' so they will follow Him. Then a bridge will be laid across Hell (Fire)' I and my followers will be the first ones to go across it and none will speak on that Day except the Apostles. And the invocation of the Apostles on that Day will be, 'O Allah, save! Save!' In Hell (or over The Bridge) there will be hooks like the thorns of As-Sa'dan (thorny plant). Have you seen As-Sa'dan? " They replied, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ!" He said, "So those hooks look like the thorns of As-Sa'dan, but none knows how big they are except Allah. Those hooks will snap the people away according to their deeds. Some of the people will stay in Hell (be destroyed) because of their (evil) deeds, and some will be cut or torn by the hooks (and fall into Hell) and some will be punished and then relieved. When Allah has finished His Judgments among the people, He will take whomever He will out of Hell through His Mercy. He will then order the angels to take out of the Fire all those who used to worship none but Allah from among those whom Allah wanted to be merciful to and those who testified (in the world) that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah. The angels will recognize them in the Fire by the marks of prostration (on their foreheads), for the Fire will eat up all the human body except the mark caused by prostration as Allah has forbidden the Fire to eat the mark of prostration. They will come out of the (Hell) Fire, completely burnt and then the water of life will be poured over them and they will grow under it as does a seed that comes in the mud of the torrent. Then Allah will finish the judgments among the people, and there will remain one man facing the (Hell) Fire and he will be the last person among the people of Hell to enter Paradise. He will say, 'O my Lord! Please turn my face away from the fire because its air has hurt me and its severe heat has burnt me.' So he will invoke Allah in the way Allah will wish him to invoke, and then Allah will say to him, 'If I grant you that, will you then ask for anything else?' He will reply, 'No, by Your Power, (Honor) I will not ask You for anything else.' He will give his Lord whatever promises and covenants Allah will demand. So Allah will turn his face away from Hell (Fire). When he will face Paradise and will see it, he will remain quiet for as long as Allah will wish him to remain quiet, then he will say, 'O my Lord! Bring me near to the gate of Paradise.' Allah will say to him, 'Didn't you give your promises and covenants that you would never ask for anything more than what you had been given? Woe on you, O Adam's son! How treacherous you are!' He will say, 'O my lord,' and will keep on invoking Allah till He says to him, 'If I give what you are asking, will you then ask for anything else?' He will reply, 'No, by Your (Honor) Power, I will not ask for anything else.' Then he will give covenants and promises to Allah and then Allah will bring him near to the gate of Paradise. When he stands at the gate of Paradise, Paradise will be opened and spread before him, and he will see its splendor and pleasures whereupon he will remain quiet as long as Allah will wish him to remain quiet, and then he will say, O my Lord! Admit me into Paradise.' Allah will say, 'Didn't you give your covenants and promises that you would not ask for anything more than what you had been given?' Allah will say, 'Woe on you, O Adam's son! How treacherous you are! ' The man will say, 'O my Lord! Do not make me the most miserable of Your creation,' and he will keep on invoking Allah till Allah will laugh because of his sayings, and when Allah will laugh because of him, He will say to him, 'Enter Paradise,' and when he will enter it, Allah will say to him, 'Wish for anything.' So he will ask his Lord, and he will wish for a great number of things, for Allah Himself will remind him to wish for certain things by saying, '(Wish for) so-and-so.' When there is nothing more to wish for, Allah will say, 'This is for you, and its equal (is for you) as well." 'Ata' bin Yazid added: Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri who was present with Abu Huraira, did not deny whatever the latter said, but when Abu Huraira said that Allah had said, "That is for you and its equal as well," Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri said, "And ten times as much, O Abu Huraira!" Abu Huraira said, "I do not remember, except his saying, 'That is for you and its equal as well.'" Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri then said, "I testify that I remember the Prophet ﷺ saying, 'That is for you, and ten times as much.' ' Abu Huraira then added, "That man will be the last person of the people of Paradise to enter Paradise."

أَنَّ النَّاسَ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ نَرَى رَبَّنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ هَلْ تُضَارُّونَ فِي الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ قَالُوا لاَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَهَلْ تُضَارُّونَ فِي الشَّمْسِ لَيْسَ دُونَهَا سَحَابٌ قَالُوا لاَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَإِنَّكُمْ تَرَوْنَهُ كَذَلِكَ يَجْمَعُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ شَيْئًا فَلْيَتَّبِعْهُ فَيَتْبَعُ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ الشَّمْسَ الشَّمْسَ وَيَتْبَعُ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ الْقَمَرَ الْقَمَرَ وَيَتْبَعُ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ الطَّوَاغِيتَ الطَّوَاغِيتَ وَتَبْقَى هَذِهِ الأُمَّةُ فِيهَا شَافِعُوهَا أَوْ مُنَافِقُوهَا شَكَّ إِبْرَاهِيمُ فَيَأْتِيهِمُ اللَّهُ فَيَقُولُ أَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ هَذَا مَكَانُنَا حَتَّى يَأْتِيَنَا رَبُّنَا فَإِذَا جَاءَنَا رَبُّنَا عَرَفْنَاهُ فَيَأْتِيهِمُ اللَّهُ فِي صُورَتِهِ الَّتِي يَعْرِفُونَ فَيَقُولُ أَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ أَنْتَ رَبُّنَا فَيَتْبَعُونَهُ وَيُضْرَبُ الصِّرَاطُ بَيْنَ ظَهْرَىْ جَهَنَّمَ فَأَكُونُ أَنَا وَأُمَّتِي أَوَّلَ مَنْ يُجِيزُهَا وَلاَ يَتَكَلَّمُ يَوْمَئِذٍ إِلاَّ الرُّسُلُ وَدَعْوَى الرُّسُلِ يَوْمَئِذٍ اللَّهُمَّ سَلِّمْ سَلِّمْ وَفِي جَهَنَّمَ كَلاَلِيبُ مِثْلُ شَوْكِ السَّعْدَانِ هَلْ رَأَيْتُمُ السَّعْدَانَ قَالُوا نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَإِنَّهَا مِثْلُ شَوْكِ السَّعْدَانِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لاَ يَعْلَمُ مَا قَدْرُ عِظَمِهَا إِلاَّ اللَّهُ تَخْطَفُ النَّاسَ بِأَعْمَالِهِمْ فَمِنْهُمُ الْمُوبَقُ بَقِيَ بِعَمَلِهِ أَوِ الْمُوثَقُ بِعَمَلِهِ وَمِنْهُمُ الْمُخَرْدَلُ أَوِ الْمُجَازَى أَوْ نَحْوُهُ ثُمَّ يَتَجَلَّى حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْقَضَاءِ بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ وَأَرَادَ أَنْ يُخْرِجَ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَنْ أَرَادَ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ أَمَرَ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ أَنْ يُخْرِجُوا مِنَ النَّارِ مَنْ كَانَ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا مِمَّنْ أَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَرْحَمَهُ مِمَّنْ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ فَيَعْرِفُونَهُمْ فِي النَّارِ بِأَثَرِ السُّجُودِ تَأْكُلُ النَّارُ ابْنَ آدَمَ إِلاَّ أَثَرَ السُّجُودِ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّارِ أَنْ تَأْكُلَ أَثَرَ السُّجُودِ فَيَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ النَّارِ قَدِ امْتُحِشُوا فَيُصَبُّ عَلَيْهِمْ مَاءُ الْحَيَاةِ فَيَنْبُتُونَ تَحْتَهُ كَمَا تَنْبُتُ الْحِبَّةُ فِي حَمِيلِ السَّيْلِ ثُمَّ يَفْرُغُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْقَضَاءِ بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ وَيَبْقَى رَجُلٌ مُقْبِلٌ بِوَجْهِهِ عَلَى النَّارِ هُوَ آخِرُ أَهْلِ النَّارِ دُخُولاً الْجَنَّةَ فَيَقُولُ أَىْ رَبِّ اصْرِفْ وَجْهِي عَنِ النَّارِ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ قَشَبَنِي رِيحُهَا وَأَحْرَقَنِي ذَكَاؤُهَا فَيَدْعُو اللَّهَ بِمَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَدْعُوَهُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ هَلْ عَسَيْتَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَ ذَلِكَ أَنْ تَسْأَلَنِي غَيْرَهُ فَيَقُولُ لاَ وَعِزَّتِكَ لاَ أَسْأَلُكَ غَيْرَهُ وَيُعْطِي رَبَّهُ مِنْ عُهُودٍ وَمَوَاثِيقَ مَا شَاءَ فَيَصْرِفُ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ النَّارِ فَإِذَا أَقْبَلَ عَلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَرَآهَا سَكَتَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَسْكُتَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَىْ رَبِّ قَدِّمْنِي إِلَى باب الْجَنَّةِ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَلَسْتَ قَدْ أَعْطَيْتَ عُهُودَكَ وَمَوَاثِيقَكَ أَنْ لاَ تَسْأَلَنِي غَيْرَ الَّذِي أُعْطِيتَ أَبَدًا وَيْلَكَ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ مَا أَغْدَرَكَ فَيَقُولُ أَىْ رَبِّ وَيَدْعُو اللَّهَ حَتَّى يَقُولَ هَلْ عَسَيْتَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَ ذَلِكَ أَنْ تَسْأَلَ غَيْرَهُ فَيَقُولُ لاَ وَعِزَّتِكَ لاَ أَسْأَلُكَ غَيْرَهُ وَيُعْطِي مَا شَاءَ مِنْ عُهُودٍ وَمَوَاثِيقَ فَيُقَدِّمُهُ إِلَى باب الْجَنَّةِ فَإِذَا قَامَ إِلَى باب الْجَنَّةِ انْفَهَقَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ فَرَأَى مَا فِيهَا مِنَ الْحَبْرَةِ وَالسُّرُورِ فَيَسْكُتُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَسْكُتَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَىْ رَبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي الْجَنَّةَ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ أَلَسْتَ قَدْ أَعْطَيْتَ عُهُودَكَ وَمَوَاثِيقَكَ أَنْ لاَ تَسْأَلَ غَيْرَ مَا أُعْطِيتَ فَيَقُولُ وَيْلَكَ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ مَا أَغْدَرَكَ فَيَقُولُ أَىْ رَبِّ لاَ أَكُونَنَّ أَشْقَى خَلْقِكَ فَلاَ يَزَالُ يَدْعُو حَتَّى يَضْحَكَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ فَإِذَا ضَحِكَ مِنْهُ قَالَ لَهُ ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ فَإِذَا دَخَلَهَا قَالَ اللَّهُ لَهُ تَمَنَّهْ فَسَأَلَ رَبَّهُ وَتَمَنَّى حَتَّى إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيُذَكِّرُهُ يَقُولُ كَذَا وَكَذَا حَتَّى انْقَطَعَتْ بِهِ الأَمَانِيُّ قَالَ اللَّهُ ذَلِكَ لَكَ وَمِثْلُهُ مَعَهُ قَالَ عَطَاءُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ وَأَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ مَعَ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ لاَ يَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ حَدِيثِهِ شَيْئًا حَتَّى إِذَا حَدَّثَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى قَالَ ذَلِكَ لَكَ وَمِثْلُهُ مَعَهُ قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ وَعَشَرَةُ أَمْثَالِهِ مَعَهُ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ مَا حَفِظْتُ إِلاَّ قَوْلَهُ ذَلِكَ لَكَ وَمِثْلُهُ مَعَهُ قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ أَشْهَدُ أَنِّي حَفِظْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَوْلَهُ ذَلِكَ لَكَ وَعَشَرَةُ أَمْثَالِهِ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَذَلِكَ الرَّجُلُ آخِرُ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ دُخُولاً الْجَنَّةَ

I used to teach (the Qur'an to) some people of the Muhajirln (emigrants), among whom there was ʿAbdur Rahman bin ʿAuf. While I was in his house at Mina, and he was with ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab during ʿUmar's last Hajj, ʿAbdur-Rahman came to me and said, "Would that you had seen the man who came today to the Chief of the Believers (ʿUmar), saying, 'O Chief of the Believers! What do you think about so-and-so who says, 'If ʿUmar should die, I will give the pledge of allegiance to such-andsuch person, as by Allah, the pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr was nothing but a prompt sudden action which got established afterwards.' ʿUmar became angry and then said, 'Allah willing, I will stand before the people tonight and warn them against those people who want to deprive the others of their rights (the question of rulership). ʿAbdur-Rahman said, "I said, 'O Chief of the believers! Do not do that, for the season of Hajj gathers the riff-raff and the rubble, and it will be they who will gather around you when you stand to address the people. And I am afraid that you will get up and say something, and some people will spread your statement and may not say what you have actually said and may not understand its meaning, and may interpret it incorrectly, so you should wait till you reach Medina, as it is the place of emigration and the place of Prophet's Traditions, and there you can come in touch with the learned and noble people, and tell them your ideas with confidence; and the learned people will understand your statement and put it in its proper place.' On that, ʿUmar said, 'By Allah! Allah willing, I will do this in the first speech I will deliver before the people in Medina." Ibn ʿAbbas added: We reached Medina by the end of the month of Dhul-Hijja, and when it was Friday, we went quickly (to the mosque) as soon as the sun had declined, and I saw Saʿid bin Zaid bin ʿAmr bin Nufail sitting at the corner of the pulpit, and I too sat close to him so that my knee was touching his knee, and after a short while ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab came out, and when I saw him coming towards us, I said to Saʿid bin Zaid bin ʿAmr bin Nufail "Today ʿUmar will say such a thing as he has never said since he was chosen as Caliph." Saʿid denied my statement with astonishment and said, "What thing do you expect ʿUmar to say the like of which he has never said before?" In the meantime, ʿUmar sat on the pulpit and when the callmakers for the prayer had finished their call, ʿUmar stood up, and having glorified and praised Allah as He deserved, he said, "Now then, I am going to tell you something which (Allah) has written for me to say. I do not know; perhaps it portends my death, so whoever understands and remembers it, must narrate it to the others wherever his mount takes him, but if somebody is afraid that he does not understand it, then it is unlawful for him to tell lies about me. Allah sent Muhammad with the Truth and revealed the Holy Book to him, and among what Allah revealed, was the Verse of the Rajam (the stoning of married person (male & female) who commits illegal sexual intercourse, and we did recite this Verse and understood and memorized it. Messenger of Allah ﷺ did carry out the punishment of stoning and so did we after him. I am afraid that after a long time has passed, somebody will say, 'By Allah, we do not find the Verse of the Rajam in Allah's Book,' and thus they will go astray by leaving an obligation which Allah has revealed. And the punishment of the Rajam is to be inflicted to any married person (male & female), who commits illegal sexual intercourse, if the required evidence is available or there is conception or confession. And then we used to recite among the Verses in Allah's Book: 'O people! Do not claim to be the offspring of other than your fathers, as it is disbelief (unthankfulness) on your part that you claim to be the offspring of other than your real father.' Then Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'Do not praise me excessively as Jesus, son of Marry was praised, but call me Allah's Slave and His Apostles.' (O people!) I have been informed that a speaker amongst you says, 'By Allah, if ʿUmar should die, I will give the pledge of allegiance to such-and-such person.' One should not deceive oneself by saying that the pledge of allegiance given to Abu Bakr was given suddenly and it was successful. No doubt, it was like that, but Allah saved (the people) from its evil, and there is none among you who has the qualities of Abu Bakr. Remember that whoever gives the pledge of allegiance to anybody among you without consulting the other Muslims, neither that person, nor the person to whom the pledge of allegiance was given, are to be supported, lest they both should be killed. And no doubt after the death of the Prophet ﷺ we were informed that the Ansar disagreed with us and gathered in the shed of Bani Saʿda. ʿAli and Zubair and whoever was with them, opposed us, while the emigrants gathered with Abu Bakr. I said to Abu Bakr, 'Let's go to these Ansari brothers of ours.' So we set out seeking them, and when we approached them, two pious men of theirs met us and informed us of the final decision of the Ansar, and said, 'O group of Muhajirin (emigrants) ! Where are you going?' We replied, 'We are going to these Ansari brothers of ours.' They said to us, 'You shouldn't go near them. Carry out whatever we have already decided.' I said, 'By Allah, we will go to them.' And so we proceeded until we reached them at the shed of Bani Saʿda. Behold! There was a man sitting amongst them and wrapped in something. I asked, 'Who is that man?' They said, 'He is Saʿd bin 'Ubada.' I asked, 'What is wrong with him?' They said, 'He is sick.' After we sat for a while, the Ansar's speaker said, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' and praising Allah as He deserved, he added, 'To proceed, we are Allah's Ansar (helpers) and the majority of the Muslim army, while you, the emigrants, are a small group and some people among you came with the intention of preventing us from practicing this matter (of caliphate) and depriving us of it.' When the speaker had finished, I intended to speak as I had prepared a speech which I liked and which I wanted to deliver in the presence of Abu Bakr, and I used to avoid provoking him. So, when I wanted to speak, Abu Bakr said, 'Wait a while.' I disliked to make him angry. So Abu Bakr himself gave a speech, and he was wiser and more patient than I. By Allah, he never missed a sentence that I liked in my own prepared speech, but he said the like of it or better than it spontaneously. After a pause he said, 'O Ansar! You deserve all (the qualities that you have attributed to yourselves, but this question (of Caliphate) is only for the Quraish as they are the best of the Arabs as regards descent and home, and I am pleased to suggest that you choose either of these two men, so take the oath of allegiance to either of them as you wish. And then Abu Bakr held my hand and Abu Ubaida bin al-Jarrah's hand who was sitting amongst us. I hated nothing of what he had said except that proposal, for by Allah, I would rather have my neck chopped off as expiator for a sin than become the ruler of a nation, one of whose members is Abu Bakr, unless at the time of my death my own-self suggests something I don't feel at present.' And then one of the Ansar said, 'I am the pillar on which the camel with a skin disease (eczema) rubs itself to satisfy the itching (i.e., I am a noble), and I am as a high class palm tree! O Quraish. There should be one ruler from us and one from you.' Then there was a hue and cry among the gathering and their voices rose so that I was afraid there might be great disagreement, so I said, 'O Abu Bakr! Hold your hand out.' He held his hand out and I pledged allegiance to him, and then all the emigrants gave the Pledge of allegiance and so did the Ansar afterwards. And so we became victorious over Saʿd bin Ubada (whom Al-Ansar wanted to make a ruler). One of the Ansar said, 'You have killed Saʿd bin Ubada.' I replied, 'Allah has killed Saʿd bin Ubada.' ʿUmar added, "By Allah, apart from the great tragedy that had happened to us (i.e. the death of the Prophet), there was no greater problem than the allegiance pledged to Abu Bakr because we were afraid that if we left the people, they might give the Pledge of allegiance after us to one of their men, in which case we would have given them our consent for something against our real wish, or would have opposed them and caused great trouble. So if any person gives the Pledge of allegiance to somebody (to become a Caliph) without consulting the other Muslims, then the one he has selected should not be granted allegiance, lest both of them should be killed."

كُنْتُ أُقْرِئُ رِجَالاً مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ مِنْهُمْ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ فَبَيْنَمَا أَنَا فِي مَنْزِلِهِ بِمِنًى وَهْوَ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ فِي آخِرِ حَجَّةٍ حَجَّهَا إِذْ رَجَعَ إِلَىَّ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَقَالَ لَوْ رَأَيْتَ رَجُلاً أَتَى أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْيَوْمَ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ هَلْ لَكَ فِي فُلاَنٍ يَقُولُ لَوْ قَدْ مَاتَ عُمَرُ لَقَدْ بَايَعْتُ فُلاَنًا فَوَاللَّهِ مَا كَانَتْ بَيْعَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ إِلاَّ فَلْتَةً فَتَمَّتْ فَغَضِبَ عُمَرُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنِّي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَقَائِمٌ الْعَشِيَّةَ فِي النَّاسِ فَمُحَذِّرُهُمْ هَؤُلاَءِ الَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَغْصِبُوهُمْ أُمُورَهُمْ قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لاَ تَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّ الْمَوْسِمَ يَجْمَعُ رَعَاعَ النَّاسِ وَغَوْغَاءَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَغْلِبُونَ عَلَى قُرْبِكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ فِي النَّاسِ وَأَنَا أَخْشَى أَنْ تَقُومَ فَتَقُولَ مَقَالَةً يُطَيِّرُهَا عَنْكَ كُلُّ مُطَيِّرٍ وَأَنْ لاَ يَعُوهَا وَأَنْ لاَ يَضَعُوهَا عَلَى مَوَاضِعِهَا فَأَمْهِلْ حَتَّى تَقْدَمَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَإِنَّهَا دَارُ الْهِجْرَةِ وَالسُّنَّةِ فَتَخْلُصَ بِأَهْلِ الْفِقْهِ وَأَشْرَافِ النَّاسِ فَتَقُولَ مَا قُلْتَ مُتَمَكِّنًا فَيَعِي أَهْلُ الْعِلْمِ مَقَالَتَكَ وَيَضَعُونَهَا عَلَى مَوَاضِعِهَا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لأَقُومَنَّ بِذَلِكَ أَوَّلَ مَقَامٍ أَقُومُهُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَقَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ فِي عَقِبِ ذِي الْحَجَّةِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ عَجَّلْنَا الرَّوَاحَ حِينَ زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ حَتَّى أَجِدَ سَعِيدَ بْنَ زَيْدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ نُفَيْلٍ جَالِسًا إِلَى رُكْنِ الْمِنْبَرِ فَجَلَسْتُ حَوْلَهُ تَمَسُّ رُكْبَتِي رُكْبَتَهُ فَلَمْ أَنْشَبْ أَنْ خَرَجَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُ مُقْبِلاً قُلْتُ لِسَعِيدِ بْنِ زَيْدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ نُفَيْلٍ لَيَقُولَنَّ الْعَشِيَّةَ مَقَالَةً لَمْ يَقُلْهَا مُنْذُ اسْتُخْلِفَ فَأَنْكَرَ عَلَىَّ وَقَالَ مَا عَسَيْتَ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا لَمْ يَقُلْ قَبْلَهُ فَجَلَسَ عُمَرُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَلَمَّا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُونَ قَامَ فَأَثْنَى عَلَى اللَّهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي قَائِلٌ لَكُمْ مَقَالَةً قَدْ قُدِّرَ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَهَا لاَ أَدْرِي لَعَلَّهَا بَيْنَ يَدَىْ أَجَلِي فَمَنْ عَقَلَهَا وَوَعَاهَا فَلْيُحَدِّثْ بِهَا حَيْثُ انْتَهَتْ بِهِ رَاحِلَتُهُ وَمَنْ خَشِيَ أَنْ لاَ يَعْقِلَهَا فَلاَ أُحِلُّ لأَحَدٍ أَنْ يَكْذِبَ عَلَىَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَعَثَ مُحَمَّدًا ﷺ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابَ فَكَانَ مِمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ آيَةُ الرَّجْمِ فَقَرَأْنَاهَا وَعَقَلْنَاهَا وَوَعَيْنَاهَا رَجَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَرَجَمْنَا بَعْدَهُ فَأَخْشَى إِنْ طَالَ بِالنَّاسِ زَمَانٌ أَنْ يَقُولَ قَائِلٌ وَاللَّهِ مَا نَجِدُ آيَةَ الرَّجْمِ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَيَضِلُّوا بِتَرْكِ فَرِيضَةٍ أَنْزَلَهَا اللَّهُ وَالرَّجْمُ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ عَلَى مَنْ زَنَى إِذَا أُحْصِنَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاءِ إِذَا قَامَتِ الْبَيِّنَةُ أَوْ كَانَ الْحَبَلُ أَوْ الاِعْتِرَافُ ثُمَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا نَقْرَأُ فِيمَا نَقْرَأُ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ أَنْ لاَ تَرْغَبُوا عَنْ آبَائِكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ كُفْرٌ بِكُمْ أَنْ تَرْغَبُوا عَنْ آبَائِكُمْ أَوْ إِنَّ كُفْرًا بِكُمْ أَنْ تَرْغَبُوا عَنْ آبَائِكُمْ أَلاَ ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ تُطْرُونِي كَمَا أُطْرِيَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَقُولُوا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ قَائِلاً مِنْكُمْ يَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لَوْ مَاتَ عُمَرُ بَايَعْتُ فُلاَنًا فَلاَ يَغْتَرَّنَّ امْرُؤٌ أَنْ يَقُولَ إِنَّمَا كَانَتْ بَيْعَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَلْتَةً وَتَمَّتْ أَلاَ وَإِنَّهَا قَدْ كَانَتْ كَذَلِكَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ وَقَى شَرَّهَا وَلَيْسَ مِنْكُمْ مَنْ تُقْطَعُ الأَعْنَاقُ إِلَيْهِ مِثْلُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ مَنْ بَايَعَ رَجُلاً عَنْ غَيْرِ مَشُورَةٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَلاَ يُبَايَعُ هُوَ وَلاَ الَّذِي بَايَعَهُ تَغِرَّةً أَنْ يُقْتَلاَ وَإِنَّهُ قَدْ كَانَ مِنْ خَبَرِنَا حِينَ تَوَفَّى اللَّهُ نَبِيَّهُ ﷺ إِلاَّ أَنَّ الأَنْصَارَ خَالَفُونَا وَاجْتَمَعُوا بِأَسْرِهِمْ فِي سَقِيفَةِ بَنِي سَاعِدَةَ وَخَالَفَ عَنَّا عَلِيٌّ وَالزُّبَيْرُ وَمَنْ مَعَهُمَا وَاجْتَمَعَ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقُلْتُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ انْطَلِقْ بِنَا إِلَى إِخْوَانِنَا هَؤُلاَءِ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَانْطَلَقْنَا نُرِيدُهُمْ فَلَمَّا دَنَوْنَا مِنْهُمْ لَقِيَنَا مِنْهُمْ رَجُلاَنِ صَالِحَانِ فَذَكَرَا مَا تَمَالَى عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْمُ فَقَالاَ أَيْنَ تُرِيدُونَ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ فَقُلْنَا نُرِيدُ إِخْوَانَنَا هَؤُلاَءِ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَقَالاَ لاَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ لاَ تَقْرَبُوهُمُ اقْضُوا أَمْرَكُمْ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لَنَأْتِيَنَّهُمْ فَانْطَلَقْنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَاهُمْ فِي سَقِيفَةِ بَنِي سَاعِدَةَ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ مُزَمَّلٌ بَيْنَ ظَهْرَانَيْهِمْ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا فَقَالُوا هَذَا سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ فَقُلْتُ مَا لَهُ قَالُوا يُوعَكُ فَلَمَّا جَلَسْنَا قَلِيلاً تَشَهَّدَ خَطِيبُهُمْ فَأَثْنَى عَلَى اللَّهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَنَحْنُ أَنْصَارُ اللَّهِ وَكَتِيبَةُ الإِسْلاَمِ وَأَنْتُمْ مَعْشَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ رَهْطٌ وَقَدْ دَفَّتْ دَافَّةٌ مِنْ قَوْمِكُمْ فَإِذَا هُمْ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَخْتَزِلُونَا مِنْ أَصْلِنَا وَأَنْ يَحْضُنُونَا مِنَ الأَمْرِ فَلَمَّا سَكَتَ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ وَكُنْتُ زَوَّرْتُ مَقَالَةً أَعْجَبَتْنِي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُقَدِّمَهَا بَيْنَ يَدَىْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَكُنْتُ أُدَارِي مِنْهُ بَعْضَ الْحَدِّ فَلَمَّا أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أُغْضِبَهُ فَتَكَلَّمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَكَانَ هُوَ أَحْلَمَ مِنِّي وَأَوْقَرَ وَاللَّهِ مَا تَرَكَ مِنْ كَلِمَةٍ أَعْجَبَتْنِي فِي تَزْوِيرِي إِلاَّ قَالَ فِي بَدِيهَتِهِ مِثْلَهَا أَوْ أَفْضَلَ مِنْهَا حَتَّى سَكَتَ فَقَالَ مَا ذَكَرْتُمْ فِيكُمْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَأَنْتُمْ لَهُ أَهْلٌ وَلَنْ يُعْرَفَ هَذَا الأَمْرُ إِلاَّ لِهَذَا الْحَىِّ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ هُمْ أَوْسَطُ الْعَرَبِ نَسَبًا وَدَارًا وَقَدْ رَضِيتُ لَكُمْ أَحَدَ هَذَيْنِ الرَّجُلَيْنِ فَبَايِعُوا أَيَّهُمَا شِئْتُمْ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي وَبِيَدِ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ بْنِ الْجَرَّاحِ وَهْوَ جَالِسٌ بَيْنَنَا فَلَمْ أَكْرَهْ مِمَّا قَالَ غَيْرَهَا كَانَ وَاللَّهِ أَنْ أُقَدَّمَ فَتُضْرَبَ عُنُقِي لاَ يُقَرِّبُنِي ذَلِكَ مِنْ إِثْمٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَتَأَمَّرَ عَلَى قَوْمٍ فِيهِمْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ اللَّهُمَّ إِلاَّ أَنْ تُسَوِّلَ إِلَىَّ نَفْسِي عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ شَيْئًا لاَ أَجِدُهُ الآنَ فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ أَنَا جُذَيْلُهَا الْمُحَكَّكُ وَعُذَيْقُهَا الْمُرَجَّبُ مِنَّا أَمِيرٌ وَمِنْكُمْ أَمِيرٌ يَا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ فَكَثُرَ اللَّغَطُ وَارْتَفَعَتِ الأَصْوَاتُ حَتَّى فَرِقْتُ مِنَ الاِخْتِلاَفِ فَقُلْتُ ابْسُطْ يَدَكَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَبَسَطَ يَدَهُ فَبَايَعْتُهُ وَبَايَعَهُ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ ثُمَّ بَايَعَتْهُ الأَنْصَارُ وَنَزَوْنَا عَلَى سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ مِنْهُمْ قَتَلْتُمْ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَادَةَ فَقُلْتُ قَتَلَ اللَّهُ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَادَةَ قَالَ عُمَرُ وَإِنَّا وَاللَّهِ مَا وَجَدْنَا فِيمَا حَضَرْنَا مِنْ أَمْرٍ أَقْوَى مِنْ مُبَايَعَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ خَشِينَا إِنْ فَارَقْنَا الْقَوْمَ وَلَمْ تَكُنْ بَيْعَةٌ أَنْ يُبَايِعُوا رَجُلاً مِنْهُمْ بَعْدَنَا فَإِمَّا بَايَعْنَاهُمْ عَلَى مَا لاَ نَرْضَى وَإِمَّا نُخَالِفُهُمْ فَيَكُونُ فَسَادٌ فَمَنْ بَايَعَ رَجُلاً عَلَى غَيْرِ مَشُورَةٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَلاَ يُتَابَعُ هُوَ وَلاَ الَّذِي بَايَعَهُ تَغِرَّةً أَنْ يُقْتَلاَ

(the wife of the Prophet) "Whenever Messenger of Allah ﷺ intended to go on a journey, he would draw lots amongst his wives and would take with him the one upon whom the lot fell. During a Ghazwa of his, he drew lots amongst us and the lot fell upon me, and I proceeded with him after Allah had decreed the use of the veil by women. I was carried in a Howdah (on the camel) and dismounted while still in it. When Messenger of Allah ﷺ was through with his Ghazwa and returned home, and we approached the city of Medina, Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered us to proceed at night. When the order of setting off was given, I walked till I was past the army to answer the call of nature. After finishing I returned (to the camp) to depart (with the others) and suddenly realized that my necklace over my chest was missing. So, I returned to look for it and was delayed because of that. The people who used to carry me on the camel, came to my Howdah and put it on the back of the camel, thinking that I was in it, as, at that time, women were light in weight, and thin and lean, and did not use to eat much. So, those people did not feel the difference in the heaviness of the Howdah while lifting it, and they put it over the camel. At that time I was a young lady. They set the camel moving and proceeded on. I found my necklace after the army had gone, and came to their camp to find nobody. So, I went to the place where I used to stay, thinking that they would discover my absence and come back in my search. While in that state, I felt sleepy and slept. Safwan bin Mu'attal As-Sulami Adh-Dhakwani was behind the army and reached my abode in the morning. When he saw a sleeping person, he came to me, and he used to see me before veiling. So, I got up when I heard him saying, "Inna lil-lah-wa inn a ilaihi rajiun (We are for Allah, and we will return to Him)." He made his camel knell down. He got down from his camel, and put his leg on the front legs of the camel and then I rode and sat over it. Safwan set out walking, leading the camel by the rope till we reached the army who had halted to take rest at midday. Then whoever was meant for destruction, fell into destruction, (some people accused me falsely) and the leader of the false accusers was ʿAbdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. After that we returned to Medina, and I became ill for one month while the people were spreading the forged statements of the false accusers. I was feeling during my ailment as if I were not receiving the usual kindness from the Prophet ﷺ which I used to receive from him when I got sick. But he would come, greet and say, 'How is that (girl)?' I did not know anything of what was going on till I recovered from my ailment and went out with Um Mistah to the Manasi where we used to answer the call of nature, and we used not to go to answer the call of nature except from night to night and that was before we had lavatories near to our houses. And this habit of ours was similar to the habit of the old 'Arabs in the open country (or away from houses). So. I and Um Mistah bint Ruhm went out walking. Um Mistah stumbled because of her long dress and on that she said, 'Let Mistah be ruined.' I said, 'You are saying a bad word. Why are you abusing a man who took part in (the battle of) Badr?' She said, 'O Hanata (you there) didn't you hear what they said?' Then she told me the rumors of the false accusers. My sickness was aggravated, and when I returned home, Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to me, and after greeting he said, 'How is that (girl)?' I requested him to allow me to go to my parents. I wanted then to be sure of the news through them I Messenger of Allah ﷺ allowed me, and I went to my parents and asked my mother, 'What are the people talking about?' She said, 'O my daughter! Don't worry much about this matter. By Allah, never is there a charming woman loved by her husband who has other wives, but the women would forge false news about her.' I said, 'Glorified be Allah! Are the people really taking of this matter?' That night I kept on weeping and could not sleep till morning. In the morning Messenger of Allah ﷺ called ʿAli bin Abu Talib and Usama bin Zaid when he saw the Divine Inspiration delayed, to consul them about divorcing his wife (i.e. ʿAisha). Usama bin Zaid said what he knew of the good reputation of his wives and added, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Keep you wife, for, by Allah, we know nothing about her but good.' ʿAli bin Abu Talib said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Allah has no imposed restrictions on you, and there are many women other than she, yet you may ask the woman-servant who will tell you the truth.' On that Messenger of Allah ﷺ called Barirah and said, 'O Barirah. Did you ever see anything which roused your suspicions about her?' Barirah said, 'No, by Allah Who has sent you with the Truth, I have never seen in her anything faulty except that she is a girl of immature age, who sometimes sleeps and leaves the dough for the goats to eat.' On that day Messenger of Allah ﷺ ascended the pulpit and requested that somebody support him in punishing ʿAbdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. Allah's Apostle said, 'Who will support me to punish that person (ʿAbdullah bin Ubai bin Salul) who has hurt me by slandering the reputation of my family? By Allah, I know nothing about my family but good, and they have accused a person about whom I know nothing except good, and he never entered my house except in my company.' Saʿd bin Muʿadh got up and said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! by Allah, I will relieve you from him. If that man is from the tribe of the Aus, then we will chop his head off, and if he is from our brothers, the Khazraj, then order us, and we will fulfill your order.' On that Saʿd bin 'Ubada, the chief of the Khazraj and before this incident, he had been a pious man, got up, motivated by his zeal for his tribe and said, 'By Allah, you have told a lie; you cannot kill him, and you will never be able to kill him.' On that Usaid bin Al-Hadir got up and said (to Saʿd bin 'Ubada), 'By Allah! you are a liar. By Allah, we will kill him; and you are a hypocrite, defending the hypocrites.' On this the two tribes of Aus and Khazraj got excited and were about to fight each other, while Messenger of Allah ﷺ was standing on the pulpit. He got down and quieted them till they became silent and he kept quiet. On that day I kept on weeping so much so that neither did my tears stop, nor could I sleep. In the morning my parents were with me and I had wept for two nights and a day, till I thought my liver would burst from weeping. While they were sitting with me and I was weeping, an Ansari woman asked my permission to enter, and I allowed her to come in. She sat down and started weeping with me. While we were in this state, Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and sat down and he had never sat with me since the day they forged the accusation. No revelation regarding my case came to him for a month. He recited Tashah-hud (i.e. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is His Apostle) and then said, 'O ʿAisha! I have been informed such-and-such about you; if you are innocent, then Allah will soon reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him to forgive you, for when a person confesses his sin and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance.' When Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished his speech my tears ceased completely and there remained not even a single drop of it. I requested my father to reply to Messenger of Allah ﷺ on my behalf. My father said, By Allah, I do not know what to say to Messenger of Allah ﷺ.' I said to my mother, 'Talk to Messenger of Allah ﷺ on my behalf.' She said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's Apostle. I was a young girl and did not have much knowledge of the Qur'an. I said. 'I know, by Allah, that you have listened to what people are saying and that has been planted in your minds and you have taken it as a truth. Now, if I told you that I am innocent and Allah knows that I am innocent, you would not believe me and if I confessed to you falsely that I am guilty, and Allah knows that I am innocent you would believe me. By Allah, I don't compare my situation with you except to the situation of Joseph's father (i.e. Jacob) who said, 'So (for me) patience is most fitting against that which you assert and it is Allah (Alone) whose help can be sought.' Then I turned to the other side of my bed hoping that Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah I never thought that Allah would reveal Divine Inspiration in my case, as I considered myself too inferior to be talked of in the Holy Qur'an. I had hoped that Messenger of Allah ﷺ might have a dream in which Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah, Allah's Apostle had not got up and nobody had left the house before the Divine Inspiration came to Allah's Apostle. So, there overtook him the same state which used to overtake him, (when he used to have, on being inspired divinely). He was sweating so much so that the drops of the sweat were dropping like pearls though it was a (cold) wintry day. When that state of Messenger of Allah ﷺ was over, he was smiling and the first word he said, ʿAisha! Thank Allah, for Allah has declared your innocence.' My mother told me to go to Messenger of Allah ﷺ . I replied, 'By Allah I will not go to him and will not thank but Allah.' So Allah revealed: "Verily! They who spread the slander are a gang among you . . ." (24.11) When Allah gave the declaration of my Innocence, Abu Bakr, who used to provide for Mistah bin Uthatha for he was his relative, said, 'By Allah, I will never provide Mistah with anything because of what he said about Aisha.' But Allah later revealed: -- "And let not those who are good and wealthy among you swear not to help their kinsmen, those in need and those who left their homes in Allah's Cause. Let them forgive and overlook. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? Verily! Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." (24.22) After that Abu Bakr said, 'Yes ! By Allah! I like that Allah should forgive me,' and resumed helping Mistah whom he used to help before. Messenger of Allah ﷺ also asked Zainab bint Jahsh (i.e. the Prophet's wife about me saying, 'What do you know and what did you see?' She replied, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I refrain to claim hearing or seeing what I have not heard or seen. By Allah, I know nothing except goodness about Aisha." Aisha further added "Zainab was competing with me (in her beauty and the Prophet's love), yet Allah protected her (from being malicious), for she had piety."

حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الإِفْكِ مَا قَالُوا فَبَرَّأَهَا اللَّهُ مِنْهُ قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ وَكُلُّهُمْ حَدَّثَنِي طَائِفَةً مِنْ حَدِيثِهَا وَبَعْضُهُمْ أَوْعَى مِنْ بَعْضٍ وَأَثْبَتُ لَهُ اقْتِصَاصًا وَقَدْ وَعَيْتُ عَنْ كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمُ الْحَدِيثَ الَّذِي حَدَّثَنِي عَنْ عَائِشَةَ وَبَعْضُ حَدِيثِهِمْ يُصَدِّقُ بَعْضًا زَعَمُوا أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ سَفَرًا أَقْرَعَ بَيْنَ أَزْوَاجِهِ فَأَيَّتُهُنَّ خَرَجَ سَهْمُهَا خَرَجَ بِهَا مَعَهُ فَأَقْرَعَ بَيْنَنَا فِي غَزَاةٍ غَزَاهَا فَخَرَجَ سَهْمِي فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ بَعْدَ مَا أُنْزِلَ الْحِجَابُ فَأَنَا أُحْمَلُ فِي هَوْدَجٍ وَأُنْزَلُ فِيهِ فَسِرْنَا حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ غَزْوَتِهِ تِلْكَ وَقَفَلَ وَدَنَوْنَا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ آذَنَ لَيْلَةً بِالرَّحِيلِ فَقُمْتُ حِينَ آذَنُوا بِالرَّحِيلِ فَمَشَيْتُ حَتَّى جَاوَزْتُ الْجَيْشَ فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ شَأْنِي أَقْبَلْتُ إِلَى الرَّحْلِ فَلَمَسْتُ صَدْرِي فَإِذَا عِقْدٌ لِي مِنْ جَزْعِ أَظْفَارٍ قَدِ انْقَطَعَ فَرَجَعْتُ فَالْتَمَسْتُ عِقْدِي فَحَبَسَنِي ابْتِغَاؤُهُ فَأَقْبَلَ الَّذِينَ يَرْحَلُونَ لِي فَاحْتَمَلُوا هَوْدَجِي فَرَحَلُوهُ عَلَى بَعِيرِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرْكَبُ وَهُمْ يَحْسِبُونَ أَنِّي فِيهِ وَكَانَ النِّسَاءُ إِذْ ذَاكَ خِفَافًا لَمْ يَثْقُلْنَ وَلَمْ يَغْشَهُنَّ اللَّحْمُ وَإِنَّمَا يَأْكُلْنَ الْعُلْقَةَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَلَمْ يَسْتَنْكِرِ الْقَوْمُ حِينَ رَفَعُوهُ ثِقَلَ الْهَوْدَجِ فَاحْتَمَلُوهُ وَكُنْتُ جَارِيَةً حَدِيثَةَ السِّنِّ فَبَعَثُوا الْجَمَلَ وَسَارُوا فَوَجَدْتُ عِقْدِي بَعْدَ مَا اسْتَمَرَّ الْجَيْشُ فَجِئْتُ مَنْزِلَهُمْ وَلَيْسَ فِيهِ أَحَدٌ فَأَمَمْتُ مَنْزِلِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ بِهِ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُمْ سَيَفْقِدُونِي فَيَرْجِعُونَ إِلَىَّ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسَةٌ غَلَبَتْنِي عَيْنَاىَ فَنِمْتُ وَكَانَ صَفْوَانُ بْنُ الْمُعَطَّلِ السُّلَمِيُّ ثُمَّ الذَّكْوَانِيُّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْجَيْشِ فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدَ مَنْزِلِي فَرَأَى سَوَادَ إِنْسَانٍ نَائِمٍ فَأَتَانِي وَكَانَ يَرَانِي قَبْلَ الْحِجَابِ فَاسْتَيْقَظْتُ بِاسْتِرْجَاعِهِ حِينَ أَنَاخَ رَاحِلَتَهُ فَوَطِئَ يَدَهَا فَرَكِبْتُهَا فَانْطَلَقَ يَقُودُ بِي الرَّاحِلَةَ حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الْجَيْشَ بَعْدَ مَا نَزَلُوا مُعَرِّسِينَ فِي نَحْرِ الظَّهِيرَةِ فَهَلَكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ وَكَانَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّى الإِفْكَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَىٍّ ابْنُ سَلُولَ فَقَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ فَاشْتَكَيْتُ بِهَا شَهْرًا يُفِيضُونَ مِنْ قَوْلِ أَصْحَابِ الإِفْكِ وَيَرِيبُنِي فِي وَجَعِي أَنِّي لاَ أَرَى مِنَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ اللُّطْفَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرَى مِنْهُ حِينَ أَمْرَضُ إِنَّمَا يَدْخُلُ فَيُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ لاَ أَشْعُرُ بِشَىْءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى نَقَهْتُ فَخَرَجْتُ أَنَا وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ قِبَلَ الْمَنَاصِعِ مُتَبَرَّزُنَا لاَ نَخْرُجُ إِلاَّ لَيْلاً إِلَى لَيْلٍ وَذَلِكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ نَتَّخِذَ الْكُنُفَ قَرِيبًا مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا وَأَمْرُنَا أَمْرُ الْعَرَبِ الأُوَلِ فِي الْبَرِّيَّةِ أَوْ فِي التَّنَزُّهِ فَأَقْبَلْتُ أَنَا وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ بِنْتُ أَبِي رُهْمٍ نَمْشِي فَعَثُرَتْ فِي مِرْطِهَا فَقَالَتْ تَعِسَ مِسْطَحٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتِ أَتَسُبِّينَ رَجُلاً شَهِدَ بَدْرًا فَقَالَتْ يَا هَنْتَاهْ أَلَمْ تَسْمَعِي مَا قَالُوا فَأَخْبَرَتْنِي بِقَوْلِ أَهْلِ الإِفْكِ فَازْدَدْتُ مَرَضًا إِلَى مَرَضِي فَلَمَّا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى بَيْتِي دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ فَقُلْتُ ائْذَنْ لِي إِلَى أَبَوَىَّ قَالَتْ وَأَنَا حِينَئِذٍ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْتَيْقِنَ الْخَبَرَ مِنْ قِبَلِهِمَا فَأَذِنَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَتَيْتُ أَبَوَىَّ فَقُلْتُ لأُمِّي مَا يَتَحَدَّثُ بِهِ النَّاسُ فَقَالَتْ يَا بُنَيَّةُ هَوِّنِي عَلَى نَفْسِكِ الشَّأْنَ فَوَاللَّهِ لَقَلَّمَا كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ قَطُّ وَضِيئَةٌ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّهَا وَلَهَا ضَرَائِرُ إِلاَّ أَكْثَرْنَ عَلَيْهَا فَقُلْتُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَلَقَدْ يَتَحَدَّثُ النَّاسُ بِهَذَا قَالَتْ فَبِتُّ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ لاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحْتُ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَأُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ حِينَ اسْتَلْبَثَ الْوَحْىُ يَسْتَشِيرُهُمَا فِي فِرَاقِ أَهْلِهِ فَأَمَّا أُسَامَةُ فَأَشَارَ عَلَيْهِ بِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ فِي نَفْسِهِ مِنَ الْوُدِّ لَهُمْ فَقَالَ أُسَامَةُ أَهْلُكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَلاَ نَعْلَمُ وَاللَّهِ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا وَأَمَّا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَمْ يُضَيِّقِ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَالنِّسَاءُ سِوَاهَا كَثِيرٌ وَسَلِ الْجَارِيَةَ تَصْدُقْكَ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَرِيرَةَ فَقَالَ يَا بَرِيرَةُ هَلْ رَأَيْتِ فِيهَا شَيْئًا يَرِيبُكِ فَقَالَتْ بَرِيرَةُ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنْ رَأَيْتُ مِنْهَا أَمْرًا أَغْمِصُهُ عَلَيْهَا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنَّهَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ تَنَامُ عَنِ الْعَجِينَ فَتَأْتِي الدَّاجِنُ فَتَأْكُلُهُ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ يَوْمِهِ فَاسْتَعْذَرَ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُبَىٍّ ابْنِ سَلُولَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ يَعْذِرُنِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ بَلَغَنِي أَذَاهُ فِي أَهْلِي فَوَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلاَّ خَيْرًا وَقَدْ ذَكَرُوا رَجُلاً مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا وَمَا كَانَ يَدْخُلُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلاَّ مَعِي فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَا وَاللَّهِ أَعْذِرُكَ مِنْهُ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الأَوْسِ ضَرَبْنَا عُنُقَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِنَا مِنَ الْخَزْرَجِ أَمَرْتَنَا فَفَعَلْنَا فِيهِ أَمْرَكَ فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ وَهُوَ سَيِّدُ الْخَزْرَجِ وَكَانَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ رَجُلاً صَالِحًا وَلَكِنِ احْتَمَلَتْهُ الْحَمِيَّةُ فَقَالَ كَذَبْتَ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ لاَ تَقْتُلُهُ وَلاَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَقَامَ أُسَيْدُ بْنُ الْحُضَيْرِ فَقَالَ كَذَبْتَ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ لَنَقْتُلَنَّهُ فَإِنَّكَ مُنَافِقٌ تُجَادِلُ عَنِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فَثَارَ الْحَيَّانِ الأَوْسُ وَالْخَزْرَجُ حَتَّى هَمُّوا وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَنَزَلَ فَخَفَّضَهُمْ حَتَّى سَكَتُوا وَسَكَتَ وَبَكَيْتُ يَوْمِي لاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدِي أَبَوَاىَ قَدْ بَكَيْتُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ وَيَوْمًا حَتَّى أَظُنُّ أَنَّ الْبُكَاءَ فَالِقٌ كَبِدِي قَالَتْ فَبَيْنَا هُمَا جَالِسَانِ عِنْدِي وَأَنَا أَبْكِي إِذِ اسْتَأْذَنَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَأَذِنْتُ لَهَا فَجَلَسَتْ تَبْكِي مَعِي فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجَلَسَ وَلَمْ يَجْلِسْ عِنْدِي مِنْ يَوْمِ قِيلَ فِيَّ مَا قِيلَ قَبْلَهَا وَقَدْ مَكُثَ شَهْرًا لاَ يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ فِي شَأْنِي شَىْءٌ قَالَتْ فَتَشَهَّدَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عَائِشَةُ فَإِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَإِنْ كُنْتِ بَرِيئَةً فَسَيُبَرِّئُكِ اللَّهُ وَإِنْ كُنْتِ أَلْمَمْتِ فَاسْتَغْفِرِي اللَّهَ وَتُوبِي إِلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا اعْتَرَفَ بِذَنْبِهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَقَالَتَهُ قَلَصَ دَمْعِي حَتَّى مَا أُحِسُّ مِنْهُ قَطْرَةً وَقُلْتُ لأَبِي أَجِبْ عَنِّي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ لأُمِّي أَجِيبِي عَنِّي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِيمَا قَالَ قَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ وَأَنَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ لاَ أَقْرَأُ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكُمْ سَمِعْتُمْ مَا يَتَحَدَّثُ بِهِ النَّاسُ وَوَقَرَ فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَصَدَّقْتُمْ بِهِ وَلَئِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنِّي لَبَرِيئَةٌ لاَ تُصَدِّقُونِي بِذَلِكَ وَلَئِنِ اعْتَرَفْتُ لَكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ لَتُصَدِّقُنِّي وَاللَّهِ مَا أَجِدُ لِي وَلَكُمْ مَثَلاً إِلاَّ أَبَا يُوسُفَ إِذْ قَالَ {فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ} ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلْتُ عَلَى فِرَاشِي وَأَنَا أَرْجُو أَنْ يُبَرِّئَنِي اللَّهُ وَلَكِنْ وَاللَّهِ مَا ظَنَنْتُ أَنْ يُنْزِلَ فِي شَأْنِي وَحْيًا وَلأَنَا أَحْقَرُ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ أَنْ يُتَكَلَّمَ بِالْقُرْآنِ فِي أَمْرِي وَلَكِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ يَرَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي النَّوْمِ رُؤْيَا يُبَرِّئُنِي اللَّهُ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَامَ مَجْلِسَهُ وَلاَ خَرَجَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ حَتَّى أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَخَذَهُ مَا كَانَ يَأْخُذُهُ مِنَ الْبُرَحَاءِ حَتَّى إِنَّهُ لَيَتَحَدَّرُ مِنْهُ مِثْلُ الْجُمَانِ مِنَ الْعَرَقِ فِي يَوْمٍ شَاتٍ فَلَمَّا سُرِّيَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ يَضْحَكُ فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ كَلِمَةٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهَا أَنْ قَالَ لِي يَا عَائِشَةُ احْمَدِي اللَّهَ فَقَدْ بَرَّأَكِ اللَّهُ فَقَالَتْ لِي أُمِّي قُومِي إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ لاَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَقُومُ إِلَيْهِ وَلاَ أَحْمَدُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِنْكُمْ} الآيَاتِ فَلَمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ هَذَا فِي بَرَاءَتِي قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ ؓ وَكَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحِ بْنِ أُثَاثَةَ لِقَرَابَتِهِ مِنْهُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحٍ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا بَعْدَ مَا قَالَ لِعَائِشَةَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {وَلاَ يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ} فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بَلَى وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأُحِبُّ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لِي فَرَجَعَ إِلَى مِسْطَحٍ الَّذِي كَانَ يُجْرِي عَلَيْهِ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَسْأَلُ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ جَحْشٍ عَنْ أَمْرِي فَقَالَ يَا زَيْنَبُ مَا عَلِمْتِ مَا رَأَيْتِ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَحْمِي سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهَا إِلاَّ خَيْرًا قَالَتْ وَهْىَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تُسَامِينِي فَعَصَمَهَا اللَّهُ بِالْوَرَعِ قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ مِثْلَهُ قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَيَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ مِثْلَهُ

Messenger of Allah ﷺ wrote to Caesar and invited him to Islam and sent him his letter with Dihya Al-Kalbi whom Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered to hand it over to the Governor of Busra who would forward it to Caesar. Caesar as a sign of gratitude to Allah, had walked from Hims to Ilya (i.e. Jerusalem) when Allah had granted Him victory over the Persian forces. So, when the letter of Messenger of Allah ﷺ reached Caesar, he said after reading it, 'Seek for me any one of his people! (Arabs of Quraish tribe) if present here, in order to ask him about Messenger of Allah ﷺ. At that time Abu Sufyan bin Harb was in Sham with some men from Quraish who had come (to Sham) as merchants during the truce that had been concluded between Messenger of Allah ﷺ; and the infidels of Quraish. Abu Sufyan said, Caesar's messenger found us somewhere in Sham so he took me and my companions to Ilya and we were admitted into Ceasar's court to find him sitting in his royal court wearing a crown and surrounded by the senior dignitaries of the Byzantine. He said to his translator. 'Ask them who amongst them is a close relation to the man who claims to be a prophet." Abu Sufyan added, "I replied, 'I am the nearest relative to him.' He asked, 'What degree of relationship do you have with him?' I replied, 'He is my cousin,' and there was none of Bani Abu Manaf in the caravan except myself. Caesar said, 'Let him come nearer.' He then ordered that my companions stand behind me near my shoulder and said to his translator, 'Tell his companions that I am going to ask this man about the man who claims to be a prophet. If he tells a lie, they should contradict him immediately." Abu Sufyan added, "By Allah! Had it not been shameful that my companions label me a liar, I would not have spoken the truth about him when he asked me. But I considered it shameful to be called a liar by my companions. So I told the truth. He then said to his translator, 'Ask him what kind of family does he belong to.' I replied, 'He belongs to a noble family amongst us.' He said, 'Have anybody else amongst you ever claimed the same before him? 'I replied, 'No.' He said, 'Had you ever blamed him for telling lies before he claimed what he claimed? ' I replied, 'No.' He said, 'Was anybody amongst his ancestors a king?' I replied, 'No.' He said, "Do the noble or the poor follow him?' I replied, 'It is the poor who follow him.' He said, 'Are they increasing or decreasing (day by day)?' I replied,' They are increasing.' He said, 'Does anybody amongst those who embrace his (the Prophet's) Religion become displeased and then discard his Religion?'. I replied, 'No. ' He said, 'Does he break his promises? I replied, 'No, but we are now at truce with him and we are afraid that he may betray us." Abu Sufyan added, "Other than the last sentence, I could not say anything against him. Caesar then asked, 'Have you ever had a war with him?' I replied, 'Yes.' He said, 'What was the outcome of your battles with him?' I replied, 'The result was unstable; sometimes he was victorious and sometimes we.' He said, 'What does he order you to do?' I said, 'He tells us to worship Allah alone, and not to worship others along with Him, and to leave all that our fore-fathers used to worship. He orders us to pray, give in charity, be chaste, keep promises and return what is entrusted to us.' When I had said that, Caesar said to his translator, 'Say to him: I ask you about his lineage and your reply was that he belonged to a noble family. In fact, all the apostles came from the noblest lineage of their nations. Then I questioned you whether anybody else amongst you had claimed such a thing, and your reply was in the negative. If the answer had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man was following a claim that had been said before him. When I asked you whether he was ever blamed for telling lies, your reply was in the negative, so I took it for granted that a person who did not tell a lie about (others) the people could never tell a lie about Allah. Then I asked you whether any of his ancestors was a king. Your reply was in the negative, and if it had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take back his ancestral kingdom. When I asked you whether the rich or the poor people followed him, you replied that it was the poor who followed him. In fact, such are the followers of the apostles. Then I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You replied that they were increasing. In fact, this is the result of true faith till it is complete (in all respects). I asked you whether there was anybody who, after embracing his religion, became displeased and discarded his religion; your reply was in the negative. In fact, this is the sign of true faith, for when its cheerfulness enters and mixes in the hearts completely, nobody will be displeased with it. I asked you whether he had ever broken his promise. You replied in the negative. And such are the apostles; they never break their promises. When I asked you whether you fought with him and he fought with you, you replied that he did, and that sometimes he was victorious and sometimes you. Indeed, such are the apostles; they are put to trials and the final victory is always theirs. Then I asked you what he ordered you. You replied that he ordered you to worship Allah alone and not to worship others along with Him, to leave all that your fore-fathers used to worship, to offer prayers, to speak the truth, to be chaste, to keep promises, and to return what is entrusted to you. These are really the qualities of a prophet who, I knew (from the previous Scriptures) would appear, but I did not know that he would be from amongst you. If what you say should be true, he will very soon occupy the earth under my feet, and if I knew that I would reach him definitely, I would go immediately to meet Him; and were I with him, then I would certainly wash his feet.' " Abu Sufyan added, "Caesar then asked for the letter of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and it was read. Its contents were: "In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful (This letter is) from Muhammad, the slave of Allah, and His Apostle, to Heraculius, the Ruler of the Byzantine. Peace be upon the followers of guidance. Now then, I invite you to Islam (i.e. surrender to Allah), embrace Islam and you will be safe; embrace Islam and Allah will bestow on you a double reward. But if you reject this invitation of Islam, you shall be responsible for misguiding the tillers (i.e. your nation). O people of the Scriptures! Come to a word common to you and us and you, that we worship. None but Allah, and that we associate nothing in worship with Him; and that none of us shall take others as Lords besides Allah. Then if they turn away, say: Bear witness that we are (they who have surrendered (unto Him)..(3.64) Abu Sufyan added, "When Heraclius had finished his speech, there was a great hue and cry caused by the Byzantine Royalties surrounding him, and there was so much noise that I did not understand what they said. So, we were turned out of the court. When I went out with my companions and we were alone, I said to them, 'Verily, Ibn Abi Kabsha's (i.e. the Prophet's) affair has gained power. This is the King of Bani Al-Asfar fearing him." Abu Sufyan added, "By Allah, I remained low and was sure that his religion would be victorious till Allah converted me to Islam, though I disliked it."

أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَتَبَ إِلَى قَيْصَرَ يَدْعُوهُ إِلَى الإِسْلاَمِ وَبَعَثَ بِكِتَابِهِ إِلَيْهِ مَعَ دِحْيَةَ الْكَلْبِيِّ وَأَمَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى عَظِيمِ بُصْرَى لِيَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى قَيْصَرَ وَكَانَ قَيْصَرُ لَمَّا كَشَفَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ جُنُودَ فَارِسَ مَشَى مِنْ حِمْصَ إِلَى إِيلِيَاءَ شُكْرًا لِمَا أَبْلاَهُ اللَّهُ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ قَيْصَرَ كِتَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ حِينَ قَرَأَهُ الْتَمِسُوا لِي هَا هُنَا أَحَدًا مِنْ قَوْمِهِ لأَسْأَلَهُمْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سُفْيَانَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ بِالشَّأْمِ فِي رِجَالٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ قَدِمُوا تِجَارًا فِي الْمُدَّةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ بَيْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَبَيْنَ كُفَّارِ قُرَيْشٍ قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ فَوَجَدَنَا رَسُولُ قَيْصَرَ بِبَعْضِ الشَّأْمِ فَانْطَلَقَ بِي وَبِأَصْحَابِي حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا إِيلِيَاءَ فَأُدْخِلْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي مَجْلِسِ مُلْكِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ التَّاجُ وَإِذَا حَوْلَهُ عُظَمَاءُ الرُّومِ فَقَالَ لِتُرْجُمَانِهِ سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ نَسَبًا إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ فَقُلْتُ أَنَا أَقْرَبُهُمْ نَسَبًا قَالَ مَا قَرَابَةُ مَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ فَقُلْتُ هُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّي وَلَيْسَ فِي الرَّكْبِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَحَدٌ مِنْ بَنِي عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ غَيْرِي فَقَالَ قَيْصَرُ أَدْنُوهُ وَأَمَرَ بِأَصْحَابِي فَجُعِلُوا خَلْفَ ظَهْرِي عِنْدَ كَتِفِي ثُمَّ قَالَ لِتُرْجُمَانِهِ قُلْ لأَصْحَابِهِ إِنِّي سَائِلٌ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ عَنِ الَّذِي يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ فَإِنْ كَذَبَ فَكَذِّبُوهُ قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ وَاللَّهِ لَوْلاَ الْحَيَاءُ يَوْمَئِذٍ مِنْ أَنْ يَأْثُرَ أَصْحَابِي عَنِّي الْكَذِبَ لَكَذَبْتُهُ حِينَ سَأَلَنِي عَنْهُ وَلَكِنِّي اسْتَحْيَيْتُ أَنْ يَأْثُرُوا الْكَذِبَ عَنِّي فَصَدَقْتُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِتُرْجُمَانِهِ قُلْ لَهُ كَيْفَ نَسَبُ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ فِيكُمْ قُلْتُ هُوَ فِينَا ذُو نَسَبٍ قَالَ فَهَلْ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ قَبْلَهُ قُلْتُ لاَ فَقَالَ كُنْتُمْ تَتَّهِمُونَهُ عَلَى الْكَذِبِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا قَالَ قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ فَهَلْ كَانَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ مِنْ مَلِكٍ قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ فَأَشْرَافُ النَّاسِ يَتَّبِعُونَهُ أَمْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ قُلْتُ بَلْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ قَالَ فَيَزِيدُونَ أَوْ يَنْقُصُونَ قُلْتُ بَلْ يَزِيدُونَ قَالَ فَهَلْ يَرْتَدُّ أَحَدٌ سَخْطَةً لِدِينِهِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ فِيهِ قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ فَهَلْ يَغْدِرُ قُلْتُ لاَ وَنَحْنُ الآنَ مِنْهُ فِي مُدَّةٍ نَحْنُ نَخَافُ أَنْ يَغْدِرَ قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ وَلَمْ يُمْكِنِّي كَلِمَةٌ أُدْخِلُ فِيهَا شَيْئًا أَنْتَقِصُهُ بِهِ لاَ أَخَافُ أَنْ تُؤْثَرَ عَنِّي غَيْرُهَا قَالَ فَهَلْ قَاتَلْتُمُوهُ أَوْ قَاتَلَكُمْ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَكَيْفَ كَانَتْ حَرْبُهُ وَحَرْبُكُمْ قُلْتُ كَانَتْ دُوَلاً وَسِجَالاً يُدَالُ عَلَيْنَا الْمَرَّةَ وَنُدَالُ عَلَيْهِ الأُخْرَى قَالَ فَمَاذَا يَأْمُرُكُمْ قَالَ يَأْمُرُنَا أَنْ نَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ لاَ نُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَيَنْهَانَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا وَيَأْمُرُنَا بِالصَّلاَةِ وَالصَّدَقَةِ وَالْعَفَافِ وَالْوَفَاءِ بِالْعَهْدِ وَأَدَاءِ الأَمَانَةِ فَقَالَ لِتُرْجُمَانِهِ حِينَ قُلْتُ ذَلِكَ لَهُ قُلْ لَهُ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ نَسَبِهِ فِيكُمْ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُ ذُو نَسَبٍ وَكَذَلِكَ الرُّسُلُ تُبْعَثُ فِي نَسَبِ قَوْمِهَا وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ قَالَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ قَبْلَهُ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ فَقُلْتُ لَوْ كَانَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ قَبْلَهُ قُلْتُ رَجُلٌ يَأْتَمُّ بِقَوْلٍ قَدْ قِيلَ قَبْلَهُ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ كُنْتُمْ تَتَّهِمُونَهُ بِالْكَذِبِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا قَالَ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ فَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيَدَعَ الْكَذِبَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكْذِبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ كَانَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ مِنْ مَلِكٍ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ فَقُلْتُ لَوْ كَانَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ مَلِكٌ قُلْتُ يَطْلُبُ مُلْكَ آبَائِهِ وَسَأَلْتُكَ أَشْرَافُ النَّاسِ يَتَّبِعُونَهُ أَمْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّ ضُعَفَاءَهُمُ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهُمْ أَتْبَاعُ الرُّسُلِ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ يَزِيدُونَ أَوْ يَنْقُصُونَ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُمْ يَزِيدُونَ وَكَذَلِكَ الإِيمَانُ حَتَّى يَتِمَّ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ يَرْتَدُّ أَحَدٌ سَخْطَةً لِدِينِهِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ فِيهِ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ فَكَذَلِكَ الإِيمَانُ حِينَ تَخْلِطُ بَشَاشَتُهُ الْقُلُوبَ لاَ يَسْخَطُهُ أَحَدٌ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ يَغْدِرُ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ وَكَذَلِكَ الرُّسُلُ لاَ يَغْدِرُونَ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ قَاتَلْتُمُوهُ وَقَاتَلَكُمْ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ قَدْ فَعَلَ وَأَنَّ حَرْبَكُمْ وَحَرْبَهُ تَكُونُ دُوَلاً وَيُدَالُ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَرَّةَ وَتُدَالُونَ عَلَيْهِ الأُخْرَى وَكَذَلِكَ الرُّسُلُ تُبْتَلَى وَتَكُونُ لَهَا الْعَاقِبَةُ وَسَأَلْتُكَ بِمَاذَا يَأْمُرُكُمْ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلاَ تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَيَنْهَاكُمْ عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ وَالصِّدْقِ وَالْعَفَافِ وَالْوَفَاءِ بِالْعَهْدِ وَأَدَاءِ الأَمَانَةِ قَالَ وَهَذِهِ صِفَةُ النَّبِيِّ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ خَارِجٌ وَلَكِنْ لَمْ أَظُنَّ أَنَّهُ مِنْكُمْ وَإِنْ يَكُ مَا قُلْتَ حَقًّا فَيُوشِكُ أَنْ يَمْلِكَ مَوْضِعَ قَدَمَىَّ هَاتَيْنِ وَلَوْ أَرْجُو أَنْ أَخْلُصَ إِلَيْهِ لَتَجَشَّمْتُ لُقِيَّهُ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ عِنْدَهُ لَغَسَلْتُ قَدَمَيْهِ قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِكِتَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُرِئَ فَإِذَا فِيهِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ عَظِيمِ الرُّومِ سَلاَمٌ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي أَدْعُوكَ بِدِعَايَةِ الإِسْلاَمِ أَسْلِمْ تَسْلَمْ وَأَسْلِمْ يُؤْتِكَ اللَّهُ أَجْرَكَ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ فَعَلَيْكَ إِثْمُ الأَرِيسِيِّينَ وَ{يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَنْ لاَ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَلاَ نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ} قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ قَضَى مَقَالَتَهُ عَلَتْ أَصْوَاتُ الَّذِينَ حَوْلَهُ مِنْ عُظَمَاءِ الرُّومِ وَكَثُرَ لَغَطُهُمْ فَلاَ أَدْرِي مَاذَا قَالُوا وَأُمِرَ بِنَا فَأُخْرِجْنَا فَلَمَّا أَنْ خَرَجْتُ مَعَ أَصْحَابِي وَخَلَوْتُ بِهِمْ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ لَقَدْ أَمِرَ أَمْرُ ابْنِ أَبِي كَبْشَةَ هَذَا مَلِكُ بَنِي الأَصْفَرِ يَخَافُهُ قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ وَاللَّهِ مَا زِلْتُ ذَلِيلاً مُسْتَيْقِنًا بِأَنَّ أَمْرَهُ سَيَظْهَرُ حَتَّى أَدْخَلَ اللَّهُ قَلْبِي الإِسْلاَمَ وَأَنَا كَارِهٌ

I had been eager to ask ʿUmar about the two ladies from among the wives of the Prophet ﷺ regarding whom Allah said (in the Qur'an saying): If you two (wives of the Prophet ﷺ namely Aisha and Hafsa) turn in repentance to Allah your hearts are indeed so inclined (to oppose what the Prophet ﷺ likes) (66.4), till performed the Hajj along with ʿUmar (and on our way back from Hajj) he went aside (to answer the call of nature) and I also went aside along with him carrying a tumbler of water. When he had answered the call of nature and returned. I poured water on his hands from the tumbler and he performed ablution. I said, "O Chief of the believers! ' Who were the two ladies from among the wives of the Prophet ﷺ to whom Allah said: 'If you two return in repentance (66.4)? He said, "I am astonished at your question, O Ibn ʿAbbas. They were Aisha and Hafsa." Then ʿUmar went on relating the narration and said. "I and an Ansari neighbor of mine from Bani Umaiya bin Zaid who used to live in ʿAwali Al-Medina, used to visit the Prophet ﷺ in turns. He used to go one day, and I another day. When I went I would bring him the news of what had happened that day regarding the instructions and orders and when he went, he used to do the same for me. We, the people of Quraish, used to have authority over women, but when we came to live with the Ansar, we noticed that the Ansari women had the upper hand over their men, so our women started acquiring the habits of the Ansari women. Once I shouted at my wife and she paid me back in my coin and I disliked that she should answer me back. She said, 'Why do you take it ill that I retort upon you? By Allah, the wives of the Prophet ﷺ retort upon him, and some of them may not speak with him for the whole day till night.' What she said scared me and I said to her, 'Whoever amongst them does so, will be a great loser.' Then I dressed myself and went to Hafsa and asked her, 'Does any of you keep Messenger of Allah ﷺ angry all the day long till night?' She replied in the affirmative. I said, 'She is a ruined losing person (and will never have success)! Doesn't she fear that Allah may get angry for the anger of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and thus she will be ruined? Don't ask Messenger of Allah ﷺ too many things, and don't retort upon him in any case, and don't desert him. Demand from me whatever you like, and don't be tempted to imitate your neighbor (i.e. ʿAisha) in her behavior towards the Prophet), for she (i.e. Aisha) is more beautiful than you, and more beloved to Messenger of Allah ﷺ. In those days it was rumored that Ghassan, (a tribe living in Sham) was getting prepared their horses to invade us. My companion went (to the Prophet ﷺ on the day of his turn, went and returned to us at night and knocked at my door violently, asking whether I was sleeping. I was scared (by the hard knocking) and came out to him. He said that a great thing had happened. I asked him: What is it? Have Ghassan come? He replied that it was worse and more serious than that, and added that Allah's Apostle had divorced all his wives. I said, Hafsa is a ruined loser! I expected that would happen some day.' So I dressed myself and offered the Fajr prayer with the Prophet. Then the Prophet ﷺ entered an upper room and stayed there alone. I went to Hafsa and found her weeping. I asked her, 'Why are you weeping? Didn't I warn you? Have Messenger of Allah ﷺ divorced you all?' She replied, 'I don't know. He is there in the upper room.' I then went out and came to the pulpit and found a group of people around it and some of them were weeping. Then I sat with them for some time, but could not endure the situation. So I went to the upper room where the Prophet ﷺ was and requested to a black slave of his: "Will you get the permission of (Allah's Apostle) for ʿUmar (to enter)? The slave went in, talked to the Prophet ﷺ about it and came out saying, 'I mentioned you to him but he did not reply.' So, I went and sat with the people who were sitting by the pulpit, but I could not bear the situation, so I went to the slave again and said: "Will you get he permission for ʿUmar? He went in and brought the same reply as before. When I was leaving, behold, the slave called me saying, "Messenger of Allah ﷺ has granted you permission." So, I entered upon the Prophet and saw him lying on a mat without wedding on it, and the mat had left its mark on the body of the Prophet, and he was leaning on a leather pillow stuffed with palm fires. I greeted him and while still standing, I said: "Have you divorced your wives?' He raised his eyes to me and replied in the negative. And then while still standing, I said chatting: "Will you heed what I say, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We, the people of Quraish used to have the upper hand over our women (wives), and when we came to the people whose women had the upper hand over them..." ʿUmar told the whole story (about his wife). "On that the Prophet ﷺ smiled." ʿUmar further said, "I then said, 'I went to Hafsa and said to her: Do not be tempted to imitate your companion (ʿAisha) for she is more beautiful than you and more beloved to the Prophet.' The Prophet ﷺ smiled again. When I saw him smiling, I sat down and cast a glance at the room, and by Allah, I couldn't see anything of importance but three hides. I said (to Messenger of Allah ﷺ) "Invoke Allah to make your followers prosperous for the Persians and the Byzantines have been made prosperous and given worldly luxuries, though they do not worship Allah?' The Prophet ﷺ was leaning then (and on hearing my speech he sat straight) and said, 'O Ibn Al-Khattab! Do you have any doubt (that the Hereafter is better than this world)? These people have been given rewards of their good deeds in this world only.' I asked the Prophet ﷺ . 'Please ask Allah's forgiveness for me. The Prophet ﷺ did not go to his wives because of the secret which Hafsa had disclosed to ʿAisha, and he said that he would not go to his wives for one month as he was angry with them when Allah admonished him (for his oath that he would not approach Maria). When twenty-nine days had passed, the Prophet ﷺ went to Aisha first of all. She said to him, 'You took an oath that you would not come to us for one month, and today only twenty-nine days have passed, as I have been counting them day by day.' The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The month is also of twenty-nine days.' That month consisted of twenty-nine days. ʿAisha said, 'When the Divine revelation of Choice was revealed, the Prophet ﷺ started with me, saying to me, 'I am telling you something, but you need not hurry to give the reply till you can consult your parents." ʿAisha knew that her parents would not advise her to part with the Prophet ﷺ . The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah had said: 'O Prophet! Say To your wives; If you desire The life of this world And its glitter, ... then come! I will make a provision for you and set you free In a handsome manner. But if you seek Allah And His Apostle, and The Home of the Hereafter, then Verily, Allah has prepared For the good-doers amongst you A great reward.' (33.28) ʿAisha said, 'Am I to consult my parents about this? I indeed prefer Allah, His Apostle, and the Home of the Hereafter.' After that the Prophet ﷺ gave the choice to his other wives and they also gave the same reply as ʿAisha did."

لَمْ أَزَلْ حَرِيصًا عَلَى أَنْ أَسْأَلَ عُمَرَ ؓ عَنِ الْمَرْأَتَيْنِ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ اللَّتَيْنِ قَالَ اللَّهُ لَهُمَا {إِنْ تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا} فَحَجَجْتُ مَعَهُ فَعَدَلَ وَعَدَلْتُ مَعَهُ بِالإِدَاوَةِ فَتَبَرَّزَ حَتَّى جَاءَ فَسَكَبْتُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الإِدَاوَةِ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَنِ الْمَرْأَتَانِ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ اللَّتَانِ قَالَ لَهُمَا {إِنْ تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ} فَقَالَ وَاعَجَبِي لَكَ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ عَائِشَةُ وَحَفْصَةُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقْبَلَ عُمَرُ الْحَدِيثَ يَسُوقُهُ فَقَالَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ وَجَارٌ لِي مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فِي بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ وَهْىَ مِنْ عَوَالِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَكُنَّا نَتَنَاوَبُ النُّزُولَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَيَنْزِلُ يَوْمًا وَأَنْزِلُ يَوْمًا فَإِذَا نَزَلْتُ جِئْتُهُ مِنْ خَبَرِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ مِنَ الأَمْرِ وَغَيْرِهِ وَإِذَا نَزَلَ فَعَلَ مِثْلَهُ وَكُنَّا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ نَغْلِبُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا عَلَى الأَنْصَارِ إِذَا هُمْ قَوْمٌ تَغْلِبُهُمْ نِسَاؤُهُمْ فَطَفِقَ نِسَاؤُنَا يَأْخُذْنَ مِنْ أَدَبِ نِسَاءِ الأَنْصَارِ فَصِحْتُ عَلَى امْرَأَتِي فَرَاجَعَتْنِي فَأَنْكَرْتُ أَنْ تُرَاجِعَنِي فَقَالَتْ وَلِمَ تُنْكِرُ أَنْ أُرَاجِعَكَ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّ أَزْوَاجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لَيُرَاجِعْنَهُ وَإِنَّ إِحْدَاهُنَّ لَتَهْجُرُهُ الْيَوْمَ حَتَّى اللَّيْلِ فَأَفْزَعَنِي فَقُلْتُ خَابَتْ مَنْ فَعَلَ مِنْهُنَّ بِعَظِيمٍ ثُمَّ جَمَعْتُ عَلَىَّ ثِيَابِي فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقُلْتُ أَىْ حَفْصَةُ أَتُغَاضِبُ إِحْدَاكُنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْيَوْمَ حَتَّى اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَتْ نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ خَابَتْ وَخَسِرَتْ أَفَتَأْمَنُ أَنْ يَغْضَبَ اللَّهُ لِغَضَبِ رَسُولِهِ ﷺ فَتَهْلِكِينَ لاَ تَسْتَكْثِرِي عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلاَ تُرَاجِعِيهِ فِي شَىْءٍ وَلاَ تَهْجُرِيهِ وَاسْأَلِينِي مَا بَدَا لَكِ وَلاَ يَغُرَّنَّكِ أَنْ كَانَتْ جَارَتُكِ هِيَ أَوْضَأَ مِنْكِ وَأَحَبَّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُرِيدُ عَائِشَةَ وَكُنَّا تَحَدَّثْنَا أَنَّ غَسَّانَ تُنْعِلُ النِّعَالَ لِغَزْوِنَا فَنَزَلَ صَاحِبِي يَوْمَ نَوْبَتِهِ فَرَجَعَ عِشَاءً فَضَرَبَ بَابِي ضَرْبًا شَدِيدًا وَقَالَ أَنَائِمٌ هُوَ فَفَزِعْتُ فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَقَالَ حَدَثَ أَمْرٌ عَظِيمٌ قُلْتُ مَا هُوَ أَجَاءَتْ غَسَّانُ قَالَ لاَ بَلْ أَعْظَمُ مِنْهُ وَأَطْوَلُ طَلَّقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ نِسَاءَهُ قَالَ قَدْ خَابَتْ حَفْصَةُ وَخَسِرَتْ كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ أَنَّ هَذَا يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَكُونَ فَجَمَعْتُ عَلَىَّ ثِيَابِي فَصَلَّيْتُ صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَدَخَلَ مَشْرُبَةً لَهُ فَاعْتَزَلَ فِيهَا فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَبْكِي قُلْتُ مَا يُبْكِيكِ أَوَلَمْ أَكُنْ حَذَّرْتُكِ أَطَلَّقَكُنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ لاَ أَدْرِي هُوَ ذَا فِي الْمَشْرُبَةِ فَخَرَجْتُ فَجِئْتُ الْمِنْبَرَ فَإِذَا حَوْلَهُ رَهْطٌ يَبْكِي بَعْضُهُمْ فَجَلَسْتُ مَعَهُمْ قَلِيلاً ثُمَّ غَلَبَنِي مَا أَجِدُ فَجِئْتُ الْمَشْرُبَةَ الَّتِي هُوَ فِيهَا فَقُلْتُ لِغُلاَمٍ لَهُ أَسْوَدَ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِعُمَرَ فَدَخَلَ فَكَلَّمَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقَالَ ذَكَرْتُكَ لَهُ فَصَمَتَ فَانْصَرَفْتُ حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ مَعَ الرَّهْطِ الَّذِينَ عِنْدَ الْمِنْبَرِ ثُمَّ غَلَبَنِي مَا أَجِدُ فَجِئْتُ فَذَكَرَ مِثْلَهُ فَجَلَسْتُ مَعَ الرَّهْطِ الَّذِينَ عِنْدَ الْمِنْبَرِ ثُمَّ غَلَبَنِي مَا أَجِدُ فَجِئْتُ الْغُلاَمَ فَقُلْتُ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِعُمَرَ فَذَكَرَ مِثْلَهُ فَلَمَّا وَلَّيْتُ مُنْصَرِفًا فَإِذَا الْغُلاَمُ يَدْعُونِي قَالَ أَذِنَ لَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُضْطَجِعٌ عَلَى رِمَالِ حَصِيرٍ لَيْسَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهُ فِرَاشٌ قَدْ أَثَّرَ الرِّمَالُ بِجَنْبِهِ مُتَّكِئٌ عَلَى وِسَادَةٍ مِنْ أَدَمٍ حَشْوُهَا لِيفٌ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ وَأَنَا قَائِمٌ طَلَّقْتَ نِسَاءَكَ فَرَفَعَ بَصَرَهُ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ لاَ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ وَأَنَا قَائِمٌ أَسْتَأْنِسُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ رَأَيْتَنِي وَكُنَّا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ نَغْلِبُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا عَلَى قَوْمٍ تَغْلِبُهُمْ نِسَاؤُهُمْ فَذَكَرَهُ فَتَبَسَّمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَوْ رَأَيْتَنِي وَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقُلْتُ لاَ يَغُرَّنَّكِ أَنْ كَانَتْ جَارَتُكِ هِيَ أَوْضَأَ مِنْكِ وَأَحَبَّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ يُرِيدُ عَائِشَةَ فَتَبَسَّمَ أُخْرَى فَجَلَسْتُ حِينَ رَأَيْتُهُ تَبَسَّمَ ثُمَّ رَفَعْتُ بَصَرِي فِي بَيْتِهِ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْتُ فِيهِ شَيْئًا يَرُدُّ الْبَصَرَ غَيْرَ أَهَبَةٍ ثَلاَثَةٍ فَقُلْتُ ادْعُ اللَّهَ فَلْيُوَسِّعْ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ فَإِنَّ فَارِسَ وَالرُّومَ وُسِّعَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأُعْطُوا الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ لاَ يَعْبُدُونَ اللَّهَ وَكَانَ مُتَّكِئًا فَقَالَ أَوَفِي شَكٍّ أَنْتَ يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ أُولَئِكَ قَوْمٌ عُجِّلَتْ لَهُمْ طَيِّبَاتُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اسْتَغْفِرْ لِي فَاعْتَزَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ الْحَدِيثِ حِينَ أَفْشَتْهُ حَفْصَةُ إِلَى عَائِشَةَ وَكَانَ قَدْ قَالَ مَا أَنَا بِدَاخِلٍ عَلَيْهِنَّ شَهْرًا مِنْ شِدَّةِ مَوْجَدَتِهِ عَلَيْهِنَّ حِينَ عَاتَبَهُ اللَّهُ فَلَمَّا مَضَتْ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ دَخَلَ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَبَدَأَ بِهَا فَقَالَتْ لَهُ عَائِشَةُ إِنَّكَ أَقْسَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَدْخُلَ عَلَيْنَا شَهْرًا وَإِنَّا أَصْبَحْنَا لِتِسْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً أَعُدُّهَا عَدًّا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَأُنْزِلَتْ آيَةُ التَّخْيِيرِ فَبَدَأَ بِي أَوَّلَ امْرَأَةٍ فَقَالَ إِنِّي ذَاكِرٌ لَكِ أَمْرًا وَلاَ عَلَيْكِ أَنْ لاَ تَعْجَلِي حَتَّى تَسْتَأْمِرِي أَبَوَيْكِ قَالَتْ قَدْ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَبَوَىَّ لَمْ يَكُونَا يَأْمُرَانِي بِفِرَاقِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ {يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لأَزْوَاجِكَ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ { عَظِيمًا} قُلْتُ أَفِي هَذَا أَسْتَأْمِرُ أَبَوَىَّ فَإِنِّي أُرِيدُ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالدَّارَ الآخِرَةَ ثُمَّ خَيَّرَ نِسَاءَهُ فَقُلْنَ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ

I saw ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab a few days before he was stabbed in Medina. He was standing with Hudhaifa bin Al-Yaman and ʿUthman bin Hunaif to whom he said, "What have you done? Do you think that you have imposed more taxation on the land (of As-Swad i.e. 'Iraq) than it can bear?" They replied, "We have imposed on it what it can bear because of its great yield." ʿUmar again said, "Check whether you have imposed on the land what it can not bear." They said, "No, (we haven't)." ʿUmar added, "If Allah should keep me alive I will let the widows of Iraq need no men to support them after me." But only four days had elapsed when he was stabbed (to death ). The day he was stabbed, I was standing and there was nobody between me and him (i.e. ʿUmar) except ʿAbdullah bin ʿAbbas. Whenever ʿUmar passed between the two rows, he would say, "Stand in straight lines." When he saw no defect (in the rows), he would go forward and start the prayer with Takbir. He would recite Surat Yusuf or An-Nahl or the like in the first rakʿa so that the people may have the time to Join the prayer. As soon as he said Takbir, I heard him saying, "The dog has killed or eaten me," at the time he (i.e. the murderer) stabbed him. A non-Arab infidel proceeded on carrying a double-edged knife and stabbing all the persons he passed by on the right and left (till) he stabbed thirteen persons out of whom seven died. When one of the Muslims saw that, he threw a cloak on him. Realizing that he had been captured, the non-Arab infidel killed himself, ʿUmar held the hand of ʿAbdur-Rahman bin ʿAuf and let him lead the prayer. Those who were standing by the side of ʿUmar saw what I saw, but the people who were in the other parts of the Mosque did not see anything, but they lost the voice of ʿUmar and they were saying, "Subhan Allah! Subhan Allah! (i.e. Glorified be Allah)." ʿAbdur-Rahman bin ʿAuf led the people a short prayer. When they finished the prayer, ʿUmar said, "O Ibn ʿAbbas! Find out who attacked me." Ibn ʿAbbas kept on looking here and there for a short time and came to say. "The slave of Al Mughira." On that ʿUmar said, "The craftsman?" Ibn ʿAbbas said, "Yes." ʿUmar said, "May Allah curse him. I did not treat him unjustly. All the Praises are for Allah Who has not caused me to die at the hand of a man who claims himself to be a Muslim. No doubt, you and your father (Abbas) used to love to have more non-Arab infidels in Medina." Al-Abbas had the greatest number of slaves. Ibn ʿAbbas said to ʿUmar. "If you wish, we will do." He meant, "If you wish we will kill them." ʿUmar said, "You are mistaken (for you can't kill them) after they have spoken your language, prayed towards your Qibla, and performed Hajj like yours." Then ʿUmar was carried to his house, and we went along with him, and the people were as if they had never suffered a calamity before. Some said, "Do not worry (he will be Alright soon)." Some said, "We are afraid (that he will die)." Then an infusion of dates was brought to him and he drank it but it came out (of the wound) of his belly. Then milk was brought to him and he drank it, and it also came out of his belly. The people realized that he would die. We went to him, and the people came, praising him. A young man came saying, "O chief of the believers! Receive the glad tidings from Allah to you due to your company with Messenger of Allah ﷺ and your superiority in Islam which you know. Then you became the ruler (i.e. Caliph) and you ruled with justice and finally you have been martyred." ʿUmar said, "I wish that all these privileges will counterbalance (my shortcomings) so that I will neither lose nor gain anything." When the young man turned back to leave, his clothes seemed to be touching the ground. ʿUmar said, "Call the young man back to me." (When he came back) ʿUmar said, "O son of my brother! Lift your clothes, for this will keep your clothes clean and save you from the Punishment of your Lord." ʿUmar further said, "O ʿAbdullah bin ʿUmar! See how much I am in debt to others." When the debt was checked, it amounted to approximately eighty-six thousand. ʿUmar said, "If the property of ʿUmar's family covers the debt, then pay the debt thereof; otherwise request it from Bani ʿAdi bin Kaʿb, and if that too is not sufficient, ask for it from Quraish tribe, and do not ask for it from any one else, and pay this debt on my behalf." ʿUmar then said (to ʿAbdullah), "Go to ʿAisha (the mother of the believers) and say: "ʿUmar is paying his salutation to you. But don't say: 'The chief of the believers,' because today I am not the chief of the believers. And say: "ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab asks the permission to be buried with his two companions (i.e. the Prophet, and Abu Bakr)." ʿAbdullah greeted ʿAisha and asked for the permission for entering, and then entered to her and found her sitting and weeping. He said to her, "ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab is paying his salutations to you, and asks the permission to be buried with his two companions." She said, "I had the idea of having this place for myself, but today I prefer ʿUmar to myself." When he returned it was said (to ʿUmar), "ʿAbdullah bin ʿUmar has come." ʿUmar said, "Make me sit up." Somebody supported him against his body and ʿUmar asked (ʿAbdullah), "What news do you have?" He said, "O chief of the believers! It is as you wish. She has given the permission." ʿUmar said, "Praise be to Allah, there was nothing more important to me than this. So when I die, take me, and greet ʿAisha and say: "ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab asks the permission (to be buried with the Prophet ﷺ ), and if she gives the permission, bury me there, and if she refuses, then take me to the grave-yard of the Muslims." Then Hafsa (the mother of the believers) came with many other women walking with her. When we saw her, we went away. She went in (to ʿUmar) and wept there for sometime. When the men asked for permission to enter, she went into another place, and we heard her weeping inside. The people said (to ʿUmar), "O chief of the believers! Appoint a successor." ʿUmar said, "I do not find anyone more suitable for the job than the following persons or group whom Messenger of Allah ﷺ had been pleased with before he died." Then ʿUmar mentioned ʿAli, ʿUthman, AzZubair, Talha, Saʿd and ʿAbdur-Rahman (bin ʿAuf) and said, "Abdullah bin ʿUmar will be a witness to you, but he will have no share in the rule. His being a witness will compensate him for not sharing the right of ruling. If Saʿd becomes the ruler, it will be alright: otherwise, whoever becomes the ruler should seek his help, as I have not dismissed him because of disability or dishonesty." ʿUmar added, "I recommend that my successor takes care of the early emigrants; to know their rights and protect their honor and sacred things. I also recommend that he be kind to the Ansar who had lived in Medina before the emigrants and Belief had entered their hearts before them. I recommend that the (ruler) should accept the good of the righteous among them and excuse their wrong-doers, and I recommend that he should do good to all the people of the towns (Al-Ansar), as they are the protectors of Islam and the source of wealth and the source of annoyance to the enemy. I also recommend that nothing be taken from them except from their surplus with their consent. I also recommend that he do good to the 'Arab bedouin, as they are the origin of the 'Arabs and the material of Islam. He should take from what is inferior, amongst their properties and distribute that to the poor amongst them. I also recommend him concerning Allah's and His Apostle's protectees (i.e. Dhimmis) to fulfill their contracts and to fight for them and not to overburden them with what is beyond their ability." So when ʿUmar expired, we carried him out and set out walking. ʿAbdullah bin ʿUmar greeted (ʿAisha) and said, "ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab asks for the permission." ʿAisha said, "Bring him in." He was brought in and buried beside his two companions. When he was buried, the group (recommended by ʿUmar) held a meeting. Then ʿAbdur-Rahman said, " Reduce the candidates for rulership to three of you." Az-Zubair said, "I give up my right to ʿAli." Talha said, "I give up my right to ʿUthman," Saʿd, 'I give up my right to ʿAbdur-Rahman bin ʿAuf." ʿAbdur-Rahman then said (to ʿUthman and ʿAli), "Now which of you is willing to give up his right of candidacy to that he may choose the better of the (remaining) two, bearing in mind that Allah and Islam will be his witnesses." So both the sheiks (i.e. ʿUthman and ʿAli) kept silent. ʿAbdur-Rahman said, "Will you both leave this matter to me, and I take Allah as my Witness that I will not choose but the better of you?" They said, "Yes." So ʿAbdur-Rahman took the hand of one of them (i.e. ʿAli) and said, "You are related to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and one of the earliest Muslims as you know well. So I ask you by Allah to promise that if I select you as a ruler you will do justice, and if I select ʿUthman as a ruler you will listen to him and obey him." Then he took the other (i.e. ʿUthman) aside and said the same to him. When ʿAbdur-Rahman secured (their agreement to) this covenant, he said, "O ʿUthman! Raise your hand." So he (i.e. ʿAbdur-Rahman) gave him (i.e. ʿUthman) the solemn pledge, and then ʿAli gave him the pledge of allegiance and then all the (Medina) people gave him the pledge of allegiance.

رَأَيْتُ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُصَابَ بِأَيَّامٍ بِالْمَدِينَةِ وَقَفَ عَلَى حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ الْيَمَانِ وَعُثْمَانَ بْنِ حُنَيْفٍ قَالَ كَيْفَ فَعَلْتُمَا أَتَخَافَانِ أَنْ تَكُونَا قَدْ حَمَّلْتُمَا الأَرْضَ مَا لاَ تُطِيقُ قَالاَ حَمَّلْنَاهَا أَمْرًا هِيَ لَهُ مُطِيقَةٌ مَا فِيهَا كَبِيرُ فَضْلٍ قَالَ انْظُرَا أَنْ تَكُونَا حَمَّلْتُمَا الأَرْضَ مَا لاَ تُطِيقُ قَالَ قَالاَ لاَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ لَئِنْ سَلَّمَنِي اللَّهُ لأَدَعَنَّ أَرَامِلَ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ لاَ يَحْتَجْنَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ بَعْدِي أَبَدًا قَالَ فَمَا أَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ رَابِعَةٌ حَتَّى أُصِيبَ قَالَ إِنِّي لَقَائِمٌ مَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ إِلاَّ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ غَدَاةَ أُصِيبَ وَكَانَ إِذَا مَرَّ بَيْنَ الصَّفَّيْنِ قَالَ اسْتَوُوا حَتَّى إِذَا لَمْ يَرَ فِيهِنَّ خَلَلاً تَقَدَّمَ فَكَبَّرَ وَرُبَّمَا قَرَأَ سُورَةَ يُوسُفَ أَوِ النَّحْلَ أَوْ نَحْوَ ذَلِكَ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الأُولَى حَتَّى يَجْتَمِعَ النَّاسُ فَمَا هُوَ إِلاَّ أَنْ كَبَّرَ فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ قَتَلَنِي أَوْ أَكَلَنِي الْكَلْبُ حِينَ طَعَنَهُ فَطَارَ الْعِلْجُ بِسِكِّينٍ ذَاتِ طَرَفَيْنِ لاَ يَمُرُّ عَلَى أَحَدٍ يَمِينًا وَلاَ شِمَالاً إِلاَّ طَعَنَهُ حَتَّى طَعَنَ ثَلاَثَةَ عَشَرَ رَجُلاً مَاتَ مِنْهُمْ سَبْعَةٌ فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ طَرَحَ عَلَيْهِ بُرْنُسًا فَلَمَّا ظَنَّ الْعِلْجُ أَنَّهُ مَأْخُوذٌ نَحَرَ نَفْسَهُ وَتَنَاوَلَ عُمَرُ يَدَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ فَقَدَّمَهُ فَمَنْ يَلِي عُمَرَ فَقَدْ رَأَى الَّذِي أَرَى وَأَمَّا نَوَاحِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَإِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَدْرُونَ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ فَقَدُوا صَوْتَ عُمَرَ وَهُمْ يَقُولُونَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ صَلاَةً خَفِيفَةً فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفُوا قَالَ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ انْظُرْ مَنْ قَتَلَنِي فَجَالَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَقَالَ غُلاَمُ الْمُغِيرَةِ قَالَ الصَّنَعُ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ قَاتَلَهُ اللَّهُ لَقَدْ أَمَرْتُ بِهِ مَعْرُوفًا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَجْعَلْ مَنِيَّتِي بِيَدِ رَجُلٍ يَدَّعِي الإِسْلاَمَ قَدْ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ وَأَبُوكَ تُحِبَّانِ أَنْ تَكْثُرَ الْعُلُوجُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ {الْعَبَّاسُ} أَكْثَرَهُمْ رَقِيقًا فَقَالَ إِنْ شِئْتَ فَعَلْتُ أَىْ إِنْ شِئْتَ قَتَلْنَا قَالَ كَذَبْتَ بَعْدَ مَا تَكَلَّمُوا بِلِسَانِكُمْ وَصَلَّوْا قِبْلَتَكُمْ وَحَجُّوا حَجَّكُمْ فَاحْتُمِلَ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ فَانْطَلَقْنَا مَعَهُ وَكَأَنَّ النَّاسَ لَمْ تُصِبْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَبْلَ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَائِلٌ يَقُولُ لاَ بَأْسَ وَقَائِلٌ يَقُولُ أَخَافُ عَلَيْهِ فَأُتِيَ بِنَبِيذٍ فَشَرِبَهُ فَخَرَجَ مِنْ جَوْفِهِ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِلَبَنٍ فَشَرِبَهُ فَخَرَجَ مِنْ جُرْحِهِ فَعَلِمُوا أَنَّهُ مَيِّتٌ فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَجَاءَ النَّاسُ يُثْنُونَ عَلَيْهِ وَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ فَقَالَ أَبْشِرْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِبُشْرَى اللَّهِ لَكَ مِنْ صُحْبَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَدَمٍ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ مَا قَدْ عَلِمْتَ ثُمَّ وَلِيتَ فَعَدَلْتَ ثُمَّ شَهَادَةٌ قَالَ وَدِدْتُ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ كَفَافٌ لاَ عَلَىَّ وَلاَ لِي فَلَمَّا أَدْبَرَ إِذَا إِزَارُهُ يَمَسُّ الأَرْضَ قَالَ رُدُّوا عَلَىَّ الْغُلاَمَ قَالَ ابْنَ أَخِي ارْفَعْ ثَوْبَكَ فَإِنَّهُ أَبْقَى لِثَوْبِكَ وَأَتْقَى لِرَبِّكَ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ انْظُرْ مَا عَلَىَّ مِنَ الدَّيْنِ فَحَسَبُوهُ فَوَجَدُوهُ سِتَّةً وَثَمَانِينَ أَلْفًا أَوْ نَحْوَهُ قَالَ إِنْ وَفَى لَهُ مَالُ آلِ عُمَرَ فَأَدِّهِ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَإِلاَّ فَسَلْ فِي بَنِي عَدِيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفِ أَمْوَالُهُمْ فَسَلْ فِي قُرَيْشٍ وَلاَ تَعْدُهُمْ إِلَى غَيْرِهِمْ فَأَدِّ عَنِّي هَذَا الْمَالَ انْطَلِقْ إِلَى عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقُلْ يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكِ عُمَرُ السَّلاَمَ وَلاَ تَقُلْ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَإِنِّي لَسْتُ الْيَوْمَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَمِيرًا وَقُلْ يَسْتَأْذِنُ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ أَنْ يُدْفَنَ مَعَ صَاحِبَيْهِ فَسَلَّمَ وَاسْتَأْذَنَ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا فَوَجَدَهَا قَاعِدَةً تَبْكِي فَقَالَ يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكِ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ السَّلاَمَ وَيَسْتَأْذِنُ أَنْ يُدْفَنَ مَعَ صَاحِبَيْهِ فَقَالَتْ كُنْتُ أُرِيدُهُ لِنَفْسِي وَلأُوثِرَنَّ بِهِ الْيَوْمَ عَلَى نَفْسِي فَلَمَّا أَقْبَلَ قِيلَ هَذَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ قَدْ جَاءَ قَالَ ارْفَعُونِي فَأَسْنَدَهُ رَجُلٌ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ مَا لَدَيْكَ قَالَ الَّذِي تُحِبُّ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَذِنَتْ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ مَا كَانَ مِنْ شَىْءٍ أَهَمُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا أَنَا قَضَيْتُ فَاحْمِلُونِي ثُمَّ سَلِّمْ فَقُلْ يَسْتَأْذِنُ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَإِنْ أَذِنَتْ لِي فَأَدْخِلُونِي وَإِنْ رَدَّتْنِي رُدُّونِي إِلَى مَقَابِرِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَجَاءَتْ أُمُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَفْصَةُ وَالنِّسَاءُ تَسِيرُ مَعَهَا فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَاهَا قُمْنَا فَوَلَجَتْ عَلَيْهِ فَبَكَتْ عِنْدَهُ سَاعَةً وَاسْتَأْذَنَ الرِّجَالُ فَوَلَجَتْ دَاخِلاً لَهُمْ فَسَمِعْنَا بُكَاءَهَا مِنَ الدَّاخِلِ فَقَالُوا أَوْصِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اسْتَخْلِفْ قَالَ مَا أَجِدُ أَحَقَّ بِهَذَا الأَمْرِ مِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ النَّفَرِ أَوِ الرَّهْطِ الَّذِينَ تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهْوَ عَنْهُمْ رَاضٍ فَسَمَّى عَلِيًّا وَعُثْمَانَ وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَطَلْحَةَ وَسَعْدًا وَعَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ وَقَالَ يَشْهَدُكُمْ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ وَلَيْسَ لَهُ مِنَ الأَمْرِ شَىْءٌ كَهَيْئَةِ التَّعْزِيَةِ لَهُ فَإِنْ أَصَابَتِ الإِمْرَةُ سَعْدًا فَهْوَ ذَاكَ وَإِلاَّ فَلْيَسْتَعِنْ بِهِ أَيُّكُمْ مَا أُمِّرَ فَإِنِّي لَمْ أَعْزِلْهُ عَنْ عَجْزٍ وَلاَ خِيَانَةٍ وَقَالَ أُوصِي الْخَلِيفَةَ مِنْ بَعْدِي بِالْمُهَاجِرِينَ الأَوَّلِينَ أَنْ يَعْرِفَ لَهُمْ حَقَّهُمْ وَيَحْفَظَ لَهُمْ حُرْمَتَهُمْ وَأُوصِيهِ بِالأَنْصَارِ خَيْرًا الَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُوا الدَّارَ وَالإِيمَانَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ أَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْ مُحْسِنِهِمْ وَأَنْ يُعْفَى عَنْ مُسِيئِهِمْ وَأُوصِيهِ بِأَهْلِ الأَمْصَارِ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّهُمْ رِدْءُ الإِسْلاَمِ وَجُبَاةُ الْمَالِ وَغَيْظُ الْعَدُوِّ وَأَنْ لاَ يُؤْخَذَ مِنْهُمْ إِلاَّ فَضْلُهُمْ عَنْ رِضَاهُمْ وَأُوصِيهِ بِالأَعْرَابِ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّهُمْ أَصْلُ الْعَرَبِ وَمَادَّةُ الإِسْلاَمِ أَنْ يُؤْخَذَ مِنْ حَوَاشِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَتُرَدَّ عَلَى فُقَرَائِهِمْ وَأُوصِيهِ بِذِمَّةِ اللَّهِ وَذِمَّةِ رَسُولِهِ ﷺ أَنْ يُوفَى لَهُمْ بِعَهْدِهِمْ وَأَنْ يُقَاتَلَ مِنْ وَرَائِهِمْ وَلاَ يُكَلَّفُوا إِلاَّ طَاقَتَهُمْ فَلَمَّا قُبِضَ خَرَجْنَا بِهِ فَانْطَلَقْنَا نَمْشِي فَسَلَّمَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ قَالَ يَسْتَأْذِنُ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَتْ أَدْخِلُوهُ فَأُدْخِلَ فَوُضِعَ هُنَالِكَ مَعَ صَاحِبَيْهِ فَلَمَّا فُرِغَ مِنْ دَفْنِهِ اجْتَمَعَ هَؤُلاَءِ الرَّهْطُ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ اجْعَلُوا أَمْرَكُمْ إِلَى ثَلاَثَةٍ مِنْكُمْ فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ قَدْ جَعَلْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَى عَلِيٍّ فَقَالَ طَلْحَةُ قَدْ جَعَلْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَى عُثْمَانَ وَقَالَ سَعْدٌ قَدْ جَعَلْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَى عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ أَيُّكُمَا تَبَرَّأَ مِنْ هَذَا الأَمْرِ فَنَجْعَلُهُ إِلَيْهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَالإِسْلاَمُ لَيَنْظُرَنَّ أَفْضَلَهُمْ فِي نَفْسِهِ فَأُسْكِتَ الشَّيْخَانِ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ أَفَتَجْعَلُونَهُ إِلَىَّ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىَّ أَنْ لاَ آلُوَ عَنْ أَفْضَلِكُمْ قَالاَ نَعَمْ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِ أَحَدِهِمَا فَقَالَ لَكَ قَرَابَةٌ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْقَدَمُ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ مَا قَدْ عَلِمْتَ فَاللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ لَئِنْ أَمَّرْتُكَ لَتَعْدِلَنَّ وَلَئِنْ أَمَّرْتُ عُثْمَانَ لَتَسْمَعَنَّ وَلَتُطِيعَنَّ ثُمَّ خَلاَ بِالآخَرِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فَلَمَّا أَخَذَ الْمِيثَاقَ قَالَ ارْفَعْ يَدَكَ يَا عُثْمَانُ فَبَايَعَهُ فَبَايَعَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ وَوَلَجَ أَهْلُ الدَّارِ فَبَايَعُوهُ

I went out (on a mercantile venture) during the period (of truce) between me and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. While I was in Syria, the letter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was handed over to Hiraql (Ceasar), the Emperor of Rome (who was on a visit to Jerusalem at that time). The letter was brought by Dihya Kalbi who delivered it to the governor of Busra The governor passed it on to Hiraql, (On receiving the letter), he said: Is there anyone from the people of this man who thinks that he is a prophet? People said: Yes. So, I was called along with a few others from the Quraish. We were admitted to Hiraql and he seated us before him.
He asked: Which of you has closer kinship with the man who thinks that he is a prophet? Abu Sufyan said: I. So they seated me in front of him and stated my companions behind me. Then, he called his interpreter and said to him: Tell them that I am going to ask this fellow (i. e. Abu Sufyan) about the man who thinks that he is a prophet. If he tells me a lie, then refute him. Abu Sufyan told (the narrator): By God, if there was not the fear that falsehood would be imputed to me I would have lied.

1. (Then) Hiraql said to his interpreter: Inquire from him about his ancestry, I said: He is of good ancestry among us. He asked: Has there been a king among his ancestors? I said: No.
2. He asked: Did you accuse him of falsehood before he proclaimed his prophethood? I said: No.
3. He asked: Who are his followers people of high status or low status? I said: (They are) of low status.
4. He asked: Are they increasing in number or decreasing? I said. No. they are rather increasing.
5. He asked: Does anyone give up his religion, being dissatisfied with it, after having embraced it? I said: No.
6. He asked: Have you been at war with him? I said: Yes.
7. He asked: How did you fare in that war? I said: The war between us and him has been wavering like a bucket, up at one turn and down at the other (i. e. the victory has been shared between us and him by turns). Sometimes he suffered loss at our hands and sometimes we suffered loss at his (hand).
8. He asked: Has he (ever) violated his covenant? I said: No. but we have recently concluded a peace treaty with him for a period and we do not know what he is going to do about it. (Abu Sufyan said on oath that he could not interpolate in this dialogue anything from himself more than these words )
9. He asked: Did anyone make the proclamation (of prophethood) before him? I said: No.

1. Tell him, I asked him about his ancestry and he had replied that he had the best ancestry. This is the case with Prophets; they are the descendants of the noblest among their people (Addressing Abu Sufyan),
2. he continued: I asked you if there had been a king among his ancestors. You said that there had been none. If there had been a king among his ancestors, I would have said that he was a man demanding his ancestral kingdom.
3. I asked you about his followers and whether they were people of high or low status, and you said that they were of rather low status. Such are the followers of the Prophets.
4. I asked you whether you used to accuse him of falsehood before he proclaimed his prophethood, and you said that you did not. So I have understood that when he did not allow himself to tell a lie about the poeple, he would never go to the length of forging a falsehood about Allah.
5. I asked you whether anyone renounced his religion after being dissatisfied with it after he had embraced it, and you replied in the negative. Faith is like this when it enters the depth of the heart (it perpetuates them).
6. I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You said they were increasing. Faith is like this until it reaches its consummation.
7. I asked you whether you had been at war with him, and you replied that you had been and that the victory between you and him had been shared by turns, sometimes he suffering loss at your hand and sometimes you suffering lost at his. This is how the Prophets are tried before the final victory its theirs.
8. I asked you whether he (ever) violated his covenant, and you said that he did not. This is how the Prophets behave. They never violate (their covenants).
9. I asked you whether anyone before him had proclaimed the same thing, and you replied in the negative. I said: If anyone had made the same proclamation before, I would have thought that he was a man following what had been proclaimed before.

انْطَلَقْتُ فِي الْمُدَّةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا بِالشَّأْمِ إِذْ جِيءَ بِكِتَابٍ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ يَعْنِي عَظِيمَ الرُّومِ قَالَ وَكَانَ دِحْيَةُ الْكَلْبِيُّ جَاءَ بِهِ فَدَفَعَهُ إِلَى عَظِيمِ بُصْرَى فَدَفَعَهُ عَظِيمُ بُصْرَى إِلَى هِرَقْلَ فَقَالَ هِرَقْلُ هَلْ هَا هُنَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ قَوْمِ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ قَالُوا نَعَمْ قَالَ فَدُعِيتُ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَى هِرَقْلَ فَأَجْلَسَنَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمْ أَقْرَبُ نَسَبًا مِنْ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ فَقَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ فَقُلْتُ أَنَا فَأَجْلَسُونِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَجْلَسُوا أَصْحَابِي خَلْفِي ثُمَّ دَعَا بِتَرْجُمَانِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ قُلْ لَهُمْ إِنِّي سَائِلٌ هَذَا عَنِ الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ فَإِنْ كَذَبَنِي فَكَذِّبُوهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ وَايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْلاَ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يُؤْثَرَ عَلَىَّ الْكَذِبُ لَكَذَبْتُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِتَرْجُمَانِهِ سَلْهُ كَيْفَ حَسَبُهُ فِيكُمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ هُوَ فِينَا ذُو حَسَبٍ قَالَ فَهَلْ كَانَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ مَلِكٌ قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ فَهَلْ كُنْتُمْ تَتَّهِمُونَهُ بِالْكَذِبِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا قَالَ قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ وَمَنْ يَتَّبِعُهُ أَشْرَافُ النَّاسِ أَمْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ بَلْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ قَالَ أَيَزِيدُونَ أَمْ يَنْقُصُونَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لاَ بَلْ يَزِيدُونَ قَالَ هَلْ يَرْتَدُّ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ فِيهِ سَخْطَةً لَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ فَهَلْ قَاتَلْتُمُوهُ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ قِتَالُكُمْ إِيَّاهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ تَكُونُ الْحَرْبُ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُ سِجَالاً يُصِيبُ مِنَّا وَنُصِيبُ مِنْهُ قَالَ فَهَلْ يَغْدِرُ قُلْتُ لاَ وَنَحْنُ مِنْهُ فِي مُدَّةٍ لاَ نَدْرِي مَا هُوَ صَانِعٌ فِيهَا قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا أَمْكَنَنِي مِنْ كَلِمَةٍ أُدْخِلُ فِيهَا شَيْئًا غَيْرَ هَذِهِ قَالَ فَهَلْ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ أَحَدٌ قَبْلَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ لِتَرْجُمَانِهِ قُلْ لَهُ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ حَسَبِهِ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُ فِيكُمْ ذُو حَسَبٍ وَكَذَلِكَ الرُّسُلُ تُبْعَثُ فِي أَحْسَابِ قَوْمِهَا وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ كَانَ فِي آبَائِهِ مَلِكٌ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ فَقُلْتُ لَوْ كَانَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ مَلِكٌ قُلْتُ رَجُلٌ يَطْلُبُ مُلْكَ آبَائِهِ وَسَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ أَتْبَاعِهِ أَضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ أَمْ أَشْرَافُهُمْ فَقُلْتَ بَلْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ وَهُمْ أَتْبَاعُ الرُّسُلِ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ كُنْتُمْ تَتَّهِمُونَهُ بِالْكَذِبِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا قَالَ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ فَقَدْ عَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيَدَعَ الْكَذِبَ عَلَى النَّاسِ ثُمَّ يَذْهَبَ فَيَكْذِبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ يَرْتَدُّ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَهُ سَخْطَةً لَهُ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ وَكَذَلِكَ الإِيمَانُ إِذَا خَالَطَ بَشَاشَةَ الْقُلُوبِ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ يَزِيدُونَ أَوْ يَنْقُصُونَ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُمْ يَزِيدُونَ وَكَذَلِكَ الإِيمَانُ حَتَّى يَتِمَّ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ قَاتَلْتُمُوهُ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّكُمْ قَدْ قَاتَلْتُمُوهُ فَتَكُونُ الْحَرْبُ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُ سِجَالاً يَنَالُ مِنْكُمْ وَتَنَالُونَ مِنْهُ وَكَذَلِكَ الرُّسُلُ تُبْتَلَى ثُمَّ تَكُونُ لَهُمُ الْعَاقِبَةُ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ يَغْدِرُ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُ لاَ يَغْدِرُ وَكَذَلِكَ الرُّسُلُ لاَ تَغْدِرُ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ أَحَدٌ قَبْلَهُ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ فَقُلْتُ لَوْ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ أَحَدٌ قَبْلَهُ قُلْتُ رَجُلٌ ائْتَمَّ بِقَوْلٍ قِيلَ قَبْلَهُ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ بِمَ يَأْمُرُ كُمْ قُلْتُ يَأْمُرُنَا بِالصَّلاَةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ وَالصِّلَةِ وَالْعَفَافِ قَالَ إِنْ يَكُنْ مَا تَقُولُ فِيهِ حَقًّا فَإِنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ وَقَدْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ خَارِجٌ وَلَمْ أَكُنْ أَظُنُّهُ مِنْكُمْ وَلَوْ أَنِّي أَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أَخْلُصُ إِلَيْهِ لأَحْبَبْتُ لِقَاءَهُ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ عِنْدَهُ لَغَسَلْتُ عَنْ قَدَمَيْهِ وَلَيَبْلُغَنَّ مُلْكُهُ مَا تَحْتَ قَدَمَىَّ قَالَ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِكِتَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَرَأَهُ فَإِذَا فِيهِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ عَظِيمِ الرُّومِ سَلاَمٌ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي أَدْعُوكَ بِدِعَايَةِ الإِسْلاَمِ أَسْلِمْ تَسْلَمْ وَأَسْلِمْ يُؤْتِكَ اللَّهُ أَجْرَكَ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ إِثْمَ الأَرِيسِيِّينَ وَ { يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَنْ لاَ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَلاَ نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ} فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ قِرَاءَةِ الْكِتَابِ ارْتَفَعَتِ الأَصْوَاتُ عِنْدَهُ وَكَثُرَ اللَّغْطُ وَأَمَرَ بِنَا فَأُخْرِجْنَا قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لأَصْحَابِي حِينَ خَرَجْنَا لَقَدْ أَمِرَ أَمْرُ ابْنِ أَبِي كَبْشَةَ إِنَّهُ لَيَخَافُهُ مَلِكُ بَنِي الأَصْفَرِ قَالَ فَمَا زِلْتُ مُوقِنًا بِأَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ سَيَظْهَرُ حَتَّى أَدْخَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَىَّ الإِسْلاَمَ

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Beneficent - All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and the [praiseworthy] end is for those who fear Him; and may Allah send blessings upon Muhammad, seal of the Prophets, and upon all the Prophets and Messengers.
As to what follows: Indeed you mentioned, may Allah have mercy on you, by the guidance of your Creator, that you were interested in an examination of what is known of all the transmitted reports on authority of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding traditions of the Dīn, its rulings, and everything from it regarding rewards, punishments, motivations, admonishments, and other descriptive topics through chains of narration which were related by and circulated between Ahl ul-Ilm. Thus you wished, may Allah guide you aright, to be informed about all of [the transmitted reports] in the form of a calculated composition and you asked me to abridge [it] for you in writing without a great amount of repetition. You allege that [much repetition] would distract you from what you intended in terms of understanding and deriving rulings from [the reports]. And because of that which you have asked, may Allah be generous with you, when I am attributed to its successful management and whatever condition can be construed by it, if Allah wills, (it will lead to) a praiseworthy ending and obtainable benefit.
I thought at the time you asked me to undertake that [task]- if it was determined for me to do so, and preordained for me to complete it- that the first to benefit from that would be me specifically before anyone else and this is due to a great number of reasons which are too lengthy to describe except [to say] that in summary, having precision regarding a select few [narrations], and accuracy in them, is easier for a person than to undertake of a great number of them, and especially for one who is indistinguishable in it from the common people [in this matter] unless someone else informs him of the distinction.
If the matter is just as we described, then focusing on the few authentic narrations is worthier for them than seeking an abundance of weak narrations. Although indeed it is hoped for that some benefit is attained by seeking after a large number [of Ḥadīth] of this type, and gathering the repetitions for them, but only for the elite who are endowed with some awareness and knowledge in their means [of ascertaining authenticity] and defects. Thus that, if Allah wills, will happen through whatever will be brought to bear of that [awareness, distinction, knowledge of the means, and defects] on the advantage in seeking large numbers of [the various categories of Ḥadīth]. And as for the common people who are different from the elite in terms of awareness and knowledge, then it is senseless for them to seek large numbers [of various categories of Ḥadīth], while they are unaware of the few [Sahīh]. Then we, if Allah wills, will begin to extract and compose what you have asked upon conditions which we shall mention to you.
We set ourselves upon the entirety of what is transmitted from the reports on authority of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ Then we divided it up into three sections and three levels of people without repetition except:

1. When coming to a point where it was essential to repeat a narration in which there is an addition that clarifies the meaning of the first one; or
2. When there is a second chain that supports the first one in some hidden defect present since the additional significance in the second Ḥadīth assumes the position of a complete Ḥadīth.
   Repeating narrations which have the kind of ‘addition’ we described is inevitable [since it eliminates the perceived hidden defect of the first narration]; or that significance [of the addition] is separated from the entire narration by abbreviating it when it is possible [to understand the significance from a small part of the narration], however separating the relevant part of the narration from the rest might make it difficult to understand the link between them, so repeating it in its original form when that proves difficult is safest. Thus when we find that it is avoidable to repeat the narrations in their entirety we take care not to do so, if Allah wills.
   As for the first category, we aspired to advance the report which is safer from defects than any others, and is purified due to being related by people of integrity in Ḥadīth, and certitude for what they relate; there are no strong disputes found [compared to the reports of other Thiqāt] regarding their transmissions, and no excessive inconsistencies [in their own reports] - just as is the case regarding a great number of Muhaddithīn and which appears in their narrations.
   Thus when we examined reports of this description from the people, we also came across reports in whose chains there fell some of those who are not described with memorization and precision, like those of the previous description before them. Although they fell below what we described [from the first group], they still have the designation of protection [from ill-repute] and truthfulness; and they acquired knowledge, included among them are the likes of Atā’ bin is-Sā’ib, and Yazīd bin Abī Ziyād, and Layth bin Abī Sulaym, from among the carriers of Āthār and the relaters of Akhbār. So even though they possessed what we described of knowledge, protection and being known as scholars among Ahl ul-Ilm, their contemporaries who we mentioned as precise and sound in transmission were above them in status and rank because this [the first category] is a high rank and sublime characteristic according to Ahl ul-Ilm.
   Do you not see that when you weigh these three people we mentioned- Atā’, Yazīd, and Layth- with Mansūr bin il-Mu’tamir, Sulaymān al-A’mash and Ismā’īl bin Abī Khālid in regards to precision in Ḥadīth and soundness in it, you will find them distinct from others and not near them [in rank?]- there is no doubt regarding that among the people knowledgeable in Ḥadīth since the soundness of the memorization of Mansūr, al-A’mash, and Ismā’īl, and their precision in Ḥadīth was well-known among [the people knowledgeable in Ḥadīth] and they were not aware of examples of that from Atā’, Yazīd, and Layth. Upon the same course as the above, when you weigh between the two levels like Ibn Awn and Ayyūb as-Sakhtiyānī with Awf ibn Abī Jamīlah and Ash’ath al-Humrānī- and all 4 are companions of al-Hasan and Ibn Sīrīn- there is disparity between the two groups. Between these two groups is a distance in terms of perfection of virtue and soundness of reporting even though Awf and Ash’ath are not repelled from [the status] of truthfulness and honesty according to Ahl ul-Ilm, rather the situation is as we described regarding their position.
   We only mentioned these examples by way of naming them specifically so that their examples might be an indication for whoever is ignorant of the path to return to understanding of Ahl ul-Ilm regarding the ranking of its people. Thus there is no shortchanging the men of elevated rank any amount of what is due his level, and there is no elevation of those who are lower any amount of knowledge above his position- and each who possesses the right is given his right and is settled in his rank.
   It has been mentioned on authority of Ā’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said: ‘The Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered us to afford people their (rightful) positions according to what the Qur’ān states: {And above all who possess knowledge is another who is knowledgeable} [Yūsuf: 76] . Thus based on the example of what we mentioned [regarding the narrators of Hifẓ and Itqān, and narrations which lack excessive inconsistency or strong contradiction], we compiled what you asked for of [those kind] of reports on authority of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
   As for anything of that wherein the people were charged [with some criticism] by the people of Ḥadīth, or by the majority of [the people of Ḥadīth], then we did not preoccupy ourselves with bringing forward their narrations, such as Abd Allah ibn Miswar Abī Ja’far il-Madā’inī, Amr bin Khālid, Abd il-Quddūs ash-Shāmī, Muhammad ibn Sa’īd il-Maslūb, Ghiyāth ibn Ibrāhīm, Sulaymān bin Amr Abī Dāwud an-Nakha’ī, and those like them whereof they were accused of fabricating narrations and manufacturing reports; and like that are those whose narrations are dominated with Munkar, or mistakes- we withheld from their narrations as well.
   An indication of Munkar in the narration of a Muhaddith is when his transmission differs with the transmission of a Muhaddith from the people of memorization and acceptance, or does not agree with it when the two are compared. When the majority of a person’s narrations are like that, he is abandoned [Mahjūr] in Ḥadīth, and not accepted in it, and his narrations are not acted upon. The following are those Muhaddithīn who are among this group: Abd Allah ibn Muharrar, Yahyā bin Abī Unaysah, Al-Jarrāh bin ul-Minhāl Abūl-Atūf, Abbād bin Kathīr, Husayn bin Abd Illah ibn Ḍumayrah, Umar bin Suhbān, and those of the same type in terms of transmission of Munkar Ḥadīth. We did not pause upon their narrations or preoccupy ourselves with them due to the ruling of Ahl ul-Ilm.
   That which we are aware of from their school of thought in accepting what is singularly reported by a Muhaddith from the narrations is that (the Muhaddith) took part along with the trustworthy narrators from Ahl ul-Ilm wal-Hifẓ in transmitting some of what they transmitted, and [the Muhaddith] is predominantly in agreement with them; when one is found like that, then if he adds to [the transmission] anything not found with his companions, then his addition is accepted.
   As for those who you see resorting to the likes of az-Zuhrī due to his greatness, and due to the great number of his companions being among the precise Huffāẓ, [resorting to] his Ḥadīth and the Ḥadīth of those like him, or to the likes of Hishām ibn Urwah, then their Ḥadīth are extensively shared among Ahl ul-Ilm. The greater majority of their companions related their Ḥadīth in agreement with one another [with few having contradictions]. Thus to transmit from [Urwah and az-Zuhrī], or one of them, from among the multitude of Ḥadīth, what is not known among any of their companions, and [the Rāwī] is not of those who share in the Sahīh narrations [found] among them, then it is not allowed to accept the narrations of this category of people, and Allah knows best.
   We have explained from the school of Ḥadīth and its people some of what those who wish to traverse the path of [the Muhaddithīn] should aim for, and be guided towards. We will, if Allah wills, add to the explanation and clarification in another place in this book upon the mention of defective reports [Mu’allalah] when we come to it, in the places where explanation and clarification are appropriate, if Allah wills.
   And what follows: May Allah have mercy on you, if not for that which we saw of an evil act, largely from those who claim to be Muhaddithīn, in what they were supposed to adhere to when putting forward weak narrations and abominable transmissions and their neglect for the investigation of famous Sahīh narrations related by the trustworthy narrators, well-known for their truthfulness and honesty, after knowledge of them and affirmation with their tongues, that a great many of [weak and abominable narrations] which were cast towards heedless people are denounced and spoken of as not acceptable whereof the A’immah of the people of Ḥadīth criticized their transmissions- A’immah like Mālik ibn Anas, Shu’bat bin al-Hajjāj, Sufyān bin Uyaynah, Yahyā bin Sa’īd al-Qattān, Abd ir-Rahman ibn Mahdī, and other A’immah- then the establishment of what you asked for of distinction [between the types of Ḥadīth] and collection [of those which were Sahīh] would be easy for us. However on account of what we informed you of regarding the people’s circulation of abominable reports with weak, unknown chains, and their casting them towards the common people who are not aware of their defects, responding to what you asked became lighter upon our hearts.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ۔
أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّكَ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ بِتَوْفِيقِ خَالِقِكَ ذَكَرْتَ أَنَّكَ هَمَمْتَ بِالْفَحْصِ عَنْ تَعَرُّفِ جُمْلَةِ الأَخْبَارِ الْمَأْثُورَةِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي سُنَنِ الدِّينِ وَأَحْكَامِهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنْهَا فِي الثَّوَابِ وَالْعِقَابِ وَالتَّرْغِيبِ وَالتَّرْهِيبِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ مِنْ صُنُوفِ الأَشْيَاءِ بِالأَسَانِيدِ الَّتِي بِهَا نُقِلَتْ وَتَدَاوَلَهَا أَهْلُ الْعِلْمِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمْ فَأَرَدْتَ- أَرْشَدَكَ اللَّهُ- أَنْ تُوَقَّفَ عَلَى جُمْلَتِهَا مُؤَلَّفَةً مُحْصَاةً وَسَأَلْتَنِي أَنْ أُلَخِّصَهَا لَكَ فِي التَّأْلِيفِ بِلاَ تَكْرَارٍ يَكْثُرُ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ- زَعَمْتَ- مِمَّا يَشْغَلُكَ عَمَّا لَهُ قَصَدْتَ مِنَ التَّفَهُّمِ فِيهَا وَالاِسْتِنْبَاطِ مِنْهَا. وَلِلَّذِي سَأَلْتَ- أَكْرَمَكَ اللَّهُ- حِينَ رَجَعْتُ إِلَى تَدَبُّرِهِ وَمَا تَؤُولُ بِهِ الْحَالُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ عَاقِبَةٌ مَحْمُودَةٌ وَمَنْفَعَةٌ مَوْجُودَةٌ وَظَنَنْتُ- حِينَ سَأَلْتَنِي تَجَشُّمَ ذَلِكَ- أَنْ لَوْ عُزِمَ لِي عَلَيْهِ وَقُضِيَ لِي تَمَامُهُ كَانَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ يُصِيبُهُ نَفْعُ ذَلِكَ إِيَّايَ خَاصَّةً قَبْلَ غَيْرِي مِنَ النَّاسِ لأَسْبَابٍ كَثِيرَةٍ يَطُولُ بِذِكْرِهَا الْوَصْفُ إِلاَّ أَنَّ جُمْلَةَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ ضَبْطَ الْقَلِيلِ مِنْ هَذَا الشَّانِ وَإِتْقَانَهُ أَيْسَرُ عَلَى الْمَرْءِ مِنْ مُعَالَجَةِ الْكَثِيرِ مِنْهُ. ولاسيما عِنْدَ مَنْ لاَ تَمْيِيزَ عِنْدَهُ مِنَ الْعَوَامِّ إِلاَّ بِأَنْ يُوَقِّفَهُ عَلَى التَّمْيِيزِ غَيْرُهُ. فَإِذَا كَانَ الأَمْرُ فِي هَذَا كَمَا وَصَفْنَا فَالْقَصْدُ مِنْهُ إِلَى الصَّحِيحِ الْقَلِيلِ أَوْلَى بِهِمْ مِنَ ازْدِيَادِ السَّقِيمِ وَإِنَّمَا يُرْجَى بَعْضُ الْمَنْفَعَةِ فِي الاِسْتِكْثَارِ مِنْ هَذَا الشَّانِ وَجَمْعِ الْمُكَرَّرَاتِ مِنْهُ لِخَاصَّةٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ مِمَّنْ رُزِقَ فِيهِ بَعْضَ التَّيَقُّظِ وَالْمَعْرِفَةِ بِأَسْبَابِهِ وَعِلَلِهِ فَذَلِكَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ يَهْجُمُ بِمَا أُوتِيَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ عَلَى الْفَائِدَةِ فِي الاِسْتِكْثَارِ مِنْ جَمْعِهِ. فَأَمَّا عَوَامُّ النَّاسِ الَّذِينَ هُمْ بِخِلاَفِ مَعَانِي الْخَاصِّ مِنْ أَهْلِ التَّيَقُّظِ وَالْمَعْرِفَةِ فَلاَ مَعْنَى لَهُمْ فِي طَلَبِ الْكَثِيرِ وَقَدْ عَجَزُوا عَنْ مَعْرِفَةِ الْقَلِيلِ.
ثُمَّ إِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مُبْتَدِئُونَ فِي تَخْرِيجِ مَا سَأَلْتَ وَتَأْلِيفِهِ عَلَى شَرِيطَةٍ سَوْفَ أَذْكُرُهَا لَكَ وَهُوَ إِنَّا نَعْمِدُ إِلَى جُمْلَةِ مَا أُسْنِدَ مِنَ الأَخْبَارِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَنَقْسِمُهَا عَلَى ثَلاَثَةِ أَقْسَامٍ وَثَلاَثِ طَبَقَاتٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ عَلَى غَيْرِ تَكْرَارٍ. إِلاَّ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ مَوْضِعٌ لاَ يُسْتَغْنَى فِيهِ عَنْ تَرْدَادِ حَدِيثٍ فِيهِ زِيَادَةُ مَعْنًى أَوْ إِسْنَادٌ يَقَعُ إِلَى جَنْبِ إِسْنَادٍ لِعِلَّةٍ تَكُونُ هُنَاكَ لأَنَّ الْمَعْنَى الزَّائِدَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ الْمُحْتَاجَ إِلَيْهِ يَقُومُ مَقَامَ حَدِيثٍ تَامٍّ فلابد مِنْ إِعَادَةِ الْحَدِيثِ الَّذِي فِيهِ مَا وَصَفْنَا مِنَ الزِّيَادَةِ أَوْ أَنْ يُفَصَّلَ ذَلِكَ الْمَعْنَى مِنْ جُمْلَةِ الْحَدِيثِ عَلَى اخْتِصَارِهِ إِذَا أَمْكَنَ. وَلَكِنْ تَفْصِيلُهُ رُبَّمَا عَسُرَ مِنْ جُمْلَتِهِ فَإِعَادَتُهُ بِهَيْئَتِهِ إِذَا ضَاقَ ذَلِكَ أَسْلَمُ
فَأَمَّا مَا وَجَدْنَا بُدًّا مِنْ إِعَادَتِهِ بِجُمْلَتِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَاجَةٍ مِنَّا إِلَيْهِ فَلاَ نَتَوَلَّى فِعْلَهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى. فَأَمَّا الْقِسْمُ الأَوَّلُ فَإِنَّا نَتَوَخَّى أَنْ نُقَدِّمَ الأَخْبَارَ الَّتِي هِيَ أَسْلَمُ مِنَ الْعُيُوبِ مِنْ غَيْرِهَا وَأَنْقَى مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ نَاقِلُوهَا أَهْلَ اسْتِقَامَةٍ فِي الْحَدِيثِ وَإِتْقَانٍ لِمَا نَقَلُوا لَمْ يُوجَدْ فِي رِوَايَتِهِمِ اخْتِلاَفٌ شَدِيدٌ وَلاَ تَخْلِيطٌ فَاحِشٌ كَمَا قَدْ عُثِرَ فِيهِ عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الْمُحَدِّثِينَ وَبَانَ ذَلِكَ فِي حَدِيثِهِمْ.
فَإِذَا نَحْنُ تَقَصَّيْنَا أَخْبَارَ هَذَا الصِّنْفِ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَتْبَعْنَاهَا أَخْبَارًا يَقَعُ فِي أَسَانِيدِهَا بَعْضُ مَنْ لَيْسَ بِالْمَوْصُوفِ بِالْحِفْظِ وَالإِتْقَانِ كَالصِّنْفِ الْمُقَدَّمِ قَبْلَهُمْ عَلَى أَنَّهُمْ وَإِنْ كَانُوا فِيمَا وَصَفْنَا دُونَهُمْ فَإِنَّ اسْمَ السِّتْرِ وَالصِّدْقِ وَتَعَاطِي الْعِلْمِ يَشْمَلُهُمْ كَعَطَاءِ بْنِ السَّائِبِ وَيَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي زِيَادٍ وَلَيْثِ بْنِ أَبِي سُلَيْمٍ وَأَضْرَابِهِمْ مِنْ حُمَّالِ الآثَارِ وَنُقَّالِ الأَخْبَارِ.
فَهُمْ وَإِنْ كَانُوا بِمَا وَصَفْنَا مِنَ الْعِلْمِ وَالسِّتْرِ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مَعْرُوفِينَ فَغَيْرُهُمْ مِنْ أَقْرَانِهِمْ مِمَّنْ عِنْدَهُمْ مَا ذَكَرْنَا مِنَ الإِتْقَانِ وَالاِسْتِقَامَةِ فِي الرِّوَايَةِ يَفْضُلُونَهُمْ فِي الْحَالِ وَالْمَرْتَبَةِ لأَنَّ هَذَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ دَرَجَةٌ رَفِيعَةٌ وَخَصْلَةٌ سَنِيَّةٌ.
أَلاَ تَرَى أَنَّكَ إِذَا وَازَنْتَ هَؤُلاَءِ الثَّلاَثَةَ الَّذِينَ سَمَّيْنَاهُمْ عَطَاءً وَيَزِيدَ وَلَيْثًا بِمَنْصُورِ بْنِ الْمُعْتَمِرِ وَسُلَيْمَانَ الأَعْمَشِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي خَالِدٍ فِي إِتْقَانِ الْحَدِيثِ وَالاِسْتِقَامَةِ فِيهِ وَجَدْتَهُمْ مُبَايِنِينَ لَهُمْ لاَ يُدَانُونَهُمْ لاَ شَكَّ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ بِالْحَدِيثِ فِي ذَلِكَ لِلَّذِي اسْتَفَاضَ عِنْدَهُمْ مِنْ صِحَّةِ حِفْظِ مَنْصُورٍ وَالأَعْمَشِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِتْقَانِهِمْ لِحَدِيثِهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَعْرِفُوا مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَطَاءٍ وَيَزِيدَ وَلَيْثٍ.
وَفِي مِثْلِ مَجْرَى هَؤُلاَءِ إِذَا وَازَنْتَ بَيْنَ الأَقْرَانِ كَابْنِ عَوْنٍ وَأَيُّوبَ السَّخْتِيَانِيِّ مَعَ عَوْفِ بْنِ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ وَأَشْعَثَ الْحُمْرَانِيِّ وَهُمَا صَاحِبَا الْحَسَنِ وَابْنِ سِيرِينَ كَمَا أَنَّ ابْنَ عَوْنٍ وَأَيُّوبَ صَاحِبَاهُمَا إِلاَّ أَنَّ الْبَوْنَ بَيْنَهُمَا وَبَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ بَعِيدٌ فِي كَمَالِ الْفَضْلِ وَصِحَّةِ النَّقْلِ وَإِنْ كَانَ عَوْفٌ وَأَشْعَثُ غَيْرَ مَدْفُوعَيْنِ عَنْ صِدْقٍ وَأَمَانَةٍ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَلَكِنَّ الْحَالَ مَا وَصَفْنَا مِنَ الْمَنْزِلَةِ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ.
وَإِنَّمَا مَثَّلْنَا هَؤُلاَءِ فِي التَّسْمِيَةِ لِيَكُونَ تَمْثِيلُهُمْ سِمَةً يَصْدُرُ عَنْ فَهْمِهَا مَنْ غَبِيَ عَلَيْهِ طَرِيقُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ فِي تَرْتِيبِ أَهْلِهِ فِيهِ فَلاَ يُقَصَّرُ بِالرَّجُلِ الْعَالِي الْقَدْرِ عَنْ دَرَجَتِهِ وَلاَ يُرْفَعُ مُتَّضِعُ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْعِلْمِ فَوْقَ مَنْزِلَتِهِ وَيُعْطَى كُلُّ ذِي حَقٍّ فِيهِ حَقَّهُ وَيُنَزَّلُ مَنْزِلَتَهُ.
وَقَدْ ذُكِرَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهَا أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ نُنَزِّلَ النَّاسَ مَنَازِلَهُمْ. مَعَ مَا نَطَقَ بِهِ الْقُرْآنُ مِنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ}.
فَعَلَى نَحْوِ مَا ذَكَرْنَا مِنَ الْوُجُوهِ نُؤَلِّفُ مَا سَأَلْتَ مِنَ الأَخْبَارِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ.
فَأَمَّا مَا كَانَ مِنْهَا عَنْ قَوْمٍ هُمْ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْحَدِيثِ مُتَّهَمُونَ أَوْ عِنْدَ الأَكْثَرِ مِنْهُمْ فَلَسْنَا نَتَشَاغَلُ بِتَخْرِيجِ حَدِيثِهِمْ كَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مِسْوَرٍ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الْمَدَائِنِيِّ وَعَمْرِو بْنِ خَالِدٍ وَعَبْدِ الْقُدُّوسِ الشَّامِيِّ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْمَصْلُوبِ وَغِيَاثِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ عَمْرٍو أَبِي دَاوُدَ النَّخَعِيِّ وَأَشْبَاهِهِمْ مِمَّنِ اتُّهِمَ بِوَضْعِ الأَحَادِيثِ وَتَوْلِيدِ الأَخْبَارِ.
وَكَذَلِكَ مَنِ الْغَالِبُ عَلَى حَدِيثِهِ الْمُنْكَرُ أَوِ الْغَلَطُ أَمْسَكْنَا أَيْضًا عَنْ حَدِيثِهِمْ.
وَعَلاَمَةُ الْمُنْكَرِ فِي حَدِيثِ الْمُحَدِّثِ إِذَا مَا عُرِضَتْ رِوَايَتُهُ لِلْحَدِيثِ عَلَى رِوَايَةِ غَيْرِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْحِفْظِ وَالرِّضَا خَالَفَتْ رِوَايَتُهُ رِوَايَتَهُمْ أَوْ لَمْ تَكَدْ تُوَافِقُهَا فَإِذَا كَانَ الأَغْلَبُ مِنْ حَدِيثِهِ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ مَهْجُورَ الْحَدِيثِ غَيْرَ مَقْبُولِهِ وَلاَ مُسْتَعْمَلِهِ.
فَمِنْ هَذَا الضَّرْبِ مِنَ الْمُحَدِّثِينَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَرَّرٍ وَيَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي أُنَيْسَةَ وَالْجَرَّاحُ بْنُ الْمِنْهَالِ أَبُو الْعَطُوفِ وَعَبَّادُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ وَحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ ضُمَيْرَةَ وَعُمَرُ بْنُ صُهْبَانَ وَمَنْ نَحَا نَحْوَهُمْ فِي رِوَايَةِ الْمُنْكَرِ مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ. فَلَسْنَا نُعَرِّجُ عَلَى حَدِيثِهِمْ وَلاَ نَتَشَاغَلُ بِهِ.
لأَنَّ حُكْمَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَالَّذِي نَعْرِفُ مِنْ مَذْهَبِهِمْ فِي قَبُولِ مَا يَتَفَرَّدُ بِهِ الْمُحَدِّثُ مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ شَارَكَ الثِّقَاتِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَالْحِفْظِ فِي بَعْضِ مَا رَوَوْا وَأَمْعَنَ فِي ذَلِكَ عَلَى الْمُوَافَقَةِ لَهُمْ فَإِذَا وُجِدَ كَذَلِكَ ثُمَّ زَادَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا لَيْسَ عِنْدَ أَصْحَابِهِ قُبِلَتْ زِيَادَتُهُ.
فَأَمَّا مَنْ تَرَاهُ يَعْمِدُ لِمِثْلِ الزُّهْرِيِّ فِي جَلاَلَتِهِ وَكَثْرَةِ أَصْحَابِهِ الْحُفَّاظِ الْمُتْقِنِينَ لِحَدِيثِهِ وَحَدِيثِ غَيْرِهِ أَوْ لِمِثْلِ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ وَحَدِيثُهُمَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مَبْسُوطٌ مُشْتَرَكٌ قَدْ نَقَلَ أَصْحَابُهُمَا عَنْهُمَا حَدِيثَهُمَا عَلَى الاِتِّفَاقِ مِنْهُمْ فِي أَكْثَرِهِ فَيَرْوِي عَنْهُمَا أَوْ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا الْعَدَدَ مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ مِمَّا لاَ يَعْرِفُهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِمَا وَلَيْسَ مِمَّنْ قَدْ شَارَكَهُمْ فِي الصَّحِيحِ مِمَّا عِنْدَهُمْ فَغَيْرُ جَائِزٍ قَبُولُ حَدِيثِ هَذَا الضَّرْبِ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ.
قَدْ شَرَحْنَا مِنْ مَذْهَبِ الْحَدِيثِ وَأَهْلِهِ بَعْضَ مَا يَتَوَجَّهُ بِهِ مَنْ أَرَادَ سَبِيلَ الْقَوْمِ وَوُفِّقَ لَهَا وَسَنَزِيدُ- إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى- شَرْحًا وَإِيضَاحًا فِي مَوَاضِعَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ عِنْدَ ذِكْرِ الأَخْبَارِ الْمُعَلَّلَةِ إِذَا أَتَيْنَا عَلَيْهَا فِي الأَمَاكِنِ الَّتِي يَلِيقُ بِهَا الشَّرْحُ وَالإِيضَاحُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى.
وَبَعْدُ- يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ- فَلَوْلاَ الَّذِي رَأَيْنَا مِنْ سُوءِ صَنِيعِ كَثِيرٍ مِمَّنْ نَصَبَ نَفْسَهُ مُحَدِّثًا فِيمَا يَلْزَمُهُمْ مِنْ طَرْحِ الأَحَادِيثِ الضَّعِيفَةِ وَالرِّوَايَاتِ الْمُنْكَرَةِ وَتَرْكِهِمْ الاِقْتِصَارَ عَلَى الأَحَادِيثِ الصَّحِيحَةِ الْمَشْهُورَةِ مِمَّا نَقَلَهُ الثِّقَاتُ الْمَعْرُوفُونَ بِالصِّدْقِ وَالأَمَانَةِ بَعْدَ مَعْرِفَتِهِمْ وَإِقْرَارِهِمْ بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ أَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِمَّا يَقْذِفُونَ بِهِ إِلَى الأَغْبِيَاءِ مِنَ النَّاسِ هُوَ مُسْتَنْكَرٌ وَمَنْقُولٌ عَنْ قَوْمٍ غَيْرِ مَرْضِيِّينَ مِمَّنْ ذَمَّ الرِّوَايَةَ عَنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةُ أَهْلِ الْحَدِيثِ مِثْلُ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ وَشُعْبَةَ بْنِ الْحَجَّاجِ وَسُفْيَانَ بْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ وَيَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْقَطَّانِ وَعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ مَهْدِيٍّ وَغَيْرِهِمْ مِنَ الأَئِمَّةِ- لَمَا سَهُلَ عَلَيْنَا الاِنْتِصَابُ لِمَا سَأَلْتَ مِنَ التَّمْيِيزِ وَالتَّحْصِيلِ.
وَلَكِنْ مِنْ أَجْلِ مَا أَعْلَمْنَاكَ مِنْ نَشْرِ الْقَوْمِ الأَخْبَارَ الْمُنْكَرَةَ بِالأَسَانِيدِ الضِّعَافِ الْمَجْهُولَةِ وَقَذْفِهِمْ بِهَا إِلَى الْعَوَامِّ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْرِفُونَ عُيُوبَهَا خَفَّ عَلَى قُلُوبِنَا إِجَابَتُكَ إِلَى مَا سَأَلْتَ.

" If you both turn in repentance to Allah, then indeed your hearts are inclined (to this)" (Ixvi. 4), until 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) set out for Hajj and I also went along with him. And as we were going along a path, 'Umar (Allah be pleased with hiyn) went aside and I also went aside with him with a jug (of water). He answered the call of nature, and then came to me and I poured water over his hands and he performed ablution I said: Commander of the Faithful, who are the two ladies amongst the wives of Allah's Prophet ﷺ about whom Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, said: 'If you both turn to Allah in repentance, then indeed your heart are inclined to it"? 'Umar (Allah he pleased with him) said: How strange is it for you, Ibn 'Abbas! (Zuhri said: By Allah, he disliked what he asked about, but did not keep it a secret.) He ('Umar) said: They are Hafsa and 'A'isha; and he then began to narrate the hadith and said: We were such people among the Quraish who dominated women, and as we reached Medina we found there people who were dominated by their women, and our women began to learn (the habits) of their women. He further said: And my house was situated in the suburb of Aledina in the tribe of Banu Umayya b. Zaid. One day I became angry with my wife and she retorted upon me. I did not like that she should retort upon me. She said: You disapprove of my retorting upon you By Allah, the wives of Allah's Apostle ﷺ retort upon him, and one of them detaches herself from him for the day until the night. So I ('Umar) went out and visited Hafsa and said: Do you retort upon Messenger of Allah ﷺ? She said: Yes. I said; Does any one of you detach herself from him from the day to the night? She said: Yes. He said: She who did like it amongst you in fact failed and incurred loss. Does everyone amongst you not fear the wrath of Allah upon her due to the wrath of His Messenger ﷺ, and (as a result thereof) she may perish? So do not retort upon Messenger of Allah ﷺ and do not ask him for anything, but ask me that which you desire, (and the frank behaviour) of your companion may not mislead you, if she is more graceful and is dearer to Messenger of Allah ﷺ than you (meaning 'A'isha) (Allah be pleased with her). He (Hadrat 'Umar further) said: I had a compalaion from the Ansar and, we used to remain in the company of the Messenger ﷺ turn by turn. He remained there for a day while I remained there on the other day, and he brought me the news about the revelation and other (matter), and I brought him (the news) like this. And we discussed that the Ghassanids were shoeing the horses in order to attack us. Id y companion once attended (the Apostle). and then came to me at night and knocked at my door and called me, and I came out to him, and he said: A matter of great importance has happened. I said: What is that? Have the Ghassanids come? He said: No, but even more serious and more significant than that: the Prophet ﷺ has divorced his wives. I said: Hafsa has failed and has incurred loss. and I feared that it would happen. When it was dawn I observed the dawn prayer and dressed myself, and then came there (in the house of the Holy Prophet) and visited Hafsa, and she was weeping. I said: Has Messenger of Allah ﷺ divorced you (all)? She said: I do not know. He has, however, separated himself in his attic. I came to a black servant and said to him: Seek permission for 'Umar. He went in and then came to me and said: I made mention of you to him, but he kept quiet. I then went to the pulpit and sat there, and there was a group of people sitting by it and some of then were weeping. I sat there for some time, until I was overpowered (by that very idea) which was in my mind. I then came back to the boy and said to him: Seek permission for Umar. He went in and came to me and said: I made mention of you to him but he kept quiet. I was about to turn back when the boy called me and said: Go in; permission has been granted to you. I went in and greeted Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he was reclining against the couch of mat and it had left its marks upon his side. I said: Messenger of Allah, have you divorced your wives? He raised his head towards me and said: No. I said: Allah is the Greatest. Messenger of Allah, I wish if you had seen how we the people of Quraish had domination over women but when we came to Medina we found people whom their women dominated. So our women began to learn from their women. One dily I became angry with my wife and she began to retort upon me. I did not approve that she should retort upon me. She said: You do not like that I should retort upon you, but, by Allah. the wives of Allah's Apostle ﷺ retort upon him and any one of them separates herself from him for a day until night. I said: He who did that amongst them in fact failed and incurred loss. Does any of them feel sate from the wrath of Allahupon her due to the wrath of Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and she has certainly perished. Allah's Messtnger ﷺ smiled, I said: Messenger of Allah, I visited Hafsa and said: (The behaviour) of your companion ('A'isha) may not mislead you, If she is more graceful than you and is dearer to Messenger of Allah ﷺ than you. Messenger of Allah ﷺ smiled for the second time. I said: Messenger of Allah, way I talk to you about agreeable things? He said: Yes. I sat down and lifted my head (to see things) in the house and, by Allah, I did not see anything significant besides three hides. I said: Messenger of Allah, supplicate the Lord that He should make (life) prosperous for your Ummah as He has made plentiful for the people of Persia and Rome (in spite of the fact) that they do no, worship Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, whereupon he (Messenger of Allah) sat up an I then said: Ibn Khattab, do you doubt that they are a nation whom their nice things have been given immediately in the life of this world. I said: Messenger of Allah! seek pardon for me. And he (Messenger of Allah) had taken an oath that he would not visit them for a month due to extreme annoyance with them until Allah showed His displeasure to him (Messenger of Allah). Zuhri said: 'Urwa informed me that 'A'Isha (Allah be pleased with her) said: When twenty-nine nights were over, Messenger of Allah ﷺ visited me, and he began (his visit) with me. I said: Messenger of Allah, you had taken an oath that you would not visit us for a month, while you have visited after I have counted only twenty-nine (nights). Thereupon he said: The month may also be of twenty-nine (days). He then said: 'A'isha, I am going to talk to you about a matter, and you should not be hasty in it (and do not give your final decision) until you have consulted your parents. He then recited this verse to me:" O Prophet, say to your wives" till he reached" mighty reward" (xxxiii. 28). 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) said: By Allah, he knew that my parents would not allow me to separate from him. I said: Is there any need to consult my parents in this matter? I in fact choose Allah and His Messenger ﷺ and the abode in the Hereafter. Ma'mar said: Ayyub reported to me that 'A'isha said: Don't inform your wives that I have chosen you, whereupon Allah's Apostle ﷺ said: Verily Allah has sent me as a conveyer of message, and He has not sent me as a source of hardship (to others). Qatada said:" Saghat qulubukum" means" Your hearts have inclined."

لَمْ أَزَلْ حَرِيصًا أَنْ أَسْأَلَ عُمَرَ عَنِ الْمَرْأَتَيْنِ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ اللَّتَيْنِ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {إِنْ تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا} حَتَّى حَجَّ عُمَرُ وَحَجَجْتُ مَعَهُ فَلَمَّا كُنَّا بِبَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ عَدَلَ عُمَرُ وَعَدَلْتُ مَعَهُ بِالإِدَاوَةِ فَتَبَرَّزَ ثُمَّ أَتَانِي فَسَكَبْتُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَنِ الْمَرْأَتَانِ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ اللَّتَانِ قَالَ اللَّهُ ﷻ لَهُمَا { إِنْ تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا} قَالَ عُمَرُ وَاعَجَبًا لَكَ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ كَرِهَ وَاللَّهِ مَا سَأَلَهُ عَنْهُ وَلَمْ يَكْتُمْهُ قَالَ هِيَ حَفْصَةُ وَعَائِشَةُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ يَسُوقُ الْحَدِيثَ قَالَ كُنَّا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ قَوْمًا نَغْلِبُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ وَجَدْنَا قَوْمًا تَغْلِبُهُمْ نِسَاؤُهُمْ فَطَفِقَ نِسَاؤُنَا يَتَعَلَّمْنَ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ قَالَ وَكَانَ مَنْزِلِي فِي بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ بِالْعَوَالِي فَتَغَضَّبْتُ يَوْمًا عَلَى امْرَأَتِي فَإِذَا هِيَ تُرَاجِعُنِي فَأَنْكَرْتُ أَنْ تُرَاجِعَنِي فَقَالَتْ مَا تُنْكِرُ أَنْ أُرَاجِعَكَ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّ أَزْوَاجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لَيُرَاجِعْنَهُ وَتَهْجُرُهُ إِحْدَاهُنَّ الْيَوْمَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ فَانْطَلَقْتُ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقُلْتُ أَتُرَاجِعِينَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ أَتَهْجُرُهُ إِحْدَاكُنَّ الْيَوْمَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ قَدْ خَابَ مَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ مِنْكُنَّ وَخَسِرَ أَفَتَأْمَنُ إِحْدَاكُنَّ أَنْ يَغْضَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا لِغَضَبِ رَسُولِهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا هِيَ قَدْ هَلَكَتْ لاَ تُرَاجِعِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلاَ تَسْأَلِيهِ شَيْئًا وَسَلِينِي مَا بَدَا لَكِ وَلاَ يَغُرَّنَّكِ أَنْ كَانَتْ جَارَتُكِ هِيَ أَوْسَمَ وَأَحَبَّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْكِ يُرِيدُ عَائِشَةَ قَالَ وَكَانَ لِي جَارٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَكُنَّا نَتَنَاوَبُ النُّزُولَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَيَنْزِلُ يَوْمًا وَأَنْزِلُ يَوْمًا فَيَأْتِينِي بِخَبَرِ الْوَحْىِ وَغَيْرِهِ وَآتِيهِ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ وَكُنَّا نَتَحَدَّثُ أَنَّ غَسَّانَ تُنْعِلُ الْخَيْلَ لِتَغْزُوَنَا فَنَزَلَ صَاحِبِي ثُمَّ أَتَانِي عِشَاءً فَضَرَبَ بَابِي ثُمَّ نَادَانِي فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ حَدَثَ أَمْرٌ عَظِيمٌ قُلْتُ مَاذَا أَجَاءَتْ غَسَّانُ قَالَ لاَ بَلْ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَأَطْوَلُ طَلَّقَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ نِسَاءَهُ فَقُلْتُ قَدْ خَابَتْ حَفْصَةُ وَخَسِرَتْ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ هَذَا كَائِنًا حَتَّى إِذَا صَلَّيْتُ الصُّبْحَ شَدَدْتُ عَلَىَّ ثِيَابِي ثُمَّ نَزَلْتُ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ وَهْىَ تَبْكِي فَقُلْتُ أَطَلَّقَكُنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ لاَ أَدْرِي هَا هُوَ ذَا مُعْتَزِلٌ فِي هَذِهِ الْمَشْرُبَةِ فَأَتَيْتُ غُلاَمًا لَهُ أَسْوَدَ فَقُلْتُ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِعُمَرَ فَدَخَلَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ قَدْ ذَكَرْتُكَ لَهُ فَصَمَتَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَجَلَسْتُ فَإِذَا عِنْدَهُ رَهْطٌ جُلُوسٌ يَبْكِي بَعْضُهُمْ فَجَلَسْتُ قَلِيلاً ثُمَّ غَلَبَنِي مَا أَجِدُ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُ الْغُلاَمَ فَقُلْتُ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِعُمَرَ فَدَخَلَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ قَدْ ذَكَرْتُكَ لَهُ فَصَمَتَ فَوَلَّيْتُ مُدْبِرًا فَإِذَا الْغُلاَمُ يَدْعُونِي فَقَالَ ادْخُلْ فَقَدْ أَذِنَ لَكَ فَدَخَلْتُ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُتَّكِئٌ عَلَى رَمْلِ حَصِيرٍ قَدْ أَثَّرَ فِي جَنْبِهِ فَقُلْتُ أَطَلَّقْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نِسَاءَكَ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إِلَىَّ وَقَالَ لاَ فَقُلْتُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ رَأَيْتَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَكُنَّا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ قَوْمًا نَغْلِبُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ وَجَدْنَا قَوْمًا تَغْلِبُهُمْ نِسَاؤُهُمْ فَطَفِقَ نِسَاؤُنَا يَتَعَلَّمْنَ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ فَتَغَضَّبْتُ عَلَى امْرَأَتِي يَوْمًا فَإِذَا هِيَ تُرَاجِعُنِي فَأَنْكَرْتُ أَنْ تُرَاجِعَنِي فَقَالَتْ مَا تُنْكِرُ أَنْ أُرَاجِعَكَ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّ أَزْوَاجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لَيُرَاجِعْنَهُ وَتَهْجُرُهُ إِحْدَاهُنَّ الْيَوْمَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ فَقُلْتُ قَدْ خَابَ مَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُنَّ وَخَسِرَ أَفَتَأْمَنُ إِحْدَاهُنَّ أَنْ يَغْضَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا لِغَضَبِ رَسُولِهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا هِيَ قَدْ هَلَكَتْ فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقُلْتُ لاَ يَغُرَّنَّكِ أَنْ كَانَتْ جَارَتُكِ هِيَ أَوْسَمُ مِنْكِ وَأَحَبُّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْكِ فَتَبَسَّمَ أُخْرَى فَقُلْتُ أَسْتَأْنِسُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَجَلَسْتُ فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي فِي الْبَيْتِ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْتُ فِيهِ شَيْئًا يَرُدُّ الْبَصَرَ إِلاَّ أُهُبًا ثَلاَثَةً فَقُلْتُ ادْعُ اللَّهَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنْ يُوَسِّعَ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ فَقَدْ وَسَّعَ عَلَى فَارِسَ وَالرُّومِ وَهُمْ لاَ يَعْبُدُونَ اللَّهَ فَاسْتَوَى جَالِسًا ثُمَّ قَالَ أَفِي شَكٍّ أَنْتَ يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ أُولَئِكَ قَوْمٌ عُجِّلَتْ لَهُمْ طَيِّبَاتُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرْ لِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَكَانَ أَقْسَمَ أَنْ لاَ يَدْخُلَ عَلَيْهِنَّ شَهْرًا مِنْ شِدَّةِ مَوْجِدَتِهِ عَلَيْهِنَّ حَتَّى عَاتَبَهُ اللَّهُ ﷻ قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ فَأَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ لَمَّا مَضَى تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ لَيْلَةً دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَدَأَ بِي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ أَقْسَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَدْخُلَ عَلَيْنَا شَهْرًا وَإِنَّكَ دَخَلْتَ مِنْ تِسْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ أَعُدُّهُنَّ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الشَّهْرَ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنِّي ذَاكِرٌ لَكِ أَمْرًا فَلاَ عَلَيْكِ أَنْ لاَ تَعْجَلِي فِيهِ حَتَّى تَسْتَأْمِرِي أَبَوَيْكِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ عَلَىَّ الآيَةَ { يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لأَزْوَاجِكَ} حَتَّى بَلَغَ { أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا} قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ قَدْ عَلِمَ وَاللَّهِ أَنَّ أَبَوَىَّ لَمْ يَكُونَا لِيَأْمُرَانِي بِفِرَاقِهِ قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ أَوَفِي هَذَا أَسْتَأْمِرُ أَبَوَىَّ فَإِنِّي أُرِيدُ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالدَّارَ الآخِرَةَ قَالَ مَعْمَرٌ فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَيُّوبُ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ لاَ تُخْبِرْ نِسَاءَكَ أَنِّي اخْتَرْتُكَ فَقَالَ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَرْسَلَنِي مُبَلِّغًا وَلَمْ يُرْسِلْنِي مُتَعَنِّتًا قَالَ قَتَادَةُ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا مَالَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا

The people said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: Messenger of Allah, shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Do you feel any trouble in seeing the moon on the night when it is full? They said: Messenger of Allah, no. He (the Messenger) further said: Do you feel any trouble in seeing the sun, when there is no cloud over it? They said: Messenger of Allah. no. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Verily you would see Him like this (as you see the sun and the moon). God will gather people on the Day of Resurrection and say: Let every people follow what they worshipped. Those who worshipped the sun would follow the sun, and those who worshipped the moon would follow the moon, and those who worshipped the devils would follow the devils. This Ummah (of Islam) alone would be left behind and there would be hypocrites too amongst it. Allah would then come to them in a form other than His own Form, recognisable to them, and would say: I am your Lord. They would say: We take refuge with Allah from thee. We will stay here till our Lord comes to us. and when our Lord would come we would recognise Him. Subsequently Allah would come to them in His own Form, recognisable to them, and say: I am your Lord. They would say: Thou art our Lord. And they would follow Him, and a bridge would be set over the Hell; and I (the Holy Prophet) and my Ummah would be the first to pass over it; and none but the messengers would speak on that day, and the prayer of the messengers on that day would be: O Allah! grant safety, grant safety. In Hell, there would be long spits like the thorns of Sa'dan He (the Holy Prophet) said: Have you seen Sa'dan? They replied: Yes, Messenger of Allah. He said: Verily those (hooks) would be like the thorns of Sa'dan, but no one knows their size except Allah. These would seize people for their misdeeds. Some of them would escape for their (good) deeds, and some would be rewarded for their deeds till they get salvation. When Allah would finish judging His bondsmen and because of His mercy decide to take out of Hell such people as He pleases. He would command the angels to bring out those who had not associated anything with Allah; to whom Allah decided to show mercy. those who would say: There is no god but Allah. They (the angels) would recognise them in the Fire by the marks of prostration, for Hell-fire will devour everything (limb) of the sons of Adam except the marks of prostration. Allah has forbidden the fire to consume the marks of prostration. They will be taken out of the Fire having been burnt, and the water of life would be poured over them, and they will sprout as seed does In the silt carried by flood. Then Allah would finish judging amongst His bondsmen; but a man who will be the last to enter Paradise will remain facing Hell and will say: O my Lord I turn my face away from Hell, for its air has poisoned me ard its blaze has burnt me. He will then call to Allah as long as Allah would wish that he should call to Him. Then Allah, Blessed and Exalted, would say: If I did that, perhaps you would ask for more than that. He would say: I would not ask You more than this, and he would give his Lord covenants and agreements as Allah wished, and so He would turn his face away from the Fire When he turns towards the Paradise and sees it, he will remain silent as long as Allah wishes him to remain so. He will then say: O my Lord I bring me forward to the gate of the Paradise. Allah would say to him: Did you not give covenants and agreements that you would not ask for anything besides what I had given you. Woe to thee! O son of Adam, how treacherous you are! He would say: O my Lord! and would continue calling to Allah till He would say to him: If I grant you that, perhaps you will ask for more. He will reply: No, by Thy greatness, and he will give His Lord promises and covenants as Allah had wished. He would then bring him to the gate of the Paradise, and when he would stand at the gate of the Paradise, it would lay open before him. and he would see the bounty and the joy that there is in it. He would remain quiet as long as Allah would desire him to remain silent. He would then say: O my Lord, admit me to Paradise. Allah. Blessed and Exalted, would say: Did you not give covenants and agreements that you would not ask for anything more than what I had granted you? Woe to you! son of Adam, how treacherous you are! And he would say: O my Lord, I do not wish to be the most miserable of Thy creatures. He would continue calling upon Allah till Allah, Blessed and Exalted, would laugh. When Allah would laugh at him, He would say: Enter the Paradise. When he would enter, Allah would say: State your wish. He would express his wishes till Allah would remind him (the desire of) such and such (things). When his desires would be exhausted Allah would say: That is for thee and, besides it, the like of it also. 'Ata' b. Yazid said: Abu Sa'id al-Khudri was with Abu Huraira and be did not reject anything from the hadith narrated by him, but when Abu Huraira narrated:" Allah said to that man; ind its like along with it," Abu Sa'id said:" Ten like it along with it," O Abu Huraira. Abu Huraira said: I do not remember except the words:" That is for you and a similar one along with it." Abu Sa'id said: I bear witness to the fact that I remembered from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ his words:" That is for thee and ten like it." Abu Huraira said: That man was the last of those deserving of Paradise to enter Paradise.

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ نَاسًا قَالُوا لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ نَرَى رَبَّنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ هَلْ تُضَارُّونَ فِي رُؤْيَةِ الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ قَالُوا لاَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ هَلْ تُضَارُّونَ فِي الشَّمْسِ لَيْسَ دُونَهَا سَحَابٌ قَالُوا لاَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَإِنَّكُمْ تَرَوْنَهُ كَذَلِكَ يَجْمَعُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ شَيْئًا فَلْيَتَّبِعْهُ فَيَتَّبِعُ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ الشَّمْسَ الشَّمْسَ وَيَتَّبِعُ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ الْقَمَرَ الْقَمَرَ وَيَتَّبِعُ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ الطَّوَاغِيتَ الطَّوَاغِيتَ وَتَبْقَى هَذِهِ الأُمَّةُ فِيهَا مُنَافِقُوهَا فَيَأْتِيهِمُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فِي صُورَةٍ غَيْرِ صُورَتِهِ الَّتِي يَعْرِفُونَ فَيَقُولُ أَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْكَ هَذَا مَكَانُنَا حَتَّى يَأْتِيَنَا رَبُّنَا فَإِذَا جَاءَ رَبُّنَا عَرَفْنَاهُ فَيَأْتِيهِمُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِي صُورَتِهِ الَّتِي يَعْرِفُونَ فَيَقُولُ أَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ أَنْتَ رَبُّنَا فَيَتَّبِعُونَهُ وَيُضْرَبُ الصِّرَاطُ بَيْنَ ظَهْرَىْ جَهَنَّمَ فَأَكُونُ أَنَا وَأُمَّتِي أَوَّلَ مَنْ يُجِيزُ وَلاَ يَتَكَلَّمُ يَوْمَئِذٍ إِلاَّ الرُّسُلُ وَدَعْوَى الرُّسُلِ يَوْمَئِذٍ اللَّهُمَّ سَلِّمْ سَلِّمْ وَفِي جَهَنَّمَ كَلاَلِيبُ مِثْلُ شَوْكِ السَّعْدَانِ هَلْ رَأَيْتُمُ السَّعْدَانَ قَالُوا نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَإِنَّهَا مِثْلُ شَوْكِ السَّعْدَانِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لاَ يَعْلَمُ مَا قَدْرُ عِظَمِهَا إِلاَّ اللَّهُ تَخْطَفُ النَّاسَ بِأَعْمَالِهِمْ فَمِنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُ بَقِيَ بِعَمَلِهِ وَمِنْهُمُ الْمُجَازَى حَتَّى يُنَجَّى حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْقَضَاءِ بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ وَأَرَادَ أَنْ يُخْرِجَ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَنْ أَرَادَ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ أَمَرَ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ أَنْ يُخْرِجُوا مِنَ النَّارِ مَنْ كَانَ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا مِمَّنْ أَرَادَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنْ يَرْحَمَهُ مِمَّنْ يَقُولُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ فَيَعْرِفُونَهُمْ فِي النَّارِ يَعْرِفُونَهُمْ بِأَثَرِ السُّجُودِ تَأْكُلُ النَّارُ مِنِ ابْنِ آدَمَ إِلاَّ أَثَرَ السُّجُودِ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّارِ أَنْ تَأْكُلَ أَثَرَ السُّجُودِ فَيُخْرَجُونَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَقَدِ امْتَحَشُوا فَيُصَبُّ عَلَيْهِمْ مَاءُ الْحَيَاةِ فَيَنْبُتُونَ مِنْهُ كَمَا تَنْبُتُ الْحِبَّةُ فِي حَمِيلِ السَّيْلِ ثُمَّ يَفْرُغُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مِنَ الْقَضَاءِ بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ وَيَبْقَى رَجُلٌ مُقْبِلٌ بِوَجْهِهِ عَلَى النَّارِ وَهُوَ آخِرُ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ دُخُولاً الْجَنَّةَ فَيَقُولُ أَىْ رَبِّ اصْرِفْ وَجْهِي عَنِ النَّارِ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ قَشَبَنِي رِيحُهَا وَأَحْرَقَنِي ذَكَاؤُهَا فَيَدْعُو اللَّهَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَدْعُوَهُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى هَلْ عَسَيْتَ إِنْ فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ بِكَ أَنْ تَسْأَلَ غَيْرَهُ فَيَقُولُ لاَ أَسْأَلُكَ غَيْرَهُ وَيُعْطِي رَبَّهُ مِنْ عُهُودٍ وَمَوَاثِيقَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَيَصْرِفُ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ النَّارِ فَإِذَا أَقْبَلَ عَلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَرَآهَا سَكَتَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَسْكُتَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَىْ رَبِّ قَدِّمْنِي إِلَى بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَلَيْسَ قَدْ أَعْطَيْتَ عُهُودَكَ وَمَوَاثِيقَكَ لاَ تَسْأَلُنِي غَيْرَ الَّذِي أَعْطَيْتُكَ وَيْلَكَ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ مَا أَغْدَرَكَ فَيَقُولُ أَىْ رَبِّ وَيَدْعُو اللَّهَ حَتَّى يَقُولَ لَهُ فَهَلْ عَسَيْتَ إِنْ أَعْطَيْتُكَ ذَلِكَ أَنْ تَسْأَلَ غَيْرَهُ فَيَقُولُ لاَ وَعِزَّتِكَ فَيُعطِي رَبَّهُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنْ عُهُودٍ وَمَوَاثِيقَ فَيُقَدِّمُهُ إِلَى بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ فَإِذَا قَامَ عَلَى بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ انْفَهَقَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ فَرَأَى مَا فِيهَا مِنَ الْخَيْرِ وَالسُّرُورِ فَيَسْكُتُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَسْكُتَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَىْ رَبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي الْجَنَّةَ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لَهُ أَلَيْسَ قَدْ أَعْطَيْتَ عُهُودَكَ وَمَوَاثِيقَكَ أَنْ لاَ تَسْأَلَ غَيْرَ مَا أُعْطِيتَ وَيْلَكَ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ مَا أَغْدَرَكَ فَيَقُولُ أَىْ رَبِّ لاَ أَكُونُ أَشْقَى خَلْقِكَ فَلاَ يَزَالُ يَدْعُو اللَّهَ حَتَّى يَضْحَكَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مِنْهُ فَإِذَا ضَحِكَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ قَالَ ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ فَإِذَا دَخَلَهَا قَالَ اللَّهُ لَهُ تَمَنَّهْ فَيَسْأَلُ رَبَّهُ وَيَتَمَنَّى حَتَّى إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيُذَكِّرُهُ مِنْ كَذَا وَكَذَا حَتَّى إِذَا انْقَطَعَتْ بِهِ الأَمَانِيُّ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى ذَلِكَ لَكَ وَمِثْلُهُ مَعَهُ قَالَ عَطَاءُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ وَأَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ مَعَ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ لاَ يَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ حَدِيثِهِ شَيْئًا حَتَّى إِذَا حَدَّثَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ لِذَلِكَ الرَّجُلِ وَمِثْلُهُ مَعَهُ قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ وَعَشَرَةُ أَمْثَالِهِ مَعَهُ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ مَا حَفِظْتُ إِلاَّ قَوْلَهُ ذَلِكَ لَكَ وَمِثْلُهُ مَعَهُ قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ أَشْهَدُ أَنِّي حَفِظْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَوْلَهُ ذَلِكَ لَكَ وَعَشَرَةُ أَمْثَالِهِ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ وَذَلِكَ الرَّجُلُ آخِرُ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ دُخُولاً الْجَنَّةَ

'A'isha said: Whenever Messenger of Allah ﷺ intended to set out on a journey he cast lots amongst his wives and he took one with him in whose favour the lot was cast. It so happened that he cast lots amongst us while setting out on a battle and it was cast in my favour, so I set out along with Messenger of Allah ﷺ. This relates to the period when the revelation concerning the commands of veil had been made. I was carried in a haudaj and I was brought down where we had to stay. In short, when we set out for return journey from the expedition and our caravan was near Medina, Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded one night to march forward. I also got up when the command for the march was given and moved on until I went out of the encampments of the army and after relieving myself I came to my place. I touched my chest and found that my necklace which had been made of the stones of zafar had been broken. I retraced my steps and tried to search my necklace and this detained me there. The group of people who saddled my ride and placed my haudaj carrying me upon the camels marched on. They were under the impression that I was in it. The women in those days were light of weight and they did not wear much flesh, as they ate less food; so they did not perceive the weight of my haudaj as they placed it upon the camel as I was a young girl at that time. So they drove the camel and Eet out and I found my necklace after the army had marched. I came to my place and there was none to call and none to respond (the call). I waited at my place under the impression that when the people would riot find me they would come back. So I kept sitting at my place. I was overpowered by sleep and slept. Safwan b. Mu'attal Sulami Dhakwini, who had lagged behind the army because of taking rest came to my place walking in the latter part of the night and he saw the body of a person who was asleep. He came to me and recognised me as he had seen rue before it was enjoined to observe purda. I got ap by his voice as he recited Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un [we are for Allah and to Him we have to return. ] and I covered my head with my headdress. By Allah, he did not speak to me a word and I did not hear a word from him except Inna lillahi. He made his camel kneel down and I amounted the camel as he pressed tLe camel's foreleg and he moved on leaning the camel by the nose string on which I was riding until we came to the army where it had encamped for rest because of extreme heat. Woe be upon those who harboured doubts about me and the most notorious among them was 'Abdullah b. Ubayy, the great hypocrite. We came to Medina and I fell sick for a month. The people had been deliberating over the statements of those who had brought these calumnies against me. I was absolutely unaware of anything concerning that. This, however, caused doubt in my mind that I did not see Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him.) treating me with such kindness with which he treated me as I fell ill before this. The Prophet ﷺ would coome and greet me with Assalam-o-'Alaikum and only ask me how I was. This caused doubt in my mind, but I was unaware of the evil. I wept outside despite my failing health and there went along with me Umm Mistah and she said the daughter of Abu Rhm b. Muttalib b. 'Abd Manaf and his mother was the daughter of Sakhr b. 'Amir, the sister of the mother of Abu Bakr Sidiq and his son was Mistah b. Uthatha b. 'Abbad b. Muttalib. I and the daughter of Abu Rahm set towards the direction of my house. Something got into the head dress of Umm Mistah and she said: Woe be upon Mistah. And I said. Woe be upon what you say. Do you curse people who had participated in Badr? She said: Innocent woman, have you not heard what he said? I said: What did he say? She conveyed to me the statement of those who had brought false allegations against me. So my illness was aggravated. I went to my house and Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to me and he greeted me and then said: How is that woman? I said: Do you permit me to go to the (house) of my parents? She (further) said: I had at that time made up my mind to confirm this news from them. Messenger of Allah ﷺ permitted me. So I came to (the house of) my parents and said to my mother: Mother, do you know what the people are talking about? She said: My daughter, you should not worry. By Allah, if there is a handsome woman who is loved by her husband and he has co-wives also they talk many a thing about her. I said: Hallowed be Allah, what are the people talking about? I wept during the whole night until it was morning and I did not have a wink of sleep and I wept even in the morning. As the revelation was delayed (in regard to this matter), so Messenger of Allah ﷺ called 'Ali ibn Abi 'Talib and Usama b. Zaid in order to seek their advice in regard to the separation of his wife. Usama b. Zaid told Messenger of Allah (may peace be apen him) about the innocence of his wives and what he knew about his love for them. He said: Messenger of Allah, they are your wives and we know nothing else about them but goodness. And as for 'Ali b. Abu Talib, he said: Allah has not put any unnecessary burden upon you (in regard to your wives). There are a number of women besides her and if you ask that maidservant (Barira) she will tell you the truth. So, Messenger of Allah ﷺ called Bailra and said: Barira, did you see anything in 'A'isha which can cause doubt about her? Barira said: By Him Who sent thee with the truth, I have seen nothing objectionable in her but only this much that she is a young girl and she goes to sleep while kneading the flour and the lamb eats that. Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ mounted the pulpit and sought vindication against 'Abdullah b. Ubayy b. Salul, and he further said: Who would exonerate me from imputations of that person who has troubled (me) in regard to my family? By Allah, I find nothing in my wife but goodness and the person whom the people have mentioned in this connection is, according to my knowledge, a thoroughly pious person, and he did never get into my house but along with me. Sa'd b. Mu'adh stood up and said: Messenger of Allah, I defend your honour against him. If he belong to the tribe of Aus we would strike his neck and if he belongs to the tribe of our brother Khazraj and you order us we would comply with your order. Then Sa'd b. 'Ubada stood up. He was chief of the Khazraj tribe. He was otherwise a pioas man but he had some what tribal partisanship in him and he said to Sa'd b. Mu'adh: By the everlasting existence of Allah. you are not stating the fact, you will not be able to kill him and you will not have the power to do so. Thereupon, Usaid b. Hudair stood up, and he was the first cousin of Sa'd b. Mu'adh and said to Sa'd b. 'Ubada: By the everlasting existence of Allah, you are not stating the fact. We would kill him. You are a hypocrite and so you argue in defence of the hypocrites, and thus both the tribes Aus and Khazraj were flared up, until they were about to fall upon one another and Messenger of Allah ﷺ kept standing upon the pulpit and Messenger of Allah ﷺ tried to subside their anger until they became silent and thus there was silence. 'A'isha further reported: I spent the whole day in weeping and even the night and could not have a wink of sleep even next night. My parents thought that this constant weeping of mine would break my heart. I wept and they sat beside me. In the meanwhile a woman of the Ansar came to see me. I permitted her to see me and she also began to weep. And we were in this very state that Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and he greeted me and then sat down. He had never sat with me since a month when this rumour was afloat, and there was no revelation (to clarity) my case. Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited Tashahhud (there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Apostle) and then said: Coming to the point, 'A'isha, this is what has reached me about you and if you are innocent, Allah would Himself vindicate your honour, and if accidentally there has been a lapse on your part seek forgiveness of Allah; He will pardon thee for when a servant makes a confession of his fault and turns (to Him) penitently, Allah also turns to him (mercifully) accepting his repentance. When Messenger of Allah ﷺ talked, my tears dried up and not even a single drop of tear was perceived by me (rolling out of my eyes). I said to my father: You give a reply to Messenger of Allah ﷺ on my behalf. He said: By Allah, I do not know what I should say to Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I then said to my mother: Give a reply to Messenger of Allah ﷺ on my behalf, but she said: By Allah, I do not know what I should say to Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I was a small girl at that time and I had not read much of the Qur'an (but I said): By Allah, I perceive that you have heard about this and it has settled down in your mind and you have taken it to be true, so if I say to you that I am quite innocent, and Allah knows that I am innocent, you would never believe me to be true, and if I confess to (the alleged) lapse before you, whereas Allah knows that I am completely innocent (and I have not committed this sin at all), in that case You will take me to be true and, by Allah, I, therefore, find no other alternative for me and for you except that what the father of Yousuf said:, (My course is) comely patience. And Allah it is Whose help is to be sought for in that (predicament) which ye describe" (xii 18). After this I turned my face to the other side and lay down on my bed. By Allah, I was fully aware of this fact that I was innocent but I did not expect that Allah would descend Wahy Matlu (Qur'anic Wahy) in my case as I did not think myself so much important that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, would speak in this matter in words to be recited. I only hoped that Allah would in vision give an indication of my innocence to Messenger of Allah ﷺ during his sleep. And, by Allah, Messenger of Allah ﷺ had not moved an inch from where he had been sitting and none from the members of my family had gone that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, descended revelation upon Messenger of Allah ﷺ there and then and he felt the burden which he used to feel at the time of receiving revelation. He began to perspire because of the burden of words of Allah as they descended upon him even during the winter season and there fell the drops of his sweat like silvery beads. When this state of receiving revelation was over, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ smiled and the first words which he spoke to me were that he said: 'A'isha, there is glad tidings for you. Verily, Allah has vindicated your honour, and my mother who had been standing by me said: Get up (and thank him, i. e. the Holy Prophet). I said: By Allah, I shall not thank him and laud him but Allah Who has descended revelation vindicating my honour. She ('A'isha) said: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed:" 'Verily, those who spread the slander are a gang among you" (and) ten (subsequent) verses in regard to my innocence. She further said: Abu Bakr used to give to Mistah (some stipend) as a token of kinship with him and for his poverty and he (Abu Bakr) said: By Allah, now I would not spend anything for him. 'A'isha said: It was upon this that Allah the Exalted and Glorious revealed this verse:" And let not those who possess dignity and ease among you swear to give to the near of the kin" up to" Yearn ye not that Allah may forgive you?" Hibban b. Musa' said that 'Abdullah b. Mubarak used to say: It is a verse contained in the Book which most (eminently) brightens the hope. Abu Bakr said: By Allah, I wish that Allah should pardon me. I shall never stop this stipend. So he continued to give him the stipend which he had withdrawn. 'A'isha said that Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked Zainab, daughter of Jahsh, the wife of Allah's Apostle ﷺ, about me what she knew or what she had seen in me, and she said: Messenger of Allah, I shall not say anything without hearing (with my ears) and seeing with my eyes. By Allah, I find nothing in her but goodness. (And she stated this in spite of the fact) that she was the only lady who amongst the wives of Allah's Apostle ﷺ used to vie with me but Allah saved her in bringing false allegation against me because of her God-consciousness. Her sister Hamna bint Jahsh, however, opposed her and she was undone along with others.

حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الإِفْكِ مَا قَالُوا فَبَرَّأَهَا اللَّهُ مِمَّا قَالُوا وَكُلُّهُمْ حَدَّثَنِي طَائِفَةً مِنْ حَدِيثِهَا وَبَعْضُهُمْ كَانَ أَوْعَى لِحَدِيثِهَا مِنْ بَعْضٍ وَأَثْبَتَ اقْتِصَاصًا وَقَدْ وَعَيْتُ عَنْ كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمُ الْحَدِيثَ الَّذِي حَدَّثَنِي وَبَعْضُ حَدِيثِهِمْ يُصَدِّقُ بَعْضًا ذَكَرُوا أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ سَفَرًا أَقْرَعَ بَيْنَ نِسَائِهِ فَأَيَّتُهُنَّ خَرَجَ سَهْمُهَا خَرَجَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَعَهُ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَأَقْرَعَ بَيْنَنَا فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا فَخَرَجَ فِيهَا سَهْمِي فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَذَلِكَ بَعْدَ مَا أُنْزِلَ الْحِجَابُ فَأَنَا أُحْمَلُ فِي هَوْدَجِي وَأُنْزَلُ فِيهِ مَسِيرَنَا حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ غَزْوِهِ وَقَفَلَ وَدَنَوْنَا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ آذَنَ لَيْلَةً بِالرَّحِيلِ فَقُمْتُ حِينَ آذَنُوا بِالرَّحِيلِ فَمَشَيْتُ حَتَّى جَاوَزْتُ الْجَيْشَ فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ مِنْ شَأْنِي أَقْبَلْتُ إِلَى الرَّحْلِ فَلَمَسْتُ صَدْرِي فَإِذَا عِقْدِي مِنْ جَزْعِ ظَفَارِ قَدِ انْقَطَعَ فَرَجَعْتُ فَالْتَمَسْتُ عِقْدِي فَحَبَسَنِي ابْتِغَاؤُهُ وَأَقْبَلَ الرَّهْطُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يَرْحَلُونَ لِي فَحَمَلُوا هَوْدَجِي فَرَحَلُوهُ عَلَى بَعِيرِيَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرْكَبُ وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنِّي فِيهِ قَالَتْ وَكَانَتِ النِّسَاءُ إِذْ ذَاكَ خِفَافًا لَمْ يُهَبَّلْنَ وَلَمْ يَغْشَهُنَّ اللَّحْمُ إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلْنَ الْعُلْقَةَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَلَمْ يَسْتَنْكِرِ الْقَوْمُ ثِقَلَ الْهَوْدَجِ حِينَ رَحَلُوهُ وَرَفَعُوهُ وَكُنْتُ جَارِيَةً حَدِيثَةَ السِّنِّ فَبَعَثُوا الْجَمَلَ وَسَارُوا وَوَجَدْتُ عِقْدِي بَعْدَ مَا اسْتَمَرَّ الْجَيْشُ فَجِئْتُ مَنَازِلَهُمْ وَلَيْسَ بِهَا دَاعٍ وَلاَ مُجِيبٌ فَتَيَمَّمْتُ مَنْزِلِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ فِيهِ وَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ الْقَوْمَ سَيَفْقِدُونِي فَيَرْجِعُونَ إِلَىَّ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسَةٌ فِي مَنْزِلِي غَلَبَتْنِي عَيْنِي فَنِمْتُ وَكَانَ صَفْوَانُ بْنُ الْمُعَطَّلِ السُّلَمِيُّ ثُمَّ الذَّكْوَانِيُّ قَدْ عَرَّسَ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْجَيْشِ فَادَّلَجَ فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدَ مَنْزِلِي فَرَأَى سَوَادَ إِنْسَانٍ نَائِمٍ فَأَتَانِي فَعَرَفَنِي حِينَ رَآنِي وَقَدْ كَانَ يَرَانِي قَبْلَ أَنْ يُضْرَبَ الْحِجَابُ عَلَىَّ فَاسْتَيْقَظْتُ بِاسْتِرْجَاعِهِ حِينَ عَرَفَنِي فَخَمَّرْتُ وَجْهِي بِجِلْبَابِي وَوَاللَّهِ مَا يُكَلِّمُنِي كَلِمَةً وَلاَ سَمِعْتُ مِنْهُ كَلِمَةً غَيْرَ اسْتِرْجَاعِهِ حَتَّى أَنَاخَ رَاحِلَتَهُ فَوَطِئَ عَلَى يَدِهَا فَرَكِبْتُهَا فَانْطَلَقَ يَقُودُ بِي الرَّاحِلَةَ حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الْجَيْشَ بَعْدَ مَا نَزَلُوا مُوغِرِينَ فِي نَحْرِ الظَّهِيرَةِ فَهَلَكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ فِي شَأْنِي وَكَانَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّى كِبْرَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَىٍّ ابْنُ سَلُولَ فَقَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ فَاشْتَكَيْتُ حِينَ قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ شَهْرًا وَالنَّاسُ يُفِيضُونَ فِي قَوْلِ أَهْلِ الإِفْكِ وَلاَ أَشْعُرُ بِشَىْءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَهُوَ يَرِيبُنِي فِي وَجَعِي أَنِّي لاَ أَعْرِفُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ اللُّطْفَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرَى مِنْهُ حِينَ أَشْتَكِي إِنَّمَا يَدْخُلُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَيُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ فَذَاكَ يَرِيبُنِي وَلاَ أَشْعُرُ بِالشَّرِّ حَتَّى خَرَجْتُ بَعْدَ مَا نَقِهْتُ وَخَرَجَتْ مَعِي أُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ قِبَلَ الْمَنَاصِعِ وَهُوَ مُتَبَرَّزُنَا وَلاَ نَخْرُجُ إِلاَّ لَيْلاً إِلَى لَيْلٍ وَذَلِكَ قَبْلَ أَنَّ نَتَّخِذَ الْكُنُفَ قَرِيبًا مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا وَأَمْرُنَا أَمْرُ الْعَرَبِ الأُوَلِ فِي التَّنَزُّهِ وَكُنَّا نَتَأَذَّى بِالْكُنُفِ أَنْ نَتَّخِذَهَا عِنْدَ بُيُوتِنَا فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ وَهِيَ بِنْتُ أَبِي رُهْمِ بْنِ الْمُطَّلِبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ وَأُمُّهَا ابْنَةُ صَخْرِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ خَالَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ وَابْنُهَا مِسْطَحُ بْنُ أُثَاثَةَ بْنِ عَبَّادِ بْنِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَأَقْبَلْتُ أَنَا وَبِنْتُ أَبِي رُهْمٍ قِبَلَ بَيْتِي حِينَ فَرَغْنَا مِنْ شَأْنِنَا فَعَثَرَتْ أُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ فِي مِرْطِهَا فَقَالَتْ تَعِسَ مِسْطَحٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتِ أَتَسُبِّينَ رَجُلاً قَدْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا قَالَتْ أَىْ هَنْتَاهُ أَوَلَمْ تَسْمَعِي مَا قَالَ قُلْتُ وَمَاذَا قَالَ قَالَتْ فَأَخْبَرَتْنِي بِقَوْلِ أَهْلِ الإِفْكِ فَازْدَدْتُ مَرَضًا إِلَى مَرَضِي فَلَمَّا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى بَيْتِي فَدَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَالَ كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ قُلْتُ أَتَأْذَنُ لِي أَنْ آتِيَ أَبَوَىَّ قَالَتْ وَأَنَا حِينَئِذٍ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَتَيَقَّنَ الْخَبَرَ مِنْ قِبَلِهِمَا فَأَذِنَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجِئْتُ أَبَوَىَّ فَقُلْتُ لأُمِّي يَا أُمَّتَاهْ مَا يَتَحَدَّثُ النَّاسُ فَقَالَتْ يَا بُنَيَّةُ هَوِّنِي عَلَيْكِ فَوَاللَّهِ لَقَلَّمَا كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ قَطُّ وَضِيئَةٌ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّهَا وَلَهَا ضَرَائِرُ إِلاَّ كَثَّرْنَ عَلَيْهَا قَالَتْ قُلْتُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَقَدْ تَحَدَّثَ النَّاسُ بِهَذَا قَالَتْ فَبَكَيْتُ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ لاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ ثُمَّ أَصَبَحْتُ أَبْكِي وَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَأُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ حِينَ اسْتَلْبَثَ الْوَحْىُ يَسْتَشِيرُهُمَا فِي فِرَاقِ أَهْلِهِ قَالَتْ فَأَمَّا أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ فَأَشَارَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ مِنْ بَرَاءَةِ أَهْلِهِ وَبِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ فِي نَفْسِهِ لَهُمْ مِنَ الْوُدِّ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هُمْ أَهْلُكَ وَلاَ نَعْلَمُ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا وَأَمَّا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَقَالَ لَمْ يُضَيِّقِ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَالنِّسَاءُ سِوَاهَا كَثِيرٌ وَإِنْ تَسْأَلِ الْجَارِيَةَ تَصْدُقْكَ قَالَتْ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَرِيرَةَ فَقَالَ أَىْ بَرِيرَةُ هَلْ رَأَيْتِ مِنْ شَىْءٍ يَرِيبُكِ مِنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ لَهُ بَرِيرَةُ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنْ رَأَيْتُ عَلَيْهَا أَمْرًا قَطُّ أَغْمِصُهُ عَلَيْهَا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنَّهَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ تَنَامُ عَنْ عَجِينِ أَهْلِهَا فَتَأْتِي الدَّاجِنُ فَتَأْكُلُهُ قَالَتْ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَاسْتَعْذَرَ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُبَىٍّ ابْنِ سَلُولَ قَالَتْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَنْ يَعْذِرُنِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ قَدْ بَلَغَ أَذَاهُ فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِي فَوَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلاَّ خَيْرًا وَلَقَدْ ذَكَرُوا رَجُلاً مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا وَمَا كَانَ يَدْخُلُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلاَّ مَعِي فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ فَقَالَ أَنَا أَعْذِرُكَ مِنْهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الأَوْسِ ضَرَبْنَا عُنُقَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِنَا الْخَزْرَجِ أَمَرْتَنَا فَفَعَلْنَا أَمْرَكَ قَالَتْ فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ وَهُوَ سَيِّدُ الْخَزْرَجِ وَكَانَ رَجُلاً صَالِحًا وَلَكِنِ اجْتَهَلَتْهُ الْحَمِيَّةُ فَقَالَ لِسَعْدِ بْنِ مُعَاذٍ كَذَبْتَ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ لاَ تَقْتُلُهُ وَلاَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى قَتْلِهِ فَقَامَ أُسَيْدُ بْنُ حُضَيْرٍ وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّ سَعْدِ بْنِ مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ لِسَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ كَذَبْتَ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ لَنَقْتُلَنَّهُ فَإِنَّكَ مُنَافِقٌ تُجَادِلُ عَنِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فَثَارَ الْحَيَّانِ الأَوْسُ وَالْخَزْرَجُ حَتَّى هَمُّوا أَنْ يَقْتَتِلُوا وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَائِمٌ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُخَفِّضُهُمْ حَتَّى سَكَتُوا وَسَكَتَ قَالَتْ وَبَكَيْتُ يَوْمِي ذَلِكَ لاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ ثُمَّ بَكَيْتُ لَيْلَتِي الْمُقْبِلَةَ لاَ يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلاَ أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ وَأَبَوَاىَ يَظُنَّانِ أَنَّ الْبُكَاءَ فَالِقٌ كَبِدِي فَبَيْنَمَا هُمَا جَالِسَانِ عِنْدِي وَأَنَا أَبْكِي اسْتَأْذَنَتْ عَلَىَّ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَأَذِنْتُ لَهَا فَجَلَسَتْ تَبْكِي قَالَتْ فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ قَالَتْ وَلَمْ يَجْلِسْ عِنْدِي مُنْذُ قِيلَ لِي مَا قِيلَ وَقَدْ لَبِثَ شَهْرًا لاَ يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ فِي شَأْنِي بِشَىْءٍ قَالَتْ فَتَشَهَّدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِينَ جَلَسَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ يَا عَائِشَةُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَإِنْ كُنْتِ بَرِيئَةً فَسَيُبَرِّئُكِ اللَّهُ وَإِنْ كُنْتِ أَلْمَمْتِ بِذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرِي اللَّهَ وَتُوبِي إِلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا اعْتَرَفَ بِذَنْبٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَقَالَتَهُ قَلَصَ دَمْعِي حَتَّى مَا أُحِسُّ مِنْهُ قَطْرَةً فَقُلْتُ لأَبِي أَجِبْ عَنِّي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِيمَا قَالَ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ لأُمِيِّ أَجِيبِي عَنِّي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ وَأَنَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ لاَ أَقْرَأُ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَرَفْتُ أَنَّكُمْ قَدْ سَمِعْتُمْ بِهَذَا حَتَّى اسْتَقَرَّ فِي نُفُوسِكُمْ وَصَدَّقْتُمْ بِهِ فَإِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ لاَ تُصَدِّقُونِي بِذَلِكَ وَلَئِنِ اعْتَرَفْتُ لَكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ لَتُصَدِّقُونَنِي وَإِنِّي وَاللَّهِ مَا أَجِدُ لِي وَلَكُمْ مَثَلاً إِلاَّ كَمَا قَالَ أَبُو يُوسُفَ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ قَالَتْ ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلْتُ فَاضْطَجَعْتُ عَلَى فِرَاشِي قَالَتْ وَأَنَا وَاللَّهِ حِينَئِذٍ أَعْلَمُ أَنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مُبَرِّئِي بِبَرَاءَتِي وَلَكِنْ وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ أَنْ يُنْزَلَ فِي شَأْنِي وَحْىٌ يُتْلَى وَلَشَأْنِي كَانَ أَحْقَرَ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ ﷻ فِيَّ بِأَمْرٍ يُتْلَى وَلَكِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ يَرَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي النَّوْمِ رُؤْيَا يُبَرِّئُنِي اللَّهُ بِهَا قَالَتْ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَجْلِسَهُ وَلاَ خَرَجَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ أَحَدٌ حَتَّى أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷻ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ ﷺ فَأَخَذَهُ مَا كَانَ يَأْخُذُهُ مِنَ الْبُرَحَاءِ عِنْدَ الْوَحْىِ حَتَّى إِنَّهُ لَيَتَحَدَّرُ مِنْهُ مِثْلُ الْجُمَانِ مِنَ الْعَرَقِ فِي الْيَوْمِ الشَّاتِ مِنْ ثِقَلِ الْقَوْلِ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا سُرِّيَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ يَضْحَكُ فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ كَلِمَةٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهَا أَنْ قَالَ أَبْشِرِي يَا عَائِشَةُ أَمَّا اللَّهُ فَقَدْ بَرَّأَكِ فَقَالَتْ لِي أُمِّي قُومِي إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَقُومُ إِلَيْهِ وَلاَ أَحْمَدُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ بَرَاءَتِي قَالَتْ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷻ { إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِنْكُمْ} عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷻ هَؤُلاَءِ الآيَاتِ بَرَاءَتِي قَالَتْ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَكَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحٍ لِقَرَابَتِهِ مِنْهُ وَفَقْرِهِ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا بَعْدَ الَّذِي قَالَ لِعَائِشَةَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷻ { وَلاَ يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ أَنْ يُؤْتُوا أُولِي الْقُرْبَى} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ { أَلاَ تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ} قَالَ حِبَّانُ بْنُ مُوسَى قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ هَذِهِ أَرْجَى آيَةٍ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأُحِبُّ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لِي فَرَجَعَ إِلَى مِسْطَحٍ النَّفَقَةَ الَّتِي كَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ لاَ أَنْزِعُهَا مِنْهُ أَبَدًا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ سَأَلَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ جَحْشٍ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ عَنْ أَمْرِي مَا عَلِمْتِ أَوْ مَا رَأَيْتِ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَحْمِي سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ وَهِيَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تُسَامِينِي مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَعَصَمَهَا اللَّهُ بِالْوَرَعِ وَطَفِقَتْ أُخْتُهَا حَمْنَةُ بِنْتُ جَحْشٍ تُحَارِبُ لَهَا فَهَلَكَتْ فِيمَنْ هَلَكَ قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ فَهَذَا مَا انْتَهَى إِلَيْنَا مِنْ أَمْرِ هَؤُلاَءِ الرَّهْطِ وَقَالَ فِي حَدِيثِ يُونُسَ احْتَمَلَتْهُ الْحَمِيَّةُ

We set out from our tribe Ghafir who look upon the prohibited months as permissible months. I and my brother Unais and our mother stayed with our maternal uncle who treated us well. The men of his tribe fell jealous and they said: When you are anay from your house, Unais commits adultery with your wife. Our -naternal uncle came and he accused us of the sin which was conveyed to him. I said: You have undone the good you did to us. We cannot stay with you after this. We came to our camels and loaded (our) luggage. Our maternal uncle began to weep covering himself with (a piece of) cloth. We proceeded on until we encamped by the side of Mecca. Unais cast lot on the camels (we had) and an equal number (above that). They both went to a Kahin and he made Unais win and Unais came with our camels and an equal number along with them. He (Abu Dharr) said: My nephew, I used to observe prayer three years before my meeting with Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I said: For whom did you say prayer? He said: For Allah. I said: To which direction did you turn your face (for observing prayer)? He said: I used to turn my face as Allah has directed me to turn my face. I used to observe the night prayer at the time of the end of night and I fell down in prostration like the mantle until the sun rose over me. Unais said: I have a work in Mecca, so you better stay here. Unais went until he came to Mecca and he came to me late. I said: What did you do? He said: I met a person in Mecca who is on your religion and he claims that verily it is Allah Who has sent him. I said: What do the people say about him? He said: They say that he is a poet or a Kahin or a magician. Unais who was himself one of the poets said. I have heard the words of a Kahin but his words in no way resemble his (words). And 1 also compared his words to the verses of poets but such words cannot be uttered by any poet. By Allah, he is truthful and they are liars. Then I said: you stay here, until I go, so that I should see him. He said: I came to Mecca and I selected an insignificant person from amongst them and said to him: Where is he whom you call as-Sabi? He pointed out towards me saying: He is Sabi. Thereupon the people of the valley attacked me with sods and bows until I fell down unconscious. I stood up after havin. regained my consciousness and I found as if I was a red idol. I came to Zamzarn and washed blood from me and drank water from it and listen, O son of my brother, I stayed there for thirty nights or days and there was no food for me but the water of Zamzarn. And I became so bulky that there appeared wrinkles upon my stomach, and I did not feel any hunger in my stomach. It was during this time that the people of Mecca slept in the moonlit night and none was there to eircumambulate the House but only two women who had been invoking the name of Isafa, and Na'ila (the two idols). They came to me while in their circuit and I said: Marry one with the other, but they did not dissuade from their invoking. They came to me and I said to them: Insert wood (in the idols' private parts). (I said this to them in such plain words) as I could not express in metaphorical terms. These women went away crying and saying: Had there been one amongst our people (he would have taught a lesson to you for the obscene words used for our idols before us). These women met Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Abu Bakr who had also been coming down the hill. He asked them: What has happened to you? They said: There is Sabi, who has hidden himself between the Ka'ba and its curtain. He said: What did he say to you? They said: He uttered such words before us as we cannot express. Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and he kissed the Black Stone and circumambulated the House along with his Companion and then observed prayer, and when he had finished his prayer, Abu Dharr said: I was the first to greet him with the salutation of peace and uttered (these words) in this way; Allah's Messen- ger, may there be peace upon you, whereupon he said: It may be upon you too and the mercy of Allah. He then said: Who are you? I said: From the tribe of Ghifar. He leaned his hand and placed his finger on his forehead and I said to myself: Perhaps he has not liked it that I belong to the tribe of Ghifar. I attempted to catch hold of his hand but his friend who knew about him more than I dissuaded me f rom doing so. He then lifted his head and said: Since how long have you been here? I said: I have been here for the last thirty nights or days. He said: Who has been feeding you? I said: There has been no food for me but the water of Zamzam. I have grown so bulky that there appear wrinkles upon my stomach and I do not feel any hunger. He said: It is blessed (water) and it also serves as food. Thereupon Abu Bakr said: Messenger of Allah, let me serve as a host to him for tonight, and then Messenger of Allah ﷺ proceeded forth and so did Abu Bakr and I went along with them. Abu Bakr opened the door and then he brought for us the raisins of Ta'if and that was the first food which I ate there. Then I stayed as long as I had to stay. I then came to Allah's Messenaer ﷺ and he said: I have been shown the land abound- ing in trees and I think it cannot be but that of Yathrib (that is the old name of Medina). You are a preacher to your people on my behalf. I hope Allah would benefit them through you and He would reward you. I came to Unais and he said: What have you done? I said: I have done that I have embraced Islam and I have testified (to the prophethood of Messenger of Allah). He said: I have no aversion for your religion and I also embrace Islam and testify (to the prophethood of Muhammad). Then both of us came to our mother and she said: I have no aversion for your religion and I also embrace Islam and testify to the prophethood of Muhammad. We then loaded our camels and came to our tribe Ghifir and half of the tribe embraced Islam and their chief was Aimi' b. Rahada Ghifirl and he was their leader and hall of the tribe said: We will embrace Islam when Messenger of Allah (may p,. ace be upon him) would come to Medina, and when Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Medina the remaining half also embraced Islam. Then a tribe Aslam came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: Messenger of Allah, we also embrace Islam like our brothers who have embraced Islam. And they also embraced Islam. Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Allah granted pardon to the tribe of Ghifar and Allah saved (from destruction) the tribe of Aslam.

أَبُو ذَرٍّ خَرَجْنَا مِنْ قَوْمِنَا غِفَارٍ وَكَانُوا يُحِلُّونَ الشَّهْرَ الْحَرَامَ فَخَرَجْتُ أَنَا وَأَخِي أُنَيْسٌ وَأُمُّنَا فَنَزَلْنَا عَلَى خَالٍ لَنَا فَأَكْرَمَنَا خَالُنَا وَأَحْسَنَ إِلَيْنَا فَحَسَدَنَا قَوْمُهُ فَقَالُوا إِنَّكَ إِذَا خَرَجْتَ عَنْ أَهْلِكَ خَالَفَ إِلَيْهِمْ أُنَيْسٌ فَجَاءَ خَالُنَا فَنَثَا عَلَيْنَا الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَمَّا مَا مَضَى مِنْ مَعْرُوفِكَ فَقَدْ كَدَّرْتَهُ وَلاَ جِمَاعَ لَكَ فِيمَا بَعْدُ فَقَرَّبْنَا صِرْمَتَنَا فَاحْتَمَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا وَتَغَطَّى خَالُنَا ثَوْبَهُ فَجَعَلَ يَبْكِي فَانْطَلَقْنَا حَتَّى نَزَلْنَا بِحَضْرَةِ مَكَّةَ فَنَافَرَ أُنَيْسٌ عَنْ صِرْمَتِنَا وَعَنْ مِثْلِهَا فَأَتَيَا الْكَاهِنَ فَخَيَّرَ أُنَيْسًا فَأَتَانَا أُنَيْسٌ بِصِرْمَتِنَا وَمِثْلِهَا مَعَهَا قَالَ وَقَدْ صَلَّيْتُ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي قَبْلَ أَنْ أَلْقَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِثَلاَثِ سِنِينَ قُلْتُ لِمَنْ قَالَ لِلَّهِ قُلْتُ فَأَيْنَ تَوَجَّهُ قَالَ أَتَوَجَّهُ حَيْثُ يُوَجِّهُنِي رَبِّي أُصَلِّي عِشَاءً حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ أُلْقِيتُ كَأَنِّي خِفَاءٌ حَتَّى تَعْلُوَنِي الشَّمْسُ فَقَالَ أُنَيْسٌ إِنَّ لِي حَاجَةً بِمَكَّةَ فَاكْفِنِي فَانْطَلَقَ أُنَيْسٌ حَتَّى أَتَى مَكَّةَ فَرَاثَ عَلَىَّ ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَقُلْتُ مَا صَنَعْتَ قَالَ لَقِيتُ رَجُلاً بِمَكَّةَ عَلَى دِينِكَ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَرْسَلَهُ قُلْتُ فَمَا يَقُولُ النَّاسُ قَالَ يَقُولُونَ شَاعِرٌ كَاهِنٌ سَاحِرٌ وَكَانَ أُنَيْسٌ أَحَدَ الشُّعَرَاءِ قَالَ أُنَيْسٌ لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ قَوْلَ الْكَهَنَةِ فَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِهِمْ وَلَقَدْ وَضَعْتُ قَوْلَهُ عَلَى أَقْرَاءِ الشِّعْرِ فَمَا يَلْتَئِمُ عَلَى لِسَانِ أَحَدٍ بَعْدِي أَنَّهُ شِعْرٌ وَاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَصَادِقٌ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَاكْفِنِي حَتَّى أَذْهَبَ فَأَنْظُرَ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُ مَكَّةَ فَتَضَعَّفْتُ رَجُلاً مِنْهُمْ فَقُلْتُ أَيْنَ هَذَا الَّذِي تَدْعُونَهُ الصَّابِئَ فَأَشَارَ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ الصَّابِئَ فَمَالَ عَلَىَّ أَهْلُ الْوَادِي بِكُلِّ مَدَرَةٍ وَعَظْمٍ حَتَّى خَرَرْتُ مَغْشِيًّا عَلَىَّ قَالَ فَارْتَفَعْتُ حِينَ ارْتَفَعْتُ كَأَنِّي نُصُبٌ أَحْمَرُ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُ زَمْزَمَ فَغَسَلْتُ عَنِّي الدِّمَاءَ وَشَرِبْتُ مِنْ مَائِهَا وَلَقَدْ لَبِثْتُ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي ثَلاَثِينَ بَيْنَ لَيْلَةٍ وَيَوْمٍ مَا كَانَ لِي طَعَامٌ إِلاَّ مَاءُ زَمْزَمَ فَسَمِنْتُ حَتَّى تَكَسَّرَتْ عُكَنُ بَطْنِي وَمَا وَجَدْتُ عَلَى كَبِدِي سُخْفَةَ جُوعٍ قَالَ فَبَيْنَا أَهْلُ مَكَّةَ فِي لَيْلَةٍ قَمْرَاءَ إِضْحِيَانَ إِذْ ضُرِبَ عَلَى أَسْمِخَتِهِمْ فَمَا يَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ أَحَدٌ وَامْرَأَتَيْنِ مِنْهُمْ تَدْعُوَانِ إِسَافًا وَنَائِلَةَ قَالَ فَأَتَتَا عَلَىَّ فِي طَوَافِهِمَا فَقُلْتُ أَنْكِحَا أَحَدَهُمَا الأُخْرَى قَالَ فَمَا تَنَاهَتَا عَنْ قَوْلِهِمَا قَالَ فَأَتَتَا عَلَىَّ فَقُلْتُ هَنٌ مِثْلُ الْخَشَبَةِ غَيْرَ أَنِّي لاَ أَكْنِي فَانْطَلَقَتَا تُوَلْوِلاَنِ وَتَقُولاَنِ لَوْ كَانَ هَا هُنَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَنْفَارِنَا قَالَ فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَهُمَا هَابِطَانِ قَالَ مَا لَكُمَا قَالَتَا الصَّابِئُ بَيْنَ الْكَعْبَةِ وَأَسْتَارِهَا قَالَ مَا قَالَ لَكُمَا قَالَتَا إِنَّهُ قَالَ لَنَا كَلِمَةً تَمْلأُ الْفَمَ وَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى اسْتَلَمَ الْحَجَرَ وَطَافَ بِالْبَيْتِ هُوَ وَصَاحِبُهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى فَلَمَّا قَضَى صَلاَتَهُ قَالَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ فَكُنْتُ أَنَا أَوَّلُ مَنْ حَيَّاهُ بِتَحِيَّةِ الإِسْلاَمِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ وَعَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَنْ أَنْتَ قَالَ قُلْتُ مِنْ غِفَارٍ قَالَ فَأَهْوَى بِيَدِهِ فَوَضَعَ أَصَابِعَهُ عَلَى جَبْهَتِهِ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي كَرِهَ أَنِ انْتَمَيْتُ إِلَى غِفَارٍ فَذَهَبْتُ آخُذُ بِيَدِهِ فَقَدَعَنِي صَاحِبُهُ وَكَانَ أَعْلَمَ بِهِ مِنِّي ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَتَى كُنْتَ هَا هُنَا قَالَ قُلْتُ قَدْ كُنْتُ هَا هُنَا مُنْذُ ثَلاَثِينَ بَيْنَ لَيْلَةٍ وَيَوْمٍ قَالَ فَمَنْ كَانَ يُطْعِمُكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا كَانَ لِي طَعَامٌ إِلاَّ مَاءُ زَمْزَمَ فَسَمِنْتُ حَتَّى تَكَسَّرَتْ عُكَنُ بَطْنِي وَمَا أَجِدُ عَلَى كَبِدِي سُخْفَةَ جُوعٍ قَالَ إِنَّهَا مُبَارَكَةٌ إِنَّهَا طَعَامُ طُعْمٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ائْذَنْ لِي فِي طَعَامِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ فَانْطَلَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَانْطَلَقْتُ مَعَهُمَا فَفَتَحَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بَابًا فَجَعَلَ يَقْبِضُ لَنَا مِنْ زَبِيبِ الطَّائِفِ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ أَوَّلَ طَعَامٍ أَكَلْتُهُ بِهَا ثُمَّ غَبَرْتُ مَا غَبَرْتُ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ قَدْ وُجِّهَتْ لِي أَرْضٌ ذَاتُ نَخْلٍ لاَ أُرَاهَا إِلاَّ يَثْرِبَ فَهَلْ أَنْتَ مُبَلِّغٌ عَنِّي قَوْمَكَ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يَنْفَعَهُمْ بِكَ وَيَأْجُرَكَ فِيهِمْ فَأَتَيْتُ أُنَيْسًا فَقَالَ مَا صَنَعْتَ قُلْتُ صَنَعْتُ أَنِّي قَدْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَصَدَّقْتُ قَالَ مَا بِي رَغْبَةٌ عَنْ دِينِكَ فَإِنِّي قَدْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَصَدَّقْتُ فَأَتَيْنَا أُمَّنَا فَقَالَتْ مَا بِي رَغْبَةٌ عَنْ دِينِكُمَا فَإِنِّي قَدْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَصَدَّقْتُ فَاحْتَمَلْنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا قَوْمَنَا غِفَارًا فَأَسْلَمَ نِصْفُهُمْ وَكَانَ يَؤُمُّهُمْ إِيمَاءُ بْنُ رَحَضَةَ الْغِفَارِيُّ وَكَانَ سَيِّدَهُمْ وَقَالَ نِصْفُهُمْ إِذَا قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَدِينَةَ أَسْلَمْنَا فَقَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَدِينَةَ فَأَسْلَمَ نِصْفُهُمُ الْبَاقِي وَجَاءَتْ أَسْلَمُ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِخْوَتُنَا نُسْلِمُ عَلَى الَّذِي أَسْلَمُوا عَلَيْهِ فَأَسْلَمُوا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ غِفَارُ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهَا وَأَسْلَمُ سَالَمَهَا اللَّهُ

Moses had been delivering sermons to his people. And he made this remark: No person upon the earth has better knowledge than I or nothing better than mine. Thereupon Allah revealed to him: I know one who is better than you (in knowledge) or there is a person on the earth having more knowledge than you. Thereupon he said: My Lord, direct me to him. It was said to him: Keep a salted fish as a provision for journey. The place where that fish would be lost (there you will find that man). So he set forth and a young slave along with him until they came to a place Sakhra. but he did not find any clue. So he proceeded on and left that young man there. The fish began to stir in water and the water assumed the form of an ark over the fish. The young man said: I should meet Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) and inform him, but he was made to forget and when they had gone beyond that place, he (Moses) said to the young man: Bring breakfast. We have been exhausted because of the journey, and he (Moses) was not exhausted until he had crossed that (particular) place (where he had) to meet Khadir, and the youth was reminded and said: Did you not see that as we reached Sakhra I forgot the fish and it is satan alone who has made me forgetful of it'? It is strange that he has been able to find way in the ocean too. He said: This is what we sought for us. They returned retracing their steps, and he (his companion) pointed to him the location (where) the fish (had been lost). Moses began to search him there. He suddenly saw Khadir wrapped in a cloth and lying on his back. He said to him: As-Salamu-'Alaikum. He removed the cloth from his face and said: Wa 'Alaikum-us-Salam! Who are you? He said: I am Moses. He said: Who Moses? He said: Moses Of Bani Isra'il. He said: What brought you here? He said: I have come so that you may teach me what you have been taught of righteousness. He said: You shall have to bear with me, and how can you have patience about a thing of which you have no comprehensive knowledge? You will not have patience when you see me doing a thing I have been ordered to do. He said: If Allah pleases, you will find me patient, nor shall I disobey you in aught. Khadir said: If you follow me, don't ask me about anything until I explain it to you. So they went on until they embarked upon a boat. He (Khadir) made a hole in that. Thereupon he (Moses) said: You have done this so that you may drown the persons sitting in the boat. You have done something grievous. Thereupon he said: Did I not tell you that you will not be able to bear with me? Thereupon he (Moses) said: Blame me not for what I forgot and be not hard upon me for what I did. (Khadir gave him another chance.) So they went on until they reached a place where boys were playing. He went to one of them and caught hold'of one (apparently) at random and killed him. Moses (peace be upon him) felt agitated and said: You have killed an innocent person not guilty of slaying another. You have done something aboininable. Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: May Allah have mercy upon us and Moses. Had he shown patience he would have seen wonderful things, but fear of blame, with respect to his companion, seized him and he said: If I ask anything after this, keep not company with me. You will then have a valid excuse in my case, and had he (Moses) shown patience he would have seen many wonderful things. He (the narrator) said: Whenever he (the Holy Prophet) made mention of any Prophet, he always said: May there be mercy of Allah upon us and upon my brother so and so. They, however, proceeded on until they came to the inhabitants of a village who were very miserly. They went to the meeting places and asked for hospitality but they refused to show any hospitality to them. They both found in that village a wall which was about to fall. He (Khadir) set it right. Thereupon he (Moses) said: If you so liked. you could get wages for it. Thereupon he said: This is the partince, of ways between me and you, and, taking hold of his cloth, he said: Now I will explain to you the real significance (of all these acts) for which you could not show patience. As for the boat, it belonged to the poor people working on the river and I intended to damage it for there was ahead of them (a king) who seized boats by force. (When he came) to catch hold of it he found it a damaged boat, so he spared it (and later on) it was set right with wood. So far as the boy is concerned, he has been, by very nature, an unbeliever, whereas his parents loved him very much. Had he grown up he would have involved them in wrongdoing and unbelief, so we wished that their Lord should give them in its place one better in purity and close to mercy. And as for the wall it belonged to two orphan boys in the city and there was beneath it a (treasure) belongin to them,... up to the last verse.

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ بَيْنَمَا مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فِي قَوْمِهِ يُذَكِّرُهُمْ بِأَيَّامِ اللَّهِ وَأَيَّامُ اللَّهِ نَعْمَاؤُهُ وَبَلاَؤُهُ إِذْ قَالَ مَا أَعْلَمُ فِي الأَرْضِ رَجُلاً خَيْرًا أَوْ أَعْلَمَ مِنِّي قَالَ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ بِالْخَيْرِ مِنْهُ أَوْ عِنْدَ مَنْ هُوَ إِنَّ فِي الأَرْضِ رَجُلاً هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكَ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ فَدُلَّنِي عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ تَزَوَّدْ حُوتًا مَالِحًا فَإِنَّهُ حَيْثُ تَفْقِدُ الْحُوتَ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقَ هُوَ وَفَتَاهُ حَتَّى انْتَهَيَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَعُمِّيَ عَلَيْهِ فَانْطَلَقَ وَتَرَكَ فَتَاهُ فَاضْطَرَبَ الْحُوتُ فِي الْمَاءِ فَجَعَلَ لاَ يَلْتَئِمُ عَلَيْهِ صَارَ مِثْلَ الْكُوَّةِ قَالَ فَقَالَ فَتَاهُ أَلاَ أَلْحَقُ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ فَأُخْبِرَهُ قَالَ فَنُسِّيَ فَلَمَّا تَجَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَاهُ آتِنَا غَدَاءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِنْ سَفَرِنَا هَذَا نَصَبًا قَالَ وَلَمْ يُصِبْهُمْ نَصَبٌ حَتَّى تَجَاوَزَا قَالَ فَتَذَكَّرَ قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَا أَنْسَانِيهُ إِلاَّ الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا قَالَ ذَلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِي فَارْتَدَّا عَلَى آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا فَأَرَاهُ مَكَانَ الْحُوتِ قَالَ هَا هُنَا وُصِفَ لِي قَالَ فَذَهَبَ يَلْتَمِسُ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِالْخَضِرِ مُسَجًّى ثَوْبًا مُسْتَلْقِيًا عَلَى الْقَفَا أَوْ قَالَ عَلَى حَلاَوَةِ الْقَفَا قَالَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَكَشَفَ الثَّوْبَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ قَالَ وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلاَمُ مَنْ أَنْتَ قَالَ أَنَا مُوسَى قَالَ وَمَنْ مُوسَى قَالَ مُوسَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ قَالَ مَجِيءٌ مَا جَاءَ بِكَ قَالَ جِئْتُ لِتُعَلِّمَنِي مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَى مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْرًا شَىْءٌ أُمِرْتُ بِهِ أَنْ أَفْعَلَهُ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُ لَمْ تَصْبِرْ قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ صَابِرًا وَلاَ أَعْصِي لَكَ أَمْرًا قَالَ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِي فَلاَ تَسْأَلْنِي عَنْ شَىْءٍ حَتَّى أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا فَانْطَلَقَا حَتَّى إِذَا رَكِبَا فِي السَّفِينَةِ خَرَقَهَا قَالَ انْتَحَى عَلَيْهَا قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ أَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا إِمْرًا قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا قَالَ لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا نَسِيتُ وَلاَ تُرْهِقْنِي مِنْ أَمْرِي عُسْرًا فَانْطَلَقَا حَتَّى إِذَا لَقِيَا غِلْمَانًا يَلْعَبُونَ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقَ إِلَى أَحَدِهِمْ بَادِيَ الرَّأْىِ فَقَتَلَهُ فَذُعِرَ عِنْدَهَا مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ذَعْرَةً مُنْكَرَةً قَالَ أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا زَاكِيَةً بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا نُكْرًا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عِنْدَ هَذَا الْمَكَانِ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى مُوسَى لَوْلاَ أَنَّهُ عَجَّلَ لَرَأَى الْعَجَبَ وَلَكِنَّهُ أَخَذَتْهُ مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ ذَمَامَةٌ قَالَ إِنْ سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ شَىْءٍ بَعْدَهَا فَلاَ تُصَاحِبْنِي قَدْ بَلَغْتَ مِنْ لَدُنِّي عُذْرًا وَلَوْ صَبَرَ لَرَأَى الْعَجَبَ قَالَ وَكَانَ إِذَا ذَكَرَ أَحَدًا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ بَدَأَ بِنَفْسِهِ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى أَخِي كَذَا رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا فَانْطَلَقَا حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَيَا أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ لِئَامًا فَطَافَا فِي الْمَجَالِسِ فَاسْتَطْعَمَا أَهْلَهَا فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَارًا يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَنْقَضَّ فَأَقَامَهُ قَالَ لَوْ شِئْتَ لاَتَّخَذْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا قَالَ هَذَا فِرَاقُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنِكَ وَأَخَذَ بِثَوْبِهِ قَالَ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأْوِيلِ مَا لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ عَلَيْهِ صَبْرًا أَمَّا السَّفِينَةُ فَكَانَتْ لِمَسَاكِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ فِي الْبَحْرِ إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ فَإِذَا جَاءَ الَّذِي يُسَخِّرُهَا وَجَدَهَا مُنْخَرِقَةً فَتَجَاوَزَهَا فَأَصْلَحُوهَا بِخَشَبَةٍ وَأَمَّا الْغُلاَمُ فَطُبِعَ يَوْمَ طُبِعَ كَافِرًا وَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ قَدْ عَطَفَا عَلَيْهِ فَلَوْ أَنَّهُ أَدْرَكَ أَرْهَقَهُمَا طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا فَأَرَدْنَا أَنْ يُبَدِّلَهُمَا رَبُّهُمَا خَيْرًا مِنْهُ زَكَاةً وَأَقْرَبَ رُحْمًا وَأَمَّا الْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلاَمَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُ إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ

Narrate to me a hadith which you had heard directly from Messenger of Allah ﷺ and there is no extra link in between them. She said: Very well, if you like, I am prepared to do that, and he said to her: Well, do It and narrate that to me. She said: I married the son of Mughira and he was a chosen young man of Quraish at that time, but he fell as a martyr in the first Jihad (fighting) on the side of Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When I became a widow, 'Abd al-Rahman b. Auf, one amongst the group of the Companions of Messenger of Allah ﷺ, sent me the proposal of marriage. Messenger of Allah ﷺ also sent me such a message for his freed slave Usama b. Zaid. And it had been conveyed to me that Messenger of Allah ﷺ had said (about Usama): He who loves me should also love Usama. When Messenger of Allah ﷺ talked to me (about this matter), I said: My affairs are in your hand. You may marry me to anyone whom you like. He said: You better shift now to the house of Umm Sharik, and Umm Sharik was a rich lady from amongst the Ansar. She spent generously for the cause of Allah and entertained guests very hospitably. I said: Well, I will do as you like. He said: Do not do that for Umm Sharik is a woman who is very frequently visited by guests and I do not like that your head may be uncovered or the cloth may be removed from your shank and the strangers may catch sight of them which you abhor. You better shift to the house of your cousin 'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. Umm Maktum and he is a person of the Bani Fihr branch of the Quraish, and he belonged to that tribe (to which Fatima) belonged. So I shifted to that house.
And when my period of waiting was over, I heard the voice of an announcer making an announcement that the prayer would be observed in the mosque (where) congregational prayer (is observed). So I set out towards that mosque and observed prayer along with Messenger of Allah ﷺ and I was in the row of the women which was near the row of men. When Messenger of Allah ﷺ had finished his prayer, he sat on the pulpit smiling and said: Every worshipper should keep sitting at his place. He then said: Do you know why I had asked you to assemble? They said: Allah and His Messenger know best.
He said: By Allah. I have not made you assemble for exhortation or for a warning, but I have detained you here, for Tamim Dari, a Christian, who came and accepted Islam, told me something, which agrees with what I was telling, you about the Dajjal. He narrated to me that he had sailed in a ship along with thirty men of Bani Lakhm and Bani Judham and had been tossed by waves in the ocean for a month. Then these (waves) took them (near) the land within the ocean (island) at the time of sunset.
They sat in a small side-boat and entered that island. There was a beast with long thick hair (and because of these) they could not distinguish his face from his back. They said: Woe to you, who can you be? Thereupon it said: I am al-Jassasah. They said: What is al-Jassasah? And it said: O people, go to this person in the monastery as he is very much eager to know about you. He (the narrator) said: When it named a person for us we were afraid of it lest it should be a devil.
Then we hurriedly went on till we came to that monastery and found a well-built person there with his hands tied to his neck and having iron shackles between his two legs up to the ankles. We said: Woe be upon thee, who are you? And he said: You would soon come to know about me. but tell me who are you. We said: We are people from Arabia and we embarked upon a boat but the sea-waves had been driving us for one month and they brought as near this island. We got Into the side-boats and entered this island and here a beast met us with profusely thick hair and because of the thickness of his hair his face could not be distinguished from his back. We said: Woe be to thee, who are you? It said: I am al-Jassasah. We said: What is al-Jassasah? And it said: You go to this very person in the monastery for he is eagerly waiting for you to know about you. So we came to you in hot haste fearing that that might be the Devil.
He (that chained person) said: Tell me about the date-palm trees of Baisan. We said: About what aspect of theirs do you seek information? He said: I ask you whether these trees bear fruit or not. We said: yes. Thereupon he said: I think these would not bear fruits.
He said: Inform me about the lake of Tabariyyah (Lake Tiberias or Sea of Gallilee)? We said: Which aspect of it do you want to know? He said: Is there water in it? They said: There is abundance of water in it. Thereupon he said: I think it would soon become dry.
He again said: Inform me about the spring of Zughar. They said: Which aspect of it you want to know? He (the chained person) said: Is there water in it and does it irrigate (the land)? We said to him: Yes, there is abundance of water in it and the inhabitants (of Medina) irrigate (land) with the help of it,
He said: Inform me about the unlettered Prophet; what has he done? We said: He has come out from Mecca and has settled In Yathrib (Medina). He said: Do the Arabs fight against him? We said: Yes. He said: How did he deal with them? We informed him that he had overcome those in his neighbourhood and they had submitted themselves before him. Thereupon he said to us: Has it actually happened? We said: Yes. Thereupon he said: If it is so that is better for them that they should show obedience to him. I am going to tell you about myself...
I am the Messiah ˹Dajjal˺ and would be soon permitted to get out and so I shall get out and travel in the land, and will not spare any town where I would not stay for forty nights except Mecca and Medina as these two (places) are prohibited (areas) for me and I would not make an attempt to enter any one of these two. An angel with a sword in his hand would confront me and would bar my way and there would be angels to guard every passage leading to it;"
Then Messenger of Allah ﷺ striking the pulpit with the help of the end of his staff said: This implies Taiba meaning Medina. Have I not, told you an account (of the Dajjal) like this? 'The people said: Yes, and this account narrated by Tamim Dari was liked by me for it corroborates the account which I gave to you in regard to him (Dajjal) at Medina and Mecca. Behold he (Dajjal) is in the Syrian sea (Mediterranean) or the Yemen sea (Arabian sea). Nay, on the contrary, he is in the east, he is in the east, he is in the east, and he pointed with his hand towards the east. I (Fatima bint Qais) said: I preserved it in my mind (this narration from Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ قَيْسٍ أُخْتَ الضَّحَّاكِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرَاتِ الأُوَلِ فَقَالَ حَدِّثِينِي حَدِيثًا سَمِعْتِيهِ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تُسْنِدِيهِ إِلَى أَحَدٍ غَيْرِهِ فَقَالَتْ لَئِنْ شِئْتَ لأَفْعَلَنَّ فَقَالَ لَهَا أَجَلْ حَدِّثِينِي فَقَالَتْ نَكَحْتُ ابْنَ الْمُغِيرَةِ وَهُوَ مِنْ خِيَارِ شَبَابِ قُرَيْشٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَأُصِيبَ فِي أَوَّلِ الْجِهَادِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا تَأَيَّمْتُ خَطَبَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَخَطَبَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى مَوْلاَهُ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ وَكُنْتُ قَدْ حُدِّثْتُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ أَحَبَّنِي فَلْيُحِبَّ أُسَامَةَ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قُلْتُ أَمْرِي بِيَدِكَ فَأَنْكِحْنِي مَنْ شِئْتَ فَقَالَ انْتَقِلِي إِلَى أُمِّ شَرِيكٍ وَأُمُّ شَرِيكٍ امْرَأَةٌ غَنِيَّةٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ عَظِيمَةُ النَّفَقَةِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يَنْزِلُ عَلَيْهَا الضِّيفَانُ فَقُلْتُ سَأَفْعَلُ فَقَالَ لاَ تَفْعَلِي إِنَّ أُمَّ شَرِيكٍ امْرَأَةٌ كَثِيرَةُ الضِّيفَانِ فَإِنِّي أَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَسْقُطَ عَنْكِ خِمَارُكِ أَوْ يَنْكَشِفَ الثَّوْبُ عَنْ سَاقَيْكِ فَيَرَى الْقَوْمُ مِنْكِ بَعْضَ مَا تَكْرَهِينَ وَلَكِنِ انْتَقِلِي إِلَى ابْنِ عَمِّكِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو ابْنِ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ وَهُوَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي فِهْرٍ فِهْرِ قُرَيْشٍ وَهُوَ مِنَ الْبَطْنِ الَّذِي هِيَ مِنْهُ فَانْتَقَلْتُ إِلَيْهِ
فَلَمَّا انْقَضَتْ عِدَّتِي سَمِعْتُ نِدَاءَ الْمُنَادِي مُنَادِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُنَادِي الصَّلاَةَ جَامِعَةً فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلَّيْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَكُنْتُ فِي صَفِّ النِّسَاءِ الَّتِي تَلِي ظُهُورَ الْقَوْمِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَتَهُ جَلَسَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ وَهُوَ يَضْحَكُ فَقَالَ لِيَلْزَمْ كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ مُصَلاَّهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَتَدْرُونَ لِمَ جَمَعْتُكُمْ قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ
قَالَ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ مَا جَمَعْتُكُمْ لِرَغْبَةٍ وَلاَ لِرَهْبَةٍ وَلَكِنْ جَمَعْتُكُمْ لأَنَّ تَمِيمًا الدَّارِيَّ كَانَ رَجُلاً نَصْرَانِيًّا فَجَاءَ فَبَايَعَ وَأَسْلَمَ وَحَدَّثَنِي حَدِيثًا وَافَقَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أُحَدِّثُكُمْ عَنْ مَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ حَدَّثَنِي أَنَّهُ رَكِبَ فِي سَفِينَةٍ بَحْرِيَّةٍ مَعَ ثَلاَثِينَ رَجُلاً مِنْ لَخْمٍ وَجُذَامَ فَلَعِبَ بِهِمُ الْمَوْجُ شَهْرًا فِي الْبَحْرِ ثُمَّ أَرْفَئُوا إِلَى جَزِيرَةٍ فِي الْبَحْرِ حَتَّى مَغْرِبِ الشَّمْسِ فَجَلَسُوا فِي أَقْرُبِ السَّفِينَةِ
فَدَخَلُوا الْجَزِيرَةَ فَلَقِيَتْهُمْ دَابَّةٌ أَهْلَبُ كَثِيرُ الشَّعَرِ لاَ يَدْرُونَ مَا قُبُلُهُ مِنْ دُبُرِهِ مِنْ كَثْرَةِ الشَّعَرِ فَقَالُوا وَيْلَكِ مَا أَنْتِ فَقَالَتْ أَنَا الْجَسَّاسَةُ قَالُوا وَمَا الْجَسَّاسَةُ قَالَتْ أَيُّهَا الْقَوْمُ انْطَلِقُوا إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ فِي الدَّيْرِ فَإِنَّهُ إِلَى خَبَرِكُمْ بِالأَشْوَاقِ قَالَ لَمَّا سَمَّتْ لَنَا رَجُلاً فَرِقْنَا مِنْهَا أَنْ تَكُونَ شَيْطَانَةً
قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْنَا سِرَاعًا حَتَّى دَخَلْنَا الدَّيْرَ فَإِذَا فِيهِ أَعْظَمُ إِنْسَانٍ رَأَيْنَاهُ قَطُّ خَلْقًا وَأَشَدُّهُ وِثَاقًا مَجْمُوعَةٌ يَدَاهُ إِلَى عُنُقِهِ مَا بَيْنَ رُكْبَتَيْهِ إِلَى كَعْبَيْهِ بِالْحَدِيدِ قُلْنَا وَيْلَكَ مَا أَنْتَ قَالَ قَدْ قَدَرْتُمْ عَلَى خَبَرِي فَأَخْبِرُونِي مَا أَنْتُمْ قَالُوا نَحْنُ أُنَاسٌ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ رَكِبْنَا فِي سَفِينَةٍ بَحْرِيَّةٍ فَصَادَفْنَا الْبَحْرَ حِينَ اغْتَلَمَ فَلَعِبَ بِنَا الْمَوْجُ شَهْرًا ثُمَّ أَرْفَأْنَا إِلَى جَزِيرَتِكَ هَذِهِ فَجَلَسْنَا فِي أَقْرُبِهَا فَدَخَلْنَا الْجَزِيرَةَ فَلَقِيَتْنَا دَابَّةٌ أَهْلَبُ كَثِيرُ الشَّعَرِ لاَ يُدْرَى مَا قُبُلُهُ مِنْ دُبُرِهِ مِنْ كَثْرَةِ الشَّعَرِ فَقُلْنَا وَيْلَكِ مَا أَنْتِ فَقَالَتْ أَنَا الْجَسَّاسَةُ قُلْنَا وَمَا الْجَسَّاسَةُ قَالَتِ اعْمِدُوا إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ فِي الدَّيْرِ فَإِنَّهُ إِلَى خَبَرِكُمْ بِالأَشْوَاقِ فَأَقْبَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ سِرَاعًا وَفَزِعْنَا مِنْهَا وَلَمْ نَأْمَنْ أَنْ تَكُونَ شَيْطَانَةً
فَقَالَ أَخْبِرُونِي عَنْ نَخْلِ بَيْسَانَ قُلْنَا عَنْ أَىِّ شَأْنِهَا تَسْتَخْبِرُ قَالَ أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَنْ نَخْلِهَا هَلْ يُثْمِرُ قُلْنَا لَهُ نَعَمْ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ يُوشِكُ أَنْ لاَ تُثْمِرَ
قَالَ أَخْبِرُونِي عَنْ بُحَيْرَةِ الطَّبَرِيَّةِ قُلْنَا عَنْ أَىِّ شَأْنِهَا تَسْتَخْبِرُ قَالَ هَلْ فِيهَا مَاءٌ قَالُوا هِيَ كَثِيرَةُ الْمَاءِ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّ مَاءَهَا يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ
قَالَ أَخْبِرُونِي عَنْ عَيْنِ زُغَرَ قَالُوا عَنْ أَىِّ شَأْنِهَا تَسْتَخْبِرُ قَالَ هَلْ فِي الْعَيْنِ مَاءٌ وَهَلْ يَزْرَعُ أَهْلُهَا بِمَاءِ الْعَيْنِ قُلْنَا لَهُ نَعَمْ هِيَ كَثِيرَةُ الْمَاءِ وَأَهْلُهَا يَزْرَعُونَ مِنْ مَائِهَا
قَالَ أَخْبِرُونِي عَنْ نَبِيِّ الأُمِّيِّينَ مَا فَعَلَ قَالُوا قَدْ خَرَجَ مِنْ مَكَّةَ وَنَزَلَ يَثْرِبَ قَالَ أَقَاتَلَهُ الْعَرَبُ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ قَالَ كَيْفَ صَنَعَ بِهِمْ فَأَخْبَرْنَاهُ أَنَّهُ قَدْ ظَهَرَ عَلَى مَنْ يَلِيهِ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ وَأَطَاعُوهُ قَالَ لَهُمْ قَدْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّ ذَاكَ خَيْرٌ لَهُمْ أَنْ يُطِيعُوهُ وَإِنِّي مُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنِّي
إِنِّي أَنَا الْمَسِيحُ وَإِنِّي أُوشِكُ أَنْ يُؤْذَنَ لِي فِي الْخُرُوجِ فَأَخْرُجَ فَأَسِيرَ فِي الأَرْضِ فَلاَ أَدَعَ قَرْيَةً إِلاَّ هَبَطْتُهَا فِي أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً غَيْرَ مَكَّةَ وَطَيْبَةَ فَهُمَا مُحَرَّمَتَانِ عَلَىَّ كِلْتَاهُمَا كُلَّمَا أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَدْخُلَ وَاحِدَةً أَوْ وَاحِدًا مِنْهُمَا اسْتَقْبَلَنِي مَلَكٌ بِيَدِهِ السَّيْفُ صَلْتًا يَصُدُّنِي عَنْهَا وَإِنَّ عَلَى كُلِّ نَقْبٍ مِنْهَا مَلاَئِكَةً يَحْرُسُونَهَا
قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَطَعَنَ بِمِخْصَرَتِهِ فِي الْمِنْبَرِ هَذِهِ طَيْبَةُ هَذِهِ طَيْبَةُ هَذِهِ طَيْبَةُ يَعْنِي الْمَدِينَةَ أَلاَ هَلْ كُنْتُ حَدَّثْتُكُمْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ نَعَمْ فَإِنَّهُ أَعْجَبَنِي حَدِيثُ تَمِيمٍ أَنَّهُ وَافَقَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أُحَدِّثُكُمْ عَنْهُ وَعَنِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَمَكَّةَ أَلاَ إِنَّهُ فِي بَحْرِ الشَّامِ أَوْ بَحْرِ الْيَمَنِ لاَ بَلْ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْمَشْرِقِ ما هُوَ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْمَشْرِقِ مَا هُوَ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْمَشْرِقِ مَا هُوَ وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى الْمَشْرِقِ قَالَتْ فَحَفِظْتُ هَذَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ

Ja’far bin Muhammad reported on the authority of his father “We entered upon Jabir bin ‘Abd Allaah. When we reached him, he asked about the people (who had come to visit him). When my turn came I said “I am Muhammad bin Ali bin Hussain. He patted my head with his hand and undid my upper then lower buttons. He then placed his hand between my nipples and in those days I was a young boy.” He then said “welcome to you my nephew, ask what you like. I questioned him he was blind. The time of prayer came and he stood wrapped in a mantle. Whenever he placed it on his shoulders its ends fell due to its shortness. He led us in prayer while his mantle was placed on a rack by his side. I said “tell me about the Hajj of the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ.”He signed with his hand and folded his fingers indicating nine. He then said Apostle of Allaah ﷺ remained nine years (at Madeenah ) during which he did not perform Hajj, then made a public announcement in the tenth year to the effect that the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ was about to (go to) perform Hajj. A large number of people came to Madeenah everyone desiring to follow him and act like him. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ went out and we too went out with him till we reached Dhu Al Hulaifah. Asma’ daughter of ‘Umais gave birth to Muhammad bin Abi Bakr. She sent message to Apostle of Allaah ﷺ asking him What should I do?He replied “take a bath, bandage your private parts with a cloth and put on ihram.” The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ then prayed (in the masjid) and mounted Al Qaswa’ and his she Camel stood erect with him on its back. Jabir said “I saw (a large number of) people on mounts and on foot in front of him and a similar number on his right side and a similar number on his left side and a similar number behind him. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ was among us, the Qur’an was being revealed to him and he knew its interpretation. Whatever he did, we did it. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ then raised his voice declaring Allaah’s unity and saying “Labbaik ( I am at thy service), O Allaah, labbaik, labbaik, Thou hast no partner praise and grace are Thine and the Dominion. Thou hast no partner. The people too raised their voices in talbiyah which they used to utter. But the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ did not forbid them anything. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ continued his talbiyah. Jabir said “We did not express our intention of performing anything but Hajj, being unaware of ‘Umrah (at that season), but when we came with him to the House (the Ka’bah), he touched the corner (and made seven circuits) walking quickly with pride in three of them and walking ordinarily in four. Then going forward to the station of Abraham he recited “And take the station of Abraham as a place of prayer.” (While praying two rak’ahs) he kept the station between him and the House. The narrator said My father said that Ibn Nufail and ‘Uthman said I do not know that he (Jabir) narrated it from anyone except the Prophet ﷺ. The narrator Sulaiman said I do not know but he (Jabir) said “The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ used to recite in the two rak’ahs “Say, He is Allaah, one” and “Say O infidels”. He then returned to the House (the ka’bah) and touched the corner after which he went out by the gate to Al Safa’. When he reached near Al Safa’ he recited “Al Safa’ and Al Marwah are among the indications of Allaah” and he added “We begin with what Allaah began with”. He then began with Al Safa’ and mounting it till he could see the House (the Ka’bah) he declared the greatness of Allaah and proclaimed his Unity. He then said “there is no god but Allaah alone, Who alone has fulfilled His promise, helped His servant and routed the confederates. He then made supplication in the course of that saying such words three times. He then descended and walked towards Al Marwah and when his feet came down into the bottom of the valley, he ran, and when he began to ascend he walked till he reached Al Marwah. He did at al Marwah as he had done at Al Safa’ and when he came to Al Marwah for the last time, he said “If I had known before what I have come to know afterwards regarding this matter of mine, I would not have brought sacrificial animals but made it an ‘Umrah, so if any of you has no sacrificial animals, he may take off ihram and treat it as an ‘Umrah. All the people then took off ihram and clipped their hair except the Prophet ﷺ and those who had brought sacrificial animals. Suraqah (bin Malik) bin Ju’sham then got up and asked Apostle of Allaah ﷺdoes this apply to the present year or does it apply for ever? The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ interwined his fingers and said “The ‘Umarh has been incorporated in Hajj. Adding ‘No’, but forever and ever. ‘Ali came from Yemen with the sacrificial animals of the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ and found Fathima among one of those who had taken off their ihram. She said put on colored clothes and stained her eyes with collyrium. ‘Ali disliked (this action of her) and asked Who commanded you for this? She said “My father”. Jabir said ‘Ali said at Iraq I went to Apostle of Allaah ﷺ to complain against Fathima for what she had done and to ask the opinion of Apostle of Allaah ﷺ about which she mentioned to me. I informed him that I disliked her action and that thereupon she said to me “My father commanded me to do this.” He said “She spoke the truth, she spoke the truth.” What did you say when you put on ihram for Hajj? I said O Allaah, I put on ihram for the same purpose for which Apostle of Allaah ﷺ has put it on. He said I have sacrificial animals with me, so do not take off ihram. He (Jabir) said “The total of those sacrificial animals brought by ‘Ali from Yemen and of those brought by the Prophet ﷺ from Madeenah was one hundred.” Then all the people except the Prophet ﷺ and those who had with them the sacrificial animals took off ihram and clipped their hair. When the 8th of Dhu Al Hijjah (Yaum Al Tarwiyah) came, they went towards Mina having pit on ihram for Hajj and the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ rode and prayed at Mina the noon, afternoon, sunset, night and dawn prayers. After that he waited a little till the sun rose and gave orders for a tent of hair to be set up at Namrah. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ then sent out and the Quraish did not doubt that he would halt at Al Mash ‘ar Al Haram at Al Muzdalifah, as the Quraish used to do in the pre Islamic period but he passed on till he came to ‘Arafah and found that the tent had been setup at Namrah. There he dismounted and when the sun had passed the meridian he ordered Al Qaswa’ to be brought and when it was saddled for him, he went down to the bottom of the valley and addressed the people saying “Your lives and your property must be respected by one another like the sacredness of this day of yours in the month of yours in this town of yours. Lo! Everything pertaining to the pre Islamic period has been put under my feet and claims for blood vengeance belonging to the pre Islamic period have been abolished. The first of those murdered among us whose blood vengeance I permit is the blood vengeance of ours (according to the version of the narrator ‘Uthman, the blood vengeance of the son of Rabi’ah and according to the version of the narrator Sulaiman the blood vengeance of the son of Rabi’ah bin Al Harith bin ‘Abd Al Muttalib). Some (scholars) said “he was suckled among Banu Sa’d(i.e., he was brought up among Bani Sa’d) and then killed by Hudhail. The usury of the pre Islamic period is abolished and the first of usury I abolish is our usury, the usury of ‘Abbas bin ‘Abd Al Muttalib for it is all abolished. Fear Allaah regarding women for you have got them under Allah’s security and have the right to intercourse with them by Allaah’s word. It is a duty from you on them not to allow anyone whom you dislike to lie on your beds but if they do beat them, but not severely. You are responsible for providing them with food and clothing in a fitting manner. I have left among you something by which if you hold to it you will never again go astray, that is Allaah’s Book. You will be asked about me, so what will you say? They replied “We testify that you have conveyed and fulfilled the message and given counsel. Then raising his forefinger towards the sky and pointing it at the people, he said “O Allaah! Be witness, O Allaah! Be witness, O Allaah! Be witness! Bilal then uttered the call to prayer and the iqamah and he prayed the noon prayer, he then uttered the iqamah and he prayed the afternoon prayer, engaging in no prayer between the two. He then mounted (his she Camel) al Qaswa’ and came to the place of standing , making his she Camel Al Qaswa‘ turn its back to the rocks and having the path taken by those who went on foot in front of him and he faced the qiblah. He remained standing till sunset when the yellow light had somewhat gone and the disc of the sun had disappeared. He took Usamah up behind him and picked the reins of Al Qaswa’ severely so much so that its head was touching the front part of the saddle. Pointing with is right hand he was saying “Calmness, O People! Calmness, O people. Whenever he came over a mound (of sand) he let loose its reins a little so that it could ascend. He then came to Al Muzdalifah where he combined the sunset and night prayers, with one adhan and two iqamahs. The narrator ‘Uthamn said He did not offer supererogatory prayers between them. The narrators are then agreed upon the version He then lay down till dawn and prayed the dawn prayer when the morning light was clear. The narrator Sulaiman said with one adhan and one iqamah. The narrators are then agreed upon the version He then mounted Al Qaswa’ and came to Al Mash’ar Al Haram and ascended it. The narrators ‘Uthaman and Sulaiman said He faced the qiblah praised Allaah, declared His greatness, His uniqueness. ‘Uthamn added in his version and His Unity and kept standing till the day was very clear. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ then went quickly before the sun rose , taking Al Fadl bin ‘Abbas behind him. He was a man having beautiful hair, white and handsome color. When the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ went quickly, the women in the howdas also began to pass him quickly. Al Fadl began to look at them. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ placed his hand on the face of Al Fadl , but Al fadl turned his face towards the other side. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ also turned away his hand to the other side. Al Fadl also turned his face to the other side looking at them till he came to (the Valley of) Muhassir. He urged the Camel a little and following a middle road which comes out at the greatest jamrah, he came to the jamrah which is beside the tree and he threw seven small pebbles at this (jamrah) saying “Allah is most great” each time he threw a pebble like bean seeds. He threw them from the bottom of the valley. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ then went to the place of the sacrifice and sacrificed sixty three Camels with his own hand. He then commanded ‘Ali who sacrificed the remainder and he shared him and his sacrificial animals. After that he ordered that a piece of flesh from each Camel should be put in a pot and when it was cooked the two of them ate some of it and drank some of its broth. The narrator Sulaiman said the he mounted afterwards the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ went quickly to the House (the Ka’bah) and prayed the noon prayer at Makkah. He came to Banu ‘Abd Al Muttalib who were supplying water at Zamzam and said draw water Banu ‘Abd Al Muttalib were it not that people would take from you the right to draw water, I would draw it along with you. So they handed him a bucket and he drank from it.

أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ حَجَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ بِيَدِهِ فَعَقَدَ تِسْعًا ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَكَثَ تِسْعَ سِنِينَ لَمْ يَحُجَّ ثُمَّ أُذِّنَ فِي النَّاسِ فِي الْعَاشِرَةِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَاجٌّ فَقَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ بَشَرٌ كَثِيرٌ كُلُّهُمْ يَلْتَمِسُ أَنْ يَأْتَمَّ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَيَعْمَلَ بِمِثْلِ عَمَلِهِ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَخَرَجْنَا مَعَهُ حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا ذَا الْحُلَيْفَةِ فَوَلَدَتْ أَسْمَاءُ بِنْتُ عُمَيْسٍ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَأَرْسَلَتْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ قَالَ اغْتَسِلِي وَاسْتَذْفِرِي بِثَوْبٍ وَأَحْرِمِي فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ ثُمَّ رَكِبَ الْقَصْوَاءَ حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَوَتْ بِهِ نَاقَتُهُ عَلَى الْبَيْدَاءِ قَالَ جَابِرٌ نَظَرْتُ إِلَى مَدِّ بَصَرِي مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ مِنْ رَاكِبٍ وَمَاشٍ وَعَنْ يَمِينِهِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَعَنْ يَسَارِهِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِنَا وَعَلَيْهِ يَنْزِلُ الْقُرْآنُ وَهُوَ يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ فَمَا عَمِلَ بِهِ مِنْ شَىْءٍ عَمِلْنَا بِهِ فَأَهَلَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالتَّوْحِيدِ لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ وَأَهَلَّ النَّاسُ بِهَذَا الَّذِي يُهِلُّونَ بِهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ شَيْئًا مِنْهُ وَلَزِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَلْبِيَتَهُ قَالَ جَابِرٌ لَسْنَا نَنْوِي إِلاَّ الْحَجَّ لَسْنَا نَعْرِفُ الْعُمْرَةَ حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَيْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَعَهُ اسْتَلَمَ الرُّكْنَ فَرَمَلَ ثَلاَثًا وَمَشَى أَرْبَعًا ثُمَّ تَقَدَّمَ إِلَى مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَقَرَأَ { وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى } فَجَعَلَ الْمَقَامَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْبَيْتِ قَالَ فَكَانَ أَبِي يَقُولُ قَالَ ابْنُ نُفَيْلٍ وَعُثْمَانُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُهُ ذَكَرَهُ إِلاَّ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْرَأُ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ بِ { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ } وَبِ { قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ } ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ فَاسْتَلَمَ الرُّكْنَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ مِنَ الْبَابِ إِلَى الصَّفَا فَلَمَّا دَنَا مِنَ الصَّفَا قَرَأَ { إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ } نَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللَّهُ بِهِ فَبَدَأَ بِالصَّفَا فَرَقِيَ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى رَأَى الْبَيْتَ فَكَبَّرَ اللَّهَ وَوَحَّدَهُ وَقَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَهَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ ثُمَّ دَعَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ وَقَالَ مِثْلَ هَذَا ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ نَزَلَ إِلَى الْمَرْوَةِ حَتَّى إِذَا انْصَبَّتْ قَدَمَاهُ رَمَلَ فِي بَطْنِ الْوَادِي حَتَّى إِذَا صَعِدَ مَشَى حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَرْوَةَ فَصَنَعَ عَلَى الْمَرْوَةِ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعَ عَلَى الصَّفَا حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ آخِرُ الطَّوَافِ عَلَى الْمَرْوَةِ قَالَ إِنِّي لَوِ اسْتَقْبَلْتُ مِنْ أَمْرِي مَا اسْتَدْبَرْتُ لَمْ أَسُقِ الْهَدْىَ وَلَجَعَلْتُهَا عُمْرَةً فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ لَيْسَ مَعَهُ هَدْىٌ فَلْيَحْلِلْ وَلْيَجْعَلْهَا عُمْرَةً فَحَلَّ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ وَقَصَّرُوا إِلاَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَعَهُ هَدْىٌ فَقَامَ سُرَاقَةُ بْنُ جُعْشُمٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلِعَامِنَا هَذَا أَمْ لِلأَبَدِ فَشَبَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَصَابِعَهُ فِي الأُخْرَى ثُمَّ قَالَ دَخَلَتِ الْعُمْرَةُ فِي الْحَجِّ هَكَذَا مَرَّتَيْنِ لاَ بَلْ لأَبَدِ أَبَدٍ لاَ بَلْ لأَبَدِ أَبَدٍ قَالَ وَقَدِمَ عَلِيٌّ ؓ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ بِبُدْنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَوَجَدَ فَاطِمَةَ ؓ مِمَّنْ حَلَّ وَلَبِسَتْ ثِيَابًا صَبِيغًا وَاكْتَحَلَتْ فَأَنْكَرَ عَلِيٌّ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهَا وَقَالَ مَنْ أَمَرَكِ بِهَذَا فَقَالَتْ أَبِي فَكَانَ عَلِيٌّ يَقُولُ بِالْعِرَاقِ ذَهَبْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مُحَرِّشًا عَلَى فَاطِمَةَ فِي الأَمْرِ الَّذِي صَنَعَتْهُ مُسْتَفْتِيًا لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الَّذِي ذَكَرَتْ عَنْهُ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ أَنِّي أَنْكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِي أَمَرَنِي بِهَذَا فَقَالَ صَدَقَتْ صَدَقَتْ مَاذَا قُلْتَ حِينَ فَرَضْتَ الْحَجَّ قَالَ قُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُهِلُّ بِمَا أَهَلَّ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَإِنَّ مَعِيَ الْهَدْىَ فَلاَ تَحْلِلْ قَالَ وَكَانَ جَمَاعَةُ الْهَدْىِ الَّذِي قَدِمَ بِهِ عَلِيٌّ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ وَالَّذِي أَتَى بِهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ مِائَةً فَحَلَّ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ وَقَصَّرُوا إِلاَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَعَهُ هَدْىٌ قَالَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ التَّرْوِيَةِ وَوَجَّهُوا إِلَى مِنًى أَهَلُّوا بِالْحَجِّ فَرَكِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى بِمِنًى الظُّهْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالْمَغْرِبَ وَالْعِشَاءَ وَالصُّبْحَ ثُمَّ مَكَثَ قَلِيلاً حَتَّى طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَأَمَرَ بِقُبَّةٍ لَهُ مِنْ شَعَرٍ فَضُرِبَتْ بِنَمِرَةَ فَسَارَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلاَ تَشُكُّ قُرَيْشٌ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَاقِفٌ عِنْدَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ بِالْمُزْدَلِفَةِ كَمَا كَانَتْ قُرَيْشٌ تَصْنَعُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَأَجَازَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى أَتَى عَرَفَةَ فَوَجَدَ الْقُبَّةَ قَدْ ضُرِبَتْ لَهُ بِنَمِرَةَ فَنَزَلَ بِهَا حَتَّى إِذَا زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ أَمَرَ بِالْقَصْوَاءِ فَرُحِلَتْ لَهُ فَرَكِبَ حَتَّى أَتَى بَطْنَ الْوَادِي فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَأَمْوَالَكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ حَرَامٌ كَحُرْمَةِ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا فِي شَهْرِكُمْ هَذَا فِي بَلَدِكُمْ هَذَا أَلاَ إِنَّ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ تَحْتَ قَدَمَىَّ مَوْضُوعٌ وَدِمَاءُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ مَوْضُوعَةٌ وَأَوَّلُ دَمٍ أَضَعُهُ دِمَاؤُنَا دَمُ قَالَ عُثْمَانُ دَمُ ابْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَقَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ دَمُ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَقَالَ بَعْضُ هَؤُلاَءِ كَانَ مُسْتَرْضَعًا فِي بَنِي سَعْدٍ فَقَتَلَتْهُ هُذَيْلٌ وَرِبَا الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ مَوْضُوعٌ وَأَوَّلُ رِبًا أَضَعُهُ رِبَانَا رِبَا عَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَإِنَّهُ مَوْضُوعٌ كُلُّهُ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ فِي النِّسَاءِ فَإِنَّكُمْ أَخَذْتُمُوهُنَّ بِأَمَانَةِ اللَّهِ وَاسْتَحْلَلْتُمْ فُرُوجَهُنَّ بِكَلِمَةِ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ أَنْ لاَ يُوطِئْنَ فُرُشَكُمْ أَحَدًا تَكْرَهُونَهُ فَإِنْ فَعَلْنَ فَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ضَرْبًا غَيْرَ مُبَرِّحٍ وَلَهُنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَإِنِّي قَدْ تَرَكْتُ فِيكُمْ مَا لَنْ تَضِلُّوا بَعْدَهُ إِنِ اعْتَصَمْتُمْ بِهِ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَنْتُمْ مَسْئُولُونَ عَنِّي فَمَا أَنْتُمْ قَائِلُونَ قَالُوا نَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ بَلَّغْتَ وَأَدَّيْتَ وَنَصَحْتَ ثُمَّ قَالَ بِأُصْبُعِهِ السَّبَّابَةِ يَرْفَعُهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَيَنْكِبُهَا إِلَى النَّاسِ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدِ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدِ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدْ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ بِلاَلٌ ثُمَّ أَقَامَ فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ ثُمَّ أَقَامَ فَصَلَّى الْعَصْرَ وَلَمْ يُصَلِّ بَيْنَهُمَا شَيْئًا ثُمَّ رَكِبَ الْقَصْوَاءَ حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَوْقِفَ فَجَعَلَ بَطْنَ نَاقَتِهِ الْقَصْوَاءَ إِلَى الصَّخَرَاتِ وَجَعَلَ حَبْلَ الْمُشَاةِ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ وَاقِفًا حَتَّى غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَذَهَبَتِ الصُّفْرَةُ قَلِيلاً حِينَ غَابَ الْقُرْصُ وَأَرْدَفَ أُسَامَةَ خَلْفَهُ فَدَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَدْ شَنَقَ لِلْقَصْوَاءِ الزِّمَامَ حَتَّى إِنَّ رَأْسَهَا لَيُصِيبُ مَوْرِكَ رَحْلِهِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ بِيَدِهِ الْيُمْنَى السَّكِينَةَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ السَّكِينَةَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ كُلَّمَا أَتَى حَبْلاً مِنَ الْحِبَالِ أَرْخَى لَهَا قَلِيلاً حَتَّى تَصْعَدَ حَتَّى أَتَى الْمُزْدَلِفَةَ فَجَمَعَ بَيْنَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ بِأَذَانٍ وَاحِدٍ وَإِقَامَتَيْنِ قَالَ عُثْمَانُ وَلَمْ يُسَبِّحْ بَيْنَهُمَا شَيْئًا ثُمَّ اتَّفَقُوا ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ فَصَلَّى الْفَجْرَ حِينَ تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الصُّبْحُ قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ بِنِدَاءٍ وَإِقَامَةٍ ثُمَّ اتَّفَقُوا ثُمَّ رَكِبَ الْقَصْوَاءَ حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَشْعَرَ الْحَرَامَ فَرَقِيَ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ عُثْمَانُ وَسُلَيْمَانُ فَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَكَبَّرَهُ وَهَلَّلَهُ زَادَ عُثْمَانُ وَوَحَّدَهُ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ وَاقِفًا حَتَّى أَسْفَرَ جِدًّا ثُمَّ دَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ وَأَرْدَفَ الْفَضْلَ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ وَكَانَ رَجُلاً حَسَنَ الشَّعْرِ أَبْيَضَ وَسِيمًا فَلَمَّا دَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَرَّ الظُّعُنُ يَجْرِينَ فَطَفِقَ الْفَضْلُ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِنَّ فَوَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَدَهُ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْفَضْلِ وَصَرَفَ الْفَضْلُ وَجْهَهُ إِلَى الشِّقِّ الآخَرِ وَحَوَّلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَدَهُ إِلَى الشِّقِّ الآخَرِ وَصَرَفَ الْفَضْلُ وَجْهَهُ إِلَى الشِّقِّ الآخَرِ يَنْظُرُ حَتَّى أَتَى مُحَسِّرًا فَحَرَّكَ قَلِيلاً ثُمَّ سَلَكَ الطَّرِيقَ الْوُسْطَى الَّذِي يُخْرِجُكَ إِلَى الْجَمْرَةِ الْكُبْرَى حَتَّى أَتَى الْجَمْرَةَ الَّتِي عِنْدَ الشَّجَرَةِ فَرَمَاهَا بِسَبْعِ حَصَيَاتٍ يُكَبِّرُ مَعَ كُلِّ حَصَاةٍ مِنْهَا بِمِثْلِ حَصَى الْخَذْفِ فَرَمَى مِنْ بَطْنِ الْوَادِي ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْمَنْحَرِ فَنَحَرَ بِيَدِهِ ثَلاَثًا وَسِتِّينَ وَأَمَرَ عَلِيًّا فَنَحَرَ مَا غَبَرَ يَقُولُ مَا بَقِيَ وَأَشْرَكَهُ فِي هَدْيِهِ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ مِنْ كُلِّ بَدَنَةٍ بِبَضْعَةٍ فَجُعِلَتْ فِي قِدْرٍ فَطُبِخَتْ فَأَكَلاَ مِنْ لَحْمِهَا وَشَرِبَا مِنْ مَرَقِهَا قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ ثُمَّ رَكِبَ ثُمَّ أَفَاضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ فَصَلَّى بِمَكَّةَ الظُّهْرَ ثُمَّ أَتَى بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَهُمْ يَسْقُونَ عَلَى زَمْزَمَ فَقَالَ انْزِعُوا بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَلَوْلاَ أَنْ يَغْلِبَكُمُ النَّاسُ عَلَى سِقَايَتِكُمْ لَنَزَعْتُ مَعَكُمْ فَنَاوَلُوهُ دَلْوًا فَشَرِبَ مِنْهُ

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned the Dajjal one morning, he belittled him and mentioned his importance until we thought that he might be amidst a cluster of date-palms." He said: "We departed from the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, then we returned to him, and he noticed that(concern) in us. So he said: 'What is wrong with you?'" We said: 'O Messenger of Allah! You mentioned the Dajjal this morning, belittling him, and mentioning his importance until we thought that he might be amidst a cluster of the date-palms.' He said: 'It is not the Dajjal that I fear for you. If he were to appear while I am among you, then I will be his adversary on your behalf. And if he appears and I am not among you, then each man will have to fend for himself. And Allah will take care of every Muslim after me. He is young, with curly hair, his eyes protruding, resembling someone from 'Abdul-Uzza bin Qatan. Whoever among you sees him, then let him recite the beginning of Surah Ashab Al-Kahf.'"He said: 'He will appear from what is between Ash-Sham and Al-'Iraq, causing devastation toward the right and toward the left. O worshippers of Allah! Hold fast!'" We said: 'O Messenger of Allah! How long will he linger on the earth?' He said: 'Forty days, a day like a year, a day like a month, a day like a week, and the remainder of his days are like your days.'" We said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Do you think that during the day that is like a year, the Salat of one day will be sufficient for us?' He said: 'No. You will have to estimate it.' We said: 'O Messenger of Allah! How fast will he move through the earth.' He said: 'Like a rain storm driven by the wind. He will come upon a people and call them, and they will deny him, and reject his claims. Then he will leave them, and their wealth will follow him. They will awaken in the morning with nothing left. Then he will come upon a people and call them, and they will respond to him, believing in him. So he will order the Heavens to bring rain, and it shall rain, and he will order the land to sprout, and it will sprout. Their cattle will return to them with their coats the longest, their udders the fullest and their stomachs the fattest.' He said: 'Then he will come upon some ruins, saying to it: "Bring me your treasures!" He will turn to leave it, and it will follow him, like drone bees. Then he will call a young man, full of youth, and he will strike him with the sword cutting him into two pieces. Then he will call him, and he will come forward with his face beaming and laughing. So while he is doing that, 'Eisa bin Mariam, peace be upon him, will descend in eastern Damascus at the white minaret, between two Mahrud, with his hands on the wings of two angels. When he lowers his head, drops fall, and when raises it, gems like pearls drop from him.' He said: 'His (the Dajjal's) breath does not reach anyone but he dies, and his breath reaches as far as his sight.' He said: 'So he pursues him(the Dajjal) and he catches up with him at the gate of Ludd where he kills him.' He said: 'So he remains there as long as Allah wills.' He said: 'Then Allah reveals to him: "Take my slaves to At-Tur, for I have sent down some creatures of Mine which no one shall be able to kill.'" He said: 'Allah dispatches Ya'juj and Ma'juj, and they are as Allah said: They swoop down from every mount.' "He said: 'The first of them pass by the lake of Tiberias, drinking what is in it. Then the last of them pass by it saying: "There was water here at one time." They travel until they reach a mountain at Bait Al-Maqdis. They will say: "We have killed whoever was in the earth. Come! Let us kill whoever is in the skies." They will shoot their arrows into the Heavens, so Allah will return their arrows to them red with blood. Eisa bin Mariam and his Companions be surrounded, until the head of a bull on that day would be better to them than a hundred Dinar to one of you today.' "He ﷺ said: "Eisa will beseech Allah, as will his companions.' He said: 'So Allah will send An-Naghaf down upon their necks. In the morning they will find that they have all died like the death of a single soul.' He said: " 'Eisa and his companions will come down, and no spot nor hand-span can be found, except that it is filled with their stench, decay and blood. So 'Eisa will beseech Allah, as will his companions.' So Allah will send upon them birds like the necks of Bukht(milch)camels.' They will carry them off and cast them into an abyss. The Muslims will burn their bows, arrows and quivers for seventy years.' "He ﷺ said: 'Allah will send upon them a rain which no house of hide nor mud will bear. The earth will be washed, leaving it like a mirror. Then it will be said to the earth: "bring forth your fruits and return your blessings." So on that day, a whole troop would eat a pomegranate and seek shade under its skin. Milk will be so blessed that a large group of people will be sufficed by one milking of a camel. And that a tribe will be sufficed by one milking of a cow, and that a group will be sufficed by the milking of sheep. While it is like that, Allah will send a wind which grabs the soul of every believer, leaving the remainder of the people copulating publicly like the copulation of donkeys. Upon them the Hour shall begin.'"

ذَكَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الدَّجَّالَ ذَاتَ غَدَاةٍ فَخَفَّضَ فِيهِ وَرَفَّعَ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّاهُ فِي طَائِفَةِ النَّخْلِ قَالَ فَانْصَرَفْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ رَجَعْنَا إِلَيْهِ فَعَرَفَ ذَلِكَ فِينَا فَقَالَ مَا شَأْنُكُمْ قَالَ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ذَكَرْتَ الدَّجَّالَ الْغَدَاةَ فَخَفَّضْتَ فِيهِ وَرَفَّعْتَ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّاهُ فِي طَائِفَةِ النَّخْلِ قَالَ غَيْرُ الدَّجَّالِ أَخْوَفُ لِي عَلَيْكُمْ إِنْ يَخْرُجْ وَأَنَا فِيكُمْ فَأَنَا حَجِيجُهُ دُونَكُمْ وَإِنْ يَخْرُجْ وَلَسْتُ فِيكُمْ فَامْرُؤٌ حَجِيجُ نَفْسِهِ وَاللَّهُ خَلِيفَتِي عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ إِنَّهُ شَابٌّ قَطَطٌ عَيْنُهُ قَائِمَةٌ شَبِيهٌ بِعَبْدِ الْعُزَّى بْنِ قَطَنٍ فَمَنْ رَآهُ مِنْكُمْ فَلْيَقْرَأْ فَوَاتِحَ سُورَةِ أَصْحَابِ الْكَهْفِ قَالَ يَخْرُجُ مَا بَيْنَ الشَّامِ وَالْعِرَاقِ فَعَاثَ يَمِينًا وَشِمَالاً يَا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ اثْبُتُوا قَالَ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا لُبْثُهُ فِي الأَرْضِ قَالَ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا يَوْمٌ كَسَنَةٍ وَيَوْمٌ كَشَهْرٍ وَيَوْمٌ كَجُمُعَةٍ وَسَائِرُ أَيَّامِهُ كَأَيَّامِكُمْ قَالَ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي كَالسَّنَةِ أَتَكْفِينَا فِيهِ صَلاَةُ يَوْمٍ قَالَ لاَ وَلَكِنِ اقْدُرُوا لَهُ قَالَ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمَا سُرْعَتُهُ فِي الأَرْضِ قَالَ كَالْغَيْثِ اسْتَدْبَرَتْهُ الرِّيحُ فَيَأْتِي الْقَوْمَ فَيَدْعُوهُمْ فَيُكَذِّبُونَهُ وَيَرُدُّونَ عَلَيْهِ قَوْلَهُ فَيَنْصَرِفُ عَنْهُمْ فَتَتْبَعُهُ أَمْوَالُهُمْ فَيُصْبِحُونَ لَيْسَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ شَيْءٌ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي الْقَوْمَ فَيَدْعُوهُمْ فَيَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُ وَيُصَدِّقُونَهُ فَيَأْمُرُ السَّمَاءَ أَنْ تُمْطِرَ فَتُمْطِرَ وَيَأْمُرُ الأَرْضَ أَنْ تُنْبِتَ فَتُنْبِتَ فَتَرُوحُ عَلَيْهِمْ سَارِحَتُهُمْ كَأَطْوَلِ مَا كَانَتْ ذُرًى وَأَمَدِّهِ خَوَاصِرَ وَأَدَرِّهِ ضُرُوعًا قَالَ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي الْخَرِبَةَ فَيَقُولُ لَهَا أَخْرِجِي كُنُوزَكِ فَيَنْصَرِفُ مِنْهَا فَتَتْبَعُهُ كَيَعَاسِيبِ النَّحْلِ ثُمَّ يَدْعُو رَجُلاً شَابًّا مُمْتَلِئًا شَبَابًا فَيَضْرِبُهُ بِالسَّيْفِ فَيَقْطَعُهُ جِزْلَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَدْعُوهُ فَيُقْبِلُ يَتَهَلَّلُ وَجْهُهُ يَضْحَكُ فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ هَبَطَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ بِشَرْقِيِّ دِمَشْقَ عِنْدَ الْمَنَارَةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ بَيْنَ مَهْرُودَتَيْنِ وَاضِعًا يَدَيْهِ عَلَى أَجْنِحَةِ مَلَكَيْنِ إِذَا طَأْطَأَ رَأْسَهُ قَطَرَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَهُ تَحَدَّرَ مِنْهُ جُمَانٌ كَاللُّؤْلُؤِ قَالَ وَلاَ يَجِدُ رِيحَ نَفَسِهِ يَعْنِي أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ مَاتَ وَرِيحُ نَفَسِهِ مُنْتَهَى بَصَرِهِ قَالَ فَيَطْلُبُهُ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَهُ بِبَابِ لُدٍّ فَيَقْتُلَهُ قَالَ فَيَلْبَثُ كَذَلِكَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ قَالَ ثُمَّ يُوحِي اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ حَرِّزْ عِبَادِي إِلَى الطُّورِ فَإِنِّي قَدْ أَنْزَلْتُ عِبَادًا لِي لاَ يَدَانِ لأَحَدٍ بِقِتَالِهِمْ قَالَ وَيَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ وَهُمْ كَمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ ( مِنْ كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنْسِلُونَ ) قَالَ فَيَمُرُّ أَوَّلُهُمْ بِبُحَيْرَةِ الطَّبَرِيَّةِ فَيَشْرَبُ مَا فِيهَا ثُمَّ يَمُرُّ بِهَا آخِرُهُمْ فَيَقُولُ لَقَدْ كَانَ بِهَذِهِ مَرَّةً مَاءٌ ثُمَّ يَسِيرُونَ حَتَّى يَنْتَهُوا إِلَى جَبَلِ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ فَيَقُولُونَ لَقَدْ قَتَلْنَا مَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ هَلُمَّ فَلْنَقْتُلْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ فَيَرْمُونَ بِنُشَّابِهِمْ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَيَرُدُّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ نُشَّابَهُمْ مُحْمَرًّا دَمًا وَيُحَاصَرُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَأَصْحَابُهُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ رَأْسُ الثَّوْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَيْرًا لأَحَدِهِمْ مِنْ مِائَةِ دِينَارٍ لأَحَدِكُمُ الْيَوْمَ قَالَ فَيَرْغَبُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَأَصْحَابُهُ قَالَ فَيُرْسِلُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِمُ النَّغَفَ فِي رِقَابِهِمْ فَيُصْبِحُونَ فَرْسَى مَوْتَى كَمَوْتِ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ قَالَ وَيَهْبِطُ عِيسَى وَأَصْحَابُهُ فَلاَ يَجِدُ مَوْضِعَ شِبْرٍ إِلاَّ وَقَدْ مَلأَتْهُ زَهَمَتُهُمْ وَنَتَنُهُمْ وَدِمَاؤُهُمْ قَالَ فَيَرْغَبُ عِيسَى إِلَى اللَّهِ وَأَصْحَابُهُ قَالَ فَيُرْسِلُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْرًا كَأَعْنَاقِ الْبُخْتِ قَالَ فَتَحْمِلُهُمْ فَتَطْرَحُهُمْ بِالْمَهْبِلِ وَيَسْتَوْقِدُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ قِسِيِّهِمْ وَنُشَّابِهِمْ وَجِعَابِهِمْ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ قَالَ وَيُرْسِلُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مَطَرًا لاَ يَكُنُّ مِنْهُ بَيْتُ وَبَرٍ وَلاَ مَدَرٍ قَالَ فَيَغْسِلُ الأَرْضَ فَيَتْرُكُهَا كَالزَّلَفَةِ قَالَ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لِلأَرْضِ أَخْرِجِي ثَمَرَتَكِ وَرُدِّي بَرَكَتَكِ فَيَوْمَئِذٍ تَأْكُلُ الْعِصَابَةُ مِنَ الرُّمَّانَةِ وَيَسْتَظِلُّونَ بِقِحْفِهَا وَيُبَارَكُ فِي الرِّسْلِ حَتَّى إِنَّ الْفِئَامَ مِنَ النَّاسِ لَيَكْتَفُونَ بِاللَّقْحَةِ مِنَ الإِبِلِ وَإِنَّ الْقَبِيلَةَ لَيَكْتَفُونَ بِاللَّقْحَةِ مِنَ الْبَقَرِ وَإِنَّ الْفَخِذَ لَيَكْتَفُونَ بِاللَّقْحَةِ مِنَ الْغَنَمِ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ رِيحًا فَقَبَضَتْ رُوحَ كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَيَبْقَى سَائِرُ النَّاسِ يَتَهَارَجُونَ كَمَا تَتَهَارَجُ الْحُمُرُ فَعَلَيْهِمْ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ

"What was said about me had been said, and I myself was unaware of it, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ got up and addressed the people. He recited the Tashahhud and after praising and expressing gratitude to Allah, as He deserved, he said: 'To proceed: O people! Give me your opinion regarding those people who made a forged story against my wife. By Allah, I do not know anything bad about her at all. By Allah, they accused her of being with a man about whom I have never known anything bad, and he never entered my house unless I was present there, and whenever I went on a journey, he went with me.' Sa'd bin Mu'adh [may Allah be pleased with him] got up and said: 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Allow me to chop their heads off!' Then a man from Al-Khazraj, to whom the mother of Hassan bin Thabit was a relative, got up and said (to Sa'd): 'You have told a lie! By Allah, if those persons were from Al-Aws, you would not like to chop their heads.' It was probable that some evil would take place between Aws and Khazraj in the Masjid while I was unaware of that. In the evening of that day, I went out for some of my needs, and Umm Mistah was accompanying me. On our return, Umm Mistah stumbled and said: 'Let Mistah be ruined!' I said to her, 'O mother! Why do you abuse your son?' On that Umm Mistah became silent for a while, and stumbling again, she said: 'Let Mistah be ruined!' I said to her: 'O mother! Why do you abuse your son?' She stumbled for the third time and said: 'Let Mistah be ruined!' I said to her: 'O mother! Why do you abuse your son?' Upon that she said: 'By Allah! I do not abuse him except because of you.' I asked her: 'Concerning what of my affairs?' So she disclosed the whole story to me. I said: 'Has this really happened?' She replied: 'Yes, by Allah!' I returned to my house, so astonished, that I did not know for what purpose I had gone out. Then I became sick and said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ 'Send me to my father's house.' So he sent a servant with me, and when I entered the house, I found Umm Ruman downstairs, while Abu Bakr was reciting something upstairs. My mother asked: 'What has brought you, O daughter?' She said: "I informed her and mentioned the whole story to her, but she did not feel as I did about it. She said: 'O my daughter! Do not worry much about this matter, for there is never a charming lady loved by her husband who has other wives, but that they feel jealous of her and speak badly of her.' But she did not feel the same about it as I did. I asked her: 'Does my father know about it?' She said 'Yes.' I asked: 'Does the Messenger of Allah ﷺ know about it too?' She said 'Yes, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also knows about it.' Tears filled my eyes and I wept. Abu Bakr, who was reading upstairs, heard my voice, and came down asking my mother: 'What is the matter with her?' She said: 'She has heard what has been said about her.' On that Abu Bakr wept and said: 'I beseech you, by Allah, O my daughter, to go back to your home.' I went back to my home, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had come to my house asking my maid-servant about me. The maid-servant said: 'By Allah! I do not know of any fault or defect in her character except that she sleeps and lets the sheep enter and eat her dough.' On that, some of the Prophet's Companions spoke harshly to her and said: 'Tell the truth to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.' Finally, they told her of the slander and she said: 'Subhan Allah! By Allah, I know nothing against her except what a goldsmith knows about a piece of pure gold.' Then this news reached the man who was accused, and he said: 'Subhan Allah! By Allah, I have never uncovered the private parts of any woman.' Later, that man was martyred in Allah's Cause. Then the next morning, my parents came to pay me a visit and they stayed with me until the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to me, after he performed the 'Asr prayer. He came to me and while my parents were sitting around me on my right and my left. The Prophet ﷺ said the Tashahhud, praised and glorified Allah and said: 'Now then, O 'Aishah! If you have committed a bad deed, or you have wronged (yourself), then repent to Allah, as Allah accepts the repentance from His worshipers.' An Ansari woman had come and was sitting near the gate. I said to the Prophet ﷺ: 'Isn't it improper that you speak in such a way in the presence of this lady?' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then gave a piece of advice and I turned to my father and requested him to reply to him. My father said: 'What should I say?' Then I turned to my mother and asked her to answer him. She said: 'What should I say?' When my parents did not reply to the Prophet ﷺ, I said the Tashahhud, praised and glorified Allah as His due, and I said: 'Then, by Allah! If I were to tell you that I have not done (this) and Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, is witness that I am telling the truth, that would not be of any use to me on your part, because you (people) have spoken about it and your hearts have absorbed it (as truth); and if I were to tell you that I have done this sin, and Allah knows that I have not done it, then you will say: 'She has confessed her guilt.' By Allah! I do not see a suitable example for me and you except the example of - and I could not remember Ya'qbus name - Yusuf's father when he said: So patience is most fitting. And it is Allah Whose help can be sought against that which you describe (12:18). She said: "It was at that time that Revelation came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and we remained silent. Then the Revelation was over, and I noticed the signs of happiness on his face while he was wiping (the sweat) from his forehead, and saying: 'Have the good tidings O 'Aishah! Allah has revealed your innocence.' At that time I was extremely angry. My parents said to me: 'Get up and go to him.' I said: 'By Allah, I will not do it,and will not thank him nor either of you, but I will thank Allah, Who has revealed my innocence. You have heard (this story) but neither of you have denied it, nor have you changed it (to defend me).'" 'Aishah used to say: "But as regards to Zainab bint Jahsh, Allah protected her because of her piety. She did not say anything except good (about me). But her sister, Hamnah was ruined among those who were ruined. Those who used to speak evil about me were Mistah, Hassan bin Thabit, and the hypocrite 'Abdullah bin Ubayy [bin Salul] and [it is he who] used to spread that news and tempt others to speak of it, and it was he and Hamnah who had the greater share therein. Abu Bakr took an oath that he would never do any favor for Mistah at all. Then Allah, Most High, revealed this Ayah: 'Let not those among you who are blessed with graces and wealth' [until the end of the Ayah] referring to Abu Bakr: 'to give their kinsmen, the poor, and those who left their homes for Allah's Cause.' - meaning Mistah - up to His saying: Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (24:22).' On that, Abu Bakr said: 'Yes, by Allah! O our Lord! We wish that You forgive us.' So he returned to what he had been doing."

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

“I was ever determined to ask Umar about the two women, among the wives of the Prophet, about whom Allah [the Mighty and Sublime] said: If you two turn in repentance, your hearts are indeed so inclined… until once when Umar performed Hajj, and I performed Hajj along with him. I poured water for his Wudu from a water holder, and I said: ‘O Commander of the Believers! Who are the two women among the wives of the Prophet, about whom Allah said: If your two turn in repentance, you hearts are indeed so inclined?’ He said to me: ‘I am astonished at you O Ibn Abbas!’” – Az-Zubair (one of the narrators) said: “By Allah! He disliked what he asked him, but he did not withhold it from him.” – “He said to me: ‘It was Aishah and Hafsah.’” He said: “Then he began narrating the Hadith to me. He said: ‘We, the people of the Quraish, used to have the upper hand over our women. So when we arrived in Al-Madinah, we found a people whose women had the upper hand over them. Our women began acquiring the habits of their women. One day I became angry with my wife when she started talking back to to me, she said: “What bothers you about that? By Allah! The wives of the Prophet talk back to him, and one of them may stay away from him a whole day until the night?’” “He said: ‘I said to myself: “Whoever among them has done that, then she has thwarted herself and lost.’” “He said: ‘My house was in Al-Awali among those of Banu Umayyah, and I had a neighbor among the Ansar, and he and I would take turns visiting the Messenger of Allah.’ He said: ‘One day I would visit him and bring the news of the Revealation, and other than that, and one day he would visit him and bring the same. We heard stories that Ghassan were preparing their horses to attack us. He said: ‘One day he came to me in the evening and knocked on my door, so I went out to him. He said: “A horrible thing has happened.” I said: “Ghassan has come?” He said: “Worse than that. The Messenger of Allah has divorced his wives.’” He said: ‘I said to myself: “Hafsah has thwarted herself and is a loser! I though this would happen some day.’” He said: ‘After we prayed Subh, I put on my clothes, then went to visit Hafsah. There I found her crying. I said: “Has the Messenger of Allah divorced (all of you)?” She said: “I do not know. He has secluded himself in the upper room.’” He said: ‘So I wen, and came upon a black slave, I said: “Seek permission for Umar.’” He said: ‘So he entered then came out to me. He said: “I mentioned you to him, but he did not say anything.’” He said: ‘So I went to the Masjid. There I found a group of people sitting around the Minhar weeping, so I sat down with them. Then it became too much for me, so I went to the slave and said: “Seek permission for Umar.” He went in, then he came out to me and said: “I mentioned you to him, but he did not say anything.’” He said: ‘So I went to the Masjid again, and sat there until I could not take it any more, and I went back to the slave and said: “Seek permission for Umar.” He went in, then he came out to me and said: “I mentioned you to him but he did not say anything.’” He said: ‘So I turned to leave, when the slave called me back. He said: “Enter for he has given you permission.’” He said: ‘So I entered, and found the Prophet reclining upon a woven mat, and I saw the marks it left on his side. I said: “O Messenger of Allah! Have you divorced your women?” He said: “No.” I said: “Allahu Akbar! IF you only saw us O Messenger of Allah! We the people of the Quraish used to have the upper hand over our women, but when we came to Al-Madinah we found a people whose women had the upper hand over them. Our women began acquiring the habits of their women. One day I became angry with my wife, so when she started talking back to me I rebuked her and she said: ‘What bothers you about that? By Allah! The wives of the Prophet talk back to him, and one of them may stay away from him a whole day until the night?’” He said: “I said to Hafsah: ‘Do you talk back to the Messenger of Allah?’ She said: ‘Yes, and one of us may stay away from him all day until the night.’” He said: “I said: ‘Whoever among them has done that, then she has thwarted herself and lost. So any of you feel so secure against Allah becoming angry with you because of the anger of the Messenger of Allah, then she will be ruined?’ He said: ‘So the Prophet smiled.’ He said: ‘So I said to Hafsah: “Do not talk back to the Messenger of Allah, and don’t ask him for anything. Ask me for whatever you want. And do not be tempted by the behavior of your companions, for she is more beautiful than you, and more loved by the Messenger of Allah.’” He said: ‘So he smiled again, I said: “O Messenger of Allah! May I speak candidily?” He said: “Yes.’” He said: ‘I raised my head and did not see in the house except for three hides. So I said: “O Messenger of Allah! Supplicate to Allah to make your followers prosperous. For verily, He has made the Persians and the Romans prosper, and they do not worship Him.” He then sat up and said: “Do you have some doubts O Ibn Al-Khattab? They are a people whose good has been hastened for them in this world’s life.’” He said: ‘He swore that he would not enter upon his women for a month. So Allah censured him for that, and he made the atonement of an oath.’” Az-Zuhri said: “Urwah informed me that Aishah said: “When twenty-nine days passed, the Prophet entered upon me first, and he said: “O Aishah! I am about to mention something to you, but do not be hasty in reply until you consult your parents.’” She said: ‘Then he recited this Ayah: “O Prophet! Say to your wives.” She said: ‘I knew by Allah! That my parents would not tell me to part with him.’ She said: ‘I said: “Is it about this that I should consult with my parents? Indeed I want Allah and His Messenger and the abode of the Hereafter.” Ma’mar (one of the narrators) said: “Ayyub informed me that Aishah said to him: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Do not inform your wives that I chose you.’ So the Prophet said: ‘Allah send me only as one who conveys (Muballigh), He did not send me as one causing hardship.’”

لَمْ أَزَلْ حَرِيصًا أَنْ أَسْأَلَ عُمَرَ عَنِ الْمَرْأَتَيْنِ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ اللَّتَيْنِ قَالَ اللَّهُ ﷻ (إن تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا ) حَتَّى حَجَّ عُمَرُ وَحَجَجْتُ مَعَهُ فَصَبَبْتُ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الإِدَاوَةِ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَنِ الْمَرْأَتَانِ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ اللَّتَانِ قَالَ اللَّهُْ ( إن تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا وَإِنْ تَظَاهَرَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلاَهُ ) فَقَالَ لِي وَاعَجَبًا لَكَ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ وَكَرِهَ وَاللَّهِ مَا سَأَلَهُ عَنْهُ وَلَمْ يَكْتُمْهُ فَقَالَ لِي هِيَ عَائِشَةُ وَحَفْصَةُ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ يُحَدِّثُنِي الْحَدِيثَ فَقَالَ كُنَّا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ نَغْلِبُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ وَجَدْنَا قَوْمًا تَغْلِبُهُمْ نِسَاؤُهُمْ فَطَفِقَ نِسَاؤُنَا يَتَعَلَّمْنَ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ فَتَغَضَّبْتُ عَلَى امْرَأَتِي يَوْمًا فَإِذَا هِيَ تُرَاجِعُنِي فَأَنْكَرْتُ أَنْ تُرَاجِعَنِي فَقَالَتْ مَا تُنْكِرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّ أَزْوَاجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لَيُرَاجِعْنَهُ وَتَهْجُرُهُ إِحْدَاهُنَّ الْيَوْمَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي قَدْ خَابَتْ مَنْ فَعَلَتْ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُنَّ وَخَسِرَتْ قَالَ وَكَانَ مَنْزِلِي بِالْعَوَالِي فِي بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ وَكَانَ لِي جَارٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ كُنَّا نَتَنَاوَبُ النُّزُولَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَيَنْزِلُ يَوْمًا فَيَأْتِينِي بِخَبَرِ الْوَحْىِ وَغَيْرِهِ وَأَنْزِلُ يَوْمًا فَآتِيهِ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ قَالَ وَكُنَّا نُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ غَسَّانَ تُنْعِلُ الْخَيْلَ لِتَغْزُوَنَا قَالَ فَجَاءَنِي يَوْمًا عِشَاءً فَضَرَبَ عَلَىَّ الْبَابَ فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ حَدَثَ أَمْرٌ عَظِيمٌ قُلْتُ أَجَاءَتْ غَسَّانُ قَالَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ طَلَّقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ نِسَاءَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي قَدْ خَابَتْ حَفْصَةُ وَخَسِرَتْ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ هَذَا كَائِنًا قَالَ فَلَمَّا صَلَّيْتُ الصُّبْحَ شَدَدْتُ عَلَىَّ ثِيَابِي ثُمَّ انْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى دَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَبْكِي فَقُلْتُ أَطَلَّقَكُنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ لاَ أَدْرِي هُوَ ذَا مُعْتَزِلٌ فِي هَذِهِ الْمَشْرُبَةِ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ فَأَتَيْتُ غُلاَمًا أَسْوَدَ فَقُلْتُ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِعُمَرَ قَالَ فَدَخَلَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَىَّ قَالَ قَدْ ذَكَرْتُكَ لَهُ فَلَمْ يَقُلْ شَيْئًا قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَإِذَا حَوْلَ الْمِنْبَرِ نَفَرٌ يَبْكُونَ فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ غَلَبَنِي مَا أَجِدُ فَأَتَيْتُ الْغُلاَمَ فَقُلْتُ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِعُمَرَ فَدَخَلَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ قَدْ ذَكَرْتُكَ لَهُ فَلَمْ يَقُلْ شَيْئًا قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ أَيْضًا فَجَلَسْتُ ثُمَّ غَلَبَنِي مَا أَجِدُ فَأَتَيْتُ الْغُلاَمَ فَقُلْتُ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِعُمَرَ فَدَخَلَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ قَدْ ذَكَرْتُكَ لَهُ فَلَمْ يَقُلْ شَيْئًا قَالَ فَوَلَّيْتُ مُنْطَلِقًا فَإِذَا الْغُلاَمُ يَدْعُونِي فَقَالَ ادْخُلْ فَقَدْ أُذِنَ لَكَ فَدَخَلْتُ فَإِذَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مُتَّكِئٌ عَلَى رَمْلٍ حَصِيرٍ قَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَثَرَهُ فِي جَنْبِهِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَطَلَّقْتَ نِسَاءَكَ قَالَ لاَ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَنَحْنُ مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ نَغْلِبُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ وَجَدْنَا قَوْمًا تَغْلِبُهُمْ نِسَاؤُهُمْ فَطَفِقَ نِسَاؤُنَا يَتَعَلَّمْنَ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ فَتَغَضَّبْتُ يَوْمًا عَلَى امْرَأَتِي فَإِذَا هِيَ تُرَاجِعُنِي فَأَنْكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَتْ مَا تُنْكِرُ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّ أَزْوَاجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لَيُرَاجِعْنَهُ وَتَهْجُرُهُ إِحْدَاهُنَّ الْيَوْمَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ أَتُرَاجِعِينَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ وَتَهْجُرُهُ إِحْدَانَا الْيَوْمَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ فَقُلْتُ قَدْ خَابَتْ مَنْ فَعَلَتْ ذَلِكَ مِنْكُنَّ وَخَسِرَتْ أَتَأْمَنُ إِحْدَاكُنَّ أَنْ يَغْضَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا لِغَضَبِ رَسُولِهِ فَإِذَا هِيَ قَدْ هَلَكَتْ فَتَبَسَّمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ لاَ تُرَاجِعِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلاَ تَسْأَلِيهِ شَيْئًا وَسَلِينِي مَا بَدَا لَكِ وَلاَ يَغُرَّنَّكِ أَنْ كَانَتْ صَاحِبَتُكِ أَوْسَمَ مِنْكِ وَأَحَبَّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَتَبَسَّمَ أُخْرَى فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَسْتَأْنِسُ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي فَمَا رَأَيْتُ فِي الْبَيْتِ إِلاَّ أَهَبَةً ثَلاَثَةً قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُوَسِّعَ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ فَقَدْ وَسَّعَ عَلَى فَارِسَ وَالرُّومِ وَهُمْ لاَ يَعْبُدُونَهُ فَاسْتَوَى جَالِسًا فَقَالَ أَوَفِي شَكٍّ أَنْتَ يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ أُولَئِكَ قَوْمٌ عُجِّلَتْ لَهُمْ طَيِّبَاتُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا قَالَ وَكَانَ أَقْسَمَ أَنْ لاَ يَدْخُلَ عَلَى نِسَائِهِ شَهْرًا فَعَاتَبَهُ اللَّهُ فِي ذَلِكَ وَجَعَلَ لَهُ كَفَّارَةَ الْيَمِينِ قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ فَأَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا مَضَتْ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بَدَأَ بِي فَقَالَ يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنِّي ذَاكِرٌ لَكِ شَيْئًا فَلاَ تَعْجَلِي حَتَّى تَسْتَأْمِرِي أَبَوَيْكِ قَالَتْ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ ( يا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لأَزْوَاجِكَ ) الآيَةَ قَالَتْ عَلِمَ وَاللَّهِ أَنَّ أَبَوَىَّ لَمْ يَكُونَا يَأْمُرَانِي بِفِرَاقِهِ فَقُلْتُ أَفِي هَذَا أَسْتَأْمِرُ أَبَوَىَّ فَإِنِّي أُرِيدُ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالدَّارَ الآخِرَةَ قَالَ مَعْمَرٌ فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَيُّوبُ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ لَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لاَ تُخْبِرْ أَزْوَاجَكَ أَنِّي اخْتَرْتُكَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّمَا بَعَثَنِي اللَّهُ مُبَلِّغًا وَلَمْ يَبْعَثْنِي مُتَعَنِّتًا قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ قَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ

“When the Messenger of Allah had performed Asr, Hamasa (he began mumbling)” – and Al—Hams according to some of them, is moving the lips as if he is speaking – “It was said to him: ‘O Messenger of Allah! After you performed Asr, you were mumbling?’ He said: ‘There was a Prophet among the Prophets, he was amazed with his people, so he said: “Who can stand against these people?” Then Allah revealed to him, that they must choose between some of them suffering from wrath, and between enemies of theirs assaulting them. They chose the wrath. So death was inflicted upon them such that seventy-thousand of them died in one day.’”He said: And when he would narrated this Hadith, he would also narrated another: “There was a king among the kings, and that king had a fortune-teller (Kahin) who would see for him. The fortune teller said: ‘Search for a boy for me, he must be understanding” or he said: “clever and quick, so that I can teach him this knowledge of mine. For verily, I fear that I shall die, and this knowledge will be removed from you, and there will be no one among you who knows it.” He said: “They looked for a boy fitting his description. (After finding one) they ordered him to tend to that fortune teller, and to continue visiting him. So he began his frequent visits, and on the boy’s route, there was a monk at his hermitage.” – Ma’mar said: “I think that during that time, the people at the hermitage were Muslims.” – He said: “They boy began asking that monk questions each time he passed him, and he would not leave him until he informed him, so he said: ‘I only worship Allah.’” He said: “So the boy began spending more time with the monk and arriving late to the fortune-teller. The fortune-teller sent a message to the boy’s family saying: ‘He hardly ever attends me.’ The boy told that to the monk, so the monk said to him: ‘When the fortune-teller asks you where you’ve been, tell him: “I was with my family.” And when your family asks you where you’ve been, then tell them that you were with the fortune-teller.’” He said: “One day, the boy passed by a large group of people being held back by a beast.” Some of them said, it was a lion. He said: “So the boy took a rock and said: ‘O Allah, if what the monk says is true, then I ask you to kill it.’” [He said:] “Then he threw the rock, killing the beast. The people began asking who killed it and some of them replied: ‘It was the boy.’ They were terrified and said: ‘This boy has learned a knowledge that no one else has learned.’” He said: “A blind man heard about him so he said to him: ‘If you can return my sight, I shall give you this and that.’ He said to him: ‘I do not want this from you. However, if your sight is returned to you, would you believe in the One who gave it back to you?’ He said: ‘Yes.’” He said: “So he supplicated to Allah, and He returned his sight to him, and the blind man believed. His case was conveyed to the king, so he sent for him to be brought before him. He said: ‘I shall kill each of you in a manner different than his comrade was killed.’ He called for the monk and the man who used to be blind. He placed a saw upon the forehead of one of them and killed him. Then he killed the other one by a different means. Then he gave orders for the boy, he said: ‘Take him to this or that mountain, and throw him from its peak.’ They brought him to that mountain, and when they reached the place from where they intended to cast him off, they began tumbling off of that mountain, and all of them fell down until none of them remained except for the boy.” He said: “Then he returned and the king ordered that he be brought out to sea and cast into it. So he was brought out to sea, but Allah drowned those who were with him, and He saved him. Then the boy said to the king: ‘You will not kill me until you tie me to the trunk of a tree and shoot me, and when you shoot me, you said: “In the Name of Allah, the Lord of this boy.’” He said: “So he ordered that he be tied, then when he shot him, he said: ‘In the Name of Allah, the Lord of this boy.’ The boy placed his hand upon his temple where he was shot, then he died. The people said: “This boy had knowledge that no one else had! Verily we believe in the Lord of this boy!” He said: It was conveyed to the king “Your efforts have been thwarted by the opposition of these three, now all of these people have opposed you.” He said: “So he had ditches dug, then fire wood was filled into it and a fire was lit. Then he (the king) had all of the people gathered and he said: ‘Whoever leaves his religion, then we shall leave him. And whoever does not leave, we shall cast him into this fire.’ So he began casting them into that ditch.” He said: “Allah, Blessed is He and Most High, said about that: ‘Cursed were the People of the Ditch. Of fire fed with fuel…’ until he reached: ‘…The Almighty, Worthy of all praise!’” He said: “As for the boy, he was buried.” He said: “It has been mentioned, that he was excavated during the time of Umar bin Al-Khattab, and his finger was at his temple, just as he had placed it when he was killed.”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا صَلَّى الْعَصْرَ هَمَسَ وَالْهَمْسُ فِي قَوْلِ بَعْضِهِمْ تَحَرُّكُ شَفَتَيْهِ كَأَنَّهُ يَتَكَلَّمُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ الْعَصْرَ هَمَسْتَ قَالَ إِنَّ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ كَانَ أُعْجِبَ بِأُمَّتِهِ فَقَالَ مَنْ يَقُولُ لِهَؤُلاَءِ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ خَيِّرْهُمْ بَيْنَ أَنْ أَنْتَقِمَ مِنْهُمْ وَبَيْنَ أَنْ أُسَلِّطَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوَّهُمْ فَاخْتَارَ النِّقْمَةَ فَسَلَّطَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَوْتَ فَمَاتَ مِنْهُمْ فِي يَوْمٍ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفًا قَالَ وَكَانَ إِذَا حَدَّثَ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ حَدَّثَ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ الآخَرِ قَالَ كَانَ مَلِكٌ مِنَ الْمُلُوكِ وَكَانَ لِذَلِكَ الْمَلِكِ كَاهِنٌ يَكْهَنُ لَهُ فَقَالَ الْكَاهِنُ انْظُرُوا لِيَ غُلاَمًا فَهِمًا أَوْ قَالَ فَطِنًا لَقِنًا فَأُعَلِّمُهُ عِلْمِي هَذَا فَإِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ أَمُوتَ فَيَنْقَطِعَ مِنْكُمْ هَذَا الْعِلْمُ وَلاَ يَكُونُ فِيكُمْ مَنْ يَعْلَمُهُ قَالَ فَنَظَرُوا لَهُ عَلَى مَا وَصَفَ فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَحْضُرَ ذَلِكَ الْكَاهِنَ وَأَنْ يَخْتَلِفَ إِلَيْهِ فَجَعَلَ يَخْتَلِفُ إِلَيْهِ وَكَانَ عَلَى طَرِيقِ الْغُلاَمِ رَاهِبٌ فِي صَوْمَعَةٍ قَالَ مَعْمَرٌ أَحْسِبُ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الصَّوَامِعِ كَانُوا يَوْمَئِذٍ مُسْلِمِينَ قَالَ فَجَعَلَ الْغُلاَمُ يَسْأَلُ ذَلِكَ الرَّاهِبَ كُلَّمَا مَرَّ بِهِ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ بِهِ حَتَّى أَخْبَرَهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا أَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ قَالَ فَجَعَلَ الْغُلاَمُ يَمْكُثُ عِنْدَ الرَّاهِبِ وَيُبْطِئُ عَلَى الْكَاهِنِ فَأَرْسَلَ الْكَاهِنُ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْغُلاَمِ إِنَّهُ لاَ يَكَادُ يَحْضُرُنِي فَأَخْبَرَ الْغُلاَمُ الرَّاهِبَ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّاهِبُ إِذَا قَالَ لَكَ الْكَاهِنُ أَيْنَ كُنْتَ فَقُلْ عِنْدَ أَهْلِي وَإِذَا قَالَ لَكَ أَهْلُكَ أَيْنَ كُنْتَ فَأَخِبِرْهُمْ أَنَّكَ كُنْتَ عِنْدَ الْكَاهِنِ قَالَ فَبَيْنَمَا الْغُلاَمُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ إِذْ مَرَّ بِجَمَاعَةٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ كَثِيرٍ قَدْ حَبَسَتْهُمْ دَابَّةٌ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِنَّ تِلْكَ الدَّابَّةَ كَانَتْ أَسَدًا قَالَ فَأَخَذَ الْغُلاَمُ حَجَرًا قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ مَا يَقُولُ الرَّاهِبُ حَقًّا فَأَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ أَقْتُلَهَا قَالَ ثُمَّ رَمَى فَقَتَلَ الدَّابَّةَ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ مَنْ قَتَلَهَا قَالُوا الْغُلاَمُ فَفَزِعَ النَّاسُ وَقَالُوا لَقَدْ عَلِمَ هَذَا الْغُلاَمُ عِلْمًا لَمْ يَعْلَمْهُ أَحَدٌ قَالَ فَسَمِعَ بِهِ أَعْمَى فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنْ أَنْتَ رَدَدْتَ بَصَرِي فَلَكَ كَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ لَهُ لاَ أُرِيدُ مِنْكَ هَذَا وَلَكِنْ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ رَجَعَ إِلَيْكَ بَصَرُكَ أَتُؤْمِنُ بِالَّذِي رَدَّهُ عَلَيْكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَدَعَا اللَّهَ فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ بَصَرَهُ فَآمَنَ الأَعْمَى فَبَلَغَ الْمَلِكَ أَمْرُهُمْ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَأُتِيَ بِهِمْ فَقَالَ لأَقْتُلَنَّ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمْ قِتْلَةً لاَ أَقْتُلُ بِهَا صَاحِبَهُ فَأَمَرَ بِالرَّاهِبِ وَالرَّجُلِ الَّذِي كَانَ أَعْمَى فَوَضَعَ الْمِنْشَارَ عَلَى مَفْرِقِ أَحَدِهِمَا فَقَتَلَهُ وَقَتَلَ الآخَرَ بِقِتْلَةٍ أُخْرَى ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِالْغُلاَمِ فَقَالَ انْطَلِقُوا بِهِ إِلَى جَبَلِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَأَلْقُوهُ مِنْ رَأْسِهِ فَانْطَلَقُوا بِهِ إِلَى ذَلِكَ الْجَبَلِ فَلَمَّا انْتَهَوْا بِهِ إِلَى ذَلِكَ الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي أَرَادُوا أَنْ يُلْقُوهُ مِنْهُ جَعَلُوا يَتَهَافَتُونَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْجَبَلِ وَيَتَرَدَّوْنَ حَتَّى لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهُمْ إِلاَّ الْغُلاَمُ قَالَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَأَمَرَ بِهِ الْمَلِكُ أَنْ يَنْطَلِقُوا بِهِ إِلَى الْبَحْرِ فَيُلْقُونَهُ فِيهِ فَانْطُلِقَ بِهِ إِلَى الْبَحْرِ فَغَرَّقَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا مَعَهُ وَأَنْجَاهُ فَقَالَ الْغُلاَمُ لِلْمَلِكِ إِنَّكَ لاَ تَقْتُلُنِي حَتَّى تَصْلُبَنِي وَتَرْمِيَنِي وَتَقُولَ إِذَا رَمَيْتَنِي بِسْمِ اللَّهِ رَبِّ هَذَا الْغُلاَمِ قَالَ فَأَمَرَ بِهِ فَصُلِبَ ثُمَّ رَمَاهُ فَقَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ رَبِّ هَذَا الْغُلاَمِ قَالَ فَوَضَعَ الْغُلاَمُ يَدَهُ عَلَى صُدْغِهِ حِينَ رُمِيَ ثُمَّ مَاتَ فَقَالَ أُنَاسٌ لَقَدْ عَلِمَ هَذَا الْغُلاَمُ عِلْمًا مَا عَلِمَهُ أَحَدٌ فَإِنَّا نُؤْمِنُ بِرَبِّ هَذَا الْغُلاَمِ قَالَ فَقِيلَ لِلْمَلِكِ أَجَزِعْتَ أَنْ خَالَفَكَ ثَلاَثَةٌ فَهَذَا الْعَالَمُ كُلُّهُمْ قَدْ خَالَفُوكَ قَالَ فَخَدَّ أُخْدُودًا ثُمَّ أَلْقَى فِيهَا الْحَطَبَ وَالنَّارَ ثُمَّ جَمَعَ النَّاسَ فَقَالَ مَنْ رَجَعَ عَنْ دِينِهِ تَرَكْنَاهُ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَرْجِعْ أَلْقَيْنَاهُ فِي هَذِهِ النَّارِ فَجَعَلَ يُلْقِيهِمْ فِي تِلْكَ الأُخْدُودِ قَالَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى (قتِلَ أَصْحَابُ الأُخْدُودِ * النَّارِ ذَاتِ الْوَقُودِ ) حَتَّى بَلَغَ (العَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ ) قَالَ فَأَمَّا الْغُلاَمُ فَإِنَّهُ دُفِنَ قَالَ فَيُذْكَرُ أَنَّهُ أُخْرِجَ فِي زَمَنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ وَأُصْبُعُهُ عَلَى صُدْغِهِ كَمَا وَضَعَهَا حِينَ قُتِلَ

"There was a household among us called Banu Ubairiq, among whom was a Bishr, a Bushair, and a Mubashshir. Bushair was a hypocrite who would recite poetry reviling the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ then he would attribute it to some of the Arabs. Then he would say: 'So-and-so said this and that [So-and-so said this and that].' So when the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ would hear that poetry, they would say: 'By Allah! No one but this filthy person said this poetry - or as the man said - and they would say: 'Ibn Al-Ubairiq said it.'" He said: "They were a poor and needy household during Jahiliyyah and Islam. The only food the people of Al-Madinah had was dates and barely. When a man was able to, he would import flour from Ash-Sham which he bought and kept for himself. As for his dependants, their only food was dates and barely. So an import arrived from Ash-Sham, and my uncle Rifa'ah bin Zaid bought a load of it, which he put in a storage area he had, where he kept his weapons - his shield and his sword. But it was taken from him from under the house. The storage was broken into and and the food and weapons were taken. In the morning, my uncle Rifa'ah came to me and said: 'O my nephew! We were robbed during the night, our storage was broken into, and our food and weapons are gone.'" He said: "They overheard us in the house, and questioned us, and someone said to us, 'We saw Banu Ubairiq cooking during the night, and it looked like they had some of your food.'" He said: "Banu Ubairiq were saying - while we were questioning them amidst their dwellings - 'By Allah! We do not think the one you are looking for is other than Labid bin Sahl, a man among us who is righteous and accepted Islam.' When Labid heard that, he brandished his sword and said: 'I stole? By Allah! You either prove this theft, or I take to you with this sword.' They said: 'Leave us O man! You are not the one who has it.' So we continued questioning in the dwellings until we had no doubt that they had taken it. So my uncle said to me: 'O my nephew! You should go to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and tell him about that.'" Qatadah said: "So I went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: 'A family among us are ill-mannered, and they conspired against my uncle Rifa'ah bin aid. They broken into his storage and took his weapons and his food. We want them to return our weapons, but we have no need for the food.' So the Prophet ﷺ said: 'I will decide about that.' So when Banu Ubairiq heard about that, they brought a man from among them named Usair bin 'Urwah to talk to him about that, and some people form their houses gathered and said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Qatadah bin An-Nu'man and his uncle came came to a family among us who are a people of Islam and righteousness, accusing them of stealing without proof or confirmation.'" Qatadah said: "I went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and spoke to him, and he said: 'You went to a family among them known for their Islam and righteousness, and accused them of stealing without confirmation or proof.'" He said: "So I returned wishing that I had lost some of my wealth, and that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had not been spoke to about that. My uncle Rifa'ah came to me and said: 'O my nephew! What did you do?' So I told him what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me, so he said: 'It is from Allah, Whom we seek help.' It was not long before the Qur'an was revealed: 'Surely, We have sent down to you the Book in truth, that you might judge between men by that which Allah has shown you, so be not a pelader for the treacherous.' That is Banu Ubairiq. 'And seek forgiveness from Allah.' [That is] from what you said to Qatadah. 'Certainly Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And argue not on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Verily, Allah does not like anyone who is a betrayer, sinner. They may hide from men, but they cannot hide from Allah for He is with them up to His saying: 'Most Merciful.' That is: If you seek Allah's forgiveness then He will forgive you. 'And whoever earns sin, he earns it only against himself...' up to His saying: 'A manifest sin.' Their saying about Labid; 'Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His Mercy upon you...' up to His saying: 'We shall give him a great reward.' (4:105-115)" So when the Qur'an was revealed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ brought the weapon and returned it to Rifa'ah. Qatadah said: "When the weapon was brought to my uncle - and he was an elderly man with bad sight" or "an elderly weak man" - Abu 'Eisa was in doubt - "in Jahiliyyah, and I thought that he merely had entered into Islam (without real sincerity) but when I brought it to him, he said: 'O my nephew! It is for Allah's cause.' So I knew that his Islam was genuine. When the Qur'an was revealed, Bushair went with the idolaters, staying with Sulafah bint Sa'd bin Sumayyah. So Allah, Most High, revealed: Whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers' way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination. Verily Allah forgives not associating others with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whomever He wills. And whoever associates others with Allah, then he has indeed strayed away (4:115-116). "When he went to stay with Sulafah, Hassan bin Thabit lampooned her with verses of poetry. So she took his saddle, put it on her head, then she left with it to cast into the valley. Then she said: 'You gave me the poetry of Hassan - you did not bring me any good.'"

كَانَ أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ مِنَّا يُقَالُ لَهُمْ بَنُو أُبَيْرِقٍ بِشْرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ وَمُبَشِّرٌ وَكَانَ بَشِيرٌ رَجُلاً مُنَافِقًا يَقُولُ الشِّعْرَ يَهْجُو بِهِ أَصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ يَنْحَلُهُ بَعْضَ الْعَرَبِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ قَالَ فُلاَنٌ كَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ فُلاَنٌ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَإِذَا سَمِعَ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ذَلِكَ الشِّعْرَ قَالُوا وَاللَّهِ مَا يَقُولُ هَذَا الشِّعْرَ إِلاَّ هَذَا الْخَبِيثُ أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ الرَّجُلُ وَقَالُوا ابْنُ الأُبَيْرِقِ قَالَهَا قَالَ وَكَانَ أَهْلُ بَيْتِ حَاجَةٍ وَفَاقَةٍ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَالإِسْلاَمِ وَكَانَ النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا طَعَامُهُمْ بِالْمَدِينَةِ التَّمْرُ وَالشَّعِيرُ وَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ إِذَا كَانَ لَهُ يَسَارٌ فَقَدِمَتْ ضَافِطَةٌ مِنَ الشَّامِ مِنَ الدَّرْمَكِ ابْتَاعَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهَا فَخَصَّ بِهَا نَفْسَهُ وَأَمَّا الْعِيَالُ فَإِنَّمَا طَعَامُهُمُ التَّمْرُ وَالشَّعِيرُ فَقَدِمَتْ ضَافِطَةٌ مِنَ الشَّامِ فَابْتَاعَ عَمِّي رِفَاعَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ حِمْلاً مِنَ الدَّرْمَكِ فَجَعَلَهُ فِي مَشْرَبَةٍ لَهُ وَفِي الْمَشْرَبَةِ سِلاَحٌ وَدِرْعٌ وَسَيْفٌ فَعُدِيَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ تَحْتِ الْبَيْتِ فَنُقِبَتِ الْمَشْرَبَةُ وَأُخِذَ الطَّعَامُ وَالسِّلاَحُ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ أَتَانِي عَمِّي رِفَاعَةُ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي إِنَّهُ قَدْ عُدِيَ عَلَيْنَا فِي لَيْلَتِنَا هَذِهِ فَنُقِبَتْ مَشْرَبَتُنَا فَذُهِبَ بِطَعَامِنَا وَسِلاَحِنَا قَالَ فَتَحَسَّسْنَا فِي الدَّارِ وَسَأَلْنَا فَقِيلَ لَنَا قَدْ رَأَيْنَا بَنِي أُبَيْرِقٍ اسْتَوْقَدُوا فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ وَلاَ نُرَى فِيمَا نُرَى إِلاَّ عَلَى بَعْضِ طَعَامِكُمْ قَالَ وَكَانَ بَنُو أُبَيْرِقٍ قَالُوا وَنَحْنُ نَسْأَلُ فِي الدَّارِ وَاللَّهِ مَا نُرَى صَاحِبَكُمْ إِلاَّ لَبِيدَ بْنَ سَهْلٍ رَجُلٌ مِنَّا لَهُ صَلاَحٌ وَإِسْلاَمٌ فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ لَبِيدٌ اخْتَرَطَ سَيْفَهُ وَقَالَ أَنَا أَسْرِقُ فَوَاللَّهِ لَيُخَالِطَنَّكُمْ هَذَا السَّيْفُ أَوْ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّ هَذِهِ السَّرِقَةَ قَالُوا إِلَيْكَ عَنْهَا أَيُّهَا الرَّجُلُ فَمَا أَنْتَ بِصَاحِبِهَا فَسَأَلْنَا فِي الدَّارِ حَتَّى لَمْ نَشُكَّ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُهَا فَقَالَ لِي عَمِّي يَا ابْنَ أَخِي لَوْ أَتَيْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرْتَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ قَالَ قَتَادَةُ فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ مِنَّا أَهْلَ جَفَاءٍ عَمَدُوا إِلَى عَمِّي رِفَاعَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ فَنَقَبُوا مَشْرَبَةً لَهُ وَأَخَذُوا سِلاَحَهُ وَطَعَامَهُ فَلْيَرُدُّوا عَلَيْنَا سِلاَحَنَا فَأَمَّا الطَّعَامُ فَلاَ حَاجَةَ لَنَا فِيهِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ سَآمُرُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ بَنُو أُبَيْرِقٍ أَتَوْا رَجُلاً مِنْهُمْ يُقَالُ لَهُ أَسِيرُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ فَكَلَّمُوهُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَاجْتَمَعَ فِي ذَلِكَ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدَّارِ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ قَتَادَةَ بْنَ النُّعْمَانِ وَعَمَّهُ عَمَدَا إِلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ مِنَّا أَهْلِ إِسْلاَمٍ وَصَلاَحٍ يَرْمُونَهُمْ بِالسَّرِقَةِ مِنْ غَيْرِ بَيِّنَةٍ وَلاَ ثَبْتٍ قَالَ قَتَادَةُ فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَكَلَّمْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَمَدْتَ إِلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ ذُكِرَ مِنْهُمْ إِسْلاَمٌ وَصَلاَحٌ تَرْمِيهِمْ بِالسَّرِقَةِ عَلَى غَيْرِ ثَبْتٍ وَلاَ بَيِّنَةٍ قَالَ فَرَجَعْتُ وَلَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي خَرَجْتُ مِنْ بَعْضِ مَالِي وَلَمْ أُكَلِّمْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي ذَلِكَ فَأَتَانِي عَمِّي رِفَاعَةُ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي مَا صَنَعْتَ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِمَا قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ فَلَمْ يَلْبَثْ أَنْ نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ ( إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِمَا أَرَاكَ اللَّهُ وَلاَ تَكُنْ لِلْخَائِنِينَ خَصِيمًا ) بَنِي أُبَيْرِقٍ ( وَاسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ ) أَىْ مِمَّا قُلْتَ لِقَتَادَةَ ( إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا * وَلاَ تُجَادِلْ عَنِ الَّذِينَ يَخْتَانُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ مَنْ كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمًا * يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَلاَ يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ اللَّهِ ) إِلَى قَوْلِهِ ( غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا ) أَىْ لَوِ اسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ لَغَفَرَ لَهُمْ ( وَمَنْ يَكْسِبْ إِثْمًا فَإِنَّمَا يَكْسِبُهُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ ) إِلَى قَوْلِهِ ( إِثْمًا مُبِينًا ) قَوْلُهُمْ لِلَبِيدٍ وَلَوْلاَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَتُهُ ) إِلَى قَوْلِهِ ( فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ) فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ أُتِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالسِّلاَحِ فَرَدَّهُ إِلَى رِفَاعَةَ فَقَالَ قَتَادَةُ لَمَّا أَتَيْتُ عَمِّي بِالسِّلاَحِ وَكَانَ شَيْخًا قَدْ عَسِيَ أَوْ عَشِيَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَكُنْتُ أُرَى إِسْلاَمَهُ مَدْخُولاً فَلَمَّا أَتَيْتُهُ بِالسِّلاَحِ قَالَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي هُوَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّ إِسْلاَمَهُ كَانَ صَحِيحًا فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ لَحِقَ بَشِيرٌ بِالْمُشْرِكِينَ فَنَزَلَ عَلَى سُلاَفَةَ بِنْتِ سَعْدِ ابْنِ سُمَيَّةَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ( وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا * إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَمَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلاَلاً بَعِيدًا ) فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ عَلَى سُلاَفَةَ رَمَاهَا حَسَّانُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ بِأَبْيَاتٍ مِنْ شِعْرِهِ فَأَخَذَتْ رَحْلَهُ فَوَضَعَتْهُ عَلَى رَأْسِهَا ثُمَّ خَرَجَتْ بِهِ فَرَمَتْ بِهِ فِي الأَبْطَحِ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ أَهْدَيْتَ لِي شِعْرَ حَسَّانَ مَا كُنْتَ تَأْتِينِي بِخَيْرٍ

"I said to Ibn 'Abbas: 'Nawf Al-Bikali claims that Musa, of Banu Isra'il is not the companion of Al-Khidr. He said: 'The enemy of Allah has lied. I heard Ubayy bin Ka'b saying: "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say 'Musa stood to deliver a Khutbah to the children of Isra'il. He was asked: "Who is the most knowledgeable among the people?" He said: "I am the most knowledgeable." So Allah admonished him, since he did not refer the knowledge back to Him. Allah revealed to him: "A slave, among My slaves at the junction of the two seas, is more knowledgeable than you." So Musa said: "O Lord! How can I meet him?" He said to him: "Carry a fish in a basket, wherever you lose the fish, then he is there." So he set off, and his boy set off with him - and he was Yusha' bin Nun. Musa put a fish in a basket, he and the boy set off walking, until when they reached a rock, Musa and his boy fell asleep. The fish was flopping around in the basket, falling into the sea.' He said: 'Allah held back the flow of water until it was like a tunnel, and the fish could glide. Musa and his boy were amazed. They set off the remainder of the day and the night, and Musa's companion forgot to inform him (of the escape of the fish). When Musa arose in the morning, he said to his boy: Bring us our morning meal; truly we have suffered much fatigue in this, our journey (18:62).' He said: 'He had not gotten tired until he passed the place which Allah had ordered him to go. He said: Do you remember when we betook ourselves to the rock? I indeed forgot the fish, none but Shaitan made me forget to remember it. It took its course into the sea in a strange way (18:63). Musa said: That is what we have been seeking. So they went back, retracing their tracks (18:64). He said: 'So they began retracing their tracks.'" Sufyan (one of the narrators) said: "People claim that there is a spring of life at that rock, no dying person has its water poured over him, but he becomes alive, and the fish came in contact with some of it, so when the water dropped on it he became alive." "He [the Prophet ﷺ] said: 'They retraced their tracks until they arrived at the rock to see a man covered in a garment. Musa greeted him, and he replied: Is there such a greeting in your land? He said: I am Musa. He said: Musa of the children of Isra'il? He said: Yes. He said: O Musa! Indeed you have some knowledge from Allah, which Allah taught you, which I have not been taught, and I have some knowledge from Allah, which Allah taught me, which you have not been taught.' So Musa said: May I follow you so that you may teach me something of the knowledge which you have been taught? (18:66) He said: Verily, you will not be able to have patience with me! And how can you have patience about a thing which you know not? He said: If Allah wills, you will find me patient, and I will not disobey you at all (18:67-69). Al-Khadir said to him: Then if you follow me, ask me not about anything until I myself mention it to you (18:70). Musa said: Yes. So Musa and Al-Khadir set off walking along the shore of the sea. A boat was passing by them, and they spoke to them (the crew) asking them to let them get on board. They recognized Al-Khadir so they let the two of them ride without charge. Al-Khadir took one of the planks (in the boat) and removed it, so Musa said to him: These people gave us a ride free of charge, yet you sabotaged their boat so that its people will drown. Indeed you have done a dreadful thing (18:71). He said: Did I not tell you that you would not be able to have patience with me? (18:72). He said call me not to account for what I forgot, and be not hard upon me for my affair (18:73). Then they exited the boat, and while they were walking upon the shore, they saw a boy playing with two other boys. So Al-Khadir took him by his head, pulling it off with his hands, and he killed him. So Musa said to him: Have you killed an innocent person who killed no one! Verily you have done a horrendous thing (18:74). He said: Did I not tell you that you would not be able to have patience with me? (18:75) - he (the narrator) said: - "This was more severe than the first one" - He said: If I ask you about anything after this, you have received an excuse from me. So they both proceeded until they came to the inhabitants of a town. They asked them for food but they refused to entertain them. There they found a wall on the verge of falling down (18:76 & 77). He (the narrator) said: - meaning leaning over - 'So Al-Khadir took his hand like this, so he set it up straight (18:77) so Musa said to him: We arrived at these people, they did not treat us as guests nor feed us. If you wished, surely you could have taken wages for it! He said: "This is the parting between you and I. I will tell you the interpretation of (those) things over which you were not able to be patient (18:77 & 78).'" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'May Allah have mercy upon Musa! We wish that he would have had patience, so that we could have more knowledge about that two of them.' He said: 'So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'The first time Musa had forgotten.' He said: 'And a sparrow came, until it perched on the edge of a boat, and pecked at the sea. So Al-Khadir said to him: My knowledge and your knowledge do not diminish anything from the knowledge of Allah, but like what this sparrow diminishes of the sea.' Sa'eed bin Jubair said: "and he would" - meaning Ibn 'Abbas - "recite: 'And there was before them a king who would take every useful boat by force (18:79).' And he would recite: 'As for the boy, he was a disbeliever (18:80).'"

قُلْتُ لاِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ إِنَّ نَوْفًا الْبِكَالِيَّ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ مُوسَى صَاحِبَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لَيْسَ بِمُوسَى صَاحِبِ الْخَضِرِ قَالَ كَذَبَ عَدُوُّ اللَّهِ سَمِعْتُ أُبَىَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ قَامَ مُوسَى خَطِيبًا فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فَسُئِلَ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَعْلَمُ فَقَالَ أَنَا أَعْلَمُ فَعَتَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ إِذْ لَمْ يَرُدَّ الْعِلْمَ إِلَيْهِ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّ عَبْدًا مِنْ عِبَادِي بِمَجْمَعِ الْبَحْرَيْنِ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكَ قَالَ مُوسَى أَىْ رَبِّ فَكَيْفَ لِي بِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ احْمِلْ حُوتًا فِي مِكْتَلٍ فَحَيْثُ تَفْقِدُ الْحُوتَ فَهُوَ ثَمَّ فَانْطَلَقَ وَانْطَلَقَ مَعَهُ فَتَاهُ وَهُوَ يُوشَعُ بْنُ نُونٍ وَيُقَالُ يُوسَعُ فَحَمَلَ مُوسَى حُوتًا فِي مِكْتَلٍ فَانْطَلَقَ هُوَ وَفَتَاهُ يَمْشِيَانِ حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَيَا الصَّخْرَةَ فَرَقَدَ مُوسَى وَفَتَاهُ فَاضْطَرَبَ الْحُوتُ فِي الْمِكْتَلِ حَتَّى خَرَجَ مِنَ الْمِكْتَلِ فَسَقَطَ فِي الْبَحْرِ قَالَ وَأَمْسَكَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ جِرْيَةَ الْمَاءِ حَتَّى كَانَ مِثْلَ الطَّاقِ وَكَانَ لِلْحُوتِ سَرَبًا وَكَانَ لِمُوسَى وَلِفَتَاهُ عَجَبًا فَاَنْطَلَقَا بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِهِمَا وَلَيْلَتِهِمَا وَنُسِّيَ صَاحِبُ مُوسَى أَنْ يُخْبِرَهُ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ مُوسَى قَالَ لِفَتَاهُ (آتِنَا غَدَاءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِنْ سَفَرِنَا هَذَا نَصَبًا ) قَالَ وَلَمْ يَنْصَبْ حَتَّى جَاوَزَ الْمَكَانَ الَّذِي أُمِرَ بِهِ (قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَا أَنْسَانِيهُ إِلاَّ الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا ) قَالَ مُوسَى ( ذَلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ فَارْتَدَّا عَلَى آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا ) قَالَ فَكَانَا يَقُصَّانِ آثَارَهُمَا قَالَ سُفْيَانُ يَزْعُمُ نَاسٌ أَنَّ تِلْكَ الصَّخْرَةَ عِنْدَهَا عَيْنُ الْحَيَاةِ وَلاَ يُصِيبُ مَاؤُهَا مَيِّتًا إِلاَّ عَاشَ قَالَ وَكَانَ الْحُوتُ قَدْ أُكِلَ مِنْهُ فَلَمَّا قَطَرَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَاءُ عَاشَ قَالَ فَقَصَّا آثَارَهُمَا حَتَّى أَتَيَا الصَّخْرَةَ فَرَأَى رَجُلاً مُسَجًّى عَلَيْهِ بِثَوْبٍ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ مُوسَى فَقَالَ أَنَّى بِأَرْضِكَ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ أَنَا مُوسَى قَالَ مُوسَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ يَا مُوسَى إِنَّكَ عَلَى عِلْمٍ مِنْ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ عَلَّمَكَهُ اللَّهُ لاَ أَعْلَمُهُ وَأَنَا عَلَى عِلْمٍ مِنْ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ عَلَّمَنِيهِ لاَ تَعْلَمُهُ فَقَالَ مُوسَى ( هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَى أَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِي مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا * قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا * وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَى مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْرًا * قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ صَابِرًا وَلاَ أَعْصِي لَكَ أَمْرًا ) قَالَ لَهُ الْخَضِرُ (فَإِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِي فَلاَ تَسْأَلْنِي عَنْ شَيْءٍ حَتَّى أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا ) قَالَ نَعَمْ فَانْطَلَقَ الْخَضِرُ وَمُوسَى يَمْشِيَانِ عَلَى سَاحِلِ الْبَحْرِ فَمَرَّتْ بِهِمَا سَفِينَةٌ فَكَلَّمَاهُ أَنْ يَحْمِلُوهُمَا فَعَرَفُوا الْخَضِرَ فَحَمَلُوهُمَا بِغَيْرِ نَوْلٍ فَعَمَدَ الْخَضِرُ إِلَى لَوْحٍ مِنْ أَلْوَاحِ السَّفِينَةِ فَنَزَعَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى قَوْمٌ حَمَلُونَا بِغَيْرِ نَوْلٍ عَمَدْتَ إِلَى سَفِينَتِهِمْ فَخَرَقْتَهَا ( لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا إِمْرًا * قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا * قَالَ لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا نَسِيتُ وَلاَ تُرْهِقْنِي مِنْ أَمْرِي عُسْرًا ) ثُمَّ خَرَجَا مِنَ السَّفِينَةِ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمَا يَمْشِيَانِ عَلَى السَّاحِلِ وَإِذَا غُلاَمٌ يَلْعَبُ مَعَ الْغِلْمَانِ فَأَخَذَ الْخَضِرُ بِرَأْسِهِ فَاقْتَلَعَهُ بِيَدِهِ فَقَتَلَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى ( أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا زَكِيَّةً بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا نُكْرًا * قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكَ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا ) قَالَ وَهَذِهِ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الأُولَى ( قَالَ إِنْ سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ شَيْءٍ بَعْدَهَا فَلاَ تُصَاحِبْنِي قَدْ بَلَغْتَ مِنْ لَدُنِّي عُذْرًا * فَانْطَلَقَا حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَيَا أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ اسْتَطْعَمَا أَهْلَهَا فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَارًا يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَنْقَضَّ ) يَقُولُ مَائِلٌ فَقَالَ الْخَضِرُ بِيَدِهِ هَكَذَا ( فَأَقَامَهُ ) فَقَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى قَوْمٌ أَتَيْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ يُضَيِّفُونَا وَلَمْ يُطْعِمُونَا ( إِنْ شِئْتَ لاَتَّخَذْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا * قَالَ هَذَا فِرَاقُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنِكَ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأْوِيلِ مَا لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ عَلَيْهِ صَبْرًا ) قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ مُوسَى لَوَدِدْنَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ صَبَرَ حَتَّى يَقُصَّ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ أَخْبَارِهِمَا قَالَ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الأُولَى كَانَتْ مِنْ مُوسَى نِسْيَانٌ قَالَ وَجَاءَ عُصْفُورٌ حَتَّى وَقَعَ عَلَى حَرْفِ السَّفِينَةِ ثُمَّ نَقَرَ فِي الْبَحْرِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْخَضِرُ مَا نَقَصَ عِلْمِي وَعِلْمُكَ مِنْ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ مِثْلَ مَا نَقَصَ هَذَا الْعُصْفُورُ مِنَ الْبَحْرِ قَالَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ وَكَانَ يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يَقْرَأُ وَكَانَ أَمَامَهُمْ مَلِكٌ يَأْخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ صَالِحَةٍ غَصْبًا وَكَانَ يَقْرَأُ وَأَمَّا الْغُلاَمُ فَكَانَ كَافِرًا

“We entered upon Jabir bin ‘Abdullah, and when we reached him he asked about the people (i.e., what their names were, etc.). When he reached me, I said: ‘I am Muhammad bin ‘Ali bin Husain.’ He stretched forth his hand towards my head, and undid my top button, then undid my lower button. Then he placed his hand on my chest, and I was a young boy at that time. Then he said: ‘Welcome to you, ask whatever you want.’ So I asked him, and he was blind. The time for prayer came, so he stood up, wrapping himself in a woven cloth. Every time he put it on his shoulders, its edges came up, because it was too small. And his cloak was beside him on a hook. He led us in prayer, then he said: ‘Tell us about the Hajj of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’ He held up his hands, showing nine (fingers), and said: ‘The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stayed for nine years without performing Hajj, then it was announced to the people in the tenth year that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was going for Hajj. So many people came to Al-Madinah, all of them seeking to follow the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and do what he did. He set out and we set out with him, and we came to Dhul-Hulaifah where Asma’ bint ‘Umais gave birth to Muhammad bin Abu Bakr. She sent word to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asking what she should do. He said: “Perform Ghusl, fasten a cloth around your waist and enter Ihram.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed in the mosque, then he rode Qaswa’ (his she-camel) until, when his she-camel arose with him upon Baida’,’ Jabir said: ‘As far as I could see, I saw people riding and walking in front of him, and I saw the same to his right and left, and behind him, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was among us and Qur’an was being revealed to him, and he understood its meaning. Whatever he did, we did too. Then he began the Talbiyah of monotheism: “Labbaika Allahumma labbaik, labbaika la sharika laka labbaik. Innal-hamda wan-ni’mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika laka (Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty, You have no partner).” And the people repeated his words. And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ approved of that. And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ continued to recite the Talbiyah.’ Jabir said: ‘We did not intend (to do) anything but Hajj. We were not aware of ‘Umrah. Then when we reached the House with him, he touched the Corner, and walked quickly (Ramal) for three circuits and walked (normally) for four. Then he stood at the place of Ibrahim and said: “And take you (people) the place of Ibrahim as a place of prayer.” [2:125] He stood with the place between him and the House. My father used to say:* “And I do not think that he mentioned it other than from the Prophet ﷺ: ‘That he used to recite in those two Rak’ah (at the place of Ibrahim): “Say: ‘O you disbelievers!’” [Al-Kafirun (109)] and “Say: ‘He is Allah, (the) One.’” [Al-Ikhlas (112)] “Then he went back to the House and touched the Corner, then he went out through the gate to Safa. When he drew near to Safa he recited: “Verily, Safa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allah,” [2:158] (and said:) “We will start with that with which Allah started.” So he started with Safa and climbed it until he could see the House, then proclaimed the greatness of Allah (by saying: Allahu Akbar) and said Tahlil (La ilaha illallah) and praised Him (saying Al-Hamdulillah), and he said: “La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku, wa lahul-hamdu, yuhyi wa yumit wa huwa ‘ala kulli shai’in Qadir. La ilaha illallah wahdahu, La sharika lahu anjaza wa’dahu, wa nasara ‘abduhu, wa hazamal-Ahzaba wahdahu (None has the right to be worshiped but Allah alone, with no partner or associate; His is the dominion, all praise is due to Him, He gives life and causes death and He is able to do all things. None has the right to be worshiped but Allah alone; He has no partner or associate, He fulfilled His promise, granted victory to His slave, and defeated the Confederates alone).” And he said that three times, supplication in between. Then he headed towards Marwah walking normally until, when he started to go downhill, he walked quickly (Ramal) in the bottom of the valley. When he started to go uphill, he walked normally, until he reached Marwah, and he did atop Marwah what he had done atop Safa. At the end of his Sa’y, atop Marwah he said: “If I had known before what I have come to know now, I would not have garlanded the sacrificial animal, and I would have made it ‘Umrah. Whoever among you does not have a sacrificial animal with him, let him exit Ihram and make it ‘Umrah.” So all the people exited Ihram and cut their hair, except the Prophet ﷺ and those who had sacrificial animals with them. Suraqah bin Malik bin Ju’shum stood up and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Is this for this year only, or forever and ever?” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ interlaced his fingers and said: “‘Umrah is included in Hajj like this,” twice. “No, it is forever and ever.” ‘Ali brought the camels of the Prophet ﷺ, and he found that Fatimah was one of those who had exited Ihram. She had put on a dyed garment and used kohl. ‘Ali disliked this action on her part, but she said: “My father told me to do this.” ‘Ali used to say in Iraq: “So I went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, feeling upset with Fatimah because of what she had done, to ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about what she had said that he said, and that I had disliked that. He said: ‘She spoke the truth, she spoke the truth. What did you say when you began your Hajj?’” He said: “I said: ‘O Allah, I begin the Talbiyah for that for which your Messenger ﷺ begins the Talbiyah.’ (He said:) ‘And I have the sacrificial animal with me, so do not exit Ihram.’ He said: “The total number of sacrificial animals that ‘Ali had brought from Yemen and that the Prophet ﷺ brought from Al-Madinah were one hundred. Then all the people exited Ihram and cut their hair, apart from the Prophet ﷺ and those who had sacrificial animals with them. When the day of Tarwiyah came (the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah), they headed for Mina and began the Talbiyah for Hajj. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ rode. He prayed Zuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, ‘Isha’ and Fajr at Mina. Then he stayed for a short while until the sun rose, and he ordered that a tent of goat hair be pitched for him in Namirah. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out, and the Quraish were certain that he was going to stay at Al-Mash’ar Haram or at Al-Muzdalifah, as Quraish used to do during the Ignorance days. But the Messenger of Allah ﷺ continued until he came to ‘Arafat, where he found that the tent had been pitched for him in Namirah, and he stopped there. Then when the sun had passed its zenith, he called for Qaswa’ and she was saddled for him. He rode until he came to the bottom of the valley, and he addressed the people and said: ‘Your blood and your wealth are sacred to you, as sacred as this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this land of yours. Every matter of Ignorance days is abolished, beneath these two feet of mine. The blood feuds of the Ignorance days are abolished, and the first blood feud of Rabi’ah bin Harith, who was nursed among Banu Sa’d and killed by Hudhail. The usuries of Ignorance days are abolished, and the first usury (that I abolish) is our usury, the usury due to ‘Abbas bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib. It is all abolished. Fear Allah with regard to women, for you have taken them as a trust from Allah, and intimacy with them has become permissible to you through Allah’s Word. Your rights over them are that they should not allow anyone whom you dislike to sit on your bedding.** If they do that, then hit them, but in a manner that does not cause injury or leave a mark. Their rights over you are that you should provide for them and clothe them in a reasonable manner. I have left behind you something which, if you adhere to it, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah. You will be asked about me. What will you say?’ They said: ‘We bear witness that you have conveyed (the message) and fulfilled (your duty) and offered sincere advice.’ He gestured with his forefinger towards the sky and then towards the people, (and said:) ‘O Allah, bear witness, O Allah bear witness,’ three times. Then Bilal called the Adhan, then the Iqamah, and he prayed Zuhr. Then he made Iqamah and prayed ‘Asr, and he did not offer any prayer between them. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ rode until he came to the place of standing, and he made his she-camel face Sakharat*** with the path in the sand in front of him, and he faced the Qiblah, then he remained standing until the sun had set and the afterglow had lessened somewhat, when the disk of the sun disappeared. Then he seated Usamah bin Zaid behind him and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out. He pulled Qaswa’s reins tight until her head was touching the saddle, and he gestured with his right hand: ‘O people, calmly, calmly!’ Every time he came to a hill, he released the reins a little so that she could climb. Then he came to Muzdalifah where he prayed Maghrib and ‘Isha’ with one Adhan and two Iqamah, offering no prayer in between. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ lay down until dawn came, and he prayed Fajr, when he saw that morning had come, with one Adhan and one Iqamah. Then he rode Qaswa’ until he came to Al-Mash’ar Al-Haram. He climbed it and praised Allah and proclaimed His greatness and that He is the only One worthy of worship. Then he remained standing until it had become quite bright, then he moved on before the sun rose. He seated Fadl bin ‘Abbas behind him, who was a man with lovely hair, white and handsome. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ moved on, he passed some women riding camels. Fadl started to look at them, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ put his hand on the other side. Fadl turned his face to the other side to look. When he came to Muhassir, he sped up a little. Then he followed the middle road that brings you out to the biggest Pillar, until he reached the Pillar that is by the tree. He threw seven pebbles, saying the Takbir with each throw, pebbles suitable for Khadhf (i.e., the size of a chickpea) throwing from the bottom of the valley. Then he went to the place of slaughter, and slaughtered sixty-three camels with his own hand. Then he handed it over to ‘Ali who slaughtered the rest, and he gave him a share in his sacrificial animal. Then he ordered that a piece from each camel be brought; (the pieces) were put in a pot and cooked, and they (the Prophet ﷺ and ‘Ali) ate from the meat and drank from the soup. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ hastened to the House, and prayed Zuhr in Makkah. He came to Banu ‘Abdul-Muttalib, who were providing water to the pilgrims at Zamzam, and said: ‘Draw me some water, O Banu ‘Abdul-Muttalib. Were it not that the people would overwhelm you, I would have drawn water with you.’ So they drew up a bucket for him and he drank from it.’” * It appears that the speaker is Ja’far bin Muhammad who is narrating from his father, from Jabir. **And they say that the meaning if ‘your furniture’ or, ‘your special place’ in which case the objective is to say that the wife is not to admit anyone in the house whom the husband would be displeased with. ***Sakharat plural of Sakhrah rock or boulder. Nawawi said: “They are the rocks that lay at the base of the Mount of Mercy, and it is the mount in the middle of ‘Arafat.”

مَرْحَبًا بِكَ سَلْ عَمَّا شِئْتَ فَسَأَلْتُهُ وَهُوَ أَعْمَى فَجَاءَ وَقْتُ الصَّلاَةِ فَقَامَ فِي نِسَاجَةٍ مُلْتَحِفًا بِهَا كُلَّمَا وَضَعَهَا عَلَى مَنْكِبَيْهِ رَجَعَ طَرَفَاهَا إِلَيْهِ مِنْ صِغَرِهَا وَرِدَاؤُهُ إِلَى جَانِبِهِ عَلَى الْمِشْجَبِ فَصَلَّى بِنَا فَقُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنَا عَنْ حَجَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ بِيَدِهِ فَعَقَدَ تِسْعًا وَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَكَثَ تِسْعَ سِنِينَ لَمْ يَحُجَّ فَأَذَّنَ فِي النَّاسِ فِي الْعَاشِرَةِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَاجٌّ فَقَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ بَشَرٌ كَثِيرٌ كُلُّهُمْ يَلْتَمِسُ أَنْ يَأْتَمَّ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَيَعْمَلَ بِمِثْلِ عَمَلِهِ فَخَرَجَ وَخَرَجْنَا مَعَهُ فَأَتَيْنَا ذَا الْحُلَيْفَةِ فَوَلَدَتْ أَسْمَاءُ بِنْتُ عُمَيْسٍ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَأَرْسَلَتْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ قَالَ اغْتَسِلِي وَاسْتَثْفِرِي بِثَوْبٍ وَأَحْرِمِي فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ ثُمَّ رَكِبَ الْقَصْوَاءَ حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَوَتْ بِهِ نَاقَتُهُ عَلَى الْبَيْدَاءِ قَالَ جَابِرٌ نَظَرْتُ إِلَى مَدِّ بَصَرِي مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ بَيْنَ رَاكِبٍ وَمَاشٍ وَعَنْ يَمِينِهِ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ وَعَنْ يَسَارِهِ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِنَا وَعَلَيْهِ يَنْزِلُ الْقُرْآنُ وَهُوَ يَعْرِفُ تَأْوِيلَهُ مَا عَمِلَ مِنْ شَىْءٍ عَمِلْنَا بِهِ فَأَهَلَّ بِالتَّوْحِيدِ لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ وَأَهَلَّ النَّاسُ بِهَذَا الَّذِي يُهِلُّونَ بِهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَيْهِمْ شَيْئًا مِنْهُ وَلَزِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَلْبِيَتَهُ قَالَ جَابِرٌ لَسْنَا نَنْوِي إِلاَّ الْحَجَّ لَسْنَا نَعْرِفُ الْعُمْرَةَ حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَيْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَعَهُ اسْتَلَمَ الرُّكْنَ فَرَمَلَ ثَلاَثًا وَمَشَى أَرْبَعًا ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَقَالَ {وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى} فَجَعَلَ الْمَقَامَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْبَيْتِ فَكَانَ أَبِي يَقُولُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ ذَكَرَهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ إِنَّهُ كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ {قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ} وَ {قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ } ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ فَاسْتَلَمَ الرُّكْنَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ مِنَ الْبَابِ إِلَى الصَّفَا حَتَّى إِذَا دَنَا مِنَ الصَّفَا قَرَأَ {إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ ) نَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللَّهُ بِهِ فَبَدَأَ بِالصَّفَا فَرَقِيَ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى رَأَى الْبَيْتَ فَكَبَّرَ اللَّهَ وَهَلَّلَهُ وَحَمِدَهُ وَقَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَهَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ ثُمَّ دَعَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ وَقَالَ مِثْلَ هَذَا ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ نَزَلَ إِلَى الْمَرْوَةِ فَمَشَى حَتَّى إِذَا انْصَبَّتْ قَدَمَاهُ رَمَلَ فِي بَطْنِ الْوَادِي حَتَّى إِذَا صَعِدَتَا يَعْنِي قَدَمَاهُ مَشَى حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَرْوَةَ فَفَعَلَ عَلَى الْمَرْوَةِ كَمَا فَعَلَ عَلَى الصَّفَا فَلَمَّا كَانَ آخِرُ طَوَافِهِ عَلَى الْمَرْوَةِ قَالَ لَوْ أَنِّي اسْتَقْبَلْتُ مِنْ أَمْرِي مَا اسْتَدْبَرْتُ لَمْ أَسُقِ الْهَدْىَ وَجَعَلْتُهَا عُمْرَةً فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ لَيْسَ مَعَهُ هَدْىٌ فَلْيَحْلِلْ وَلْيَجْعَلْهَا عُمْرَةً فَحَلَّ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ وَقَصَّرُوا إِلاَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَعَهُ الْهَدْىُ فَقَامَ سُرَاقَةُ بْنُ مَالِكِ بْنِ جُعْشُمٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلِعَامِنَا هَذَا أَمْ لأَبَدِ الأَبَدِ قَالَ فَشَبَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَصَابِعَهُ فِي الأُخْرَى وَقَالَ دَخَلَتِ الْعُمْرَةُ فِي الْحَجِّ هَكَذَا مَرَّتَيْنِ لاَ بَلْ لأَبَدِ الأَبَدِ قَالَ وَقَدِمَ عَلِيٌّ بِبُدْنٍ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَوَجَدَ فَاطِمَةَ مِمَّنْ حَلَّ وَلَبِسَتْ ثِيابًا صَبِيغًا وَاكْتَحَلَتْ فَأَنْكَرَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهَا عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَتْ أَمَرَنِي أَبِي بِهَذَا فَكَانَ عَلِيٌّ يَقُولُ بِالْعِرَاقِ فَذَهَبْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مُحَرِّشًا عَلَى فَاطِمَةَ فِي الَّذِي صَنَعَتْهُ مُسْتَفْتِيًا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الَّذِي ذَكَرَتْ عَنْهُ وَأَنْكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَ صَدَقَتْ صَدَقَتْ مَاذَا قُلْتَ حِينَ فَرَضْتَ الْحَجَّ قَالَ قُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُهِلُّ بِمَا أَهَلَّ بِهِ رَسُولُكَ ﷺ قَالَ فَإِنَّ مَعِيَ الْهَدْىَ فَلاَ تَحِلُّ قَالَ فَكَانَ جَمَاعَةُ الْهَدْىِ الَّذِي جَاءَ بِهِ عَلِيٌّ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ وَالَّذِي أَتَى بِهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ مِائَةً ثُمَّ حَلَّ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ وَقَصَّرُوا إِلاَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَعَهُ هَدْىٌ فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ التَّرْوِيَةِ وَتَوَجَّهُوا إِلَى مِنًى أَهَلُّوا بِالْحَجِّ فَرَكِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى بِمِنًى الظُّهْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالْمَغْرِبَ وَالْعِشَاءَ وَالصُّبْحَ ثُمَّ مَكَثَ قَلِيلاً حَتَّى طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَأَمَرَ بِقُبَّةٍ مِنْ شَعَرٍ فَضُرِبَتْ لَهُ بِنَمِرَةَ فَسَارَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تَشُكُّ قُرَيْشٌ إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ وَاقِفٌ عِنْدَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ أَوِ الْمُزْدَلِفَةِ كَمَا كَانَتْ قُرَيْشٌ تَصْنَعُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَأَجَازَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى أَتَى عَرَفَةَ فَوَجَدَ الْقُبَّةَ قَدْ ضُرِبَتْ لَهُ بِنَمِرَةَ فَنَزَلَ بِهَا حَتَّى إِذَا زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ أَمَرَ بِالْقَصْوَاءِ فَرُحِلَتْ لَهُ فَرَكِبَ حَتَّى أَتَى بَطْنَ الْوَادِي فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَأَمْوَالَكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ حَرَامٌ كَحُرْمَةِ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا فِي شَهْرِكُمْ هَذَا فِي بَلَدِكُمْ هَذَا أَلاَ وَإِنَّ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ مَوْضُوعٌ تَحْتَ قَدَمَىَّ هَاتَيْنِ وَدِمَاءُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ مَوْضُوعَةٌ وَأَوَّلُ دَمٍ أَضَعُهُ دَمُ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ كَانَ مُسْتَرْضِعًا فِي بَنِي سَعْدٍ فَقَتَلَتْهُ هُذَيْلٌ وَرِبَا الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ مَوْضُوعٌ وَأَوَّلُ رِبًا أَضَعُهُ رِبَانَا رِبَا الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَإِنَّهُ مَوْضُوعٌ كُلُّهُ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ فِي النِّسَاءِ فَإِنَّكُمْ أَخَذْتُمُوهُنَّ بِأَمَانَةِ اللَّهِ وَاسْتَحْلَلْتُمْ فُرُوجَهُنَّ بِكَلِمَةِ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ أَنْ لاَ يُوطِئْنَ فُرُشَكُمْ أَحَدًا تَكْرَهُونَهُ فَإِنْ فَعَلْنَ ذَلِكَ فَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ضَرْبًا غَيْرَ مُبَرِّحٍ وَلَهُنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَقَدْ تَرَكْتُ فِيكُمْ مَا لَمْ تَضِلُّوا إِنِ اعْتَصَمْتُمْ بِهِ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَنْتُمْ مَسْئُولُونَ عَنِّي فَمَا أَنْتُمْ قَائِلُونَ قَالُوا نَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ بَلَّغْتَ وَأَدَّيْتَ وَنَصَحْتَ فَقَالَ بِإِصْبَعِهِ السَّبَّابَةِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَيَنْكُبُهَا إِلَى النَّاسِ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدِ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدْ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ بِلاَلٌ ثُمَّ أَقَامَ فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ ثُمَّ أَقَامَ فَصَلَّى الْعَصْرَ وَلَمْ يُصَلِّ بَيْنَهُمَا شَيْئًا ثُمَّ رَكِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَوْقِفَ فَجَعَلَ بَطْنَ نَاقَتِهِ إِلَى الصَّخَرَاتِ وَجَعَلَ حَبْلَ الْمُشَاةِ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ وَاقِفًا حَتَّى غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَذَهَبَتِ الصُّفْرَةُ قَلِيلاً حَتَّى غَابَ الْقُرْصُ وَأَرْدَفَ أُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ خَلْفَهُ فَدَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَدْ شَنَقَ الْقَصْوَاءَ بِالزِّمَامِ حَتَّى إِنَّ رَأْسَهَا لَيُصِيبُ مَوْرِكَ رَحْلِهِ وَيَقُولُ بِيَدِهِ الْيُمْنَى أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ السَّكِينَةَ السَّكِينَةَ كُلَّمَا أَتَى حَبْلاً مِنَ الْحِبَالِ أَرْخَى لَهَا قَلِيلاً حَتَّى تَصْعَدَ ثُمَّ أَتَى الْمُزْدَلِفَةَ فَصَلَّى بِهَا الْمَغْرِبَ وَالْعِشَاءَ بِأَذَانٍ وَاحِدٍ وَإِقَامَتَيْنِ وَلَمْ يُصَلِّ بَيْنَهُمَا شَيْئًا ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ فَصَلَّى الْفَجْرَ حِينَ تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الصُّبْحُ بِأَذَانٍ وَإِقَامَةٍ ثُمَّ رَكِبَ الْقَصْوَاءَ حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَشْعَرَ الْحَرَامَ فَرَقِيَ عَلَيْهِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَكَبَّرَهُ وَهَلَّلَهُ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ وَاقِفًا حَتَّى أَسْفَرَ جِدًّا ثُمَّ دَفَعَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ وَأَرْدَفَ الْفَضْلَ بْنَ الْعَبَّاسِ وَكَانَ رَجُلاً حَسَنَ الشَّعَرِ أَبْيَضَ وَسِيمًا فَلَمَّا دَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَرَّ الظُّعُنُ يَجْرِينَ فَطَفِقَ الْفَضْلُ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِنَّ فَوَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَدَهُ مِنَ الشِّقِّ الآخَرِ فَصَرَفَ الْفَضْلُ وَجْهَهُ مِنَ الشِّقِّ الآخَرِ يَنْظُرُ حَتَّى أَتَى مُحَسِّرًا حَرَّكَ قَلِيلاً ثُمَّ سَلَكَ الطَّرِيقَ الْوُسْطَى الَّتِي تُخْرِجُكَ إِلَى الْجَمْرَةِ الْكُبْرَى حَتَّى أَتَى الْجَمْرَةَ الَّتِي عِنْدَ الشَّجَرَةِ فَرَمَى بِسَبْعِ حَصَيَاتٍ يُكَبِّرُ مَعَ كُلِّ حَصَاةٍ مِنْهَا مِثْلِ حَصَى الْخَذْفِ وَرَمَى مِنْ بَطْنِ الْوَادِي ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى الْمَنْحَرِ فَنَحَرَ ثَلاَثًا وَسِتِّينَ بَدَنَةً بِيَدِهِ وَأَعْطَى عَلِيًّا فَنَحَرَ مَا غَبَرَ وَأَشْرَكَهُ فِي هَدْيِهِ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ مِنْ كُلِّ بَدَنَةٍ بِبَضْعَةٍ فَجُعِلَتْ فِي قِدْرٍ فَطُبِخَتْ فَأَكَلاَ مِنْ لَحْمِهَا وَشَرِبَا مِنْ مَرَقِهَا ثُمَّ أَفَاضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ فَصَلَّى بِمَكَّةَ الظُّهْرَ فَأَتَى بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَهُمْ يَسْقُونَ عَلَى زَمْزَمَ فَقَالَ انْزِعُوا بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ لَوْلاَ أَنْ يَغْلِبَكُمُ النَّاسُ عَلَى سِقَايَتِكُمْ لَنَزَعْتُ مَعَكُمْ فَنَاوَلُوهُ دَلْوًا فَشَرِبَ مِنْهُ

Yahya said from Malik from Yahya ibn Said that Bushayr ibn Yasar informed him that Abdullah ibn Sahl al-Ansari and Muhayyisa ibn Masud went out to Khaybar, and they separated on their various businesses and Abdullah ibn Sahl was killed. Muhayyisa, and his brother Huwayyisa and Abd ar-Rahman ibn Sahl went to the Prophet ﷺ and Abd ar-Rahman began to speak before his brother. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The older first, the older first. Therefore Huwayyisa and then Muhayyisa spoke and mentioned the affair of Abdullah ibn Sahl. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to them, "Do you swear with fifty oaths and claim the blood-money of your companion or the life of the murderer?" They said, "Messenger of Allah, we did not see it and we were not present." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Will you acquit the jews for fifty oaths?' They said, "Messenger of Allah, how can we accept the oaths of a people who are kafirun?" Yahya ibn Said said, "Bushayr ibn Yasar claimed that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ paid the blood-money from his own property." Malik said, "The generally agreed on way of doing things in our community and that which I heard from whoever I am content with, concerning the oath of qasama, and upon which the past and present imams agree, is that those who claim revenge begin with the oaths and swear. The oath for revenge is only obligatory in two situations. Either the slain person says, 'My blood is against so-and-so,' or the relatives entitled to the blood bring a partial proof of it that is not irrefutable against the one who is the object of the blood-claim. This obliges taking an oath on the part of those who claim the blood against those who are the object of the blood-claim. With us, swearing is only obliged in these two situations." Malik said, "That is the sunna in which there is no dispute with us and which is still the behaviour of the people. The people who claim blood begin the swearings, whether it is an intentional killing or an accident." Malik said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ began with Banu Harith in the case of the killing of their kinsman murdered at Khaybar." Malik said, "If those who make the claim swear, they deserve the blood of their kinsman and whoever they swear against is slain. Only one man can be killed in the qasama. Two cannot be killed in it. Fifty men from the blood-relatives must swear fifty oaths. If their number is less or some of them draw back, they can repeat their oaths, unless one of the relatives of the murdered man who deserves blood and who is permitted to pardon it, draws back. If one of these draws back, there is no way to revenge." Yahya said that Malik said, "The oaths can be made by those of them who remain if one of them draws back who is not permitted to pardon. If one of the blood-relatives draws back who is permitted to pardon, even if he is only one, more oaths can not be made after that by the blood- relatives. If that occurs, the oaths can be on behalf of the one against whom the claim is made. So fifty of the men of his people swear fifty oaths. If there are not fifty men, more oaths can be made by those of them who already swore. If there is only the defendant, he swears fifty oaths and is acquitted." Yahya said that Malik said, "One distinguishes between swearing for blood and oaths for one's rights. When a man has a money-claim against another man, he seeks to verify his due. When a man wants to kill another man, he does not kill him in the midst of people. He keeps to a place away from people. Had there only been swearing in cases where there is a clear proof and had one acted in it as one acts about one's rights (i.e. needing witnesses), the right of blood retribution would have been lost and people would have been swift to take advantage of it when they learned of the decision on it. However, the relatives of the murdered man were allowed to initiate swearing so that people might restrain themselves from blood and the murderer might beware lest he was put into a situation like that (i.e. qasama) by the statement of the murdered man.' " Yahya said, "Malik said about a people of whom a certain number are suspected of murder and the relatives of the murdered man ask them to take oaths and they are numerous, so they ask that each man swears fifty oaths on his own behalf. The oaths are not divided out between them according to their number and they are not acquitted unless each man among them swears fifty oaths on his own behalf." Malik said, "This is the best I have heard about the matter." He said, "Swearing goes to the paternal relatives of the slain. They are the blood-relatives who swear against the killer and by whose swearing he is killed."

أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ سَهْلٍ الأَنْصَارِيَّ وَمُحَيِّصَةَ بْنَ مَسْعُودٍ خَرَجَا إِلَى خَيْبَرَ فَتَفَرَّقَا فِي حَوَائِجِهِمَا فَقُتِلَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَهْلٍ فَقَدِمَ مُحَيِّصَةُ فَأَتَى هُوَ وَأَخُوهُ حُوَيِّصَةُ وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ سَهْلٍ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَذَهَبَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ لِيَتَكَلَّمَ لِمَكَانِهِ مِنْ أَخِيهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَبِّرْ كَبِّرْ فَتَكَلَّمَ حُوَيِّصَةُ وَمُحَيِّصَةُ فَذَكَرَا شَأْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَتَحْلِفُونَ خَمْسِينَ يَمِينًا وَتَسْتَحِقُّونَ دَمَ صَاحِبِكُمْ أَوْ قَاتِلِكُمْ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَمْ نَشْهَدْ وَلَمْ نَحْضُرْ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَتُبْرِئُكُمْ يَهُودُ بِخَمْسِينَ يَمِينًا فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ نَقْبَلُ أَيْمَانَ قَوْمٍ كُفَّارٍ قَالَ يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ فَزَعَمَ بُشَيْرُ بْنُ يَسَارٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَدَاهُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ قَالَ مَالِكٌ الأَمْرُ الْمُجْتَمَعُ عَلَيْهِ عِنْدَنَا وَالَّذِي سَمِعْتُ مِمَّنْ أَرْضَى فِي الْقَسَامَةِ وَالَّذِي اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الأَئِمَّةُ فِي الْقَدِيمِ وَالْحَدِيثِ أَنْ يَبْدَأَ بِالأَيْمَانِ الْمُدَّعُونَ فِي الْقَسَامَةِ فَيَحْلِفُونَ وَأَنَّ الْقَسَامَةَ لاَ تَجِبُ إِلاَّ بِأَحَدِ أَمْرَيْنِ إِمَّا أَنْ يَقُولَ الْمَقْتُولُ دَمِي عِنْدَ فُلاَنٍ أَوْ يَأْتِيَ وُلاَةُ الدَّمِ بِلَوْثٍ مِنْ بَيِّنَةٍ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ قَاطِعَةً عَلَى الَّذِي يُدَّعَى عَلَيْهِ الدَّمُ فَهَذَا يُوجِبُ الْقَسَامَةَ لِلْمُدَّعِينَ الدَّمَ عَلَى مَنِ ادَّعَوْهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلاَ تَجِبُ الْقَسَامَةُ عِنْدَنَا إِلاَّ بِأَحَدِ هَذَيْنِ الْوَجْهَيْنِ قَالَ مَالِكٌ وَتِلْكَ السُّنَّةُ الَّتِي لاَ اخْتِلاَفَ فِيهَا عِنْدَنَا وَالَّذِي لَمْ يَزَلْ عَلَيْهِ عَمَلُ النَّاسِ أَنَّ الْمُبَدَّئِينَ بِالْقَسَامَةِ أَهْلُ الدَّمِ وَالَّذِينَ يَدَّعُونَهُ فِي الْعَمْدِ وَالْخَطَإِ قَالَ مَالِكٌ وَقَدْ بَدَّأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْحَارِثِيِّينَ فِي قَتْلِ صَاحِبِهِمُ الَّذِي قُتِلَ بِخَيْبَرَ قَالَ مَالِكٌ فَإِنْ حَلَفَ الْمُدَّعُونَ اسْتَحَقُّوا دَمَ صَاحِبِهِمْ وَقَتَلُوا مَنْ حَلَفُوا عَلَيْهِ وَلاَ يُقْتَلُ فِي الْقَسَامَةِ إِلاَّ وَاحِدٌ لاَ يُقْتَلُ فِيهَا اثْنَانِ يَحْلِفُ مِنْ وُلاَةِ الدَّمِ خَمْسُونَ رَجُلاً خَمْسِينَ يَمِينًا فَإِنْ قَلَّ عَدَدُهُمْ أَوْ نَكَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ رُدَّتِ الأَيْمَانُ عَلَيْهِمْ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَنْكُلَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ وُلاَةِ الْمَقْتُولِ وُلاَةِ الدَّمِ الَّذِينَ يَجُوزُ لَهُمُ الْعَفْوُ عَنْهُ فَإِنْ نَكَلَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أُولَئِكَ فَلاَ سَبِيلَ إِلَى الدَّمِ إِذَا نَكَلَ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ قَالَ يَحْيَى قَالَ مَالِكٌ وَإِنَّمَا تُرَدُّ الأَيْمَانُ عَلَى مَنْ بَقِيَ مِنْهُمْ إِذَا نَكَلَ أَحَدٌ مِمَّنْ لاَ يَجُوزُ لَهُ عَفْوٌ فَإِنْ نَكَلَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ وُلاَةِ الدَّمِ الَّذِينَ يَجُوزُ لَهُمُ الْعَفْوُ عَنِ الدَّمِ وَإِنْ كَانَ وَاحِدًا فَإِنَّ الأَيْمَانَ لاَ تُرَدُّ عَلَى مَنْ بَقِيَ مِنْ وُلاَةِ الدَّمِ إِذَا نَكَلَ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ عَنِ الأَيْمَانِ وَلَكِنِ الأَيْمَانُ إِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ تُرَدُّ عَلَى الْمُدَّعَى عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَحْلِفُ مِنْهُمْ خَمْسُونَ رَجُلاً خَمْسِينَ يَمِينًا فَإِنْ لَمْ يَبْلُغُوا خَمْسِينَ رَجُلاً رُدَّتِ الأَيْمَانُ عَلَى مَنْ حَلَفَ مِنْهُمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ يُوجَدْ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ الَّذِي ادُّعِيَ عَلَيْهِ حَلَفَ هُوَ خَمْسِينَ يَمِينًا وَبَرِئَ قَالَ يَحْيَى قَالَ مَالِكٌ وَإِنَّمَا فُرِقَ بَيْنَ الْقَسَامَةِ فِي الدَّمِ وَالأَيْمَانِ فِي الْحُقُوقِ أَنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا دَايَنَ الرَّجُلَ اسْتَثْبَتَ عَلَيْهِ فِي حَقِّهِ وَأَنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا أَرَادَ قَتْلَ الرَّجُلِ لَمْ يَقْتُلْهُ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَإِنَّمَا يَلْتَمِسُ الْخَلْوَةَ قَالَ فَلَوْ لَمْ تَكُنِ الْقَسَامَةُ إِلاَّ فِيمَا تَثْبُتُ فِيهِ الْبَيِّنَةُ وَلَوْ عُمِلَ فِيهَا كَمَا يُعْمَلُ فِي الْحُقُوقِ هَلَكَتِ الدِّمَاءُ وَاجْتَرَأَ النَّاسُ عَلَيْهَا إِذَا عَرَفُوا الْقَضَاءَ فِيهَا وَلَكِنْ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَتِ الْقَسَامَةُ إِلَى وُلاَةِ الْمَقْتُولِ يُبَدَّءُونَ بِهَا فِيهَا لِيَكُفَّ النَّاسُ عَنِ الدَّمِ وَلِيَحْذَرَ الْقَاتِلُ أَنْ يُؤْخَذَ فِي مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ بِقَوْلِ الْمَقْتُولِ قَالَ يَحْيَى وَقَدْ قَالَ مَالِكٌ فِي الْقَوْمِ يَكُونُ لَهُمُ الْعَدُوُّ يُتَّهَمُونَ بِالدَّمِ فَيَرُدُّ وُلاَةُ الْمَقْتُولِ الأَيْمَانَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَهُمْ نَفَرٌ لَهُمْ عَدَدٌ أَنَّهُ يَحْلِفُ كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ خَمْسِينَ يَمِينًا وَلاَ تُقْطَعُ الأَيْمَانُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِقَدْرِ عَدَدِهِمْ وَلاَ يَبْرَءُونَ دُونَ أَنْ يَحْلِفَ كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ خَمْسِينَ يَمِينًا قَالَ مَالِكٌ وَهَذَا أَحْسَنُ مَا سَمِعْتُ فِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ وَالْقَسَامَةُ تَصِيرُ إِلَى عَصَبَةِ الْمَقْتُولِ وَهُمْ وُلاَةُ الدَّمِ الَّذِينَ يَقْسِمُونَ عَلَيْهِ وَالَّذِينَ يُقْتَلُ بِقَسَامَتِهِمْ

[Machine] When we settled in the land of Abyssinia, we lived beside the best neighbor — the Negus. We were safe regarding our religion, we worshipped Allah without harm, and we did not hear anything that we disliked. But when Quraysh learned of this, they conspired to send to the Negus two strong men and to present gifts to him from the fine goods of Makkah. Of all that was most admired in Makkah’s trade, leather was among the best, so they gathered much leather for him, and they did not leave any of his bishops without sending him a gift. Then they sent all this with Abdullah ibn Abi Rabi‘a ibn al-Mughirah al-Makhzumi and Amr ibn al-‘As ibn Wa’il al-Sahmi, instructing them and saying, “Give each bishop his gift before you speak to the Negus about them, then present the Negus with his gifts, and then ask him to hand them (the Muslims) over to you before he speaks with them.”
She said: So the two of them set out and came to the Negus while we were living in the best of homes and beside the best of neighbors. They gave every bishop his gift before speaking to the Negus. Then they said to each bishop, “Some foolish youths from among us have fled to the land of the king. They have abandoned the religion of their people, but they have not entered your religion either. Instead, they brought an innovated religion unknown to us and unknown to you. The nobles of their people have sent us to the king concerning them, so that he might return them. When we speak to the king about them, advise him to hand them over to us without speaking to them. For their people know them best, and are most aware of what they have blamed them for.” They replied, “Yes.”
Then they presented the Negus with his gifts, and he accepted them. They spoke to him, saying, “O King, some foolish youths from among us have fled to your land. They have abandoned the religion of their people but have not entered into your religion. They have brought an innovated religion unknown to us and to you. The nobles of their people — their fathers, uncles, and clans — have sent us to you to return them. They know them best and are most aware of what they have criticized them for.”
She said: Nothing was more hateful to Abdullah ibn Abi Rabi‘a and Amr ibn al-‘As than that the Negus should hear their (the Muslims’) words. So the bishops around him said, “They have spoken the truth, O King. Their people know them best and are most aware of what they have criticized them for. Hand them over to these two so that they may return them to their land and their people.”
She said: Then the Negus became angry and said, “No, by Allah! I will not hand them over to the two, nor will I plot against a people who have sought my protection, settled in my land, and chosen me over others — until I summon them and ask them what these two say about them. If it is as they claim, I will hand them over to them and return them to their people. But if it is otherwise, I will protect them and be a good neighbor to them so long as they remain with me.” Then he sent for the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and summoned them.
When his messenger came to them, they gathered together and said to one another, “What will you say to the king when you go to him?” They replied, “By Allah, we will say only what we know and what our Prophet ﷺ has taught and commanded us, no matter what comes of it.”
When they came to him, the Negus had gathered his bishops, who spread their scriptures around him. He asked them, “What is this religion for which you have separated from your people, yet you have not entered into my religion nor the religion of any other nations?”
She said: It was Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib who spoke to him and said, “O King, we were a people of ignorance. We worshipped idols, ate carrion, committed vile acts, severed family ties, mistreated our neighbors, and the strong among us consumed the weak. We remained in that state until Allah sent to us a Messenger from among ourselves, whose lineage, truthfulness, trustworthiness, and chastity we knew well. He called us to Allah, that we might worship Him alone and abandon what we and our fathers had worshipped besides Him of stones and idols. He commanded us to speak the truth, fulfill trusts, maintain family ties, show good treatment to neighbors, and refrain from the unlawful and from bloodshed. He forbade us from immorality, false speech, consuming the wealth of orphans, and slandering chaste women. He commanded us to worship Allah alone, associating nothing with Him, and he commanded us to pray, give zakah, and fast.”
He said: “So he listed for him the matters of Islam. We believed him, trusted him, and followed him in what he brought. We worshipped Allah alone without associating anything with Him. We declared unlawful what he forbade us and lawful what he permitted us. Then our people rose against us, tortured us, and sought to turn us away from our religion to return us to idol worship and to permit for us the abominations we had once permitted. When they oppressed us, wronged us, and restricted us, coming between us and our religion, we fled to your land. We chose you above all others, desiring your protection and hoping we would not be wronged in your presence, O King.”
The Negus said to Ja‘far: “Do you have anything with you of what has come from Allah?”
Ja‘far replied: “Yes.”
The Negus said: “Then recite it to me.”
So Ja‘far recited to him from the opening verses of Kāf Hā Yā ‘Ayn Sād (Surat Maryam 19). By Allah, the Negus wept until his beard was wet, and his bishops wept until their scriptures were soaked by their tears, when they heard what was recited to them. Then the Negus said: “Indeed, this and what came with Moses both come from the same lamp. Go, for by Allah I will never hand them over to you, nor will I conspire against them.”
Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) said: When they left his presence, Amr ibn al-‘As said: “By Allah, tomorrow I will tell him something about them that will uproot them completely.” Abdullah ibn Abi Rabi‘a, who was the more God-fearing of the two men, said to him: “Do not do it, for they have kinship with us, even if they opposed us.” But Amr said: “By Allah, I will inform him that they claim that Jesus the son of Mary is only a servant.”
The next day, Amr came before the Negus and said: “O King, they say a grave thing about Jesus the son of Mary. Send for them and ask them what they say concerning him.”
So he sent for them to question them about it. Umm Salama said: Nothing ever descended upon us that was heavier than this. The companions gathered and said to each other: “What will you say about Jesus when he asks you?” They said: “By Allah, we will say about him only what Allah has said and what our Prophet ﷺ brought to us, whatever may come of it.”
When they entered upon the Negus, he asked: “What do you say about Jesus the son of Mary?”
Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib replied: “We say about him what our Prophet ﷺ has brought: He is the servant of Allah, His messenger, His spirit, and His word which He cast into Mary, the pure virgin.”
The Negus struck his hand upon the ground, picked up a stick, and said: “By Allah, Jesus the son of Mary is no more than what you have said, not even as much as this stick.”
The bishops around him sniffed and grumbled at his words, but he said: “Even if you grumble! By Allah, go — for you are safe in my land. Whoever insults you will pay the penalty. I would not wish to have a mountain of gold in exchange for harming a single one of you. Return to them their gifts, for we have no need of them. By Allah, Allah did not take a bribe from me when He restored my kingdom to me, so shall I take a bribe in this matter? Nor did the people obey me against His will, so shall I obey them against His will?”
So the two men went out from him disgraced, with all they had brought rejected. And we remained with the Negus in the best home, with the best neighbor.
By Allah, while we were in that state, one came to challenge him for his throne. By Allah, we had never known a sorrow greater than the sorrow we felt then, fearing that another ruler might succeed him who would not know our right as the Negus knew it.
The Negus set out with his forces, and between us and them was the width of the Nile. The companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Who will go and attend the battle of the people, and bring us back news?”
Al-Zubair ibn al-‘Awwam said: “I will.” He was the youngest among us. So they blew up a waterskin for him, which he placed on his chest, then he swam across on it until he reached the side of the Nile where the armies met. He went on until he attended the battle.
Meanwhile, we prayed to Allah for the victory of the Negus over his enemy and for his authority to be established in his land. Allah gave him victory, his affairs were secured over Abyssinia, and we remained with him in the best condition until we eventually came back to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was in Makkah.

لَمَّا نَزَلْنَا أَرْضَ الْحَبَشَةِ جَاوَرْنَا بِهَا خَيْرَ جَارٍ النَّجَاشِيَّ أَمِنَّا عَلَى دِينِنَا وَعَبَدْنَا اللهَ لَا نُؤْذَى وَلا نَسْمَعُ شَيْئًا نَكْرَهُهُ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ ذَلِكَ قُرَيْشًا ائْتَمَرُوا أَنْ يَبْعَثُوا إِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ فِينَا رَجُلَيْنِ جَلْدَيْنِ وَأَنْ يُهْدُوا لِلنَّجَاشِيِّ هَدَايَا مِمَّا يُسْتَطْرَفُ مِنْ مَتَاعِ مَكَّةَ وَكَانَ مِنْ أَعْجَبِ مَا يَأْتِيهِ مِنْهَا إِلَيْهِ الْأَدَمُ فَجَمَعُوا لَهُ أَدَمًا كَثِيرًا وَلَمْ يَتْرُكُوا مِنْ بَطَارِقَتِهِ بِطْرِيقًا إِلا أَهْدَوْا لَهُ هَدِيَّةً ثُمَّ بَعَثُوا بِذَلِكَ مَعَ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ الْمَخْزُومِيِّ وعَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ بْنِ وَائِلٍ السَّهْمِيِّ وَأَمَرُوهُمَا أَمْرَهُمْ وَقَالُوا لَهُمَا ادْفَعُوا إِلَى كُلِّ بِطْرِيقٍ هَدِيَّتَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُكَلِّمُوا النَّجَاشِيَّ فِيهِمْ ثُمَّ قَدِّمُوا لِلنَّجَاشِيِّ هَدَايَاهُ ثُمَّ سَلُوهُ أَنْ يُسْلِمَهُمِ إلَيْكُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَلِّمَهُمْ
قَالَتْ فَخَرَجَا فَقَدِمَا عَلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ وَنَحْنُ عِنْدَهُ بِخَيْرِ دَارٍ وَعِنْدَ خَيْرِ جَارٍ فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْ بَطَارِقَتِهِ بِطْرِيقٌ إِلا دَفَعَا إِلَيْهِ هَدِيَّتَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَلِّمَا النَّجَاشِيَّ ثُمَّ قَالا لِكُلِّ بِطْرِيقٍ مِنْهُمْ إِنَّهُ قَدْ صَبَا إِلَى بَلَدِ الْمَلِكِ مِنَّا غِلْمَانٌ سُفَهَاءُ فَارَقُوا دِينَ قَوْمِهِمْ وَلَمْ يَدْخُلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ وَجَاءُوا بِدِينٍ مُبْتَدَعٍ لَا نَعْرِفُهُ نَحْنُ وَلا أَنْتُمْ وَقَدْ بَعَثَنَا إِلَى الْمَلِكِ فِيهِمِ أشْرَافُ قَوْمِهِمْ لِنَرُدَّهُمِ إلَيْهِمْ فَإِذَا كَلَّمْنَا الْمَلِكَ فِيهِمْ فَتُشِيرُوا عَلَيْهِ بِأَنْ يُسْلِمَهُمِ إلَيْنَا وَلا يُكَلِّمَهُمْ فَإِنَّ قَوْمَهُمْ أَعَلَى بِهِمْ عَيْنًا وَأَعْلَمُ بِمَا عَابُوا عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالُوا لَهُمَا نَعَمْ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمَا قَرَّبَا هَدَايَاهُمِ إلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ فَقَبِلَهَا مِنْهُمَا ثُمَّ كَلَّمَاهُ فَقَالا لَهُ أَيُّهَا الْمَلِكُ إِنَّهُ قَدْ صَبَا إِلَى بَلَدِكَ مِنَّا غِلْمَانٌ سُفَهَاءُ فَارَقُوا دِينَ قَوْمِهِمْ وَلَمْ يَدْخُلُوا فِي دِينِكَ وَجَاءُوا بِدِينٍ مُبْتَدَعٍ لَا نَعْرِفُهُ نَحْنُ وَلا أَنْتَ وَقَدْ بَعَثَنَا إِلَيْكَ فِيهِمِ أشْرَافُ قَوْمِهِمْ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَعْمَامِهِمْ وَعَشَائِرِهِمْ لِتَرُدَّهُمِ إلَيْهِمْ فَهُمْ أَعَلَى بِهِمْ عَيْنًا وَأَعْلَمُ بِمَا عَابُوا عَلَيْهِمْ وَعَاتَبُوهُمْ فِيهِ
قَالَتْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْءٌ أَبْغَضَ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبِيعَةَ وَعَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ مِنْ أَنْ يَسْمَعَ النَّجَاشِيُّ كَلامَهُمْ فَقَالَتْ بَطَارِقَتُهُ حَوْلَهُ صَدَقُوا أَيُّهَا الْمَلِكُ قَوْمُهُمْ أَعَلَى بِهِمْ عَيْنًا وَأَعْلَمُ بِمَا عَابُوا عَلَيْهِمْ فَأَسْلِمْهُمِ إلَيْهِمَا فَلْيَرُدَّاهُمِ إلَى بِلادِهِمْ وَقَوْمِهِمْ قَالَت فَغَضِبَ النَّجَاشِيُّ ثُمَّ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ النَّجَاشِيُّ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَا هَيْمُ اللهِ إِذَاً لَا أُسْلِمُهُمْ إِلَيْهِمَا وَلا أُكَادُ قَوْمًاجَاوَرُونِي وَنَزَلُوا بِلادِي وَاخْتَارُونِي عَلَى مَنْ سِوَايَ حَتَّى أَدْعُوَهُمْ فَأَسْأَلَهُمْ مَاذَا يَقُولُ هَذَانِ فِي أَمْرِهِمْ فَإِنْ كَانُوا كَمَا يَقُولانِ أَسْلَمْتُهُمِ الَيْهِمَا وَرَدَدْتُهُمِ الَى قَوْمِهِمْ وَإِنْ كَانُوا عَلَى غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ مَنَعْتُهُمْ مِنْهُمَا وَأَحْسَنْتُ جِوَارَهُمْ مَا جَاوَرُونِي قَالَتْ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ إِلَى أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَدَعَاهُمْ
فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولُهُ اجْتَمَعُوا ثُمَّ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ مَا تَقُولُونَ لِلرَّجُلِ إِذَا جِئْتُمُوهُ؟ قَالُوا نَقُولُ وَاللهِ مَا عَلَّمَنَا وَمَا أَمَرَنَا بِهِ نَبِيُّنَا ﷺ كَائِنٌ فِي ذَلِكَ مَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ فَلَمَّا جَاءُوهُ وَقَدْ دَعَا النَّجَاشِيُّ أَسَاقِفَتَهُ فَنَشَرُوا مَصَاحِفَهُمْ حَوْلَهُ سَأَلَهُمْ فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا الدِّينُ الَّذِي فَارَقْتُمْ فِيهِ قَوْمَكُمْ وَلَمْ تَدْخُلُوا فِي دِينِي وَلا فِي دِينِ أَحَدٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَمِ؟
قَالَتْ فَكَانَ الَّذِي كَلَّمَهُ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَيُّهَا الْمَلِكُ كُنَّا قَوْمًا أَهْلَ جَاهِلِيَّةٍ نَعْبُدُ الْأَصْنَامَ وَنَأْكُلُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَنَأْتِي الْفَوَاحِشَ وَنَقْطَعُ الْأَرْحَامَ وَنُسِيءُ الْجِوَارَ يَأْكُلُ الْقَوِيُّ مِنَّا الضَّعِيفَ فَكُنَّا عَلَى ذَلِكَ حَتَّى بَعَثَ اللهُ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولًا مِنَّا نَعْرِفُ نَسَبَهُ وَصِدْقَهُ وَأَمَانَتَهُ وَعَفَافَهُ فَدَعَانَا إِلَى اللهِ لِنُوَحِّدَهُ وَنَعْبُدَهُ وَنَخْلَعَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْبُدُ نَحْنُ وَآبَاؤُنَا مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنَ الحِجَارَةِ وَالْأَوْثَانِ وَأَمَرَنَا بِصِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ وَأَدَاءِ الْأَمَانَةِ وَصِلَةِ الرَّحِمِ وَحُسْنِ الْجِوَارِ وَالْكَفِّ عَنِ الْمَحَارِمِ وَالدِّمَاءِ وَنَهَانَا عَنِ الْفَوَاحِشِ وَقَوْلِ الزُّورِ وَأَكْلِ مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ وَقَذْفِ الْمُحْصَنَةِ وَأَمَرَنَا أَنْ نَعْبُدَ اللهَ وَحْدَهُ لَا نُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَأَمَرَنَا بِالصَّلاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ وَالصِّيَامِ قَالَ فَعَدَّدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمُورَ الْإِسْلامِ فَصَدَّقْنَاهُ وَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَاتَّبَعْنَاهُ عَلَى مَا جَاءَ بِهِ فَعَبَدْنَا اللهَ وَحْدَهُ فَلَمْ نُشْرِكْ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَحَرَّمْنَا مَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْنَا وَأَحْلَلْنَا مَا أَحَلَّ لَنَا فَعَدَا عَلَيْنَا قَوْمُنَا فَعَذَّبُونَا وَفَتَنُونَا عَنْ دِينِنَا لِيَرُدُّونَا إِلَى عِبَادَةِ الْأَوْثَانِ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ اللهِ وَأَنْ نَسْتَحِلَّ مَا كُنَّا نَسْتَحِلُّ مِنَ الخَبَائِثِ فَلَمَّا قَهَرُونَا وَظَلَمُونَا وَشَقُّوا عَلَيْنَا وَحَالُوا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ دِينِنَا خَرَجْنَا إِلَى بَلَدِكَ وَاخْتَرْنَاكَ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاكَ وَرَغِبْنَا فِي جِوَارِكَ وَرَجَوْنَا أَنْ لَا نُظْلَمَ عِنْدَكَ أَيُّهَا الْمَلِكُ
قَالَتْ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّجَاشِيُّ هَلْ مَعَكَ مِمَّا جَاءَ بِهِ عَنِ اللهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ؟ قَالَتْ فَقَالَ لَهُ جَعْفَرٌ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّجَاشِيُّ فَاقْرَأْهُ عَلَيَّ فَقَرَأَ عَلَيْهِصَدْرًا مِنْ (كهيعص) قَالَتْ فَبَكَى وَاللهِ النَّجَاشِيُّ حَتَّى أَخْضَلَ لِحْيَتَهُ وَبَكَتْ أَسَاقِفَتُهُ حَتَّى أَخْضَلُوا مَصَاحِفَهُمْ حِينَ سَمِعُوا مَا تَلا عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّجَاشِيُّ إِنَّ هَذَا وَالَّذِي جَاءَ بِهِ مُوسَى لَيَخْرُجُ مِنْ مِشْكَاةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ انْطَلِقَا فَوَاللهِ لَا أُسْلِمُهُمِ الَيْكُمِ ابَدًا وَلا أُكَادُ
قَالَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ فَلَمَّا خَرَجَا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ قَالَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ وَاللهِ لانَبِّئَنَّهُمْ غَدًا عَيْبَهُمْ عِنْدَهُمْ ثُمَّ أَسْتَأْصِلُ بِهِ خَضْرَاءَهُمْ قَالَتْ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ أَبِي رَبِيعَةَ وَكَانَ أَتْقَى الرَّجُلَيْنِ فِينَا لَا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّ لَهُمِ ارْحَامًا وَإِنْ كَانُوا قَدْ خَالَفُونَا قَالَ وَاللهِ لاخْبِرَنَّهُ أَنَّهُمْ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ عَبْدٌ قَالَتْ ثُمَّ غَدَا عَلَيْهِ الْغَدَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَيُّهَا الْمَلِكُ إِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ فِي عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ قَوْلًا عَظِيمًا فَأَرْسِلِ الَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلْهُمْ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ فِيهِ قَالَتْ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمْ يَسْأَلُهُمْ عَنْهُ قَالَتْ وَلَمْ يَنْزِلْ بِنَا مِثْلُهُ فَاجْتَمَعَ الْقَوْمُ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ مَاذَا تَقُولُونَ فِي عِيسَى إِذَا سَأَلَكُمْ عَنْهُ؟ قَالُوا نَقُولُ وَاللهِ فِيهِ مَا قَالَ اللهُ وَمَا جَاءَ بِهِ نَبِيُّنَا كَائِنًا فِي ذَلِكَ مَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ قَالَ لَهُمْ مَا تَقُولُونَ فِي عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ؟ فَقَالَ لَهُ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ نَقُولُ فِيهِ الَّذِي جَاءَ بِهِ نَبِيُّنَا هُوَ عَبْدُ اللهِ وَرَسُولُهُ وَرُوحُهُ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ الْعَذْرَاءِ الْبَتُولِ
قَالَتْ فَضَرَبَ النَّجَاشِيُّ يَدَهُ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَأَخَذَ مِنْهَا عُودًا ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا عَدَا عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ مَا قُلْتَ هَذَا الْعُودَ فَتَنَاخَرَتْ بَطَارِقَتُهُ حَوْلَهُ حِينَ قَالَ مَا قَالَ فَقَالَ وَإِنْ نَخَرْتُمْ وَاللهِ اذْهَبُوا فَأَنْتُمْ سُيُومٌ بِأَرْضِي وَالسُّيُومُ الْآمِنُونَ مَنْسَبَّكُمْ غُرِّمَ ثُمَّ مَنْ سَبَّكُمْ غُرِّمَ فَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ لِي دَبْرًا ذَهَبًا وَأَنِّي آذَيْتُ رَجُلًا مِنْكُمْ وَالدَّبْرُ بِلِسَانِ الْحَبَشَةِ الْجَبَلُ رُدُّوا عَلَيْهِمَا هَدَايَاهُمَا فَلا حَاجَةَ لَنَا بِهَا فَوَاللهِ مَا أَخَذَ اللهُ مِنِّي الرِّشْوَةَ حِينَ رَدَّ عَلَيَّ مُلْكِي فَآخُذَ الرِّشْوَةَ فِيهِ وَمَا أَطَاعَ النَّاسَ فِيَّ فَأُطِيعَهُمْ فِيهِ
قَالَتْ فَخَرَجَا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ مَقْبُوحَيْنِ مَرْدُودًا عَلَيْهِمَا مَا جَاءَا بِهِ وَأَقَمْنَا عِنْدَهُ بِخَيْرِ دَارٍ مَعَ خَيْرِ جَارٍ قَالَتْ فَوَاللهِ إِنَّا عَلَى ذَلِكَ إِذْ نَزَلَ بِهِ يَعْنِي مَنْ يُنَازِعُهُ فِي مُلْكِهِ قَالَ فَوَاللهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا حُزْنًا قَطُّ كَانَ أَشَدَّ مِنْ حُزْنٍ حَزِنَّاهُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ تَخَوُّفًا أَنْ يَظْهَرَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ فَيَأْتِيَ رَجُلٌ لَا يَعْرِفُ مِنْ حَقِّنَا مَا كَانَ النَّجَاشِيُّ يَعْرِفُ مِنْهُ قَالَتْ وَسَارَ النَّجَاشِيُّ وَبَيْنَهُمَا عُرْضُ النِّيلِ قَالَتْ فَقَالَ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ مَنْ رَجُلٌ يَخْرُجُ حَتَّى يَحْضُرَ وَقْعَةَ الْقَوْمِ ثُمَّ يَأْتِيَنَا بِالْخَبَرِ؟ قَالَتْ فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ بْنُ الْعَوَّامِ أَنَا قَالَتْ وَكَانَ مِنْ أَحْدَثِ الْقَوْمِ سِنًّا قَالَتْ فَنَفَخُوا لَهُ قِرْبَةً فَجَعَلَهَا فِي صَدْرِهِ ثُمَّ سَبَحَ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى خَرَجَ إِلَى نَاحِيَةِ النِّيلِ الَّتِي بِهَا مُلْتَقَى الْقَوْمِ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ حَتَّى حَضَرَهُمْ
قَالَتْ وَدَعَوْنَا اللهَ لِلنَّجَاشِيِّ بِالظُّهُورِ عَلَى عَدُوِّهِ وَالتَّمْكِينِ لَهُ فِي بِلادِهِ وَاسْتَوْسَقَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُ الْحَبَشَةِ فَكُنَّا عِنْدَهُ فِي خَيْرِ مَنْزِلٍ حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ بِمَكَّةَ

I used to recite to ‘AbdurRahman bin ‘Awf, and he found me waiting for him. That was in Mina during the last Hajj performed by ʿUmar bin al-Khattab ؓ Abdur-Rahman bin ʿAwf said: A man came to ʿUmar bin al-Khattab and said: So and so is saying: If ʿUmar ؓ dies, I will swear allegiance to So and so. ʼUmar ؓ said: I will stand before the people today and warn them against these people who want to deprive them of their rights, ʿAbdur-Rahman said: I said: O Ameer al-Muʿmineen, do not do that, for the Hajj season brings together the riffraff and rabble among the people, and most of the people who gather around and listen to you will be of that type. Is you stand before the people, I am afraid that you will say something that they will spread and not understand it properly or interpret it properly. Rather wait until you come to Madinah, for it is the land of Hijrah and the Sunnah, and you will meet the most knowledgeable and noble people there, and you can say what you want to say with confidence; they wilt understand what you say and will interpret it correctly, ʿUmar ؓ said: If I reach Madinah safe and sound, I shall certainly talk to the people there in the first speech I deliver. When we came to Madinah at the end of Dhul-I-Iijah, it was a Friday. I set out early, ‘Umar did not care at what time he went out, because he did not pay attention to heat and cold and so on. I found Saʿeed bin Zaid at the right-hand corner of the minbar, he had got there before me. I sat down next to him, with my knee touching his knee, and it was not long before ʿUmar ؓ came. When I saw him, I said: He will certainly speak today on this minbar and say something that no one ever heard before. Saʿeed bin Zaid objected to that and said: What do you think he will say that no one said before? ʿUmar ؓ sat on the minbar, and when the muʿdhdhin fell silent, he stood up and praised and glorified Allah as He deserves, then he said: To proceed o people, I am going to tell you something that it has been decreed I should say. I do not know, perhaps it may signal my death. So whoever understands it and remembers it, let him narrate it to others wherever his mount takes him; whoever does not understand il, it is not permissible for him to tell lies about me. Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, sent Muhammad ﷺ with the truth and revealed the Book to him; among the things that were revealed to him was the verse of stoning [adulterers). We read it and understood it; the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stoned [adulterers] and we stoned adulterers] after him. But I fear that with the passage of time, some people will say: We do not find the verse of stoning in the Book of Allah, thus they will go astray by forsaking an obligation that Allah revealed. Stoning is the due punishment in the Book of Allah for those who commit zina, both men and women, if they have been married and if proof is established, or there is a pregnancy or a confession, And we used to recite: Do not claim to be the offspring of anyone other than your fathers, as it is disbelief (or ingratitude) on your part to claim to be the offspring of anyone other than your fathers, Verily the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ʿDo not praise me excessively as ʿEesa, the son of Maryam, was praised; rather I am the slave of Allah, so say, the slave of Allah and His Messenger.ʿ I have heard that some among you are saying. If ʿUmar ؓ dies, I shall swear allegiance to So and so. No man should deceive himself by saying that the oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr was given suddenly and it was is successful. There is no doubt that this is the case, but Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, saved the to 2 people from its bad consequences and there is no one among you today who has the qualities of Abu Bakr ؓ What happened to us when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ died was that ‘Ali, az-Zubair and those who were with them stayed behind in the house of Fatimah, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and all the Ansar stayed behind and gathered in Saqeefat Banu Saʿidah, whilst the Muhajireen gathered around Abu Bakr ؓ I said to him; O Abu Bakr, let us go to our brothers, the Ansar. So we set out, looking for them, then we were met by two righteous men who told us what the people had done, and said: where are you going, O Muhajireen? I said: We are looking for these brothers of ours, the Ansar, They said. You should not go near them; do whatever you have already decided, O Muhajireen. I said: By Allah, we will go to them. So we carried on until we came to them in Saqeefat Banu Saʿidah, where we found them gathered and among them was a man wrapped up [in a garment. I said: Who is this? They said: Saʿd bin ʿUbadah. ! said: What is the matter with him? They said: He is sick. After we sat down, their spokesman stood up and praised and glorified Allah, may He glorified and exalted, as He deserves, then he said: To proceed. We are the supporters (Ansar) of Allah and the majority of the Muslim army. You, O Muhajireen, are a small group among us. Some of you came to us, wanting to deny who we are and prevent us from attaining a position of authority. When he fell silent, I wanted to present a speech that I had prepared and that I liked in front of Abu Bakr ؓ I used to avoid provoking him and he was more forbearing and more dignified than me. But Abu Bakr ؓ said: Wait a while. I did not like to make him angry, and he was more knowledgeable and more dignified than me. By Allah, he did not omit any word that I liked in the speech I had prepared but he said something like it or better, speaking spontaneously, until he finished speaking. Then he said: To proceed. Whatever you have mentioned about your achievements and virtues, is correct. The Arabs would not acknowledge the leadership of anyone except someone from this tribe of Quraish, for they are the best of the Arabs in lineage and location. I am pleased to suggest to you one of these two men, whichever of them you want. Then he took hold of my hand and the hand of Abu ʿUbaidah bin al-Jarrah, and I disliked nothing of what he had said apart from this, for by Allah, I would rather have my neck struck for no sin on my part than to become the leader of people among whom was Abu Bakr ؓ unless my own self suggested something at the time of death. One of the Ansar said: I am the post on which the camel with a skin disease scratches itself and I am like a high class palm tree [i.e., a noble]. [I suggest] a ruler from among us and a ruler from among you, O Quraish. - I the narrator said to Malik; What does ‘I am the post on which the cainc! with a skin disease scratches itself and I am like a high class palm treeʿ mean? He said:It is as if he is saying, I am the smart one who has the answer. - Then there was a great deal of clamour and raised voices, to such an extent that I feared there would be a conflict, so I said: Hold out your hand, O Abu Bakr. So he held out his hand and I swore allegiance to him, and the Muhajireen swore allegiance to him, then the Ansar swore allegiance to him. Thus we surrounded Saʿd bin ‘Ubadah. One of them said: You have killed Saʿd i said: May Allah kill Sa’d! And ʿUmar ؓ said: By Allah, we never encountered any problem greater than the swearing of allegiance to Abu Bakr ؓ . We were afraid that if we left the people without having sworn allegiance to anyone, they might swear allegiance after we were gone, so we would either follow in their footsteps and swear allegiance to someone we were not pleased with, or we would disagree with them and that would cause trouble. If anyone swears allegiance to a leader without consulting the Muslims, there is no allegiance for him and no allegiance to the one who swore allegiance to him, lest both of them be killed. Malik said: Ibn Shihab told me, from ʿUrwah bin az-Zubair, that the men whom they met were ʿUwaim bin Saʿidah and Maʿn bin ʿAdiyy. Ibn Shihab said. Saʿeed bin al-Musayyab told me that the one who said, I am the post on which the camel with a skin disease scratches itself and I am like a high class palm tree, was al-lubab bin al-Mundhir.

أَنَّ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ عَوْفٍ رَجَعَ إِلَى رَحْلِهِ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَكُنْتُ أُقْرِئُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ عَوْفٍ فَوَجَدَنِي وَأَنَا أَنْتَظِرُهُ وَذَلِكَ بِمِنًى فِي آخِرِ حَجَّةٍ حَجَّهَا عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُعَوْفٍ إِنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ فُلَانًا يَقُولُ لَوْ قَدْ مَاتَ عُمَرُ بَايَعْتُ فُلَانًا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ إِنِّي قَائِمٌ الْعَشِيَّةَ فِي النَّاسِ فَمُحَذِّرُهُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ الرَّهْطَ الَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَغْصِبُوهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّ الْمَوْسِمَ يَجْمَعُ رَعَاعَ النَّاسِ وَغَوْغَاءَهُمْ وَإِنَّهُمُ الَّذِينَ يَغْلِبُونَ عَلَى مَجْلِسِكَ إِذَا قُمْتَ فِي النَّاسِ فَأَخْشَى أَنْ تَقُولَ مَقَالَةً يَطِيرُ بِهَا أُولَئِكَ فَلَا يَعُوهَا وَلَا يَضَعُوهَا عَلَى مَوَاضِعِهَا وَلَكِنْ حَتَّى تَقْدَمَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَإِنَّهَا دَارُ الْهِجْرَةِ وَالسُّنَّةِ وَتَخْلُصَ بِعُلَمَاءِ النَّاسِ وَأَشْرَافِهِمْ فَتَقُولَ مَا قُلْتَ مُتَمَكِّنًا فَيَعُونَ مَقَالَتَكَ وَيَضَعُونَهَا مَوَاضِعَهَا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ لَئِنْ قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ صَالِحًا لَأُكَلِّمَنَّ بِهَا النَّاسَ فِي أَوَّلِ مَقَامٍ أَقُومُهُفَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ فِي عَقِبِ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ وَكَانَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ عَجَّلْتُ الرَّوَاحَ صَكَّةَ الْأَعْمَى فَقُلْتُ لِمَالِكٍ وَمَا صَكَّةُ الْأَعْمَى؟ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَا يُبَالِي أَيَّ سَاعَةٍ خَرَجَ لَا يَعْرِفُ الْحَرَّ وَالْبَرْدَ وَنَحْوَ هَذَا فَوَجَدْتُ سَعِيدَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ عِنْدَ رُكْنِ الْمِنْبَرِ الْأَيْمَنِ قَدْ سَبَقَنِي فَجَلَسْتُ حِذَاءَهُ تَحُكُّ رُكْبَتِي رُكْبَتَهُ فَلَمْ أَنْشَبْ أَنْ طَلَعَ عُمَرُ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُ قُلْتُ لَيَقُولَنَّ الْعَشِيَّةَ عَلَى هَذَا الْمِنْبَرِ مَقَالَةً مَا قَالَهَا عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ قَبْلَهُ قَالَ فَأَنْكَرَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ مَا عَسَيْتَ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا لَمْ يَقُلْ أَحَدٌ؟فَجَلَسَ عُمَرُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَلَمَّا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ قَامَ فَأَثْنَى عَلَى اللهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ فَإِنِّي قَائِلٌ مَقَالَةً قَدْ قُدِّرَ لِيأَنْ أَقُولَهَا لَا أَدْرِي لَعَلَّهَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ أَجَلِي فَمَنْ وَعَاهَا وَعَقَلَهَا فَلْيُحَدِّثْ بِهَا حَيْثُ انْتَهَتْ بِهِ رَاحِلَتُهُ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَعِهَا فَلَا أُحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَكْذِبَ عَلَيَّ إِنَّ اللهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى بَعَثَ مُحَمَّدًا ﷺ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابَ وَكَانَ مِمَّا أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَةُ الرَّجْمِ فَقَرَأْنَاهَا وَوَعَيْنَاهَا وَرَجَمَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَرَجَمْنَا بَعْدَهُ فَأَخْشَى إِنْ طَالَ بِالنَّاسِ زَمَانٌ أَنْ يَقُولَ قَائِلٌ لَا نَجِدُ آيَةَ الرَّجْمِ فِي كِتَابِ اللهِ ﷻ فَيَضِلُّوا بِتَرْكِ فَرِيضَةٍ قَدْ أَنْزَلَهَا اللهُ ﷻ فَالرَّجْمُ فِي كِتَابِ اللهِ حَقٌّ عَلَى مَنْ زَنَى إِذَا أُحْصِنَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاءِ إِذَا قَامَتِ الْبَيِّنَةُ أَوِ الْحَبَلُ أَوِ الِاعْتِرَافُ أَلَا وَإِنَّا قَدْ كُنَّا نَقْرَأُ لَا تَرْغَبُوا عَنْ آبَائِكُمْ فَإِنَّ كُفْرًا بِكُمْ أَنْ تَرْغَبُوا عَنْ آبَائِكُمْأَلَا وَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ لَا تُطْرُونِي كَمَا أُطْرِيَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ فَقُولُوا عَبْدُ اللهِ وَرَسُولُهُ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ قَائِلًا مِنْكُمْ يَقُولُ لَوْ قَدْ مَاتَ عُمَرُ بَايَعْتُ فُلانًا فَلا يَغْتَرَّنَّ امْرُؤٌ أَنْ يَقُولَ إِنَّ بَيْعَةَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ كَانَتْ فَلْتَةً أَلا وَإِنَّهَا كَانَتْ كَذَلِكَ إلا أَنَّ اللهَ ﷻ وَقَى شَرَّهَا وَلَيْسَ فِيكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مَنْ تُقْطَعُ إِلَيْهِ الْأَعْنَاقُ مِثْلُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ أََلَا وَإِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنْ خَبَرِنَا حِينَ تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنَّ عَلِيًّا وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَعَهُمَا تَخَلَّفُوا فِي بَيْتِ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَتَخَلَّفَتْ عَنَّا الْأَنْصَارُ بِأَجْمَعِهَا فِيسَقِيفَةِ بَنِي سَاعِدَةَ وَاجْتَمَعَ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ انْطَلِقْ بِنَا إِلَى إِخْوَانِنَا مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَانْطَلَقْنَا نَؤُمُّهُمْ حَتَّى لَقِيَنَا رَجُلانِ صَالِحَانِ فَذَكَرَا لَنَا الَّذِي صَنَعَ الْقَوْمُ فَقَالا أَيْنَ تُرِيدُونَ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ؟ فَقُلْتُ نُرِيدُ إِخْوَانَنَا هَؤُلاءِ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَقَالا لَا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ لَا تَقْرَبُوهُمْ وَاقْضُوا أَمْرَكُمْ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ فَقُلْتُ وَاللهِ لَنَأْتِيَنَّهُمْفَانْطَلَقْنَا حَتَّى جِئْنَاهُمْ فِي سَقِيفَةِ بَنِي سَاعِدَةَ فَإِذَا هُمْ مُجْتَمِعُونَ وَإِذَا بَيْنَ ظَهْرَانَيْهِمْ رَجُلٌ مُزَمَّلٌ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا؟ فَقَالُوا سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ فَقُلْتُ مَا لَهُ؟ قَالُوا وَجِعٌ فَلَمَّا جَلَسْنَا قَامَ خَطِيبُهُمْ فَأَثْنَى عَلَى اللهِ ﷻ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ وَقَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَنَحْنُ أَنْصَارُ اللهِ ﷻ وَكَتِيبَةُ الْإِسْلامِ وَأَنْتُمْ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ رَهْطٌ مِنَّا وَقَدْ دَفَّتْ دَافَّةٌ مِنْكُمْ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَخْزِلُونَا مِنْ أَصْلِنَا وَيَحْضُنُونَا مِنَ الْأَمْرِ فَلَمَّا سَكَتَ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ وَكُنْتُ قَدْ زَوَّرْتُ مَقَالَةً أَعْجَبَتْنِي أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَقُولَهَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَقَدْ كُنْتُ أُدَارِي مِنْهُ بَعْضَ الْحَدِّ وَهُوَ كَانَ أَحْلَمَ مِنِّي وَأَوْقَرَ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أُغْضِبَهُ وَكَانَ أَعْلَمَ مِنِّي وَأَوْقَرَ وَاللهِ مَا تَرَكَ مِنْ كَلِمَةٍ أَعْجَبَتْنِي فِي تَزْوِيرِي إِلَّا قَالَهَا فِي بَدِيهَتِهِ وَأَفْضَلَ حَتَّى سَكَتَ فَقَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَمَا ذَكَرْتُمْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَأَنْتُمْ أَهْلُهُ وَلَمْ تَعْرِفِ الْعَرَبُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ إِلَّا لِهَذَا الْحَيِّ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ هُمْ أَوْسَطُ الْعَرَبِ نَسَبًا وَدَارًا وَقَدْ رَضِيتُ لَكُمْ أَحَدَ هَذَيْنِ الرَّجُلَيْنِ أَيَّهُمَا شِئْتُمْ وَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي وَبِيَدِ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ بْنِ الْجَرَّاحِ فَلَمْ أَكْرَهْ مِمَّا قَالَ غَيْرَهَا وَكَانَ وَاللهِ أَنْ أُقَدَّمَفَتُضْرَبَ عُنُقِي لَا يُقَرِّبُنِي ذَلِكَ إِلَى إِثْمٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَتَأَمَّرَ عَلَى قَوْمٍ فِيهِمْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِلَّا أَنْ تَغَيَّرَ نَفْسِي عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ أَنَا جُذَيْلُهَا الْمُحَكَّكُ وَعُذَيْقُهَا الْمُرَجَّبُ مِنَّا أَمِيرٌ وَمِنْكُمْ أَمِيرٌ يَا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ فَقُلْتُ لِمَالِكٍ مَا مَعْنَى أَنَا جُذَيْلُهَا الْمُحَكَّكُ وَعُذَيْقُهَا الْمُرَجَّبُ ؟ قَالَ كَأَنَّهُ يَقُولُ أَنَا دَاهِيَتُهَا قَالَ وَكَثُرَ اللَّغَطُ وَارْتَفَعَتِ الْأَصْوَاتُ حَتَّى خَشِيتُ الِاخْتِلافَ فَقُلْتُ ابْسُطْ يَدَكَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَبَسَطَ يَدَهُ فَبَايَعْتُهُ وَبَايَعَهُ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ ثُمَّ بَايَعَهُ الْأَنْصَارُ وَنَزَوْنَا عَلَى سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ مِنْهُمْ قَتَلْتُمْ سَعْدًا فَقُلْتُ قَتَلَ اللهُ سَعْدًاوَقَالَ عُمَرُ أَمَا وَاللهِ مَا وَجَدْنَا فِيمَا حَضَرْنَا أَمْرًا هُوَ أَقْوَى مِنْ مُبَايَعَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ خَشِينَا إِنْ فَارَقْنَا الْقَوْمَ وَلَمْ تَكُنْ بَيْعَةٌ أَنْ يُحْدِثُوا بَعْدَنَا بَيْعَةً فَإِمَّا أَنْ نُتَابِعَهُمْ عَلَى مَا لَا نَرْضَى وَإِمَّا أَنْ نُخَالِفَهُمْ فَيَكُونَ فِيهِ فَسَادٌ فَمَنْ بَايَعَ أَمِيرًا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَشُورَةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَلا بَيْعَةَ لَهُ وَلا بَيْعَةَ لِلَّذِي بَايَعَهُ تَغِرَّةَ أَنْ يُقْتَلا قَالَ مَالِكٌ وَأَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّ الرَّجُلَيْنِ اللَّذَيْنِ لَقِيَاهُمَا عُوَيْمُ بْنُ سَاعِدَةَ وَمَعْنُ بْنُ عَدِيٍّقَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ وَأَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيِّبِ أَنَّ الَّذِي قَالَ أَنَا جُذَيْلُهَا الْمُحَكَّكُ وَعُذَيْقُهَا الْمُرَجَّبُ الْحُبَابُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ

ʿAbdullah bin Shaddad came and entered upon ʿAʿishah ؓ when we were sitting with her, as he was returning from Iraq during the time when ‘Ali ؓ was murdered. She said to him: O ʿAbdullah bin Shaddad, will you tell me the truth about what I am going to ask you? Tell me about these people whom ‘Ali ؓ killed. He said: Why shouldnʿt I tell you the truth? She said: Tell me about them. He said: When ʿAli ؓ corresponded with Muʿawiyah and the two arbitrators gave their verdict, eight thousand of the pious rebelled against him and camped in a land called Harooraʿ, near Koofah. They criticised him and said: You have taken off a chemise that Allah caused you to wear and a title that Allah gave to you, then you went ahead and asked people to issue a decree concerning the religion of Allah. There is no ruling except the ruling of Allah, may He be exalted. When ʿAli ؓ heard about their criticism of him and the reason why they had split from him, he told his caller not to admit anyone but those who had memorised the Qurʿan. When the house was filled with people who had memorised the Qurʿan, he called for a large Mushaf and put it front of him, and he started tapping it with his hand, saying: O Mushaf, tell the people. The people called out: O Ameer al-Muʿmineen, how could you ask it? It is only ink and paper, but we could speak on the basis of what we understand from it. What do you want? He said: These companions of yours who rebelled, between me and them is the Book of Allah, and Allah says in His Book concerning a woman and a man: ʿIf you fear a breach between them twain (the man and his wife), appoint (two) arbitrators, one from his family and the other from hers; if they both wish for peace, Allah will cause their reconciliation.ʿ [an-Nisa 4:35]. The ummah of Muhammad is more important with regard to life and sanctity than a woman and a man. They got angry with me when I wrote a document between me and Muʿawiyah and wrote ʿAli bin Abi Talib [without adding the title Ameer al-Muʿmineen]. But Suhail bin ʿAmr came to us when we were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at al-Hudaibiyah, when he made a peace deal with Quraish, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wrote, ʿIn the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.ʿ Suhail said: Do not write, In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. He said: What should we write? He said: Write: ʿIn Your Name, O Allah.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Write ʿMuhammad the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.ʿ He [Suhail] said: If I knew that you were the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I would not have opposed you. So he wrote: This is what was agreed by Muhammad bin ʿAbdullah with Quraish. And Allah says in His Book: “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Dayʿ [Al-Ahzab 33:21]. So ʿAli sent ʿAbdullah bin ʿAbbas ؓ to them and I went out with him until we reached the middle of their camp. Ibnul-Kawwaʿ stood up and addressed the people, saying: O bearers of the Qurʿan, this is ʿAbdullah bin ʿAbbas ؓ . Whoever does not know him, I know of the Book of Allah what can tell you about him, He is one of those concerning whom the words ʿthey are a quarrelsome peopleʿ [Az-Zukhruf 43:58] were revealed. Tell him to go back to the one who sent him and do not discuss the Book of Allah with him. Their spokesmen stood up and said: By Allah, we will discuss the Book of Allah. If he says something sound and true that we recognise we will follow him, and if he says something false we will reject his false argument. So they discussed the Book with ‘Abdullah for three days, and four thousand of them recanted and all of them repented, including Ibnul-Kawwaʿ. He took them to ʿAli in Koofah, and ʿAli sent word to the rest of them, saying: You know the turmoil between us and our opponents. Stay wherever you wish until the ummah of Muhammad ﷺ is united. The deal between us and you is that you should not shed any blood that it is forbidden to shed or commit acts of banditry on the roads or do wrong to any Non Muslim under Muslim protection. If you do that, we will declare war, for Allah does not love those who betray. ʿAʿishah ؓ said: O Ibn Shaddad, did he kill them? He said: By Allah, no sooner had he sent this message to them but they committed acts of banditry, shed blood and regarded it as permissible to harm Ahludh-Dhimmah (non-Muslims living under Muslim protection). She said: Do you swear by Allah? He said: I swear by Allah besides Whom there is no other god that this is what happened. She said: I have heard that the people of Iraq are talking and saying dhuth-thuda, dhuth-thuda [i.e., the one with a deformed arm that looks like a breast]. He said: I saw him and I was with ‘Ali ؓ when he was examining the slain. He called the people and said: Do you know this one? How many of them came and said: I saw him praying in the mosque of Banu So and so, and I saw him praying in the mosque of Banu So and so. And there was no proof of who he was except that. She said: What did ʿAli say when he stood over him, as the people of Iraq claim? He said: I heard him say: Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth. She said: Did you hear him say anything other than that? He said: No, by Allah. She said: Yes, Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth. May Allah have mercy on ʿAli ؓ : it was his habit, if he saw something he liked, to say: Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth. But the people of Iraq fabricated lies against him and added words to what he said.

جَاءَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ شَدَّادٍ فَدَخَلَ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ وَنَحْنُ عِنْدَهَا جُلُوسٌ مَرْجِعَهُ مِنَ الْعِرَاقِ لَيَالِيَ قُتِلَ عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ يَا عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ شَدَّادٍ هَلْ أَنْتَ صَادِقِي عَمَّا أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْهُ؟ تُحَدِّثُنِي عَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ قَتَلَهُمْ عَلِيٌّ قَالَ وَمَا لِي لَا أَصْدُقُكِ؟ قَالَتْ فَحَدِّثْنِي عَنْ قِصَّتِهِمْ قَالَ فَإِنَّ عَلِيًّا لَمَّا كَاتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَحَكَّمَ الْحَكَمَيْنِ خَرَجَ عَلَيْهِ ثَمَانِيَةُ آلافٍ مِنْ قُرَّاءِ النَّاسِ فَنَزَلُوا بِأَرْضٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا حَرُورَاءُ مِنْ جَانِبِ الْكُوفَةِ وَإِنَّهُمْ عَتَبُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا انْسَلَخْتَ مِنْ قَمِيصٍ أَلْبَسَكَهُ اللهُ تَعَالَى وَاسْمٍ سَمَّاكَ اللهُ تَعَالَى بِهِ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقْتَ فَحَكَّمْتَ فِي دِينِ اللهِ فَلا حُكْمَ إِلا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى فَلَمَّا أَنْ بَلَغَ عَلِيًّا مَا عَتَبُوا عَلَيْهِ وَفَارَقُوهُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَمَرَ مُؤَذِّنًا فَأَذَّنَ أَنْ لَا يَدْخُلَ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلا رَجُلٌ قَدْ حَمَلَ الْقُرْآنَ فَلَمَّا أَنِ امْتَلاتِ الدَّارُ مِنْ قُرَّاءِ النَّاسِ دَعَا بِمُصْحَفٍ إِمَامٍ عَظِيمٍ فَوَضَعَهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِفَجَعَلَ يَصُكُّهُ بِيَدِهِ وَيَقُولُ أَيُّهَا الْمُصْحَفُ حَدِّثِ النَّاسَ فَنَادَاهُ النَّاسُ فَقَالُوا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا تَسْأَلُ عَنْهُ إِنَّمَا هُوَ مِدَادٌ فِي وَرَقٍ وَنَحْنُ نَتَكَلَّمُ بِمَا رُوِينَا مِنْهُ فَمَاذَا تُرِيدُ؟ قَالَ أَصْحَابُكُمْ هَؤُلاءِ الَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُمْ كِتَابُ اللهِ ﷻ يَقُولُ اللهُ تَعَالَى فِي كِتَابِهِ فِي امْرَأَةٍ وَرَجُلٍ وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ شِقَاقَ بَيْنِهِمَا فَابْعَثُوا حَكَمًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ وَحَكَمًا مِنْ أَهْلِهَا إِنْ يُرِيدَا إِصْلاحًا يُوَفِّقِ اللهُ بَيْنَهُمَا فَأُمَّةُ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ أَعْظَمُ دَمًا وَحُرْمَةً مِنَ امْرَأَةٍ وَرَجُلٍ وَنَقَمُوا عَلَيَّ أَنْ كَاتَبْتُ مُعَاوِيَةَ كَتَبَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَقَدْ جَاءَنَا سُهَيْلُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو وَنَحْنُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ بِالْحُدَيْبِيَةِ حِينَ صَالَحَ قَوْمَهُ قُرَيْشًا فَكَتَبَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ فَقَالَ سُهَيْلٌ لَا تَكْتُبْ بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ نَكْتُبُ ؟ فَقَالَ اكْتُبْ بِاسْمِكَ اللهُمَّ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَاكْتُبْ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللهِ فَقَالَ لَوْ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللهِ لَمْ أُخَالِفْكَ فَكَتَبَ هَذَا مَا صَالَحَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ قُرَيْشًا يَقُولُ اللهُ تَعَالَى فِي كِتَابِهِ لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلِيٌّ عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا تَوَسَّطْنَا عَسْكَرَهُمْ قَامَ ابْنُ الْكَوَّاءِ يَخْطُبُ النَّاسَ فَقَالَ يَا حَمَلَةَ الْقُرْآنِ إِنَّ هَذَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَعْرِفُهُ فَأَنَا أُعَرِّفُهُ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ مَا يَعْرِفُهُ بِهِ هَذَا مِمَّنْ نَزَلَ فِيهِ وَفِي قَوْمِهِ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَفَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ وَلا تُوَاضِعُوهُ كِتَابَ اللهِ فَقَامَ خُطَبَاؤُهُمْ فَقَالُوا وَاللهِ لَنُوَاضِعَنَّهُ كِتَابَ اللهِ فَإِنْ جَاءَ بِحَقٍّ نَعْرِفُهُ لَنَتَّبِعَنَّهُ وَإِنْ جَاءَ بِبَاطِلٍ لَنُبَكِّتَنَّهُ بِبَاطِلِهِ فَوَاضَعُوا عَبْدَ اللهِ الْكِتَابَ ثَلاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَرَجَعَ مِنْهُمْ أَرْبَعَةُ آلافٍ كُلُّهُمْ تَائِبٌ فِيهِمُ ابْنُ الْكَوَّاءِ حَتَّى أَدْخَلَهُمْ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ الْكُوفَةَ فَبَعَثَ عَلِيٌّ إِلَى بَقِيَّتِهِمْ فَقَالَ قَدْ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِنَا وَأَمْرِ النَّاسِ مَا قَدْ رَأَيْتُمْ فَقِفُوا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ حَتَّى تَجْتَمِعَ أُمَّةُ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَنْ لَا تَسْفِكُوا دَمًا حَرَامًا أَوْ تَقْطَعُوا سَبِيلًا أَوْ تَظْلِمُوا ذِمَّةً فَإِنَّكُمْ إِنْ فَعَلْتُمْ فَقَدْ نَبَذْنَا إِلَيْكُمِ الْحَرْبَ عَلَى سَوَاءٍ إِنَّ اللهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْخَائِنِينَ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ عَائِشَةُ يَا ابْنَ شَدَّادٍ فَقَدْ قَتَلَهُمْ فَقَالَ وَاللهِ مَا بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى قَطَعُوا السَّبِيلَ وَسَفَكُوا الدَّمَ وَاسْتَحَلُّوا أَهْلَ الذِّمَّةِ فَقَالَتْ آَللَّهُ؟ قَالَ آللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ لَقَدْ كَانَ قَالَتْ فَمَا شَيْءٌ بَلَغَنِي عَنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ يَتَحَدَّثُونَهُ؟ يَقُولُونَ ذُو الثُّدَيِّ وَذُو الثُّدَيِّ قَالَ قَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ وَقُمْتُ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْقَتْلَى فَدَعَا النَّاسَ فَقَالَ أَتَعْرِفُونَ هَذَا؟ فَمَا أَكْثَرَ مَنْ جَاءَ يَقُولُ قَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ فِي مَسْجِدِ بَنِي فُلَانٍ يُصَلِّي وَرَأَيْتُهُ فِي مَسْجِدِ بَنِي فُلَانٍ يُصَلِّي وَلَمْ يَأْتُوا فِيهِ بِثَبَتٍ يُعْرَفُ إِلَّا ذَلِكَ قَالَتْ فَمَا قَوْلُ عَلِيٍّ حِينَ قَامَ عَلَيْهِ كَمَا يَزْعُمُ أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ؟ قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ صَدَقَ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ قَالَتْ هَلْ سَمِعْتَ مِنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ اللهُمَّ لَا قَالَتْ أَجَلْ صَدَقَ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ يَرْحَمُ اللهُ عَلِيًّا إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنْ كَلَامِهِ لَا يَرَى شَيْئًا يُعْجِبُهُ إِلَّا قَالَ صَدَقَ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ فَيَذْهَبُ أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ يَكْذِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ وَيَزِيدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْحَدِيثِ

I was eager to ask 'Umar about the two wives of the Prophet ﷺ concerning whom Allah said, “If you two (wives of the Prophet ﷺ turn in repentance to Allah, (it will be better for you), your hearts are indeed so inclined (to oppose what the Prophet ﷺ likes)” [at-Tahreem 66:4], until 'Umar went for Hajj and I went with him. When we were partway there, 'Umar turned aside and I turned aside with him, bringing the jug. He relieved himself, then he came to me and I poured water onto his hands, and he did wudoo’. I said: “O Ameer al -Mu'mineen, who are the two wives of the Prophet ﷺ of whom Allah said: ‘If you two (wives of the Prophet ﷺ) turn in repentance to Allah, (it will be better for you), your hearts are indeed so inclined (to oppose what the Prophet ﷺ likes)’?” [at-Tahreem 66:4] 'Umar said, “How strange of you, O Ibn 'Abbas”, (az-Zuhri said: By Allah, he did not like the question, but he did not conceal anything.) He said, “They were Hafsah and 'A'ishah.” Then he started to narrate the hadeeth and said: We people of Quraish were a people who dominated women, but when we came to Madinah we found a people who were dominated by their women, and our women started to learn from their women. My house was among Banu Umayyah bin Zaid in al-'Awali. One day I got angry with my wife, and she argued with me. I did not like her to argue with me, but she said: Do you not like me to argue with you? By Allah, the wives of the Prophet ﷺ argue with him, and one of them will forsake him all day until night comes, I went and entered upon Hafsah, and I said: Do you argue with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? She said: Yes. I said: Does one of you forsake him all day until night comes? She said: Yes. I said: Any one of you who does that is doomed and lost. Does any one of you feel assured that Allah will not be angry with her because of the anger of His Messenger ﷺ, for then she will be doomed? Do not argue with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and do not ask him for anything. Ask me for whatever you want. And do not be misled by the fact that your neighbour is more beautiful than you and more beloved to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ than you – referring to 'A'ishah. And ‘Umar said: I had a neighbour among the Ansar. We used to take turns to go down to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He would go down one day and I would go down the next. He would bring me the news of the Revelation and other things, and I would do likewise. We were saying that Ghassan were shoeing their horses to attack us. My friend went down, then he came to me at night and knocked on my door, then he called out to me. I went out to him and he said: Something terrible has happened! I said: What? Have Ghassan come? He said: No, it is more terrible than that and worse. The Prophet ﷺ has divorced his wives! I said: Hafsah is doomed and lost! I thought that this would happen. Then when I had prayed Fajr, I got dressed, then I went down and entered upon Hafsah, who was weeping. I said: Has the Messenger of Allah ﷺdivorced you? She said: I do not know. He has secluded himself in this loft. I went to a black slave of his and said: Ask for permission for ‘Umar to enter. He went in, then he came out to me and said: I mentioned you to him but he did not say anything, I went away and came to the minbar, where I sat down. By it was a group of people, some of whom were weeping. I sat for a little while, then I could not bear it any longer, so I went to the slave and said: Ask for permission for ‘Umar to enter. He went in, then he came out to me and said: I mentioned you to him but he did not say anything. I turned to leave, then the slave called me and said: Go in, he has given you permission. So I went in and greeted the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with salam. He was resting on a reed mat that had left marks on his side. I said: O Messenger of Allah, have you divorced your wives? He looked up at me and said, “No.” I said: Allah Akbar! if you had seen us, O Messenger of Allah, we Quraish were a people who dominated women, but when we came to Madinah we found a people who were dominated by their women, and our women started to learn from their women. I got angry with my wife one day, and she started to argue with me. I did not like her to argue with me, but she said: Do you not like me to argue with you? By Allah, the wives of the Prophet ﷺ argue with him, and one of them will forsake him all day until night comes. I said: Any one of them who does that is doomed and lost. Does one of them feel assured that Allah will not be angry with her because of the anger of His Messenger ﷺ,then she will be doomed? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ smiled. I said: O Messenger of Allah, I entered upon Hafsah and I said: Do not be misled by the fact that your neighbour (i.e. ‘Aa'ishah) is more beautiful than you and more beloved to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ than you. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ smiled again. I said: O Messenger of Allah, may I speak to you freely? He said: “Yes.” So I sat down and looked around the room, and by Allah, I did not see anything in it to please the eye except three hides. I said: Pray to Allah, O Messenger of Allah, to make life prosperous for your ummah, for He has made life prosperous for the Persians and Romans, but they do not worship Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. He sat up straight and said: “Are you doubting. O son of al-Khattab? They are people whose good things have been hastened for them in this world.” I said: Pray for forgiveness for me, O Messenger of Allah. He had sworn that he would not enter upon them for a month, because he was so annoyed with them until Allah rebuked him.

لَمْ أَزَلْ حَرِيصًا عَلَى أَنْ أَسْأَلَ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ عَنِ الْمَرْأَتَيْنِ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ اللَّتَيْنِ قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى {إِنْ تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا} [التحريم 4] حَتَّى حَجَّ عُمَرُ وَحَجَجْتُ مَعَهُ فَلَمَّا كُنَّا بِبَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ عَدَلَ عُمَرُ وَعَدَلْتُ مَعَهُ بِالْإِدَاوَةِ فَتَبَرَّزَ ثُمَّ أَتَانِي فَسَكَبْتُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَنِ الْمَرْأَتَانِ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ اللَّتَانِ قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى {إِنْ تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا} ؟ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَاعَجَبًا لَكَ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ! قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ كَرِهَ وَاللهِ مَا سَأَلَهُ عَنْهُ وَلَمْ يَكْتُمْهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ هِيَ حَفْصَةُ وَعَائِشَةُ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ يَسُوقُ الْحَدِيثَ قَالَ كُنَّا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ قَوْمًا نَغْلِبُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ وَجَدْنَا قَوْمًا تَغْلِبُهُمْ نِسَاؤُهُمْ فَطَفِقَ نِسَاؤُنَا يَتَعَلَّمْنَ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ قَالَ وَكَانَ مَنْزِلِي فِي بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ بِالْعَوَالِي قَالَ فَتَغَضَّبْتُ يَوْمًا عَلَى امْرَأَتِي فَإِذَا هِيَ تُرَاجِعُنِي فَأَنْكَرْتُ أَنْ تُرَاجِعَنِي فَقَالَتْ مَا تُنْكِرُ أَنْ أُرَاجِعَكَ فَوَاللهِ إِنَّ أَزْوَاجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لَيُرَاجِعْنَهُ وَتَهْجُرُهُ إِحْدَاهُنَّ الْيَوْمَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقُلْتُ أَتُرَاجِعِينَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ وَتَهْجُرُهُ إِحْدَاكُنَّ الْيَوْمَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ؟ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ قَدْ خَابَ مَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ مِنْكُنَّ وَخَسِرَ أَفَتَأْمَنُ إِحْدَاكُنَّ أَنْ يَغْضَبَ اللهُ عَلَيْهَا لِغَضَبِ رَسُولِهِفَإِذَا هِيَ قَدْ هَلَكَتْ؟ لَا تُرَاجِعِي رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ وَلَا تَسْأَلِيهِ شَيْئًا وَسَلِينِي مَا بَدَا لَكِ وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكِ أَنْ كَانَتْ جَارَتُكِ هِيَ أَوْسَمَ وَأَحَبَّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْكِ يُرِيدُ عَائِشَةَ قَالَ وَكَانَ لِي جَارٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ وَكُنَّا نَتَنَاوَبُ النُّزُولَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَيَنْزِلُ يَوْمًا وَأَنْزِلُ يَوْمًا فَيَأْتِينِي بِخَبَرِ الْوَحْيِ وَغَيْرِهِ وَآتِيهِ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ قَالَ وَكُنَّا نَتَحَدَّثُ أَنَّ غَسَّانَ تُنْعِلُ الْخَيْلَ لِتَغْزُوَنَا فَنَزَلَ صَاحِبِي يَوْمًا ثُمَّ أَتَانِي عِشَاءً فَضَرَبَ بَابِي ثُمَّ نَادَانِي فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ حَدَثَ أَمْرٌ عَظِيمٌ فقُلْتُوَمَاذَا أَجَاءَتْ غَسَّانُ؟ قَالَ لَا بَلْ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَأَطْوَلُ طَلَّقَ الرَّسُولُ نِسَاءَهُ فَقُلْتُ قَدْ خَابَتْ حَفْصَةُ وَخَسِرَتْ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ هَذَا كَائِنًاحَتَّى إِذَا صَلَّيْتُ الصُّبْحَ شَدَدْتُ عَلَيَّ ثِيَابِي ثُمَّ نَزَلْتُ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ وَهِيَ تَبْكِي فَقُلْتُ أَطَلَّقَكُنَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟ فَقَالَتْ لَا أَدْرِي هُوَ هَذَا مُعْتَزِلٌ فِي هَذِهِ الْمَشْرُبَةِ فَأَتَيْتُ غُلَامًا لَهُ أَسْوَدَ فَقُلْتُ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِعُمَرَ فَدَخَلَ الْغُلَامُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ قَدْ ذَكَرْتُكَ لَهُ فَصَمَتَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ الْمِنْبَرَ فَإِذَا عِنْدَهُ رَهْطٌ جُلُوسٌ يَبْكِي بَعْضُهُمْ فَجَلَسْتُ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ غَلَبَنِي مَا أَجِدُ فَأَتَيْتُ الْغُلَامَ فَقُلْتُ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِعُمَرَ فَدَخَلَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَلَيَّ فَقَالَ قَدْ ذَكَرْتُكَ لَهُ فَصَمَتَ فَخَرَجْتُ فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَى الْمِنْبَرِ ثُمَّ غَلَبَنِي مَا أَجِدُ فَأَتَيْتُ الْغُلَامَ فَقُلْتُ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِعُمَرَ فَدَخَلَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ قَدْ ذَكَرْتُكَ لَهُ فَصَمَتَ فَوَلَّيْتُ مُدْبِرًا فَإِذَا الْغُلَامُ يَدْعُونِي فَقَالَ ادْخُلْ فَقَدْ أَذِنَ لَكَ فَدَخَلْتُ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَىرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُتَّكِئٌ عَلَى رَمْلِ حَصِيرٍ وحَدَّثَنَاهُ يَعْقُوبُ فِي حَدِيثِ صَالِحٍ قَالَ رُمَالِ حَصِيرٍ قَدْ أَثَّرَ فِي جَنْبِهِ فَقُلْتُ أَطَلَّقْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ نِسَاءَكَ؟ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إِلَيَّ وَقَالَ لَا فَقُلْتُ اللهُ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ رَأَيْتَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ وَكُنَّا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ قَوْمًا نَغْلِبُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ وَجَدْنَا قَوْمًا تَغْلِبُهُمْ نِسَاؤُهُمْ فَطَفِقَ نِسَاؤُنَا يَتَعَلَّمْنَ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ فَتَغَضَّبْتُ عَلَى امْرَأَتِي يَوْمًا فَإِذَا هِيَ تُرَاجِعُنِي فَأَنْكَرْتُ أَنْ تُرَاجِعَنِي فَقَالَتْ مَا تُنْكِرُ أَنْ أُرَاجِعَكَ؟ فَوَاللهِ إِنَّ أَزْوَاجَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ لَيُرَاجِعْنَهُ وَتَهْجُرُهُ إِحْدَاهُنَّ الْيَوْمَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ فَقُلْتُ قَدْ خَابَ مَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُنَّ وَخَسِرَ أَفَتَأْمَنُ إِحْدَاهُنَّ أَنْ يَغْضَبَ اللهُ عَلَيْهَا لِغَضَبِ رَسُولِهِ فَإِذَا هِيَ قَدْ هَلَكَتْ؟ فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقُلْتُ لَا يَغُرُّكِ أَنْ كَانَتْ جَارَتُكِ هِيَ أَوْسَمَ وَأَحَبَّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْكِ فَتَبَسَّمَ أُخْرَى فَقُلْتُ أَسْتَأْنِسُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَجَلَسْتُ فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي فِي الْبَيْتِ فَوَاللهِ مَا رَأَيْتُ فِيهِ شَيْئًا يَرُدُّ الْبَصَرَ إِلَّا أَهَبَةً ثَلَاثَةً فَقُلْتُ ادْعُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَنْ يُوَسِّعَ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ فَقَدْ وُسِّعَ عَلَى فَارِسَ وَالرُّومِ وَهُمْ لَا يَعْبُدُونَ اللهَ فَاسْتَوَى جَالِسًا ثُمَّ قَالَ أَفِي شَكٍّ أَنْتَ يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ؟ أُولَئِكَ قَوْمٌ عُجِّلَتْ لَهُمْ طَيِّبَاتُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرْ لِي يَا رَسُولَ اللهِوَكَانَ أَقْسَمَ أَنْ لَا يَدْخُلَ عَلَيْهِنَّ شَهْرًا مِنْ شِدَّةِ مَوْجِدَتِهِ عَلَيْهِنَّ حَتَّى عَاتَبَهُ اللهُ ﷻ

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Every prophet had a supplication that would be fulfilled in this world. For myself, I have kept my supplication as intercession for my ummah (community). I am the master of the children of Adam on the Day of Judgment, and I do not say this out of pride. I am the first one for whom the earth will be split open, and I do not say this out of pride. In my hand is the banner of praise, and I do not say this out of pride. Those who are under my banner will have a long day on the Day of Judgment, until some of them will say to others, ‘Let us go to Adam, the father of mankind, and ask him to intercede for us with our Lord, the Exalted and Mighty.’ They will then come to Adam and say, ‘O Adam, you are the one whom Allah created with His own hands, and He made you dwell in Paradise and ordered the angels to prostrate to you. Intercede for us with your Lord, so that He may relieve us from this place of ours.’ Adam will say, ‘I am not suitable for this. Myself! Myself! Go to Noah, who is the first of the messengers.’ So they will go to Noah and say, ‘O Noah, you are the first of the messengers to the people of earth, and Allah called you a grateful servant. Intercede for us with your Lord, so that He will relieve us from this place of ours.’ Noah will say, ‘I am not suitable for this. Myself! Myself! Go to Ibrahim, the Friend of Allah.’ So they will come to Ibrahim and say, ‘O Ibrahim, you are the Prophet of Allah and His Friend among the people of the earth. Intercede for us with your Lord, so that He will relieve us from this place of ours.’ Ibrahim will say, ‘I am not suitable for this. Myself! Myself! Go to Musa, to whom Allah spoke directly.’ So they will come to Musa and say, ‘O Musa, you are the Messenger of Allah and He chose you above the people with His Message and His Word. Intercede for us with your Lord, so that He will relieve us from this place of ours.’ Musa

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ نَبِيٌّ إِلا لَهُ دَعْوَةٌ تَنَجَّزَهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِنِّي اخْتَبَأْتُ دَعْوَتِي شَفَاعَةً لِأُمَّتِي وَأَنَا سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ آدَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلا فَخْرَ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ مَنْ تَنْشَقُ عَنْهُ الْأَرْضُ وَلا فَخْرَ وَبِيَدِي لِوَاءُ الْحَمْدِ وَلا فَخْرَ آدَمُ فَمَنْ دُونَهُ تَحْتَ لِوَائِي
قَالَ وَيَطُولُ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حَتَّى يَقُولَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ انْطَلِقُوا بِنَا إِلَى آدَمَ أَبِي الْبَشَرِ فَيَشْفَعَ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّهِ ﷻ فَلْيَقْضِ بَيْنَنَا فَيَأْتُونَ آدَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَيَقُولُونَ يَا آدَمُ أَنْتَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكَ اللهُ بِيَدِهِ وَأَسْكَنَكَ جَنَّتَهُ وَأَسْجَدَ لَكَ مَلائِكَتَهُ فَاشْفَعْ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَلْيَقْضِ بَيْنَنَا فَيَقُولُ إِنِّي لَسْتُ هُنَاكُمْ إِنِّي قَدِ أُخْرِجْتُ مِنَ الجَنَّةِ بِخَطِيئَتِي وَإِنَّهُ لَا يُهِمُّنِي الْيَوْمَ إِلا نَفْسِي وَلَكِنِ ائْتُوا نُوحًا رَأْسَ النَّبِيِّينَ فَيَأْتُونَ نُوحًا فَيَقُولُونَ يَا نُوحُ اشْفَعْ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَلْيَقْضِ بَيْنَنَا فَيَقُولُ إِنِّي لَسْتُ هُنَاكُمْ إِنِّي قَدْ دَعَوْتُ دَعْوَةً غَرَّقَتْ أَهْلَ الْأَرْضِ وَإِنَّهُ لَا يُهِمُّنِي الْيَوْمَ إِلا نَفْسِي وَلَكِنِ ائْتُوا إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلَ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَالَ فَيَأْتُونَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَيَقُولُونَ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ اشْفَعْ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَلْيَقْضِ بَيْنَنَا فَيَقُولُ إِنِّي لَسْتُ هُنَاكُمْ إِنِّي قَدْ كَذَبْتُ فِي الْإِسْلامِ ثَلاثَ كِذْبَاتٍوَإِنَّهُ لَا يُهِمُّنِي الْيَوْمَ إِلا نَفْسِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنْ حَاوَلَ بِهِنَّ إِلا عَنْ دِينِ اللهِ قَوْلُهُ {إِنِّي سَقِيمٌ} [الصافات 89] وَقَوْلُهُ {بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَذَا} [الأنبياء 63] وَقَوْلُهُ لِامْرَأَتِهِ إِنَّهَا أُخْتِي وَلَكِنِ ائْتُوا مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ الَّذِي اصْطَفَاهُ اللهُ بِرِسَالَتِهِ وَكَلامِهِ فَيَأْتُونَ مُوسَى فَيَقُولُونَ يَا مُوسَى أَنْتَ الَّذِي اصْطَفَاكَ اللهُ بِرِسَالَتِهِ وَكَلَّمَكَ فَاشْفَعْ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَلْيَقْضِ بَيْنَنَا فَيَقُولُ إِنِّي لَسْتُ هُنَاكُمْ إِنِّي قَتَلْتُ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ وَإِنَّهُ لَا يُهِمُّنِي الْيَوْمَ إِلا نَفْسِي وَلَكِنِ ائْتُوا عِيسَى رُوحَ اللهِ وَكَلِمَتَهُ فَيَأْتُونَ عِيسَى فَيَقُولُونَ يَا عِيسَى أَنْتَ رُوحُ اللهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ فَاشْفَعْ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَلْيَقْضِ بَيْنَنَا فَيَقُولُ إِنِّي لَسْتُ هُنَاكُمْ قَدِ اتُّخِذْتُ إِلَهًا مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَا يُهِمُّنِي الْيَوْمَ إِلا نَفْسِي ثُمَّ قَالَ أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ كَانَ مَتَاعٌ فِي وِعَاءٍ قَدْ خُتِمَ عَلَيْهِ أَكَانَ يُقْدَرُ عَلَى مَا فِي الْوِعَاءِ حَتَّى يُفَضَّ الْخَاتَمُ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ لَا 0 فَيَقُولُ إِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا ﷺ خَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ قَدْ حَضَرَ الْيَوْمَ وَقَدْ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَيَأْتُونِي فَيَقُولُونَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ اشْفَعْ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَلْيَقْضِ بَيْنَنَا فَأَقُولُ نَعَمْ أَنَا لَهَا حَتَّى يَأْذَنَ اللهُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَرْضَى فَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللهُ ﷻ أَنْ يَصْدَعَ بَيْنَ خَلْقِهِ نَادَى مُنَادٍ أَيْنَ أَحْمَدُ وَأُمَّتُهُ؟ فَنَحْنُ الْآخِرُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ فَنَحْنُ آخِرُ الْأُمَمِ وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ يُحَاسَبُ فَتُفْرَجُ لَنَا الْأُمَمُ عَنْ طَرِيقِنَا فَنَمْضِي غُرًّا مُحَجَّلِينَ مِنْ أَثَرِ الطُّهُورِ وَتَقُولُ الْأُمَمُ كَادَتْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةُ أَنْ تَكُونَ أَنْبِيَاءَ كُلُّهَا قَالَ ثُمَّ آتِي بَابَ الْجَنَّةِ فَآخُذُ بِحَلْقَةِ بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ فَأَقْرَعُ الْبَابَ فَيُقَالُ مَنْ أَنْتَ؟ فَأَقُولُمُحَمَّدٌ فَيُفْتَحُ لِي فَأَرَى رَبِّي ﷻ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُرْسِيِّهِ أَوْ سَرِيرِهِ فَأَخِرُّ لَهُ سَاجِدًا وَأَحْمَدُهُ بِمَحَامِدَ لَمْ يَحْمَدْهُ بِهَا أَحَدٌ كَانَ قَبْلِي وَلا يَحْمَدُهُ بِهَا أَحَدٌ بَعْدِي فَيُقَالُ ارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ وَقُلْ تُسْمَعْ وَسَلْ تُعْطَهْ وَاشْفَعْ تُشَفَّعْ قَالَ فَأَرْفَعُ رَأْسِي فَأَقُولُ أَيْ رَبِّ أُمَّتِي أُمَّتِي فَيُقَالُ لِي أَخْرِجْ مِنَ النَّارِ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَأُخْرِجُهُمْ ثُمَّ أَعُودُ فَأَخِرُّ سَاجِدًا وَأَحْمَدُهُ بِمَحَامِدَ لَمْ يَحْمَدْهُ بِهَا أَحَدٌ كَانَ قَبْلِي وَلا يَحْمَدُهُ بِهَا أَحَدٌ بَعْدِي فَيُقَالُ لِي ارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ وَقُلْ يُسْمَعْ لَكَ وَسَلْ تُعْطَهْ وَاشْفَعْ تُشَفَّعْ فَأَرْفَعُ رَأْسِي فَأَقُولُ أَيْ رَبِّ أُمَّتِي أُمَّتِي فَيُقَالُ أَخْرِجْ مَنِ النَّارِ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَأُخْرِجُهُمْ قَالَ وَقَالَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ مِثْلَ هَذَا أَيْضًا

Messenger of Allah ﷺ wrote to Caesar and invited him to Islam and sent him his letter with Dihya Al-Kalbi whom Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered to hand it over to the Governor of Busra who would forward it to Caesar. Caesar as a sign of gratitude to Allah, had walked from Hims to Ilya (i.e. Jerusalem) when Allah had granted Him victory over the Persian forces. So, when the letter of Messenger of Allah ﷺ reached Caesar, he said after reading it, 'Seek for me any one of his people! (Arabs of Quraish tribe) if present here, in order to ask him about Messenger of Allah ﷺ. At that time Abu Sufyan bin Harb was in Sham with some men from Quraish who had come (to Sham) as merchants during the truce that had been concluded between Messenger of Allah ﷺ; and the infidels of Quraish. Abu Sufyan said, Caesar's messenger found us somewhere in Sham so he took me and my companions to Ilya and we were admitted into Ceasar's court to find him sitting in his royal court wearing a crown and surrounded by the senior dignitaries of the Byzantine. He said to his translator. 'Ask them who amongst them is a close relation to the man who claims to be a prophet." Abu Sufyan added, "I replied, 'I am the nearest relative to him.' He asked, 'What degree of relationship do you have with him?' I replied, 'He is my cousin,' and there was none of Bani Abu Manaf in the caravan except myself. Caesar said, 'Let him come nearer.' He then ordered that my companions stand behind me near my shoulder and said to his translator, 'Tell his companions that I am going to ask this man about the man who claims to be a prophet. If he tells a lie, they should contradict him immediately." Abu Sufyan added, "By Allah! Had it not been shameful that my companions label me a liar, I would not have spoken the truth about him when he asked me. But I considered it shameful to be called a liar by my companions. So I told the truth. He then said to his translator, 'Ask him what kind of family does he belong to.' I replied, 'He belongs to a noble family amongst us.' He said, 'Have anybody else amongst you ever claimed the same before him? 'I replied, 'No.' He said, 'Had you ever blamed him for telling lies before he claimed what he claimed? ' I replied, 'No.' He said, 'Was anybody amongst his ancestors a king?' I replied, 'No.' He said, "Do the noble or the poor follow him?' I replied, 'It is the poor who follow him.' He said, 'Are they increasing or decreasing (day by day)?' I replied,' They are increasing.' He said, 'Does anybody amongst those who embrace his (the Prophet's) Religion become displeased and then discard his Religion?'. I replied, 'No. ' He said, 'Does he break his promises? I replied, 'No, but we are now at truce with him and we are afraid that he may betray us." Abu Sufyan added, "Other than the last sentence, I could not say anything against him. Caesar then asked, 'Have you ever had a war with him?' I replied, 'Yes.' He said, 'What was the outcome of your battles with him?' I replied, 'The result was unstable; sometimes he was victorious and sometimes we.' He said, 'What does he order you to do?' I said, 'He tells us to worship Allah alone, and not to worship others along with Him, and to leave all that our fore-fathers used to worship. He orders us to pray, give in charity, be chaste, keep promises and return what is entrusted to us.' When I had said that, Caesar said to his translator, 'Say to him: I ask you about his lineage and your reply was that he belonged to a noble family. In fact, all the apostles came from the noblest lineage of their nations. Then I questioned you whether anybody else amongst you had claimed such a thing, and your reply was in the negative. If the answer had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man was following a claim that had been said before him. When I asked you whether he was ever blamed for telling lies, your reply was in the negative, so I took it for granted that a person who did not tell a lie about (others) the people could never tell a lie about Allah. Then I asked you whether any of his ancestors was a king. Your reply was in the negative, and if it had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take back his ancestral kingdom. When I asked you whether the rich or the poor people followed him, you replied that it was the poor who followed him. In fact, such are the followers of the apostles. Then I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You replied that they were increasing. In fact, this is the result of true faith till it is complete (in all respects). I asked you whether there was anybody who, after embracing his religion, became displeased and discarded his religion; your reply was in the negative. In fact, this is the sign of true faith, for when its cheerfulness enters and mixes in the hearts completely, nobody will be displeased with it. I asked you whether he had ever broken his promise. You replied in the negative. And such are the apostles; they never break their promises. When I asked you whether you fought with him and he fought with you, you replied that he did, and that sometimes he was victorious and sometimes you. Indeed, such are the apostles; they are put to trials and the final victory is always theirs. Then I asked you what he ordered you. You replied that he ordered you to worship Allah alone and not to worship others along with Him, to leave all that your fore-fathers used to worship, to offer prayers, to speak the truth, to be chaste, to keep promises, and to return what is entrusted to you. These are really the qualities of a prophet who, I knew (from the previous Scriptures) would appear, but I did not know that he would be from amongst you. If what you say should be true, he will very soon occupy the earth under my feet, and if I knew that I would reach him definitely, I would go immediately to meet Him; and were I with him, then I would certainly wash his feet.' " Abu Sufyan added, "Caesar then asked for the letter of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and it was read. Its contents were: "In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful (This letter is) from Muhammad, the slave of Allah, and His Apostle, to Heraculius, the Ruler of the Byzantine. Peace be upon the followers of guidance. Now then, I invite you to Islam (i.e. surrender to Allah), embrace Islam and you will be safe; embrace Islam and Allah will bestow on you a double reward. But if you reject this invitation of Islam, you shall be responsible for misguiding the tillers (i.e. your nation). O people of the Scriptures! Come to a word common to you and us and you, that we worship. None but Allah, and that we associate nothing in worship with Him; and that none of us shall take others as Lords besides Allah. Then if they turn away, say: Bear witness that we are (they who have surrendered (unto Him)..(3.64) Abu Sufyan added, "When Heraclius had finished his speech, there was a great hue and cry caused by the Byzantine Royalties surrounding him, and there was so much noise that I did not understand what they said. So, we were turned out of the court. When I went out with my companions and we were alone, I said to them, 'Verily, Ibn Abi Kabsha's (i.e. the Prophet's) affair has gained power. This is the King of Bani Al-Asfar fearing him." Abu Sufyan added, "By Allah, I remained low and was sure that his religion would be victorious till Allah converted me to Islam, though I disliked it." (Using translation from Bukhārī 2940)

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ كَتَبَ إِلَى قَيْصَرَ يَدْعُوهُ إِلَى الْإِسْلامِ وَبَعَثَ كِتَابَهُ مَعَ دِحْيَةَ الْكَلْبِيِّ وَأَمَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى عَظِيمِ بُصْرَى لِيَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى قَيْصَرَ فَدَفَعَهُ عَظِيمُ بُصْرَى إِلَى قَيْصَرَ وَكَانَ قَيْصَرُ لَمَّا كَشَفَ اللهُ ﷻ عَنْهُ جُنُودَ فَارِسَ مَشَى مِنْ حِمْصَ إِلَى إِيلْيَاءَ عَلَى الزَّرَابِيِّ تُبْسَطُ لَهُ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ قَيْصَرَ كِتَابُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ حِينَ قَرَأَهُ الْتَمِسُوا لِي مِنْ قَوْمِهِ مَنْ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سُفْيَانَ بْنُ حَرْبٍ أَنَّهُ كَانَ بِالشَّامِ فِي رِجَالٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ قَدِمُوا تُجَّارًا وَذَلِكَ فِي الْمُدَّةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ بَيْنَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَبَيْنَ كُفَّارِ قُرَيْشٍ قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ فَأَتَانِي رَسُولُ قَيْصَرَ فَانْطَلَقَ بِي وَبِأَصْحَابِي حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا إِيلْيَاءَ فَأُدْخِلْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي مَجْلِسِ مُلْكِهِ عَلَيْهِ التَّاجُ وَإِذَا حَوْلَهُ عُظَمَاءُ الرُّومِ فَقَالَ لِتَرْجُمَانِهِ سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ نَسَبًا بِهَذَا الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ؟ قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ أَنَا أَقْرَبُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ نَسَبًا قَالَ مَا قَرَابَتُكَ مِنْهُ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ هُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّي قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ وَلَيْسَ فِي الرَّكْبِ يَوْمَئِذٍ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ غَيْرِي قَالَ فَقَالَ قَيْصَرُ أَدْنُوهُ مِنِّي ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِأَصْحَابِي فَجُعِلُوا خَلْفَ ظَهْرِي عِنْدَ كَتِفِي ثُمَّ قَالَ لِتَرْجُمَانِهِ قُلْ لِأَصْحَابِهِ إِنِّي سَائِلٌ هَذَا عَنْ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ فَإِنْ كَذَبَ فَكَذِّبُوهُ قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ فَوَاللهِ لَوْلَا الِاسْتِحْيَاءُ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَنْ يَأْثُرَ أَصْحَابِي عَنِّي الْكَذِبَ لَكَذَبْتُهُ حِينَ سَأَلَنِي وَلَكِنِّي اسْتَحَيْتُ أَنْ يَأْثِرُوا عَنِّي الْكَذِبُ فَصَدَقْتُهُ عَنْهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِتَرْجُمَانِهِ قُلْ لَهُ كَيْفَ نَسَبُ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ فِيكُمْ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ هُوَ فِينَا ذُو نَسَبٍ قَالَ فَهَلْ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ مِنْكُمْ أَحَدٌ قَطُّ قَبْلَهُ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ فَهَلْ كُنْتُمْ تَتَّهِمُونَهُ فِي الْكَذِبِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا قَالَ؟ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَا قَالَ فَهَلْ كَانَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ مِنْ مَلِكٍ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ فَأَشْرَافُ النَّاسِ اتَّبَعُوهُ أَمْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ بَلْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ قَالَ فَيَزِيدُونَ أَمْ يَنْقُصُونَ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ بَلْ يَزِيدُونَ قَالَ فَهَلْ يَرْتَدُّ أَحَدٌ سَخْطَةً لِدِينِهِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ فِيهِ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ فَهَلْ يَغْدِرُ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَا وَنَحْنُ الْآنَ مِنْهُ فِي مُدَّةٍ وَنَحْنُ نَخَافُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ وَلَمْ تُمْكِنِّي كَلِمَةٌأُدْخِلُ فِيهَا شَيْئًا أَنْتَقِصُهُ بِهِ غَيْرُهَا لَا أَخَافُ أَنْ يُؤْثَرَ عَنِّي قَالَ فَهَلْ قَاتَلْتُمُوهُ أَوْ قَاتَلَكُمْ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ حَرْبُكُمْ وَحَرْبُهُ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَانَتْ دُوَلًا سِجَالًا نُدَالُ عَلَيْهِ الْمَرَّةَ وَيُدَالُ عَلَيْنَا الْأُخْرَى قَالَ فَبِمَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَأْمُرُنَا أَنْ نَعْبُدَ اللهَ وَحْدَهُ وَلا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَيَنْهَانَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا وَيَأْمُرُنَا بِالصَّلاةِ وَالصِّدْقِ وَالْعَفَافِ وَالْوَفَاءِ بِالْعَهْدِ وَأَدَاءِ الْأَمَانَةِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِتَرْجُمَانِهِ حِينَ قُلْتُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ قُلْ لَهُ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ نَسَبِهِ فِيكُمْ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُ فِيكُمْ ذُو نَسَبٍ وَكَذَلِكَ الرُّسُلُ تُبْعَثُ فِي نَسَبِ قَوْمِهَا وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ قَطُّ قَبْلَهُ؟ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لَا فَقُلْتُ لَوْ كَانَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ قَبْلَهُ قُلْتُ رَجُلٌ يَأْتَمُّ بِقَوْلٍ قِيلَ قَبْلَهُ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ كُنْتُمْ تَتَّهِمُونَهُ بِالْكَذِبِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا قَالَ؟ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لَا فَقَدْ أَعْرِفُ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيَذَرَ الْكَذِبَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكْذِبَ عَلَى اللهِ ﷻ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ كَانَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ مِنْ مَلِكٍ؟ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لَا فَقُلْتُ لَوْ كَانَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ مَلِكٌ قُلْتُ رَجُلٌ يَطْلُبُ مُلْكَ آبَائِهِ وَسَأَلْتُكَ أَشْرَافُ النَّاسِ يَتَّبِعُونَهُ أَمْ ضُعَفَاؤُهُمْ؟ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّ ضُعَفَاءَهُمِ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهُمْ أَتْبَاعُ الرُّسُلِوَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ يَزِيدُونَ أَمْ يَنْقُصُونَ؟ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُمْ يَزِيدُونَ وَكَذَلِكَ الْإِيمَانُ حَتَّى يَتِمَّ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ يَرْتَدُّ أَحَدٌ سَخْطَةً لِدِينِهِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ فِيهِ؟ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لَا وَكَذَلِكَ الْإِيمَانُ حِينَ يُخَالِطُ بَشَاشَةَ الْقُلُوبِ لَا يَسْخَطُهُ أَحَدٌ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ يَغْدِرُ؟ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ لَا وَكَذَلِكَ الرُّسُلُ وَسَأَلْتُكَ هَلْ قَاتَلْتُمُوهُ وَقَاتَلَكُمْ؟ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ قَدْ فَعَلَ وَأَنَّ حَرْبَكُمْ وَحَرْبَهُ يَكُونُ دُوَلًا يُدَالُ عَلَيْكُمِ الْمَرَّةَ وَتُدَالُونَ عَلَيْهِ الْأُخْرَى وَكَذَلِكَ الرُّسُلُ تُبْتَلَى وَيَكُونُ لَهَا الْعَاقِبَةُ وَسَأَلْتُكَ بِمَاذَا يَأْمُرُكُمْ؟ فَزَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تَعْبُدُوا اللهَ ﷻ وَحْدَهُ لَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَيَنْهَاكُمْ عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ وَالصَّلاةِ وَالْعَفَافِ وَالْوَفَاءِ بِالْعَهْدِ وَأَدَاءِ الْأَمَانَةِ وَهَذِهِ صِفَةُ نَبِيٍّ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ خَارِجٌ وَلَكِنْ لَمْ أَظُنَّ أَنَّهُ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ يَكُنْ مَا قُلْتَ فِيهِ حَقًّا فَيُوشِكُ أَنْ يَمْلِكَ مَوْضِعَ قَدَمَيَّ هَاتَيْنِ وَاللهِ لَوْ أَرْجُو أَنْ أَخْلُصَ إِلَيْهِ لَتَجَشَّمْتُ لُقِيَّهُ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ عِنْدَهُ لَغَسَلْتُ عَنْ قَدَمَيْهِ قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِكِتَابِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَأَمَرَ بِهِ فَقُرِئَ فَإِذَا فِيهِ بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِ اللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ عَظِيمِ الرُّومِ سَلامٌ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي أَدْعُوكَ بِدَاعِيَةِ الْإِسْلَامِ أَسْلِمْ تَسْلَمْ وَأَسْلِمْ يُؤْتِكَ اللهُ أَجْرَكَ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَإِنْتَوَلَّيْتَ فَعَلَيْكَ إِثْمُ الْأَرِيسِيِّينَ يَعْنِي الْأَكَرَةَ وَ {يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ} [آل عمران 64] قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ فَلَمَّا قَضَى مَقَالَتَهُ عَلَتْ أَصْوَاتُ الَّذِينَ حَوْلَهُ مِنْ عُظَمَاءِ الرُّومِ وَكَثُرَ لَغَطُهُمْ فَلا أَدْرِي مَاذَا قَالُوا وَأَمَرَ بِنَا فَأُخْرِجْنَا قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ فَلَمَّا خَرَجْتُ مَعَ أَصْحَابِي وَخَلَصْتُ لَهُمْ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ أَمِرَ أَمْرُ ابْنِ أَبِي كَبْشَةَ هَذَا مَلِكُ بَنِي الْأَصْفَرِ يَخَافُهُ قَالَ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ فَوَاللهِ مَا زِلْتُ ذَلِيلًا مُسْتَيْقِنًا أَنَّ أَمْرَهُ سَيَظْهَرُ حَتَّى أَدْخَلَ اللهُ قَلْبِي الْإِسْلامَ وَأَنَا كَارِهٌ

[Machine] He heard some of the delegation from Abd al-Qays saying, "We have come to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his joy increased upon seeing us. When we reached the people, they made way for us and we sat down. The Prophet ﷺ welcomed us and prayed for us. Then he looked at us and said, "Who is your leader and chief?" We all pointed to Mundhir ibn 'Amr. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Is this the one with the scar?" It was the first day he was given this nickname because of a blow to his face with a donkey's hoof. We said, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." He then followed the people and assessed their resources and belongings. Then he took off his traveling clothes and put on his best clothes. He then approached the Prophet ﷺ , who had stretched out his leg and leaned on it. When Mundhir approached, the people made way for him and said, "Here is Mundhir!" The Prophet ﷺ straightened himself and sat up, welcomed him, and treated him kindly. Then he asked about his lands and named for him a village called Safa and Mashqar, among other villages. Mundhir said, "By my parents, O Messenger of Allah, you know the names of our villages." The Prophet ﷺ said, "I have already been to your lands and it has opened up to me. Then he approached the Ansar and said, "O people of the Ansar, honor your brothers, for they are like you in Islam, and they bear the closest resemblance to you in hair and appearance. They have submitted willingly, not by force or coercion, as a people who refused to submit were killed. When they woke up, the Prophet ﷺ said, "How do you see the status of your brothers and their hospitality towards you?" They replied, "They are the best brothers. They have provided us with bedding, made our food, stayed with us, and taught us the Book of our Lord and the Sunnah of our Prophet." The Prophet ﷺ was pleased and delighted with this, then he approached us one by one and asked each of us about what we had learned and taught. Some of us learned and taught greetings, the mother of the Book, and two Surahs, while others learned and taught the Sunnah and two Sunnahs. Then he turned to us and said, "Do you have any provisions with you?" The people were happy about this and rushed to prepare their belongings. Each man came with a handful of dates and placed it on a cloth in front of him, holding a piece of cloth in his hand. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Do you call this a variety of provisions?" We said, "Yes." Then he pointed to another handful of dates and asked, "Do you call this a pair of sandals?" We said, "Yes." Then he pointed to another handful of dates and asked, "Do you call this a gift?" We said, "

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ بَعْضَ وَفْدِ عَبْدِ الْقَيْسِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ قَدِمْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَاشْتَدَّ فَرَحُهُمْ بِنَا فَلَمَّا انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى الْقَوْمِ أَوْسَعُوا لَنَافَقَعَدْنَا فَرَحَّبَ بِنَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَدَعَا لَنَا ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَيْنَا فَقَالَ مَنْ سَيِّدُكُمْ وَزَعِيمُكُمْ؟ فَأَشَرْنَا بِأَجْمَعِنَا إِلَى الْمُنْذِرِ بْنِ عَائِذٍ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَهَذَا الْأَشَجُّ؟ فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ يَوْمٍ وُضِعَ عَلَيْهِ هَذَا الِاسْمُ لِضَرْبَةٍ بِوَجْهِهِ بِحَافِرِ حِمَارٍ فَقُلْنَا نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَتَخَلَّفَ بَعْدَ الْقَوْمِ فَعَقَلَ رَوَاحِلَهُمْ وَضَمَّ مَتَاعَهُمْ ثُمَّ أَخْرَجَ عَيْبَتَهُ فَأَلْقَى عَنْهُ ثِيَابَ السَّفَرِ وَلَبِسَ مِنْ صَالِحِ ثِيَابِهِ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَقَدْ بَسَطَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ رِجْلَهُ وَاتَّكَأَ فَلَمَّا دَنَا مِنْهُ الْأَشَجُّ أَوْسَعَ الْقَوْمُ لَهُ وَقَالُوا هَاهُنَا يَا أَشَجُّ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَاسْتَوَى قَاعِدًا وَقَبَضَ رِجْلَهُ هَاهُنَا يَا أَشَجُّ فَقَعَدَ عَنْ يَمِينِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَاسْتَوَى قَاعِدًا فَرَحَّبَ بِهِ وَأَلْطَفَهُ ثُمَّ سَأَلَ عَنْ بِلَادِهِ وَسَمَّى لَهُ قَرْيَةَ قرْيَةَ الصَّفَا وَالْمُشَقَّرِ وَغَيْرَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ قُرَى هَجَرَ فَقَالَ بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ لَأَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِأَسْمَاءِ قُرَانَا مِنَّا فَقَالَ إِنِّي قَدْ وَطِئْتُ بِلَادَكُمْ وَفُسِحَ لِي فِيهَا قَالَ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى الْأَنْصَارِ فَقَالَ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْأَنْصَارِ أَكْرِمُوا إِخْوَانَكُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ أَشْبَاهُكُمْ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَشْبَهُ شَيْءٍ بِكُمْ أَشعَارًا وَأَبْشَارًا أَسْلَمُوا طَائِعِينَ غَيْرَ مُكْرَهِينَ وَلَا مَوْتُورِينَ إِذْ أَبَى قَوْمٌأَنْ يُسْلِمُوا حَتَّى قُتِلُوا فَلَمَّا أَنْ أصبَحُوا قَالَ كَيْفَ رَأَيْتُمْ كَرَامَةَ إِخْوَانِكُمْ لَكُمْ وَضِيَافَتَهُمْ إِيَّاكُمْ؟ قَالُوا خَيْرَ إِخْوَانٍ أَلَانُوا فَرْشَنَا وَأَطَابُوا مَطْعَمَنَا وَبَاتُوا وَأَصْبَحُوا يُعَلِّمُونَنَا كِتَابَ رَبِّنَا وَسُنَّةَ نَبِيِّنَا فَأُعْجِبَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَفَرِحَ بِهَا ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَجُلًا رَجُلًا يَعْرِضُنَا عَلَى مَا تَعَلَّمْنَا وَعَلِمْنَا فَمِنَّا مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ التَّحِيَّاتِ وَأُمَّ الْكِتَابِ وَالسُّورَةَ وَالسُّورَتَيْنِ وَالسُّنَّةَ وَالسُّنَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ هَلْ مَعَكُمْ مِنْ أَزْوَادِكُمْ شَيْءٌ؟ فَفَرِحَ الْقَوْمُ بِذَلِكَ وَابْتَدَرُوا رِحَالَهُمْ فَأَقْبَلَ كُلُّ رَجُلٍ مَعَهُ صُبْرَةٌ مِنْ تَمْرٍ فَوَضَعَهَا عَلَى نِطْعٍ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَوْمَأَ بِجَرِيدَةٍ فِي يَدِهِ كَانَ يَخْتَصِرُ بِهَا فَوْقَ الذِّرَاعِ وَدُونَ الذِّرَاعَيْنِ فَقَالَ أَتُسَمُّونَ هَذَا التَّعْضُوضَ؟ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ ثُمَّ أَوْمَأَ إِلَى صُبْرَةٍ أُخْرَى فَقَالَ أَتُسَمُّونَ هَذَا الصَّرَفَانَ؟ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ ثُمَّ أَوْمَأَ إِلَى صُبْرَةٍ فَقَالَ أَتُسَمُّونَ هَذَا الْبَرْنِيَّ؟ فَقُلْنَا نَعَمْ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ خَيْرُ تَمْرِكُمْ وَأَنْفَعُهُ لَكُمْ قَالَ فَرَجَعْنَا مِنْ وِفَادَتِنَا تِلْكَ فَأَكْثَرْنَا الْغَرْزَ مِنْهُ وَعَظُمَتْ رَغْبَتُنَا فِيهِ حَتَّى صَارَ عُظْمَ نَخْلِنَا وَتَمْرِنَا الْبَرْنِيُّ قَالَ فَقَالَ الْأَشَجُّ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ أَرْضَنَا أَرْضٌ ثَقِيلَةٌ وَخِمَةٌ وَإِنَّا إِذَا لَمْ نَشْرَبْ هَذِهِ الْأَشْرِبَةَ هِيجَتْ أَلْوَانُنَا وَعَظُمَتْبُطُونُنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَا تَشْرَبُوا فِي الدُّبَّاءِ وَالْحَنْتَمِ وَالنَّقِيرِ وَلْيَشْرَبْ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي سِقَائِهِ يُلَاثُ عَلَى فِيهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْأَشَجُّ بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ رَخِّصْ لَنَا فِي هَذِهِ فَأَوْمَأَ بِكَفَّيْهِ وَقَالَ يَا أَشَجُّ إِنْ رَخَّصْتُ لَكُمْ فِي مِثْلِ هَذِهِ وَقَالَ بِكَفَّيْهِ هَكَذَا شَرِبْتَهُ فِي مِثْلِ هَذِهِ وَفَرَّجَ يَدَيْهِ وَبَسَطَهَا يَعْنِي أَعْظَمَ مِنْهَا حَتَّى إِذَا ثَمِلَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ شَرَابِهِ قَامَ إِلَى ابْنِ عَمِّهِ فَهَزَرَ سَاقَهُ بِالسَّيْفِ وَكَانَ فِي الْوَفْدِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي عَصَرٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ الْحَارِثُ قَدْ هُزِرَتْ سَاقُهُ فِي شُرْبٍ لَهُمْ فِي بَيْتٍ تَمَثَّلَهُ مِنَ الشِّعْرِ فِي امْرَأَةٍ مِنْهُمْ فَقَامَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ ذَلِكَ الْبَيْتِ فَهَزَرَ سَاقَهُ بِالسَّيْفِ قَالَ فَقَالَ الْحَارِثُ لَمَّا سَمِعْتُهَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ جَعَلْتُ أُسْدِلُ ثَوْبِي لِأُغَطِّيَ الضَّرْبَةَ بِسَاقِي وَقَدْ أَبْدَاهَا اللهُ لِنَبِيِّهِ ﷺ

قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ زَمَنَ الْحُدَيْبِيَةِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَخَرَجْنَا أَنَا وَرَبَاحٌ غُلَامُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ بِظَهْرِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَخَرَجْتُ بِفَرَسٍ لِطَلْحَةَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللهِ كُنْتُ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُبْدِيَهُ مَعَ الْإِبِلِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بِغَلَسٍ غَارَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ عَلَى إِبِلِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَقَتَلَ رَاعِيَهَا وَخَرَجَ يَطْرُدُهَا هُوَ وَأُنَاسٌ مَعَهُ فِي خَيْلٍ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَبَاحُ اقْعُدْ عَلَى هَذَا الْفَرَسِ فَأَلْحِقْهُ بِطَلْحَةَ وَأَخْبِرْ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَدْ أُغِيرَ عَلَى سَرْحِهِ قَالَ وَقُمْتُ عَلَى تَلٍّفَجَعَلْتُ وَجْهِي مِنْ قِبَلِ الْمَدِينَةِ ثُمَّ نَادَيْتُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ يَا صَبَاحَاهْ ثُمَّ اتَّبَعْتُ الْقَوْمَ مَعِي سَيْفِي وَنَبْلِي فَجَعَلْتُ أَرْمِيهِمْ وَأَعْقِرُ بِهِمْ وَذَلِكَ حِينَ يَكْثُرُ الشَّجَرُ فَإِذَا رَجَعَ إِلَيَّ فَارِسٌ جَلَسْتُ لَهُ فِي أَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ ثُمَّ رَمَيْتُ فَلَا يُقْبِلُ عَلَيَّ فَارِسٌ إِلَّا عَقَرْتُ بِهِ فَجَعَلْتُ أَرْمِيهِمْ وَأَنَا أَقُولُ[البحر الرجز]أَنَا ابْنُ الْأَكْوَعِ وَالْيَوْمُ يَوْمُ الرُّضَّعِفَأَلْحَقُ بِرَجُلٍ مِنْهُمْ فَأَرْمِيهِ وَهُوَ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ فَيَقَعُ سَهْمِي فِي الرَّجُلِ حَتَّى انْتَظَمْتُ كَتِفَهُ فَقُلْتُ خُذْهَا وَأَنَا ابْنُ الْأَكْوَعِ وَالْيَوْمُ يَوْمُ الرُّضَّعِ فَإِذَا كُنْتُ فِي الشَّجَرِ أَحْرَقْتُهُمْ بِالنَّبْلِ فَإِذَا تَضَايَقَتِ الثَّنَايَا عَلَوْتُ الْجَبَلَ فَرَدَيْتُهُمْ بِالْحِجَارَةِ فَمَا زَالَ ذَاكَ شَأْنِي وَشَأْنَهُمْ أَتْبَعُهُمْ فَأَرْتَجِزُ حَتَّى مَا خَلَقَ اللهُ شَيْئًا مِنْ ظَهْرِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَّا خَلَّفْتُهُ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِي فَاسْتَنْقَذْتُهُ مِنْ أَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ لَمْ أَزَلْ أَرْمِيهِمْ حَتَّى أَلْقَوْا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ رُمْحًا وَأَكْثَرَ مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ بُرْدَةً يَسْتَخِفُّونَ مِنْهَا وَلَا يُلْقُونَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا إِلَّا جَعَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ حِجَارَةً وَجَمَعْتُ عَلَى طَرِيقِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ حَتَّى إِذَا امْتَدَّ الضُّحَى أَتَاهُمْ عُيَيْنَةُ بْنُ بَدْرٍ الْفَزَارِيُّ مَدَدًا لَهُمْ وَهُمْ فِي ثَنِيَّةٍ ضَيِّقَةٍ ثُمَّ عَلَوْتُ الْجَبَلَ فَأَنَا فَوْقَهُمْ فَقَالَ عُيَيْنَةُ مَا هَذَا الَّذِيأَرَى؟ قَالُوا لَقِينَا مِنْ هَذَا الْبَرْحَ مَا فَارَقَنَا بِسَحَرٍ حَتَّى الْآنَ وَأَخَذَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فِي أَيْدِينَا وَجَعَلَهُ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِهِ قَالَ عُيَيْنَةُ لَوْلَا أَنَّ هَذَا يَرَى أَنَّ وَرَاءَهُ طَلَبًا لَقَدْ تَرَكَكُمْ لِيَقُمْ إِلَيْهِ نَفَرٌ مِنْكُمْ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ نَفَرٌ مِنْهُمْ أَرْبَعَةٌ فَصَعِدُوا فِي الْجَبَلِ فَلَمَّا أَسْمَعْتُهُمُ الصَّوْتَ قُلْتُ أَتَعْرِفُونِي؟ قَالُوا وَمَنْ أَنْتَ؟ قُلْتُ أَنَا ابْنُ الْأَكْوَعِ وَالَّذِي كَرَّمَ وَجْهَ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ لَا يَطْلُبُنِي مِنْكُمْ رَجُلٌ فَيُدْرِكُنِي وَلَا أَطْلُبُهُ فَيَفُوتُنِي قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ إِنْ أَظُنُّ قَالَ فَمَا بَرِحْتُ مَقْعَدِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى نَظَرْتُ إِلَى فَوَارِسِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ يَتَخَلَّلُونَ الشَّجَرَ وَإِذَا أَوَّلُهُمُ الْأَخْرَمُ الْأَسَدِيُّ وَعَلَى أَثَرِهِ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ فَارِسُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَعَلَى أَثَرِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ الْمِقْدَادُ الْكِنْدِيُّ فَوَلَّى الْمُشْرِكُونَ مُدْبِرِينَ وَأَنْزِلُ مِنَ الْجَبَلِ فَأَعْرِضُ لِلْأَخْرَمِ فَآخُذُ عِنَانِ فَرَسِهِ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَخْرَمُ ائْذَنِ الْقَوْمَ يَعْنِي احْذَرْهُمْ فَإِنِّي لَا آمَنُ أَنْ يَقْطَعُوكَ فَاتَّئِدْ حَتَّى يَلْحَقَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَأَصْحَابُهُ قَالَ يَا سَلَمَةُ إِنْ كُنْتَ تُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَتَعْلَمُ أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ حَقٌّ وَالنَّارَ حَقٌّ فَلَا تَحُلْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ الشَّهَادَةِ قَالَ فَخَلَّيْتُ عِنَانَ فَرَسِهِ فَيَلْحَقُ بِعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ وَيَعْطِفُ عَلَيْهِ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَاخْتَلَفَا طَعْنَتَيْنِ فَعَقَرَ الْأَخْرَمُ بِعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَطَعَنَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَقَتَلَهُ فَتَحَوَّلَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِعَلَى فَرَسِ الْأَخْرَمِ فَيَلْحَقُ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ بِعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ فَاخْتَلَفَا طَعْنَتَيْنِ فَعَقَرَ بِأَبِي قَتَادَةَ وَقَتَلَهُ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ وَتَحَوَّلَ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ عَلَى فَرَسِ الْأَخْرَمِ ثُمَّ إِنِّي خَرَجْتُ أَعْدُو فِي أَثَرِ الْقَوْمِ حَتَّى مَا أَرَى مِنْ غُبَارِ صَحَابَةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ شَيْئًا وَيُعْرِضُونَ قَبْلَ غَيْبُوبَةِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى شِعْبٍ فِيهِ مَاءٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ ذُو قَرَدٍ فَأَرَادُوا أَنْ يَشْرَبُوا مِنْهُ فَأَبْصَرُونِي أَعْدُو وَرَاءَهُمْ فَعَطَفُوا عَنْهُ وَاشْتَدُّوا فِي الثَّنِيَّةِ ثَنِيَّةِ ذِي نَثْرٍ وَغَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَأَلْحَقُ رَجُلًا فَأَرْمِيهِ فَقُلْتُ خُذْهَاوَأَنَا ابْنُ الْأَكْوَعِ وَالْيَوْمُ يَوْمُ الرُّضَّعِ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا ثُكْلَ أُمِّ أَكْوَعُ بُكْرَةٍ؟ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ أَيْ عَدُوَّ نَفْسِهِ وَكَانَ الَّذِي رَمَيْتُهُ بُكْرَةً فَأَتْبَعْتُهُ سَهْمًا آخَرَ فَعَلِقَ بِهِ سَهْمَانِ وَيَخْلُفُونَ فَرَسَيْنِ فَجِئْتُ بِهِمَا أَسُوقُهُمَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمَاءِ الَّذِي حَلَّيْتُهُمْ عَنْهُ ذُوْ قَرَدٍ فَإِذَا بِنَبِيِّ اللهِ ﷺ فِي خَمْسِمِائَةٍ وَإِذَا بِلَالٌ قَدْ نَحَرَ جَزُورًا مِمَّا خَلَّفْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْوِي لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْ كَبِدِهَا وَسَنَامِهَا فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ خَلِّنِي فَأَنْتَخِبَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِكَ مِائَةً فَآخُذَ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ بِالْعَشْوَةً فَلَا يَبْقَى مِنْهُمْ مُخْبِرٌ إِلَّا قَتَلْتُهُ قَالَ أَكُنْتَ فَاعِلًا ذَلِكَ يَا سَلَمَةُ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَالَّذِي أَكْرَمَكَفَضَحِكَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ نَوَاجِذَهُ فِي ضُوءِ النَّارِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّهُمْ يُقْرَوْنَ الْآنَ بِأَرْضِ غَطَفَانَ فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ غَطَفَانَ فَقَالَ مَرُّوا عَلَى فُلَانٍ الْغَطَفَانِيِّ فَنَحَرَ لَهُمْ جَزُورًا قَالَ فَلَمَّا أَخَذُوا يَكْشِطُونَ جِلْدَهَا رَأَوْا غَبَرَةً فَتَرَكُوهَا وَخَرَجُوا هَرَابًا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْنَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ فُرْسَانِنَا الْيَوْمَ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ وَخَيْرُ رَجَّالَتِنَا سَلَمَةُ فَأَعْطَانِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ سَهْمَ الرَّاجِلِ وَالْفَارِسِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ أَرْدَفَنِي وَرَاءَهُ عَلَى الْعَضْبَاءِ رَاجِعِينَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهَا قَرِيبًا مِنْ ضَحْوَةٍ وَفِي الْقَوْمِ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ كَانَ لَا يُسْبَقُ جَعَلَ يُنَادِي هَلْ مِنْ مُسَابِقٍ؟ أَلَا رَجُلٌ يُسَابِقُ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ؟ فَأَعَادَ ذَلِكَ مِرَارًا وَأَنَا وَرَاءَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ مُرْدِفِي قُلْتُ لَهُ أَمَا تُكْرِمُ كَرِيمًا وَلَا تَهَابُ شَرِيفًا قَالَ لَا إِلَّا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي خَلِّنِي فَلَأُسَابِقُ الرَّجُلَ قَالَ إِنْ شِئْتَ قُلْتُ أَذْهَبُ إِلَيْكَ فَطَفَرَ عَنْ رَاحِلَتِهِ وَثَنَيْتُ رِجْلَيَّ فَطَفَرْتُ عَنِ النَّاقَةِ ثُمَّ إِنِّي رَبَطْتُ عَلَيْهَا شَرَفًا أَوْ شَرَفَيْنِ يَعْنِي اسْتَبْقَيْتُ نَفْسِي ثُمَّ إِنِّي عَدَوْتُ حَتَّى أَلْحَقَهُ فَأَصُكَّ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ بِيَدَيَّ قُلْتُ سَبَقْتُكَ وَاللهِ أَوْ كَلِمَةً نَحْوَهَا قَالَ فَضَحِكَ وَقَالَ إِنْ أَظُنُّ حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ ثَمُودَ وَكَانَتْ ثَمُودُ قَوْمَ صَالِحٍ أَعْمَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَطَالَ أَعْمَارَهُمْ حَتَّى جَعَلَ أَحَدُهُمْ يَبْنِي الْمَسْكَنَ مِنَ الْمَدَرِ فَيَنْهَدِمُ وَالرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ حَيٌّ فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا ذَلِكَ اتَّخَذُوا مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا فَرِهِينَ فَنَحَتُوهَا وَجَابُوهَا وَجَوَّفُوهَا وَكَانُوا فِي سَعَةٍ مِنْ مَعَائِشِهِمْ فَقَالُوا يَا صَالِحُ ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ لِيَخْرُجَ لَنَا آيَةً نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فَدَعَا صَالِحٌ رَبَّهُ فَأَخْرَجَ لَهُمُ النَّاقَةَ وَكَانَ شِرْبُهَا يَوْمًا وَشِرْبُهُمْ يَوْمًا مَعْلُومًا فَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ شِرْبِهَا خَلُّوا عَنْهَا وَعَنِ الْمَاءِ وَحَلَبُوا عَنْهَا الْمَاءَ فَمَلَئُوا كُلَّ إِنَاءٍ وَوِعَاءٍ وَسِقَاءٍ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى صَالِحٍ أَنَّ قَوْمَكَ سَيَعْقِرُونَ نَاقَتَكَ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ فَقَالُوا مَا كُنَّا لَنَفْعَلَ قَالَ «إِنْ لَمْ تَعْقِرُوهَا أَنْتُمْ يُوشِكُ أَنْ يُولَدَ فِيكُمْ مَوْلُودٌ يَعْقِرُهَا» قَالَ مَا عَلَامَةُ ذَلِكَ الْمَوْلُودِ فَوَاللَّهِ لَا نَجِدُهُ إِلَّا قَتَلْنَاهُ قَالَ «فَإِنَّهُ غُلَامٌ أَشْقَرُ أَزْرَقُ أَصْهَبَ» قَالَ وَكَانَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ شَيْخَانِ عَزِيزَانِ مَنِيعَانِ لِأَحَدِهِمَا ابْنٌ يَرْغَبُ عَنِ الْمَنَاكِحِ وَلِلْآخَرِ ابْنَةٌ لَا يَجِدُ لَهَا كُفُوًا فَجَمَعَ بَيْنَهُمَا مَجْلِسٌ فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا لِصَاحِبِهِ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تُزَوِّجَ ابْنَكَ؟ قَالَ لَا أَجِدُ لَهُ كُفُوًا قَالَ فَإِنَّ ابْنَتِي كُفْءٌ لَهُ وَأَنَا أُزَوِّجُ ابْنَكَ فَزَوَّجَهُ فَوُلِدَ بَيْنَهُمَا ذَلِكَ الْمَوْلُودُ وَكَانَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ ثَمَانِيَةُ رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ قَالَ لَهُمْ صَالِحٌ إِنَّمَا يَعْقِرُهَا مَوْلُودٌ فِيكُمْ فَاخْتَارُوا ثَمَانِيَةَ نِسْوَةٍ قَوَابِلَ مِنَ الْقَرْيَةِ وَجَعَلُوا مَعَهُمْ شَرْطًا فَكَانُوا يَطُوفُونَ فِي الْقَرْيَةِ فَإِذَا وَجَدُوا امْرَأَةً تُمْخَضُ نَظَرُوا مَا وَلَدُهَا فَإِنْ كَانَ غُلَامًا فَلَبِثُوا يَنْظُرُونَ مَا هُوَ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ جَارِيَةً اعْرَضُوا عَنْهَا فَلَمَّا وَجَدُوا ذَلِكَ الْمَوْلُودَ صَرَخْنَ النِّسْوَةُ قُلْنَ هَذَا الَّذِي يُرِيدُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَالِحٌ فَأَرَادَ الشُّرَطُ أَنْ يَأْخُذُوهُ فَحَالَ جَدَّاهُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَهُ وَقَالُوا إِنْ كَانَ صَالِحٌ أَرَادَ هَذَا قَتَلْنَاهُ وَكَانَ شَرَّ مَوْلُودٍ وَكَانَ يَشُبُّ فِي الْيَوْمِ شَبَابَ غَيْرِهِ فِي الْجُمُعَةِ وَيَشِبُّ فِي الْجُمُعَةِ شَبَابَ غَيْرِهِ فِي الشَّهْرِ وَيَشِبُّ فِي الشَّهْرِ شَبَابَ غَيْرِهِ فِي السَّنَةِ فَاجْتَمَعَ الثَّمَانِيَةُ الَّذِينَ يُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ وَالشَّيْخَانِ فَقَالُوا نَسْتَعْمِلُ عَلَيْنَا هَذَا الْغُلَامَ لِمَنْزِلَتِهِ وَشَرَفِ جَدَّيْهِ فَكَانُوا تِسْعَةً وَكَانَ صَالِحٌ لَا يَنَامُ مَعَهُمْ فِي الْقَرْيَةِ بَلْ كَانَ فِي الْبَرِيَّةِ فِي مَسْجِدٍ يُقَالَ لَهُ مَسْجِدُ صَالِحٍ فِيهِ يَبِيتُ بِاللَّيْلِ فَإِذَا أَصْبَحَ أَتَاهُمْ فَوَعَظَهُمْ وَذَكَّرَهُمْ وَإِذَا أَمْسَى خَرَجَ فِيهِ يَبِيتُ بِاللَّيْلِ فَبَاتَ فِيهِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلَمَّا أَرَادُوا أَنْ يَمْكُرُوا بِصَالِحٍ مَشَوْا حَتَّى أَتَوْا عَلَى شِرْبٍ عَلَى طَرِيقِ صَالِحٍ فَاخْتَبَأَ فِيهِ ثَمَانِيَةٌ وَقَالُوا إِذَا خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا قَتَلْنَاهُ وَأَتَيْنَا أَهْلَهُ فَبَيَّتْنَاهُمْ فَأَمَرَ اللَّهُ الْأَرْضَ فَاسْتَوَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَاجْتَمَعُوا وَمَشَوْا إِلَى النَّاقَةِ وَهِيَ عَلَى حَوْضِهَا قَائِمَةٌ فَقَالَ الشَّقِيُّ لِأَحَدِهِمْ ائْتِهَا فَاعْقِرْهَا فَأَتَاهَا فَتَعَاظَمَهُ ذَلِكَ فَأَضْرَبَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَبَعَثَ آخَرَ فَأَعْظَمَ ذَلِكَ فَجَعَلَ لَا يَبْعَثُ رَجُلًا إِلَّا يُعَاظِمُهُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَمْرِهَا حَتَّى مَشَى إِلَيْهَا وَتَطَاوَلَ فَضَرَبَ عُرْقُوبَهَا فَوَقَعَتْ تَرْكُضُ فَأَتَى رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ صَالِحًا فَقَالَ أَدْرِكِ النَّاقَةَ فَقَدْ عُقِرَتْ فَأَقْبَلَ وَخَرَجُوا يَتَلَقَّوْنَهُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا عَقَرَهَا فُلَانٌ لَا ذَنْبَ لَنَا قَالَ انْظُرُوا هَلْ تُدْرِكُونَ فَصِيلَهَا فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتُمُوهُ فَعَسَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يَرْفَعَ عَنْكُمُ الْعَذَابَ فَخَرَجُوا يَطْلُبُونَهُ وَلَمَّا رَأَى الْفَصِيلُ أُمَّهُ تَضْطَرِبُ أَتَى جَبَلًا يُقَالَ لَهُ الْغَارَةُ قَصِيرًا فَصَعِدَ وَذَهَبُوا يَأْخُذُوهُ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى الْجَبَلِ فَطَارَ فِي السَّمَاءِ حَتَّى مَا يَنَالُهُ الطَّيْرُ قَالَ «وَدَخَلَ صَالِحٌ الْقَرْيَةَ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ الْفَصِيلُ بَكَى حَتَّى سَالَتْ دُمُوعُهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقْبَلَ صَالِحًا فَرَغَا رَغْوَةً ثُمَّ رَغَا أُخْرَى ثُمَّ رَغَا أُخْرَى فَقَالَ صَالِحٌ لِكُلِّ رَغْوَةٍ أَجَلُ يَوْمٍ تَمَتَّعُوا فِي دَارِكُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ ذَلِكَ وَعْدٌ غَيْرُ مَكْذُوبٍ إِلَّا أَنَّ آيَةَ الْعَذَابِ أَنَّ الْيَوْمَ الْأَوَّلَ تُصْبِحُ وُجُوهُهُمْ مُصْفَرَّةٌ وَالْيَوْمَ الثَّانِي مُحْمَرَّةٌ وَالْيَوْمَ الثَّالِثَ مُسْوَدَّةً فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحُوا إِذَا وُجُوهُهُمْ كَأَنَّمَا طُلِيَتْ بِالْخَلُوقِ صَغِيرَهُمْ وَكَبِيرَهُمْ ذَكَرَهُمْ وَإِنَاثَهُمْ فَلَمَّا أَمْسَوْا صَاحُوا بِأَجْمَعِهِمْ أَلَا قَدْ مَضَى يَوْمٌ مِنَ الْأَجَلِ وَحَضَرَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحُوا يَوْمَ الثَّانِي إِذَا وُجُوهُهُمْ مُحْمَرَّةٌ كَأَنَّمَا خُضِبَتْ بِالدِّمَاءِ فَصَاحُوا وَضَجُّوا وَبَكَوْا وَعَرَفُوا أَنَّهُ الْعَذَابُ فَلَمَّا أَمْسَوْا صَاحُوا بِأَجْمَعِهِمْ أَلَا قَدْ مَضَى يَوْمَانِ مِنَ الْأَجَلِ وَحَضَرَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحُوا الْيَوْمَ الثَّالِثَ إِذَا وُجُوهُهُمْ مُسْوَدَّةٌ كَأَنَّمَا طُلِيَتْ بِالْقَارِ فَصَاحُوا جَمِيعًا أَلَا قَدْ حَضَرَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ فَتَكَفَّنُوا وَتَحَنَّطُوا وَكَانَ حَنُوطَهُمُ الصَّبْرُ وَالْمُرُّ وَكَانَتْ أَكْفَانُهُمُ الْأَنْطَاعَ ثُمَّ أَلْقَوْا أَنْفُسَهُمْ بِالْأَرْضِ فَجَعَلُوا يُقَلِّبُونَ أَبْصَارَهُمْ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ مَرَّةً وَإِلَى الْأَرْضِ مَرَّةً لَا يَدْرُونَ مِنْ حَيْثُ يَأْتِيهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَوْ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِمْ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ خُشَّعًا وَفُرُقًا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحُوا الْيَوْمَ الرَّابِعَ أَتَتْهُمْ صَيْحَةٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فِيهَا صَوْتُ كُلِّ صَاعِقَةٍ وَصَوْتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ لَهُ صَوْتٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَتَقَطَّعَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دِيَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ»

ذِكْرُ مَوْلِدِ مُوسَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ قَاهَتَ بْنِ لَاوِي بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَحَدِيثِ عَدُوِّ اللَّهِ فِرْعَوْنَ حِينَ كَانَ يَسْتَعْبِدُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي أَعْمَالِهِ بِمِصْرَ وَأَمْرِ مُوسَى وَالْخَضِرِ قَالَ وَهْبٌ وَلَمَّا حَمَلَتْ أُمُّ مُوسَى بِمُوسَى كَتَمَتْ أَمْرَهَا جَمِيعَ النَّاسِ فَلَمْ يَطَّلِعْ عَلَى حَمْلِهَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ وَذَلِكَ شَيْءٌ أَسَرَهَا اللَّهُ بِهِ لَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَمُنَّ بِهِ عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ السَّنَةُ الَّتِي يُولَدُ فِيهَا مُوسَى بْنُ عِمْرَانَ بَعَثَ فِرْعَوْنُ الْقَوَابِلَ وَتَقَدَّمَ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَفَتَّشَ النِّسَاءَ تَفْتِيشًا لَمْ يُفَتِّشْهُنَّ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ وَحَمَلَتْ أُمُّ مُوسَى بِمُوسَى فَلَمْ يَنْتُ بَطْنُهَا وَلَمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ لَوْنُهَا وَلَمْ يَفْسَدْ لَبَنُهَا وَلَكِنَّ الْقَوَابِلَ لَا تَعْرِضُ لَهَا فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي وُلِدَ فِيهَا مُوسَى وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَلَا رَقِيبَ عَلَيْهَا وَلَا قَابِلَ وَلَمْ يَطَّلِّعْ عَلَيْهَا أَحَدٌ إِلَّا أُخْتُهَا مَرْيَمُ وَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهَا أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِي وَلَا تَحْزَنِي إِنَّا رَادُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ قَالَ فَكَتَمَتْهُ أُمُّهُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَشْهُرٍ تُرْضِعُهُ فِي حِجْرِهَا لَا يَبْكِي وَلَا يَتَحَرَّكُ فَلَمَّا خَافَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَيْهَا عَمِلَتْ لَهُ تَابُوتًا مُطْبَقًا وَمَهَّدَتْ لَهُ فِيهِ ثُمَّ أَلْقَتْهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ لَيْلًا كَمَا أَمَرَهَا اللَّهُ وَعُمِلَ التَّابُوتُ عَلَى عَمَلِ سُفُنِ الْبَحْرِ خَمْسَةَ أَشْبَارٍ فِي خَمْسَةِ أَشْبَارٍ وَلَمْ يُقَيَّرْ فَأَقْبَلَ التَّابُوتُ يَطْفُو عَلَى الْمَاءِ فَأَلْقَى الْبَحْرُ التَّابُوتَ بِالسَّاحِلِ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ فِرْعَوْنُ جَلَسَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ عَلَى شَاطِئِ النِّيلِ فَبَصُرَ بِالتَّابُوتِ فَقَالَ لِمَنْ حَوْلَهُ مِنْ خَدَمِهِ إِيتُونِي بِهَذَا التَّابُوتِ فَأَتَوْهُ بِهِ فَلَمَّا وُضِعَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَتَحُوهُ فَوَجَدَ فِيهِ مُوسَى قَالَ فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ فِرْعَوْنُ قَالَ غَيْرَ أَنِّي مِنَ الْأَعْدَاءِ فَأَعْظَمَهُ ذَلِكَ وَغَاظَهُ وَقَالَ كَيْفَ أَخْطَأَ هَذَا الْغُلَامَ الذَّبْحُ وَقَدْ أَمَرْتُ الْقَوَابِلَ أَنْ لَا يَكْتُمْنَ مَوْلُودًا يُولَدُ قَالَ وَكَانَ فِرْعَوْنُ قَدِ اسْتَنْكَحَ امْرَأَةً مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ يُقَالَ لَهَا آسِيَةُ بِنْتُ مُزَاحِمٍ وَكَانَتْ مِنْ خِيَارِ النِّسَاءِ الْمَعْدُودَاتِ وَمِنْ بَنَاتِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَكَانَتْ أُمًّا لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ تَرْحَمُهُمْ وَتَتَصَدَّقُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَتُعْطِيهِمْ وَيَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَتْ لِفِرْعَوْنَ وَهِيَ قَاعِدَةٌ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ هَذَا الْوَلِيدُ أَكْبَرُ مِنِ ابْنِ سَنَةٍ وَإِنَّمَا أَمَرْتَ أَنْ تَذْبَحَ الْوِلْدَانَ لِهَذِهِ السَّنَةِ فَدَعْهُ يَكُونُ قُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لِي وَلَكَ لَا تَقْتُلُوهُ عَسَى أَنْ يَنْفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَنَّ هَلَاكَهُمْ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ وَكَانَ فِرْعَوْنُ لَا يُولَدُ لَهُ إِلَّا الْبَنَاتُ فَاسْتَحْيَاهُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَرَفَعَهُ وَأَلْقَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ مَحَبَّتَهُ وَرَأْفَتَهُ وَرَحْمَتَهُ وَقَالَ لِامْرَأَتِهِ عَسَى أَنْ يَنْفَعَكِ أَنْتِ فَأَمَّا أَنَا فَلَا أُرِيدُ نَفْعَهُ قَالَ وَهْبٌ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ لَوْ أَنَّ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ قَالَ فِي مُوسَى كَمَا قَالَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ عَسَى أَنْ يَنْفَعَنَا لَنَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ بِهِ وَلَكِنَّهُ أَبَى لِلشَّقَاءِ الَّذِي كَتَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَحَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَى مُوسَى الْمَرَاضِعَ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَيَالِيهِنَّ كُلَّمَا أُتِيَ بِمُرْضِعَةٍ لَمْ يَقْبَلْ ثَدْيَهَا فَرَقَّ لَهُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَرَحِمَهُ وَطُلِبَتْ لَهُ الْمَرَاضِعُ وَذَكَرَ وَهْبُ حُزْنَ أُمِّ مُوسَى وَبُكَاءَهَا عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى كَادَتْ أَنْ تُبْدِيَ بِهِ ثُمَّ تَدَارَكَهَا اللَّهُ بِرَحْمَتِهِ فَرَبَطَ عَلَى قَلْبِهَا إِلَى أَنْ بَلَغَهَا خَبَرَهُ فَقَالَتْ لِأُخْتِهِ تَنَكَّرِي وَاذْهَبِي مَعَ النَّاسِ وَانْظُرِي مَاذَا يَفْعَلُونَ بِهِ فَدَخَلَتْ أُخْتُهُ مَعَ الْقَوَابِلِ عَلَى آسِيَةَ بِنْتِ مُزَاحِمٍ فَلَمَّا رَأَتْ وَجْدَهُمْ بِمُوسَى وَحُبَّهُمْ لَهُ وَرِقَّتَهُمْ عَلَيْهِ قَالَتْ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ يَكْفُلُونَهُ لَكُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُ نَاصِحُونَ إِلَى أَنْ رُدَّ إِلَى أُمِّهِ فَمَكَثَ مُوسَى عِنْدَ أُمِّهِ حَتَّى فَطَمَتْهُ ثُمَّ رَدَّتْهُ إِلَيْهِ فَنَشَأَ مُوسَى فِي حِجْرِ فِرْعَوْنَ وَامْرَأَتِهِ يُرَبِّيَانِهِ بِأَيْدِيهِمَا وَاتَّخَذَاهُ وَلَدًا فَبَيْنَا هُوَ يَلْعَبُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ فِرْعَوْنَ وَبِيَدِهِ قَضِيبٌ لَهُ خَفِيفٌ صَغِيرٌ يَلْعَبُ بِهِ إِذْ رَفَعَ الْقَضِيبَ فَضَرَبَ بِهِ رَأْسَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَنَظَرَ مَنْ ضَرَبَهُ حَتَّى هَمَّ بِقَتْلِهِ فَقَالَتْ آسِيَةُ بِنْتُ مُزَاحِمٍ أَيُّهَا الْمَلِكُ لَا تَغْضَبْ وَلَا يَشُقَّنَّ عَلَيْكَ فَإِنَّهُ صَبِيٌّ صَغِيرٌ لَا يَعْقِلُ جَرِّبْهُ إِنْ شِئْتَ اجْعَلْ فِي هَذَا الطَّشْتِ جَمْرَةً وَذَهَبًا فَانْظُرْ عَلَى أَيُّهُمَا يَقْبِضُ فَأَمَرَ فِرْعَوْنُ بِذَلِكَ فَلَمَّا مَدَّ مُوسَى يَدَهُ لِيَقْبِضَ عَلَى الذَّهَبِ قَبَضَ الْمَلَكُ الْمُوَكَّلُ بِهِ عَلَى يَدِهِ فَرَدَّهَا إِلَى الْجَمْرَةِ فَقَبَضَ عَلَيْهَا مُوسَى فَأَلْقَاهَا فِي فِيهِ ثُمَّ قَذَفَهَا حِينَ وَجَدَ حَرَارَتَهَا فَقَالَتْ آسِيَةُ لِفِرْعَوْنَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكَ إِنَّهُ لَا يَعْقِلُ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَعْلَمُهُ وَكَفَّ عَنْهُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَصَدَّقَهَا وَكَانَ أَمَرَ بِقَتْلِهِ وَيُقَالُ إِنَّ الْعُقْدَةَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ فِي لِسَانِ مُوسَى أَثَرُ تِلْكَ الْجَمْرَةِ الَّتِي الْتَقَمَهَا قَالَ وَهْبُ بْنُ مُنَبِّهٍ وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مُوسَى أَشَدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً آتَاهُ اللَّهُ عِلْمًا وَحُكْمًا وَفَهْمًا فَلَبِثَ بِذَلِكَ اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً دَاعِيًا إِلَى دِينِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَشَرَائِعِهِ وَإِلَى دِينِ إِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ فَآمَنَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الْقِصَّةَ بِطُولِهَا

لَمَّا خَرَجَتِ الْحَرُورِيَّةُ اجْتَمَعُوا فِي دَارٍ وَهُمْ سِتَّةُ آلَافٍ أَتَيْتُ عَلِيًّا فَقُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَبْرِدْ بِالظُّهْرِ لَعَلِّي آتِي هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ فَأُكَلِّمُهُمْ قَالَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكَ قُلْتُ كَلَّا قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَبِسْتُ أَحْسَنَ مَا يَكُونُ مِنْ حُلَلِ الْيَمَنِ قَالَ أَبُو زُمَيْلٍ كَانَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ جَمِيلًا جَهِيرًا قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَأَتَيْتُهُمْ وَهُمْ مُجْتَمِعُونَ فِي دَارِهِمْ قَائِلُونَ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالُوا مَرْحَبًا بِكَ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَمَا هَذِهِ الْحُلَّةُ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا تَعِيبُونَ عَلَيَّ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ عَلَىَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَحْسَنَ مَا يَكُونُ مِنَ الْحُلَلِ وَنَزَلَتْ {قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِهِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ} [الأعراف 32] قَالُوا فَمَا جَاءَ بِكَ؟ قُلْتُ أَتَيْتُكُمْ مِنْ عِنْدِ صَحَابَةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ لِأُبَلِّغُكُمْ مَا يَقُولُونَ الْمُخْبَرُونَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ فَعَلَيْهِمْ نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ وَهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِالْوَحْيِ مِنْكُمْ وَفِيهِمْ أُنْزِلَ وَلَيْسَ فِيكُمْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لَا تُخَاصِمُوا قُرَيْشًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ {بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ} [الزخرف 58] قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَأَتَيْتُ قَوْمًا لَمْ أَرْ قَوْمًا قَطُّ أَشَدَّ اجْتِهَادًا مِنْهُمْ مُسْهِمَةٌ وجُوهُهُمْ مِنَ السَّهَرِ كَأَنَّ أَيْدِيَهِمْ وَرُكَبَهُمْ تُثَنَّى عَلَيْهِمْ فَمَضَى مَنْ حَضَرَ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لَنُكَلِّمَنَّهُ وَلَنَنْظُرَنَّ مَا يَقُولُ قُلْتُ أَخْبِرُونِي مَاذَا نَقَمْتُمْ عَلَى ابْنِ عَمِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَصِهْرِهِ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ؟ قَالُوا ثَلَاثًا قُلْتُ مَا هُنَّ؟ قَالُوا أَمَّا إِحْدَاهُنَّ فَإِنَّهُ حَكَّمَ الرِّجَالَ فِي أَمْرِ اللَّهِ وَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ} [الأنعام 57] وَمَا لِلرِّجَالِ وَمَا لِلْحَكَمِ؟ فَقُلْتُ هَذِهِ وَاحِدَةٌ قَالُوا وَأَمَّا الْأُخْرَى فَإِنَّهُ قَاتَلَ وَلَمْ يَسْبِ وَلَمْ يَغْنَمْ فَلَئِنْ كَانَ الَّذِي قَاتَلَ كُفَّارًا لَقَدْ حَلَّ سَبْيُهُمْ وَغَنِيمَتُهُمْ وَلَئِنْ كَانُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ مَا حَلَّ قِتَالُهُمْ قُلْتُ هَذِهِ اثْنَتَانِ فَمَا الثَّالِثَةُ؟ قَالَ إِنَّهُ مَحَا نَفْسَهُ مِنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَهُوَ أَمِيرُ الْكَافِرِينَ قُلْتُ أَعِنْدَكُمْ سِوَى هَذَا؟ قَالُوا حَسْبُنَا هَذَا فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ قَرَأْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَمِنْ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ ﷺ مَا يُرَدُّ بِهِ قَوْلُكُمْ أَتَرْضَوْنَ؟ قَالُوا نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ أَمَّا قَوْلُكُمْ حَكَّمَ الرِّجَالَ فِي أَمْرِ اللَّهِ فَأَنَا أَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكُمْ مَا قَدْ رَدَّ حُكْمَهُ إِلَى الرِّجَالِ فِي ثَمَنِ رُبْعِ دِرْهَمٍ فِي أَرْنَبٍ وَنَحْوِهَا مِنَ الصَّيْدِ فَقَالَ {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَقْتُلُوا الصَّيْدَ وَأَنْتُمْ حُرُمٌ} [المائدة 95] إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {يَحْكُمُ بِهِ ذَوَا عَدْلٍ مِنْكُمْ} [المائدة 95] فَنَشَدْتُكُمُ اللَّهَ أَحُكْمُ الرِّجَالِ فِي أَرْنَبٍ وَنَحْوِهَا مِنَ الصَّيْدِ أَفْضَلُ أَمْ حُكْمُهُمْ فِي دِمَائِهِمْ وَصَلَاحِ ذَاتِ بَيْنِهِمْ؟ وَأَنْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَوْ شَاءَ لَحَكَمَ وَلَمْ يُصَيِّرْ ذَلِكَ إِلَى الرِّجَالِ وَفِي الْمَرْأَةِ وَزَوْجِهَا قَالَ اللَّهُ ﷻ {وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ شِقَاقَ بَيْنِهِمَا فَابْعَثُوا حَكَمًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ وَحَكَمًا مِنْ أَهْلِهَا إِنْ يُرِيدَا إِصْلَاحًا يُوَفِّقِ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمَا} [النساء 35] فَجَعَلَ اللَّهُ حُكْمَ الرِّجَالِ سُنَّةً مَأْمُونَةً أَخَرَجْتُ عَنْ هَذِهِ؟ قَالُوا نَعَمْ قَالَ وَأَمَّا قَوْلُكُمْ قَاتَلَ وَلَمْ يَسْبِ وَلَمْ يَغْنَمْ أَتَسْبُونَ أُمَّكُمْ عَائِشَةَ ثُمَّ يَسْتَحِلُّونَ مِنْهَا مَا يُسْتَحَلُّ مِنْ غَيْرِهَا؟ فَلَئِنْ فَعَلْتُمْ لَقَدْ كَفَرْتُمْ وَهِيَ أُمُّكُمْ وَلَئِنْ قُلْتُمْ لَيْسَتْ أَمَّنَا لَقَدْ كَفَرْتُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ {النَّبِيُّ أَوْلَى بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجُهُ أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ} [الأحزاب 6] فَأَنْتُمْ تَدْورُونَ بَيْنَ ضَلَالَتَيْنِ أَيُّهُمَا صِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهَا صِرْتُمْ إِلَى ضَلَالَةٍ فَنَظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ قُلْتُ أَخَرَجْتُ مِنْ هَذِهِ؟ قَالُوا نَعَمْ قَالَ وَأَمَّا قَوْلُكُمْ مَحَا اسْمَهُ مِنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَأَنَا آتِيكُمْ بِمَنْ تَرْضَوْنَ وَأُرِيكُمْ قَدْ سَمِعْتُمْ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَوْمَ الْحُدَيْبِيَةِ كَاتَبَ سُهَيْلَ بْنَ عَمْرٍو وَأَبَا سُفْيَانَ بْنَ حَرْبٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اكْتُبْ يَا عَلِيُّ هَذَا مَا اصْطَلَحَ عَلَيْهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ لَا وَاللَّهِ مَا نَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لَوْ نَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ مَا قَاتَلْنَاكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ اكْتُبْ يَا عَلِيُّ هَذَا مَا اصْطَلَحَ عَلَيْهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَوَاللَّهِ لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ وَمَا أَخْرَجَهُ مِنَ النُّبُوَّةِ حِينَ مَحَا نَفْسَهُ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَرَجَعَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ أَلْفَانِ وَقُتِلَ سَائِرُهُمْ عَلَى ضَلَالَةٍ

ʿAbdullah bin Shaddad came and entered upon ʿAʿishah ؓ when we were sitting with her, as he was returning from Iraq during the time when ‘Ali ؓ was murdered. She said to him: O ʿAbdullah bin Shaddad, will you tell me the truth about what I am going to ask you? Tell me about these people whom ‘Ali ؓ killed. He said: Why shouldnʿt I tell you the truth? She said: Tell me about them. He said: When ʿAli ؓ corresponded with Muʿawiyah and the two arbitrators gave their verdict, eight thousand of the pious rebelled against him and camped in a land called Harooraʿ, near Koofah. They criticised him and said: You have taken off a chemise that Allah caused you to wear and a title that Allah gave to you, then you went ahead and asked people to issue a decree concerning the religion of Allah. There is no ruling except the ruling of Allah, may He be exalted. When ʿAli ؓ heard about their criticism of him and the reason why they had split from him, he told his caller not to admit anyone but those who had memorised the Qurʿan. When the house was filled with people who had memorised the Qurʿan, he called for a large Mushaf and put it front of him, and he started tapping it with his hand, saying: O Mushaf, tell the people. The people called out: O Ameer al-Muʿmineen, how could you ask it? It is only ink and paper, but we could speak on the basis of what we understand from it. What do you want? He said: These companions of yours who rebelled, between me and them is the Book of Allah, and Allah says in His Book concerning a woman and a man: ʿIf you fear a breach between them twain (the man and his wife), appoint (two) arbitrators, one from his family and the other from hers; if they both wish for peace, Allah will cause their reconciliation.ʿ [an-Nisa 4:35]. The ummah of Muhammad is more important with regard to life and sanctity than a woman and a man. They got angry with me when I wrote a document between me and Muʿawiyah and wrote ʿAli bin Abi Talib [without adding the title Ameer al-Muʿmineen]. But Suhail bin ʿAmr came to us when we were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at al-Hudaibiyah, when he made a peace deal with Quraish, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wrote, ʿIn the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.ʿ Suhail said: Do not write, In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. He said: What should we write? He said: Write: ʿIn Your Name, O Allah.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Write ʿMuhammad the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.ʿ He [Suhail] said: If I knew that you were the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I would not have opposed you. So he wrote: This is what was agreed by Muhammad bin ʿAbdullah with Quraish. And Allah says in His Book: “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Dayʿ [Al-Ahzab 33:21]. So ʿAli sent ʿAbdullah bin ʿAbbas ؓ to them and I went out with him until we reached the middle of their camp. Ibnul-Kawwaʿ stood up and addressed the people, saying: O bearers of the Qurʿan, this is ʿAbdullah bin ʿAbbas ؓ . Whoever does not know him, I know of the Book of Allah what can tell you about him, He is one of those concerning whom the words ʿthey are a quarrelsome peopleʿ [Az-Zukhruf 43:58] were revealed. Tell him to go back to the one who sent him and do not discuss the Book of Allah with him. Their spokesmen stood up and said: By Allah, we will discuss the Book of Allah. If he says something sound and true that we recognise we will follow him, and if he says something false we will reject his false argument. So they discussed the Book with ‘Abdullah for three days, and four thousand of them recanted and all of them repented, including Ibnul-Kawwaʿ. He took them to ʿAli in Koofah, and ʿAli sent word to the rest of them, saying: You know the turmoil between us and our opponents. Stay wherever you wish until the ummah of Muhammad ﷺ is united. The deal between us and you is that you should not shed any blood that it is forbidden to shed or commit acts of banditry on the roads or do wrong to any Non Muslim under Muslim protection. If you do that, we will declare war, for Allah does not love those who betray. ʿAʿishah ؓ said: O Ibn Shaddad, did he kill them? He said: By Allah, no sooner had he sent this message to them but they committed acts of banditry, shed blood and regarded it as permissible to harm Ahludh-Dhimmah (non-Muslims living under Muslim protection). She said: Do you swear by Allah? He said: I swear by Allah besides Whom there is no other god that this is what happened. She said: I have heard that the people of Iraq are talking and saying dhuth-thuda, dhuth-thuda [i.e., the one with a deformed arm that looks like a breast]. He said: I saw him and I was with ‘Ali ؓ when he was examining the slain. He called the people and said: Do you know this one? How many of them came and said: I saw him praying in the mosque of Banu So and so, and I saw him praying in the mosque of Banu So and so. And there was no proof of who he was except that. She said: What did ʿAli say when he stood over him, as the people of Iraq claim? He said: I heard him say: Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth. She said: Did you hear him say anything other than that? He said: No, by Allah. She said: Yes, Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth. May Allah have mercy on ʿAli ؓ : it was his habit, if he saw something he liked, to say: Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth. But the people of Iraq fabricated lies against him and added words to what he said. (Using translation from Aḥmad 656)

قَدِمْتُ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَبَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَهَا جُلُوسٌ مَرْجِعُهَا مِنَ الْعِرَاقِ لَيَالِي قُوتِلَ عَلِيٌّ إِذْ قَالَتْ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ شَدَّادٍ هَلْ أَنْتَ صَادِقِيَّ عَمَّا أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْهُ؟ حَدَّثَنِي عَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ قَتَلَهُمْ عَلِيٌّ قُلْتُ وَمَالِي لَا أَصْدُقُكَ؟ قُلْتُ فَحَدِّثْنِي عَنْ قِصَّتِهِمْ قُلْتُ إِنَّ عَلِيًّا لَمَّا كَاتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَحَكَّمَ الْحَكَمَيْنِ خَرَجَ عَلَيْهِ ثَمَانِيَةُ آلَافٍ مِنْ قُرَّاءِ النَّاسِ فَنَزَلُوا أَرْضًا مِنْ جَانِبِ الْكُوفَةِ يُقَالُ لَهَا حَرُورَاءُ وَإِنَّهُمْ أَنْكَرُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا انْسَلَخْتَ مِنْ قَمِيصٍ أَلْبَسَكَهُ اللَّهُ وَأَسْمَاكَ بِهِ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقْتَ فَحَكَّمْتَ فِي دَيْنِ اللَّهِ وَلَا حُكْمَ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ عَلِيًّا مَا عَتَبُوا عَلَيْهِ وَفَارَقُوهُ أَمَرَ فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ لَا يَدْخُلَنَّ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ قَدْ حَمَلَ الْقُرْآنَ فَلَمَّا أَنِ امْتَلَأَ الدَّارُ مِنَ الْقُرَّاءِ دَعَا بِمُصْحَفٍ عَظِيمٍ فَوَضَعَهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَطَفِقَ يَصُكُّهُ بِيَدِهِ وَيَقُولُ أَيُّهَا الْمُصْحَفُ حَدِّثِ النَّاسَ فَنَادَاهُ النَّاسُ فَقَالُوا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا تَسْأَلُهُ عَنْهُ إِنَّمَا هُوَ وَرَقٌ وَمِدَادٌ وَنَحْنُ نَتَكَلَّمُ بِمَا رَأَيْنَا مِنْهُ فَمَاذَا تُرِيدُ؟ قَالَ أَصْحَابُكُمُ الَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُمْ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ ﷻ فِي امْرَأَةٍ وَرَجُلٍ وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ شِقَاقَ بَيْنِهِمَا فَابْعَثُوا حَكَمًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ وَحَكَمًا مِنْ أَهْلِهَا فَأُمَّةُ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ أَعْظَمُ حُرْمَةً مِنِ امْرَأَةٍ وَرَجُلٍ وَنَقَمُوا عَلَيَّ أَنْ كَاتَبْتُ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَكَتَبَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَقَدْ جَاءَ سُهَيْلُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو وَنَحْنُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالْحُدَيْبِيَةِ حِينَ صَالَحَ قَوْمُهُ قُرَيْشًا فَكَتَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ» فَقَالَ سُهَيْلٌ لَا تَكْتُبْ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ قَالَ «فَكَيْفَ أَكْتُبُ؟» قَالَ اكْتُبْ بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «اكْتُبْ» ثُمَّ قَالَ اكْتُبْ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ قَالُوا لَوْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لَمْ نُخَالِفْكَ فَكَتَبَ «هَذَا مَا صَالَحَ عَلَيْهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قُرَيْشًا» يَقُولُ اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ {لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ} [الأحزاب 21] فَبَعَثَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُمْ حَتَّى إِذَا تَوَسَّطْنَا عَسْكَرَهُمْ قَامَ ابْنُ الْكَوَّاءِ فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ فَقَالَ يَا حَمَلَةَ الْقُرْآنِ إِنَّ هَذَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَعْرِفُهُ فَأَنَا أَعْرِفُهُ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ هَذَا مَنْ نَزَلَ فِي قَوْمِهِ {بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ} [الزخرف 58] فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ وَلَا تُوَاضِعُوهُ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَقَامَ خُطَبَاؤُهُمْ فَقَالُوا لَا وَاللَّهِ لَنُوَاضِعَنَّهُ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ فَإِذَا جَاءَ بِالْحَقِّ نَعْرِفُهُ اسْتَطَعْنَاهُ وَلَئِنْ جَاءَ بِالْبَاطِلِ لَنُبَكِّتَنَّهُ بِبَاطِلِهِ وَلَنَرُدَّنَّهُ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ فَوَاضَعُوهُ عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَرَجَعَ مِنْهُمْ أَرْبَعَةُ آلَافٍ كُلُّهُمْ تَائِبٌ بَيْنَهُمُ ابْنُ الْكَوَّاءِ حَتَّى أَدْخَلَهُمْ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ فَبَعَثَ عَلِيٌّ إِلَى بَقِيَّتِهِمْ فَقَالَ قَدْ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِنَا وَأَمْرِ النَّاسِ مَا قَدْ رَأَيْتُمْ فَقِفُوا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ حَتَّى تَجْتَمِعَ أُمَّةُ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ وَتَنْزِلُوا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَنْ نَقِيَكُمْ رِمَاحَنَا مَا لَمْ تَقْطَعُوا سَبِيلًا أَوْ تُطِيلُوا دَمًا فَإِنَّكُمْ إِنْ فَعَلْتُمْ ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ نَبَذْنَا إِلَيْكُمُ الْحَرْبَ عَلَى سَوَاءٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْخَائِنِينَ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ عَائِشَةُ يَا ابْنَ شَدَّادٍ فَقَدْ قَتَلَهُمْ؟ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى قَطَعُوا السَّبِيلَ وَسَفَكُوا الدِّمَاءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقِّ اللَّهِ وَقَتَلُوا ابْنَ خَبَّابٍ وَاسْتَحَلُّوا أَهْلَ الذِّمَّةِ فَقَالَتْ آللَّهِ؟ قُلْتُ آللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ قَالَتْ فَمَا شَيْءٌ بَلَغَنِي عَنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ بِهِ يَقُولُونَ ذُو الثُّدَيِّ ذُو الثُّدَيِّ فَقُلْتُ قَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ وَوَقَفْتُ عَلَيْهِ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ فِي الْقَتْلَى فَدَعَا النَّاسَ فَقَالَ هَلْ تَعْرِفُونَ هَذَا؟ فَكَانَ أَكْثَرُ مَنْ جَاءَ يَقُولُ قَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ فِي مَسْجِدِ بَنِي فُلَانٍ يُصَلِّي وَرَأَيْتُهُ فِي مَسْجِدِ بَنِي فُلَانٍ يُصَلِّي فَلَمْ يَأْتِ بِثَبْتٍ يُعْرَفُ إِلَّا ذَلِكَ قَالَتْ فَمَا قَوْلُ عَلِيٍّ حِينَ قَامَ عَلَيْهِ كَمَا يَزْعُمُ أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ؟ قُلْتُ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ قَالَتْ وَهَلْ سَمِعْتَهُ أَنْتَ مِنْهُ قَالَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ؟ قُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ لَا قَالَتْ أَجَلْ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

(the wife of the Prophet) "Whenever Messenger of Allah ﷺ intended to go on a journey, he would draw lots amongst his wives and would take with him the one upon whom the lot fell. During a Ghazwa of his, he drew lots amongst us and the lot fell upon me, and I proceeded with him after Allah had decreed the use of the veil by women. I was carried in a Howdah (on the camel) and dismounted while still in it. When Messenger of Allah ﷺ was through with his Ghazwa and returned home, and we approached the city of Medina, Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered us to proceed at night. When the order of setting off was given, I walked till I was past the army to answer the call of nature. After finishing I returned (to the camp) to depart (with the others) and suddenly realized that my necklace over my chest was missing. So, I returned to look for it and was delayed because of that. The people who used to carry me on the camel, came to my Howdah and put it on the back of the camel, thinking that I was in it, as, at that time, women were light in weight, and thin and lean, and did not use to eat much. So, those people did not feel the difference in the heaviness of the Howdah while lifting it, and they put it over the camel. At that time I was a young lady. They set the camel moving and proceeded on. I found my necklace after the army had gone, and came to their camp to find nobody. So, I went to the place where I used to stay, thinking that they would discover my absence and come back in my search. While in that state, I felt sleepy and slept. Safwan bin Mu'attal As-Sulami Adh-Dhakwani was behind the army and reached my abode in the morning. When he saw a sleeping person, he came to me, and he used to see me before veiling. So, I got up when I heard him saying, "Inna lil-lah-wa inn a ilaihi rajiun (We are for Allah, and we will return to Him)." He made his camel knell down. He got down from his camel, and put his leg on the front legs of the camel and then I rode and sat over it. Safwan set out walking, leading the camel by the rope till we reached the army who had halted to take rest at midday. Then whoever was meant for destruction, fell into destruction, (some people accused me falsely) and the leader of the false accusers was ʿAbdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. After that we returned to Medina, and I became ill for one month while the people were spreading the forged statements of the false accusers. I was feeling during my ailment as if I were not receiving the usual kindness from the Prophet ﷺ which I used to receive from him when I got sick. But he would come, greet and say, 'How is that (girl)?' I did not know anything of what was going on till I recovered from my ailment and went out with Um Mistah to the Manasi where we used to answer the call of nature, and we used not to go to answer the call of nature except from night to night and that was before we had lavatories near to our houses. And this habit of ours was similar to the habit of the old 'Arabs in the open country (or away from houses). So. I and Um Mistah bint Ruhm went out walking. Um Mistah stumbled because of her long dress and on that she said, 'Let Mistah be ruined.' I said, 'You are saying a bad word. Why are you abusing a man who took part in (the battle of) Badr?' She said, 'O Hanata (you there) didn't you hear what they said?' Then she told me the rumors of the false accusers. My sickness was aggravated, and when I returned home, Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to me, and after greeting he said, 'How is that (girl)?' I requested him to allow me to go to my parents. I wanted then to be sure of the news through them I Messenger of Allah ﷺ allowed me, and I went to my parents and asked my mother, 'What are the people talking about?' She said, 'O my daughter! Don't worry much about this matter. By Allah, never is there a charming woman loved by her husband who has other wives, but the women would forge false news about her.' I said, 'Glorified be Allah! Are the people really taking of this matter?' That night I kept on weeping and could not sleep till morning. In the morning Messenger of Allah ﷺ called ʿAli bin Abu Talib and Usama bin Zaid when he saw the Divine Inspiration delayed, to consul them about divorcing his wife (i.e. ʿAisha). Usama bin Zaid said what he knew of the good reputation of his wives and added, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Keep you wife, for, by Allah, we know nothing about her but good.' ʿAli bin Abu Talib said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Allah has no imposed restrictions on you, and there are many women other than she, yet you may ask the woman-servant who will tell you the truth.' On that Messenger of Allah ﷺ called Barirah and said, 'O Barirah. Did you ever see anything which roused your suspicions about her?' Barirah said, 'No, by Allah Who has sent you with the Truth, I have never seen in her anything faulty except that she is a girl of immature age, who sometimes sleeps and leaves the dough for the goats to eat.' On that day Messenger of Allah ﷺ ascended the pulpit and requested that somebody support him in punishing ʿAbdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. Allah's Apostle said, 'Who will support me to punish that person (ʿAbdullah bin Ubai bin Salul) who has hurt me by slandering the reputation of my family? By Allah, I know nothing about my family but good, and they have accused a person about whom I know nothing except good, and he never entered my house except in my company.' Saʿd bin Muʿadh got up and said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! by Allah, I will relieve you from him. If that man is from the tribe of the Aus, then we will chop his head off, and if he is from our brothers, the Khazraj, then order us, and we will fulfill your order.' On that Saʿd bin 'Ubada, the chief of the Khazraj and before this incident, he had been a pious man, got up, motivated by his zeal for his tribe and said, 'By Allah, you have told a lie; you cannot kill him, and you will never be able to kill him.' On that Usaid bin Al-Hadir got up and said (to Saʿd bin 'Ubada), 'By Allah! you are a liar. By Allah, we will kill him; and you are a hypocrite, defending the hypocrites.' On this the two tribes of Aus and Khazraj got excited and were about to fight each other, while Messenger of Allah ﷺ was standing on the pulpit. He got down and quieted them till they became silent and he kept quiet. On that day I kept on weeping so much so that neither did my tears stop, nor could I sleep. In the morning my parents were with me and I had wept for two nights and a day, till I thought my liver would burst from weeping. While they were sitting with me and I was weeping, an Ansari woman asked my permission to enter, and I allowed her to come in. She sat down and started weeping with me. While we were in this state, Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and sat down and he had never sat with me since the day they forged the accusation. No revelation regarding my case came to him for a month. He recited Tashah-hud (i.e. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is His Apostle) and then said, 'O ʿAisha! I have been informed such-and-such about you; if you are innocent, then Allah will soon reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him to forgive you, for when a person confesses his sin and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance.' When Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished his speech my tears ceased completely and there remained not even a single drop of it. I requested my father to reply to Messenger of Allah ﷺ on my behalf. My father said, By Allah, I do not know what to say to Messenger of Allah ﷺ.' I said to my mother, 'Talk to Messenger of Allah ﷺ on my behalf.' She said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's Apostle. I was a young girl and did not have much knowledge of the Qur'an. I said. 'I know, by Allah, that you have listened to what people are saying and that has been planted in your minds and you have taken it as a truth. Now, if I told you that I am innocent and Allah knows that I am innocent, you would not believe me and if I confessed to you falsely that I am guilty, and Allah knows that I am innocent you would believe me. By Allah, I don't compare my situation with you except to the situation of Joseph's father (i.e. Jacob) who said, 'So (for me) patience is most fitting against that which you assert and it is Allah (Alone) whose help can be sought.' Then I turned to the other side of my bed hoping that Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah I never thought that Allah would reveal Divine Inspiration in my case, as I considered myself too inferior to be talked of in the Holy Qur'an. I had hoped that Messenger of Allah ﷺ might have a dream in which Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah, Allah's Apostle had not got up and nobody had left the house before the Divine Inspiration came to Allah's Apostle. So, there overtook him the same state which used to overtake him, (when he used to have, on being inspired divinely). He was sweating so much so that the drops of the sweat were dropping like pearls though it was a (cold) wintry day. When that state of Messenger of Allah ﷺ was over, he was smiling and the first word he said, ʿAisha! Thank Allah, for Allah has declared your innocence.' My mother told me to go to Messenger of Allah ﷺ . I replied, 'By Allah I will not go to him and will not thank but Allah.' So Allah revealed: "Verily! They who spread the slander are a gang among you . . ." (24.11) When Allah gave the declaration of my Innocence, Abu Bakr, who used to provide for Mistah bin Uthatha for he was his relative, said, 'By Allah, I will never provide Mistah with anything because of what he said about Aisha.' But Allah later revealed: -- "And let not those who are good and wealthy among you swear not to help their kinsmen, those in need and those who left their homes in Allah's Cause. Let them forgive and overlook. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? Verily! Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." (24.22) After that Abu Bakr said, 'Yes ! By Allah! I like that Allah should forgive me,' and resumed helping Mistah whom he used to help before. Messenger of Allah ﷺ also asked Zainab bint Jahsh (i.e. the Prophet's wife about me saying, 'What do you know and what did you see?' She replied, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I refrain to claim hearing or seeing what I have not heard or seen. By Allah, I know nothing except goodness about Aisha." Aisha further added "Zainab was competing with me (in her beauty and the Prophet's love), yet Allah protected her (from being malicious), for she had piety." (Using translation from Bukhārī 2661)

حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الْإِفْكِ مَا قَالُوا فَبَرَّأَهَا اللَّهُ مِنْهُ قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ وَكُلُّهُمْ حَدَّثَنِي طَائِفَةً مِنْ حَدِيثِهَا وَبَعْضُهُمْ أَوْعَى مِنْ بَعْضٍ وَأَثْبَتُ لَهُ اقْتِصَاصًا وَقَدْ وَعَيْتُ عَنْ كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمُ الْحَدِيثَ الَّذِي حَدَّثَنِي عَنْ عَائِشَةَ وَبَعْضُ حَدِيثِهِمْ يُصَدِّقُ بَعْضًا زَعَمُوا أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ ؓ قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ سَفَرًا أَقْرَعَ بَيْنَ أَزْوَاجِهِ فَأَيَّتُهُنَّ خَرَجَ سَهْمُهَا خَرَجَ بِهَا مَعَهُ فَأَقْرَعَ بَيْنَنَا فِي غَزَاةٍ غَزَاهَا فَخَرَجَ سَهْمِي فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ بَعْدَمَا أُنْزِلَ الْحِجَابُ وَأَنَا أُحْمَلُ فِي هَوْدَجِي وَأَنْزِلَ فِيهِ فَسِرْنَا حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ غَزْوَتِهِ تِلْكَ قَفَلَ وَدَنَوْنَا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ فَآذَنَ لَيْلَةً بِالرَّحِيلِ فَقُمْتُ فَمَشَيْتُ حَتَّى جَاوَزْتُ الْجَيْشَ فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ شَأْنِي أَقْبَلْتُ إِلَى الرَّحْلِ فَلَمَسْتُ صَدْرِي فَإِذَا عِقْدٌ لِي مِنْ جِزْعِ أَظْفَارٍ قَدِ انْقَطَعَ فَرَجَعْتُ فَالْتَمَسْتُ عِقْدِي فَحَبَسَنِي ابْتِغَاؤُهُ فَأَقْبَلَ الَّذِينَ يَرْحَلُونَ بِي فَاحْتَمَلُوا هَوْدَجِي فَرَحَلُوهُ عَلَى بَعِيرِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرْكَبُ وَهُمْ يَحْسِبُونَ أَنِّي فِيهِ وَكَانَ النِّسَاءُ إِذْ ذَاكَ خِفَافًا لَمْ يَثْقُلْنَ وَلَمْ يَغْشَهُنَّ اللَّحْمُ وَإِنَّمَا يَأْكُلْنَ الْعُلْقَةَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَلَمْ يَسْتَنْكِرِ الْقَوْمُ حِينَ رَفَعُوهُ ثِقَلَ الْهَوْدَجِ فَاحْتَمَلُوهُ وَكُنْتُ جَارِيَةً حَدِيثَةَ السِّنِّ فَبَعَثُوا الْجَمَلَ وَسَارُوا فَوَجَدْتُ عِقْدِي بَعْدَمَا اسْتَمَرَّ الْجَيْشُ فَجِئْتُ مَنْزِلَهُمْ وَلَيْسَ فِيهِ أَحَدٌ فَأَقَمْتُ مَنْزِلِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ بِهِ وَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُمْ سَيَفْقِدُونِي فَيَرْجِعُونَ إِلَيَّ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسَةٌ غَلَبَتْنِي عَيْنَايَ فَنِمْتُ وَكَانَ صَفْوَانُ بْنُ الْمُعَطَّلِ السُّلَمِيُّ ثُمَّ الذَّكْوَانِيُّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْجَيْشِ فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدَ مَنْزِلِي فَرَأَى سَوَادَ إِنْسَانٍ نَائِمٍ وَكَانَ يَرَانِي قَبْلَ الْحِجَابِ فَاسْتَيْقَظْتُ بِاسْتِرْجَاعِهِ حِينَ عَرَفَنِي فَخَمَّرْتُ وَجْهِي بِجِلْبَابِي وَاللَّهِ مَا تَكَلَّمْتُ بِكَلِمَةٍ وَلَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْهُ كَلِمَةً غَيْرَ اسْتِرْجَاعِهِ حَتَّى أَنَاخَ رَاحِلَتَهُ فَوَطِئَ يَدَهَا فَرَكِبْتُهَا فَانْطَلَقَ يَقُودُ بِيَ الرَّاحِلَةَ حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الْجَيْشَ بَعْدَمَا نَزَلُوا مُعَرِّسِينَ فِي نَحْرِ الظَّهِيرَةِ فَهَلَكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ وَكَانَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّى كِبْرَ الْإِفْكِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَيِّ بْنِ سَلُولٍ فَقَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ فَاشْتَكَيْتُ بِهَا شَهْرًا وَالنَّاسُ يُفِيضُونَ فِي قَوْلِ أَصْحَابِ الْإِفْكِ وَيُرِيبُنِي فِي وَجَعِي إِنِّي لَا أَرَى مِنَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ اللُّطْفَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرَى مِنْهُ حِينَ أَمْرَضُ إِنَّمَا يَدْخُلُ فَيُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ «كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ» وَلَا أَشْعُرُ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى نَقَهْتُ فَخَرَجْتُ أَنَا وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ بِنْتُ أَبِي رُهْمٍ قِبَلَ الْمَنَاصِعِ وَكَانَ مُتَبَرَّزَنَا لَا نُخْرُجُ إِلَّا لَيْلًا إِلَى لَيْلٍ وَذَلِكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ نَتَّخِذَ الْكُنُفَ قَرِيبًا مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا وَأَمَرُنَا أَمَرُ الْعَرَبِ الْأُوَلِ فِي الْبَرِيَّةِ أَوْ فِي التَّبَرُّزِ فَأَقْبَلْتُ أَنَا وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ بِنْتُ أَبِي رُهْمٍ نَمْشِي فَعَثَرَتْ فِي مِرْطِهَا فَقَالَتْ تَعِسَ مِسْطَحٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتِ أَتَسُبِّينَ رَجُلًا شَهِدَ بَدْرًا فَقَالَتْ يَا هَنَتَاهُ أَلَمْ تَسْمَعِي مَا قَالُوا فَأَخْبَرَتْنِي بِمَا يَقُولُ أَهْلُ الْإِفْكِ فَازْدَدْتُ مَرَضًا عَلَى مَرَضٍ فَلَمَّا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى بَيْتِي دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ «كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ» فَقُلْتُ ائْذَنْ لِي آتَى أَبَوَيَّ قَالَتْ وَأَنَا حِينَئِذٍ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْتَيْقِنَ الْخَبَرَ مِنْ قِبَلِهِمَا فَأَذِنَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَتَيْتُ أَبَوَيَّ فَقُلْتُ لِأُمِّي مَا يَتَحَدَّثُ بِهِ النَّاسُ فَقَالَتْ يَا بُنَيَّةُ هَوِّنِي عَلَى نَفْسِكِ الشَّأْنَ فَوَاللَّهِ لَقَلَّمَا كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ قَطُّ وَضِيئَةٌ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّهَا وَلَهَا ضَرَائِرُ إِلَّا أَكْثَرْنَ عَلَيْهَا فَقُلْتُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ تَحَدَّثَ النَّاسُ بِهَذَا؟ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ فَبِتُّ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ لَا يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلَا أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحْتُ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَأُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ حِينَ اسْتَلْبَثَ الْوَحْيُ يَسْتَشِيرُهُمَا فِي فِرَاقِ أَهْلِهِ فَأَمَّا أُسَامَةُ فَأَشَارَ عَلَيْهِ بِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ فِي نَفْسِهِ مِنَ الْوُدِّ لَهُمْ فَقَالَ أَهْلُكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَلَا نَعْلَمُ وَاللَّهِ إِلَّا خَيْرًا وَأَمَّا عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَمْ يُضَيِّقِ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَالنِّسَاءُ سِوَاهَا كَثِيرٌ وَسَلِ الْجَارِيَةَ تَصْدُقْكَ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَرِيرَةَ فَقَالَ «يَا بَرِيرَةُ هَلْ رَأَيْتِ فِيهَا شَيْئًا مَا يَرِيبُكِ؟ » فَقَالَتْ لَا وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنْ رَأَيْتُ مِنْهَا أَمْرًا أَغْمِصُهُ عَلَيْهَا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنَّهَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ تَنَامُ عَنِ الْعَجِينِ فَتَأْتِي الدَّاجِنُ فَتَأْكُلُهُ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ يَوْمِهِ فَاسْتَعْذَرَ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُبَيِّ بْنِ سَلُولٍ فَقَالَ مَنْ يَعْذِرُنِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ بَلَغَ أَذَاهُ فِي أَهْلِي وَوَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلَّا خَيْرًا وَقَدْ ذَكَرُوا رَجُلًا مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا خَيْرًا وَمَا كَانَ يَدْخُلُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلَّا مَعِي فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَأَنَا وَاللَّهِ أَعْذِرُكَ مِنْهُ إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْأَوْسِ ضَرَبْنَا عُنُقَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِنَا مِنَ الْخَزْرَجِ أَمَرْتَنَا فَفَعَلْنَا فِيهِ أَمْرَكَ فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ وَكَانَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ رَجُلًا صَالِحًا وَلَكِنِ احْتَمَلَتْهُ الْحَمِيَّةُ فَقَالَ كَذَبْتَ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ لَا تَقْتُلُهُ وَلَا تَقْدِرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَقَامَ أُسَيْدُ بْنُ حُضَيْرٍ فَقَالَ كَذَبْتَ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ لَنَقْتُلَنَّهُ فَإِنَّكَ مُنَافِقٌ تُجَادِلُ عَنِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فَثَارَ الْحَيَّانِ الْأَوْسُ وَالْخَزْرَجُ حَتَّى هَمُّوا وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَجَعَلَ يُخَفِّضُهُمْ حَتَّى سَكَتُوا وَمَكَثْتُ يَوْمِي لَا يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلَا أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدِي أَبَوَايَ وَقَدْ بَكَيْتُ لَيْلَتِي وَيَوْمِي حَتَّى أَظُنُّ أَنَّ الْبُكَاءَ فَالِقٌ كَبِدِي قَالَتْ فَبَيْنَا هُمَا جَالِسَانِ عِنْدِي وَأَنَا أَبْكِي إِذِ اسْتَأْذَنَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَأَذِنْتُ لَهَا فَجَلَسَتْ تَبْكِي مَعِي فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجَلَسَ وَلَمْ يَجْلِسْ عِنْدِي مِنْ يَوْمِ قِيلَ لِي مَا قِيلَ قَبْلَهَا وَقَدْ مَكَثَ شَهْرًا لَا يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ فِي شَأْنِي شَيْءٌ قَالَتْ فَتَشَهَّدَ ثُمَّ قَالَ «يَا عَائِشَةُ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَإِنْ كُنْتِ بَرِيئَةً فَسَيُبَرِّئُكِ اللَّهُ وَإِنْ كُنْتِ أَلْمَمْتِ فَاسْتَغْفِرِي اللَّهَ وَتُوبِي إِلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا اعْتَرَفَ بِذَنْبِهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ» فَلَمَّا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَقَالَتَهُ قَلَصَ دَمْعِي حَتَّى مَا أُحِسُّ مِنْهُ بِقَطْرَةٍ وَقُلْتُ لِأَبِي أَجِبْ عَنِّي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ لِأُمِّي أَجِيبِي عَنِّي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِيمَا قَالَ قَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ وَأَنَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ لَا أَقْرَأُ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ فَقُلْتُ إِي وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكُمْ سَمِعْتُمْ مَا تَحَدَّثَ النَّاسُ وَوَقَرَ فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَصَدَّقْتُمْ بِهِ وَلَئِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ لَا تُصَدِّقُونِي بِذَلِكَ وَإِنِ اعْتَرَفَتْ لَكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ لَتُصَدِّقُنِّي وَاللَّهِ مَا أَجِدُ لِي وَلَكُمْ مَثَلًا إِلَّا أَبَا يُوسُفَ إِذْ قَالَ {فَصَبَرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ} ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلْتُ عَلَى فِرَاشِي وَأَنَا أَرْجُو أَنْ يُبَرِّئَنِيَ اللَّهُ وَلَكِنْ وَاللَّهِ مَا ظَنَنْتُ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ فِي شَأْنِي وَحْيٌ وَلَأَنَا أَحْقَرُ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ أَنْ يُتَكَلَّمَ بِالْقُرْآنِ فِي أَمْرِي وَلَكِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ يَرَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي النَّوْمِ رُؤْيَا تُبَرِّئُنِي فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَامَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ وَلَا خَرَجَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ حَتَّى أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَخَذَهُ مَا كَانَ يَأْخُذُهُ مِنَ الْبُرَحَاءِ حَتَّى إِنَّهُ لَيَنْحَدِرُ مِنْهُ مِثْلُ الْجُمَانِ مِنَ الْعَرَقِ فِي يَوْمٍ شَاتٍ فَلَمَّا سُرِّيَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ يَضْحَكُ فَكَانَ أَوَّلُ كَلِمَةٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهَا أَنْ قَالَ «يَا عَائِشَةُ احْمَدِي اللَّهَ فَقَدْ بَرَّأَكِ اللَّهُ» فَقَالَتْ لِي أُمِّي قَوْمِي إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ لَا وَاللَّهِ لَا أَقُومُ إِلَيْهِ وَلَا أَحْمَدُ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى «{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالْإِفْكِ عَصَبَةٌ مِنْكُمْ} فَلَمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ هَذَا فِي بَرَاءَتِي قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ ؓ وَكَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحٍ لِقَرَابَتِهِ مِنْهُ وَاللَّهِ لَا أُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحٍ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا بَعْدَمَا قَالَ لِعَائِشَةَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ} فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لِي فَرَجَعَ إِلَى مِسْطَحٍ بِالَّذِي كَانَ يُجْرِي عَلَيْهِ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ سَأَلَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ جَحْشٍ عَنْ أَمْرِي فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَحْمِي سَمْعِي وَبَصْرِي وَكَانَتْ تُسَامِينِي فَعَصَمَهَا اللَّهُ بِالْوَرَعِ

We set out from our tribe Ghafir who look upon the prohibited months as permissible months. I and my brother Unais and our mother stayed with our maternal uncle who treated us well. The men of his tribe fell jealous and they said: When you are anay from your house, Unais commits adultery with your wife. Our -naternal uncle came and he accused us of the sin which was conveyed to him. I said: You have undone the good you did to us. We cannot stay with you after this. We came to our camels and loaded (our) luggage. Our maternal uncle began to weep covering himself with (a piece of) cloth. We proceeded on until we encamped by the side of Mecca. Unais cast lot on the camels (we had) and an equal number (above that). They both went to a Kahin and he made Unais win and Unais came with our camels and an equal number along with them. He (Abu Dharr) said: My nephew, I used to observe prayer three years before my meeting with Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I said: For whom did you say prayer? He said: For Allah. I said: To which direction did you turn your face (for observing prayer)? He said: I used to turn my face as Allah has directed me to turn my face. I used to observe the night prayer at the time of the end of night and I fell down in prostration like the mantle until the sun rose over me. Unais said: I have a work in Mecca, so you better stay here. Unais went until he came to Mecca and he came to me late. I said: What did you do? He said: I met a person in Mecca who is on your religion and he claims that verily it is Allah Who has sent him. I said: What do the people say about him? He said: They say that he is a poet or a Kahin or a magician. Unais who was himself one of the poets said. I have heard the words of a Kahin but his words in no way resemble his (words). And 1 also compared his words to the verses of poets but such words cannot be uttered by any poet. By Allah, he is truthful and they are liars. Then I said: you stay here, until I go, so that I should see him. He said: I came to Mecca and I selected an insignificant person from amongst them and said to him: Where is he whom you call as-Sabi? He pointed out towards me saying: He is Sabi. Thereupon the people of the valley attacked me with sods and bows until I fell down unconscious. I stood up after havin. regained my consciousness and I found as if I was a red idol. I came to Zamzarn and washed blood from me and drank water from it and listen, O son of my brother, I stayed there for thirty nights or days and there was no food for me but the water of Zamzarn. And I became so bulky that there appeared wrinkles upon my stomach, and I did not feel any hunger in my stomach. It was during this time that the people of Mecca slept in the moonlit night and none was there to eircumambulate the House but only two women who had been invoking the name of Isafa, and Na'ila (the two idols). They came to me while in their circuit and I said: Marry one with the other, but they did not dissuade from their invoking. They came to me and I said to them: Insert wood (in the idols' private parts). (I said this to them in such plain words) as I could not express in metaphorical terms. These women went away crying and saying: Had there been one amongst our people (he would have taught a lesson to you for the obscene words used for our idols before us). These women met Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Abu Bakr who had also been coming down the hill. He asked them: What has happened to you? They said: There is Sabi, who has hidden himself between the Ka'ba and its curtain. He said: What did he say to you? They said: He uttered such words before us as we cannot express. Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and he kissed the Black Stone and circumambulated the House along with his Companion and then observed prayer, and when he had finished his prayer, Abu Dharr said: I was the first to greet him with the salutation of peace and uttered (these words) in this way; Allah's Messen- ger, may there be peace upon you, whereupon he said: It may be upon you too and the mercy of Allah. He then said: Who are you? I said: From the tribe of Ghifar. He leaned his hand and placed his finger on his forehead and I said to myself: Perhaps he has not liked it that I belong to the tribe of Ghifar. I attempted to catch hold of his hand but his friend who knew about him more than I dissuaded me f rom doing so. He then lifted his head and said: Since how long have you been here? I said: I have been here for the last thirty nights or days. He said: Who has been feeding you? I said: There has been no food for me but the water of Zamzam. I have grown so bulky that there appear wrinkles upon my stomach and I do not feel any hunger. He said: It is blessed (water) and it also serves as food. Thereupon Abu Bakr said: Messenger of Allah, let me serve as a host to him for tonight, and then Messenger of Allah ﷺ proceeded forth and so did Abu Bakr and I went along with them. Abu Bakr opened the door and then he brought for us the raisins of Ta'if and that was the first food which I ate there. Then I stayed as long as I had to stay. I then came to Allah's Messenaer ﷺ and he said: I have been shown the land abound- ing in trees and I think it cannot be but that of Yathrib (that is the old name of Medina). You are a preacher to your people on my behalf. I hope Allah would benefit them through you and He would reward you. I came to Unais and he said: What have you done? I said: I have done that I have embraced Islam and I have testified (to the prophethood of Messenger of Allah). He said: I have no aversion for your religion and I also embrace Islam and testify (to the prophethood of Muhammad). Then both of us came to our mother and she said: I have no aversion for your religion and I also embrace Islam and testify to the prophethood of Muhammad. We then loaded our camels and came to our tribe Ghifir and half of the tribe embraced Islam and their chief was Aimi' b. Rahada Ghifirl and he was their leader and hall of the tribe said: We will embrace Islam when Messenger of Allah (may p,. ace be upon him) would come to Medina, and when Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Medina the remaining half also embraced Islam. Then a tribe Aslam came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: Messenger of Allah, we also embrace Islam like our brothers who have embraced Islam. And they also embraced Islam. Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Allah granted pardon to the tribe of Ghifar and Allah saved (from destruction) the tribe of Aslam. (Using translation from Muslim 2473a)

أَبُو ذَرٍّ خَرَجْنَا فِي قَوْمِنَا غِفَارٍ وَكَانُوا يَحِلُّونَ الشَّهْرَ الْحَرَامَ فَخَرَجْتُ أَنَا وَأَخِي أُنَيْسٌ وَأُمُّنَّا فَنَزَلْنَا عَلَى خَالٍ لَنَا فَأَكْرَمَنَا خَالُنَا وَأَحْسَنَ إِلَيْنَا فَحَسَدَنَا قَوْمُهُ فَقَالُوا إِنَّكَ إِذَا خَرَجْتَ عَنْ أَهْلِكَ خَالَفَكَ إِلَيْهِمْ أُنَيْسٌ فَجَاءَ خَالُنَا فَذَكَرَ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُ فَقُلْتُ أَمَّا مَا مَضَى مِنْ مَعْرُوفِكَ فَقَدْ كَدَّرْتَهُ وَلَا حَاجَةَ لَنَا فِيمَا بَعْدُ قَالَ فَقَدَّمْنَا صِرْمَتَنَا فَاحْتَمَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا فَانْطَلَقْنَا حَتَّى نَزَلْنَا بِحَضْرَةِ مَكَّةَ قَالَ وَقَدْ صَلَّيْتُ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي قَبْلَ أَنْ أَلْقَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِمَنْ؟ قَالَ لِلَّهِ قُلْتُ فَأَيْنَ تَوَجَّهُ؟ قَالَ أَتَوَجَّهُ حَيْثُ يُوَجِّهُنِي رَبِّي أُصَلِّي عَشِيًّا حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ أُلْقِيتُ حَتَّى تَعْلُوَنِي الشَّمْسُ قَالَ أُنَيْسٌ إِنَّ لِيَ حَاجَةً بِمَكَّةَ فَانْطَلَقَ أُنَيْسٌ حَتَّى أَتَى مَكَّةَ قَالَ ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَقُلْتُ مَا صَنَعْتَ؟ قَالَ لَقِيتُ رَجُلًا بِمَكَّةَ عَلَى دِينِكَ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَرْسَلَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا يَقُولُ النَّاسُ؟ قَالَ يَقُولُونَ شَاعِرٌ كَاهِنٌ سَاحِرٌ قَالَ فَكَانَ أُنَيْسٌ أَحَدَ الشُّعَرَاءِ قَالَ أُنَيْسُ لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ قَوْلَ الْكَهَنَةِ وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِهِمْ وَلَقَدْ وَضَعْتُ قَوْلَهُ عَلَى أَقْرَاءِ الشَّعْرِ فَمَا يَلْتَئِمُ عَلَى لِسَانِ أَحَدٍ بَعْدِي أَنَّهُ شِعْرٌ وَاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَصَادِقٌ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَاكْفِنِي حَتَّى أَذْهَبَ فَأَنْظُرَ فَأَتَيْتُ مَكَّةَ فَتَضَيَّفْتُ رَجُلًا مِنْهُمْ فَقُلْتُ أَيْنَ هَذَا الَّذِي تَدْعُونَهُ الصَّابِئَ؟ قَالَ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيَّ وَقَالَ الصَّابِئَ قَالَ فَمَالَ عَلَيَّ أَهْلُ الْوَادِي بِكُلِّ مَدَرَةٍ وَعَظْمٍ حَتَّى خَرَرْتُ مَغْشِيًّا عَلَيَّ فَارْتَفَعْتُ حِينَ ارْتَفَعْتُ كَأَنِّي نَصْبٌ أَحْمَرٌ فَأَتَيْتُ زَمْزَمَ فَغَسَلْتُ عَنِّي الدِّمَاءَ وَشَرِبْتُ مِنْ مَائِهَا وَقَدْ لَبِثْتُ مَا بَيْنَ ثَلَاثِينَ مِنْ لَيْلَةٍ وَيَوْمٍ مَالِي طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مَاءُ زَمْزَمَ فَسَمِنْتُ حَتَّى تَكَسَّرَتْ عُكَنُ بَطْنِي وَمَا وَجَدْتُ عَلَى كَبِدِي سُخْفَةَ جُوعٍ قَالَ فَبَيْنَا أَهْلُ مَكَّةَ فِي لَيْلَةٍ قَمْرَاءَ إِضْحِيَانَ إِذْ ضُرِبَ عَلَى أَسْمِخَتِهِمْ فَمَا يَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ أَحَدٌ وَامْرَأَتَانِ مِنْهُمْ تَدْعُوَانِ إِسَافًا وَنَائِلَةَ قَالَ فَأَتَتَا عَلَيَّ فِي طَوَافِهِمَا فَقُلْتُ أَنْكِحَا أَحَدَهُمَا الْآخَرَ قَالَ فَمَا تَنَاهَتَا عَنْ قَوْلِهِمَا فَأَتَتَا عَلَيَّ فَقُلْتُ هُنَّ مِثْلُ الْخَشَبَةِ فَرَجَعَتَا تَقُولَانِ لَوْ كَانَ هَاهُنَا أَحَدٌ فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَهُمَا هَابِطَانِ فَقَالَ «مَا لَكُمَا؟ » قَالَتَا الصَّابِئُ بَيْنَ الْكَعْبَةِ وَأَسْتَارِهَا قَالَا «مَا قَالَ لَكُمَا؟ » قَالَتَا إِنَّهُ قَالَ لَنَا كَلِمَةً تَمْلَأُ الْفَمَ قَالَ وَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى اسْتَلَمَ الْحَجَرَ ثُمَّ طَافَ بِالْبَيْتِ هُوَ وَصَاحِبُهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى فَقَالَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ فَكُنْتُ أَوَّلَ مَنْ حَيَّاهُ بِتَحِيَّةِ الْإِسْلَامِ قَالَ «وَعَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «مِمَّنْ أَنْتَ؟ » فَقُلْتُ مِنْ غِفَارٍ قَالَ فَأَهْوَى بِيَدِهِ وَوَضَعَ أَصَابِعَهُ عَلَى جَبْهَتِهِ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي كَرِهَ أَنِّي انْتَمَيْتُ إِلَى غِفَارٍ قَالَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَقَالَ «مُذْ مَتَى كُنْتَ هَاهُنَا؟ » قَالَ كُنْتُ هَاهُنَا مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ بَيْنَ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ قَالَ «فَمَنْ كَانَ يُطْعِمُكَ؟ » قُلْتُ مَا كَانَ لِي طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مَاءُ زَمْزَمَ فَسَمِنْتُ حَتَّى تَكَسَّرَتْ عُكَنُ بَطْنِي قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «إِنَّهَا مُبَارَكَةٌ إِنَّهَا طَعَامُ طُعْمٍ» فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ائْذَنْ لِي فِي طَعَامِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ فَانْطَلَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ فَانْطَلَقْتُ مَعَهُمَا فَفَتَحَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بَابًا فَجَعَلَ يَقْبِضُ لَنَا مِنْ زَبِيبِ الطَّائِفِ فَكَانَ ذَلِكَ أَوَّلُ طَعَامٍ أَكَلْتُهُ بِهَا ثُمَّ غَبَرْتُ مَا غَبَرْتُ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ «إِنَّهُ قَدْ وُجِّهَتْ لِي أَرْضٌ ذَاتُ نَخْلٍ مَا أُرَاهَا إِلَّا يَثْرِبَ فَهَلْ أَنْتَ مُبَلَّغٍ عَنِّي قَوْمَكَ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يَهْدِيَهُمُ بِكَ وَيَأْجُرَكَ فِيهِمْ» قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ فَلَقِيتُ أُنَيْسًا فَقَالَ مَا صَنَعْتَ؟ قُلْتُ صَنَعْتُ أَنِّي قَدْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَصَدَّقْتُ قَالَ مَا بِي رَغْبَةٌ عَنْ دِينِكِ فَإِنِّي قَدْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَصَدَّقْتُ قَالَ فَأَتَيْنَا أُمَّنَا فَقَالَتْ مَا بِي رَغْبَةٌ عَنْ دِينِكُمَا فَإِنِّي قَدْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَصَدَّقْتُ فَاحْتَمَلْنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا قَوْمَنَا غِفَارًا فَأَسْلَمَ نِصْفُهُمْ وَكَانَ يَؤُمُّهُمْ إِيمَاءُ بْنُ رَحَضَةَ وَكَانَ سَيِّدَهُمْ وَقَالَ نِصْفُهُمْ إِذَا قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَدِينَةَ أَسْلَمْنَا فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَدِينَةَ أَسْلَمَ نِصْفُهُمُ الْبَاقِي وَجَاءَتْ أَسْلَمُ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِخْوَانُنَا نُسَلِّمُ عَلَى الَّذِي أَسْلَمُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «غِفَارٌ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهَا وَأَسْلَمُ سَالَمَهَا اللَّهُ»

[Machine] We said, "O Messenger of Allah, will we see our Lord?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Do you have difficulty in seeing the sun during a clear day?" We said, "No." He said, "Do you have difficulty in seeing the moon on a full moon night?" We said, "No." He said, "Indeed, you will not have difficulty in seeing your Lord, just as you have no difficulty in seeing the sun and the moon. He will call out in a loud voice, 'Everyone shall follow what they used to worship!' The people of the cross shall go with their cross, and the people of idols shall go with their idols, and the people of every deity shall go with their deity. Those who worshipped Allah alone, both the righteous and the wicked, will remain. Then Hell will be brought forth and presented as if it were a mirage. It will be said to the Jews, 'What were you worshipping?' They will say, 'We used to worship 'Uzair (Ezra), the son of Allah.' It will be said, 'You have lied. Allah did not take a son or companion. What do you want?' They will say, 'We want to drink.' It will be said, 'Drink,' and they will fall into Hell. Then it will be said to the Christians, 'What were you worshipping?' They will say, 'We used to worship the Messiah, the son of Allah.' It will be said, 'You have lied. Allah did not take a son or companion. What do you want?' They will say, 'We want to drink.' It will be said, 'Drink,' and they will fall into Hell. Only those who worshipped Allah alone, whether righteous or wicked, will remain. It will be said to them, 'What is stopping you from joining the people who have

قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَرَى رَبَّنَا؟ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «هَلْ تُضَارُّونَ فِي رُؤْيَةِ الشَّمْسِ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمَ صَحْوٍ؟ » قُلْنَا لَا قَالَ «هَلْ تُضَارُّونَ فِي رُؤْيَةِ الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ إِذَا كَانَ صَحْوًا؟ » قُلْنَا لَا قَالَ «فَإِنَّكُمْ لَا تُضَارُّونَ فِي رُؤْيَةِ رَبِّكُمْ إِلَّا كَمَا لَا تُضَارُّونَ فِي رُؤْيَتِهِمَا يُنَادِي مُنَادٍ فَيَقُولُ لِيَلْحَقْ كُلُّ قَوْمٍ بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ قَالَ فَيَذْهَبُ أَهْلُ الصَّلِيبِ مَعَ صَلِيبِهِمْ وَأَهْلُ الْأَوْثَانِ مَعَ أَوْثَانِهِمْ وَأَصْحَابُ كُلِّ آلِهَةٍ مَعَ آلِهَتِهِمْ وَيَبْقَى مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ مِنْ بَرٍّ وَفَاجِرٍ وَغُبَّرَاتٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ ثُمَّ يُؤْتَى بِجَهَنَّمَ تُعْرَضُ كَأَنَّهَا سَرَابٌ فَيُقَالُ لِلْيَهُودِ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْبُدُونَ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ كُنَّا نَعْبُدُ عُزَيْرًا ابْنَ اللَّهِ فَيُقَالُ كَذَبْتُمْ مَا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ صَاحِبَةً وَلَا وَلَدًا مَا تُرِيدُونَ؟ قَالُوا نُرِيدُ أَنْ تَسْقِيَنَا فَيُقَالُ اشْرَبُوا فَيَتَسَاقَطُونَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لِلنَّصَارَى مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْبُدُونَ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ كُنَّا نَعْبُدُ الْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ اللَّهِ فَيُقَالُ كَذَبْتُمْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ صَاحِبَةٌ وَلَا وَلَدٌ مَاذَا تُرِيدُونَ؟ قَالُوا نُرِيدُ أَنْ تَسْقِيَنَا فَيُقَالُ اشْرَبُوا فَيَتَسَاقَطُونَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ حَتَّى يَبْقَى مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ مِنْ بَرٍّ وَفَاجِرٍ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ مَا يَحْبِسُكُمْ وَقَدْ ذَهَبَ النَّاسُ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ قَدْ فَارَقْنَاهُمْ وَإِنَّا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِيَلْحَقْ كُلُّ قَوْمٍ بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ وَإِنَّا نَنْتَظِرُ رَبَّنَا قَالَ فَيَأْتِيهِمُ الْجَبَّارُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَيَقُولُ أَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُ إِلَّا نَبِيٌّ فَيُقَالُ هَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُ آيَةٌ تَعْرِفُونَهَا؟ فَيَقُولُونَ السَّاقُ فَيُكْشَفُ عَنْ سَاقٍ فَيَسْجُدُ لَهُ كُلُّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَيَبْقَى مَنْ كَانَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُ رِيَاءً وَسُمْعَةً فَيَذْهَبُ يَسْجُدُ فَيَعُودُ ظَهْرُهُ طَبَقًا وَاحِدًا ثُمَّ يُؤْتَى بِ الْجَسْرِ فَيُجْعَلُ بَيْنَ ظَهْرَانِي جَهَنَّمَ» فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا الْجِسْرُ؟ قَالَ «مَدْحَضَةٌ مَزَلَّةٌ عَلَيْهِ خَطَاطِيفُ وَكَلَالِيبُ وَحَسَكَةٌ مُفَلْطَحَةٌ لَهَا شَوْكٌ عُقَيْفَاءُ تَكُونُ بِنَجْدٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا السَّعْدَانُ يَجُوزُ الْمُؤْمِنُ كَالطَّرْفِ وَكَالْبَرْقِ وَكَالرِّيحِ وَكَأَجَاوِيدِ الْخَيْلِ وَكَالرَّاكِبِ فَنَاجٍ مُسَلَّمٌ وَمَخْدُوشٌ مُسَلَّمٌ وَمَكْدُوسٌ فِي جَهَنَّمَ حَتَّى يَمُرَّ آخِرُهُمْ يُسْحَبُ سَحْبًا وَالْحَقُّ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا رَأَوْا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ نَجَوْا وَبَقِيَ إِخْوَانُهُمْ يَقُولُونَ يَا رَبَّنَا إِخْوَانُنَا كَانُوا يُصَلُّونَ مَعَنَا وَيَصُومُونَ مَعَنَا وَيَعْمَلُونَ مَعَنَا فَيَقُولُ الرَّبُّ جَلَّ وَعَلَا اذْهَبُوا فَمَنْ وَجَدْتُمْ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالَ دِينَارٍ مِنْ إِيمَانٍ فَأَخْرِجُوهُ وَيُحَرِّمُ اللَّهُ صُوَرَهُمْ عَلَى النَّارِ فَيَأْتُونَهُمْ وَبَعْضُهُمْ قَدْ غَابَ فِي النَّارِ إِلَى قَدَمَيْهِ وَإِلَى أَنْصَافِ سَاقَيْهِ فَيَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ النَّارِ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ ثَانِيَةً فَيَقُولُ اذْهَبُوا فَمَنْ وَجَدْتُمْ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالَ نِصْفِ دِينَارٍ مِنْ إِيمَانٍ فَأَخْرِجُوهُ فَيُخْرِجُونَ مِنَ النَّارِ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ الثَّالِثَةَ فَيُقَالُ اذْهَبُوا فَمَنْ وَجَدْتُمْ فِي قَلْبِهِ حَبَّةً إِيمَانٍ فَأَخْرِجُوهُ فَيُخْرِجُونَ» قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ «وَإِنْ لَمْ تُصَدِّقُونِي فَاقْرَؤُوا قَوْلَ اللَّهِ {إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ وَإِنْ تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَاعِفْهَا وَيُؤْتِ مِنْ لَدُنْهُ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا} فَتَشْفَعُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالنَّبِيُّونَ وَالصِّدِّيقُونَ فَيَقُولُ الْجَبَّارُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ بَقِيَتْ شَفَاعَتِي فَيَقْبِضُ الْجَبَّارُ قَبْضَةً مِنَ النَّارِ فَيُخْرِجُ أَقْوَامًا قَدِ امْتُحِشُوا فَيُلْقَوْنَ فِي نَهَرٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ الْحَيَاةُ فَيَنْبُتُونَ فِيهِ كَمَا تَنْبُتُ الْحَبَّةُ فِي حَمِيلِ السَّيْلِ هَلْ رَأَيْتُمُوهَا إِلَى جَانِبِ الصَّخْرَةِ أَوْ جَانِبِ الشَّجَرَةِ فَمَا كَانَ إِلَى الشَّمْسِ مِنْهَا كَانَ أَخْضَرَ وَمَا كَانَ إِلَى الظِّلِّ كَانَ أَبْيَضَ فَيَخْرُجُونَ مَثْلَ اللُّؤْلُؤَةِ فَيُجْعَلُ فِي رِقَابِهِمُ الْخَوَاتِيمُ فَيَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ فَيَقُولُ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ هَؤُلَاءِ عُتَقَاءُ الرَّحْمَنِ أَدْخَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ بِغَيْرِ عَمَلٍ عَمِلُوهُ وَلَا قَدَمٍ قَدَّمُوهُ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ لَكُمْ مَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ وَمِثْلُهُ مَعَهُ» قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ «بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ الْجِسْرَ أَدَقُّ مِنَ الشَّعْرِ وَأَحَدُّ مِنَ السَّيْفِ»

[Machine] He said, "I was a man from the people of Jeyy in the city of Isfahan. While I was contemplating the truth of the heavens and the earth, Allah inspired me in my heart. So, I went to a man who did not speak to people often. I asked him, 'Which religion is the best?' He responded, 'What is your concern with this matter? Do you want a religion other than your father's?' I said, 'No, but I want to know who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth and which religion is the best.' He said, 'I do not know anyone on this except for a monk who is in Mosul.' So, I went to him and stayed with him for three years. He used to fast during the day and pray at night, and I worshiped as he did. Then, he passed away, and I said to him, 'Who should I go to?' He said, 'I do not know anyone on the earth who follows what I follow except for a hermit behind the island. Go to him and give him my greetings.' So, I went to him and greeted him and informed him that the monk had passed away. I stayed with him for three years, and then he also passed away. I said to him, 'Who should I go to?' He said, 'I do not know anyone on the earth who follows what I follow except for a great sheikh in Ammuriyyah. I do not know if he is still alive or not.' So, I went to him, and when I reached him, I found him in a wide state. When death approached him, I asked him, 'Where should I go?' He said, 'I do not know anyone on the earth who follows what I follow, but if you encounter a time when you hear of a man coming out of the house of Ibrahim ﷺ and you have the opportunity to be with him, then do so, for he is on the right path. Its sign is that his people say he is a magician, insane,

قَالَ كُنْتُ رَجُلًا مِنْ أَهْلِ جَيٍّ مَدِينَةِ أَصْبَهَانَ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا إِذْ أَلْقَى اللهُ فِي قَلْبِي مِنْ حَقِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى رَجُلٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ يَتَحَرَّجُ فَسَأَلْتُهُ أَيُّ الدِّينِ أَفْضَلُ؟ فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ وَلِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ؟ أَتُرِيدُ دِينًا غَيْرَ دِينِ أَبِيكَ؟ قُلْتُ لَا وَلَكِنْ أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَعْلَمَ مَنْ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَيُّ دِينٍ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ مَا أَعْلَمُ أَحَدًا عَلَى هَذَا غَيْرَ رَاهِبٍ بِالْمَوْصِلِ قَالَ فَذَهَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَكُنْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ قَدْ أُقْتِرَ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَكَانَ يَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَيَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَكُنْتُ أَعْبُدُ كَعِبَادَتِهِ فَلَبِثْتُ عِنْدَهُ ثَلَاثَ سِنِينَ ثُمَّ تُوُفِّيَ فَقُلْتُ إِلَى مَنْ تُوصِي بِي؟ فَقَالَ مَا أَعْلَمُ أَحَدًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَشْرِقِ عَلَى مَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ فَعَلَيْكَ بِرَاهِبٍ وَرَاءَ الْجَزِيرَةِ فَأَقْرِئْهُ مِنِّي السَّلَامَ قَالَ فَجِئْتُهُ وَأَقْرَأْتُهُ السَّلَامَ وَأَخْبَرْتُهُ أَنَّهُ قَدْ تُوُفِّيَ فَمَكَثْتُ أَيْضًا عِنْدَهُ ثَلَاثَ سِنِينَ ثُمَّ تُوُفِّيَ فَقُلْتُ إِلَى مَنْ تَأْمُرُنِي أَنْ أَذْهَبَ؟ قَالَ مَا أَعْلَمُ أَحَدًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ عَلَى مَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ غَيْرَ رَاهِبٍ بِعَمُّورِيَّةَ شَيْخٍ كَبِيرٍ وَمَا أَرَى تَلْحَقُهُ أَمْ لَا فَذَهَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَكُنْتُ عِنْدَهَ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ مُوَسَّعٌ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ قُلْتُ لَهُ أَيْنَ تَأْمُرُنِي أَنْ أَذْهَبَ؟ قَالَ مَا أَعْلَمُ أَحَدًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ عَلَى مَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ لَكِنْ إِنْ أَدْرَكْتَ زَمَانًا يُسْمَعُ بِرَجُلٍ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بَيْتِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ﷺ وَمَا أَرَاكَ تُدْرِكُهُ وَقَدْ كُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ أُدْرِكَهُ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَكُونَ مَعَهُ فَافْعَلْ فَإِنَّهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ وأَمَارَةُ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ قَوْمَهُ يَقُولُونَ سَاحِرٌ مَجْنُونٌ كَاهِنٌ وَأَنَّهُ يَأْكُلُ الْهَدِيَّةَ وَلَا يَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ وَأَنَّ عِنْدَ غُرْضُوفِ كَتِفَيْهِ خَاتَمُ النُّبُوَّةِ وَبَيْنَمَا أَنَا كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى أَتَتْ عِيرٌ مِنْ نَحْوِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ أَنْتُمْ؟ قَالُوا نَحْنُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَنَحْنُ قَوْمٌ تُجَّارٌ نَعِيشُ بِتِجارَتِنَا وَلَكِنَّهُ قَدْ خَرَجَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ﷺ فَقَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا وَقَوْمُهُ يُقَاتِلُونَهُ وَقَدْ خَشِينَا أَنْ يَحُولَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ تِجَارَتِنَا وَلَكِنَّهُ قَدْ مَلَكَ الْمَدِينَةَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ مَا يَقُولُونَ فِيهِ؟ قَالُوا يَقُولُونَ سَاحِرٌ مَجْنُونٌ كَاهِنٌ فَقُلْتُ هَذِهِ الْأَمَارَةُ دُلُّونِي عَلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ فَجِئْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ تَحْمِلُنِي إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ؟ قَالَ مَا تُعْطِينِي؟ قُلْتُ مَا أَجِدُ شَيْئًا أُعْطِيكَ غَيْرَ أَنِّي لَكَ عَبْدٌ فَحَمَلَنِي فَلَمَّا قَدِمْتُ جَعَلَنِي فِي نَخْلِهِ فَكُنْتُ أَسْقِي كَمَا يَسْقِي الْبَعِيرُ حَتَّى دَبُرَ ظَهْرِي وَصَدْرِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَلَا أَجِدُ أَحَدًا يَفْقَهُ كَلَامِي حَتَّى جَاءَتْ عَجُوزٌ فَارِسِيَّةٌ تَسْقِي فَكَلَّمْتُهَا فَفَهِمَتْ كَلَامِي فَقُلْتُ لَهَا أَيْنَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي خَرَجَ دُلَّنِي عَلَيْهِ؟ قَالَتْ سَيَمُرُّ عَلَيْكَ بُكْرَةً إِذَا صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ مِنْ أَوَّلِ النَّهَارِ فَخَرَجْتُ فَجَمَعْتُ تَمْرًا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْتُ جِئْتُ فَقَرَّبَتُ إِلَيْهِ التَّمْرَ فَقَالَ «مَا هَذَا صَدَقَةٌ أَمْ هَدِيَّةٌ؟» فَأَشَرْتُ أَنَّهُ صَدَقَةٌ قَالَ «انْطَلِقْ إِلَى هَؤُلَاءِ» وَأَصْحَابُهُ عِنْدَهُ فَأَكَلُوا وَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ فَقُلْتُ هَذِهِ الْإِمَارَةُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ الْغَدِ جِئْتُ بِتَمْرٍ فَقَالَ «مَا هَذَا؟» فَقُلْتُ هَذِهِ هَدِيَّةٌ فَأَكَلَ وَدَعَا أَصْحَابَهُ فَأَكَلُوا ثُمَّ رَآنِي أَتَعَرَّضُ لَأَنْظُرَ إِلَى الْخَاتَمِ فَعَرَفَ فَأَلْقَى رِدَاءَهُ فَأَخَذْتُ أُقَلِّبُهُ وَأَلْتَزِمُهُ فَقَالَ «مَا شَأْنُكَ؟» فَسَأَلَنِي فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ خَبَرِي فَقَالَ «اشْتَرَطْتَ لَهُمْ أَنَّكَ عَبْدٌ اشْتَرِ نَفْسَكَ مِنْهُمْ» فَاشْتَرَاهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنْ يَجِيءَ لَهُمْ بِمائَةِ نَخْلَةٍ وَأَرْبَعِينَ أُوقِيَّةَ ذَهَبٍ ثُمَّ هُوَ حُرٌّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «اغْرِسْ» فَغَرَسَ ثُمَّ انْطَلِقْ فَأَلْقِ الدَّلْوَ عَلَى الْبِئْرِ ثُمَّ لَا تَرْفَعْهُ حَتَّى يَرْتَفِعَ فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا امْتَلَأَ ارْتَفَعَ ثُمَّ رُشَّ فِي أُصُولِهَا فَفَعَلَ فَنَبَتَ النَّخْلُ أَسْرَعَ النَّبَاتِ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ مَا رَأَيْنَا مِثْلَ هَذَا الْعَبْدِ إِنَّ لِهَذَا الْعَبْدِ شَأْنًا فَاجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ فَأَعْطَاهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ تِبْرًا فَإِذَا فِيهِ أَرْبَعُونَ أُوقِيَّةً

وَعَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ قُلْتُ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ يُحِبُّكَ قَالَ أَحَبَّهُ اللهُ فَتَحَدَّثْنَا وَقُلْنَا لَهُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ أَلَا تُحَدِّثُنَا عَنْ أَصْلِكَ وَمِمَّنْ أَنْتَ؟ قَالَ أَمَّا أَصْلِي وَمِمَّنْ أَنَا فَأَنَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ رَامَهُرْمُزَ كُنَّا قَوْمًا مَجُوسًا فَأَتَانَا رَجُلٌ نَصْرَانِيٌّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَزِيرَةِ كَانَتْ أُمُّهُ مِنَّا فَنَزَلَ فِينَا وَاتَّخَذَ فِينَا دَيْرًا قَالَ وَكُنْتُ فِي كُتَّابِ الْفَارِسِيَّةِ وَكَانَ لَا يَزَالُ غُلَامٌ مَعِي فِي الْكُتَّابِ يَجِيءُ مَضْرُوبًا يَبْكِي قَدْ ضَرَبَهُ أَبَوَاهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَوْمًا مَا يُبْكِيكَ؟ قَالَ يَضْرِبُنِي أَبَوَايَ قُلْتُ وَلِمَ يَضْرِبَانِكَ؟ قَالَ آتِي صَاحِبَ هَذَا الدَّيْرِ فَإِذَا عَلِمَا ذَلِكَ ضَرَبَانِي وَأَنْتَ لَوْ أَتَيْتَهُ سَمِعْتَ مِنْهُ حَدِيثًا عَجِيبًا قُلْتُ فَاذْهَبْ بِي مَعَكَ فَأَتَيْنَاهُ فَحَدَّثَنَا عَنْ بَدْءِ الْخَلْقِ وَعَنْ بَدْءِ خَلْقِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَعَنِ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ قَالَ فَحَدَّثَنَا بِأَحَادِيثَ عَجَبٍ قَالَ وَكُنْتُ أَخْتَلِفُ إِلَيْهِ مَعَهُ قَالَ فَفَطِنَ لَنَا غِلْمَانٌ مِنَ الْكُتَّابِ فَجَعَلُوا يَجِيئُونَ مَعَنَا فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ أَهْلُ الْقَرْيَةِ أَتَوْهُ فَقَالُوا لَهُ يَا هَذَا إِنَّكَ قَدْ جَاوَرْتَنَا فَلَمْ تَرَ مِنْ جِوَارِنَا إِلَّا الْحَسَنَ وَإِنَّا نَرَى غِلْمَانَنَا يَخْتَلِفُونَ إِلَيْكَ وَنَحْنُ نَخَافُ أَنْ تُفْسِدَهُمْ عَلَيْنَا اخْرُجْ عَنَّا قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لِذَلِكَ الْغُلَامِ الَّذِي كَانَ يَأْتِيهِ اخْرُجْ مَعِي قَالَ لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ ذَاكَ وَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ شِدَّةَ أَبَوَيَّ عَلَيَّ قُلْتُ لَكِنِّي أَخْرَجُ مَعَكَ وَكُنْتُ يَتِيمًا لَا أَبَ لِي فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ فَأَخَذْنَا جَبَلَ رَامَهُرْمُزَ فَجَعَلْنَا نَمْشِي ونَتَوَكَّلُ وَنَأْكُلُ مِنْ ثَمَرِ الشَّجَرِ حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا الْجَزِيرَةَ فَقَدِمْنَا نَصِبَيْنِ فَقَالَ لِي صَاحِبِي يَا سَلْمَانُ إِنَّ هَهُنَا قَوْمًا هُمْ عُبَّادُ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ وَأَنَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَلْقَاهُمْ قَالَ فَجِئْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْأَحَدِ وَقَدِ اجْتَمَعُوا فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَاحِبِي فَحَيَّوْهُ وبَشُّوا بِهِ وَقَالُوا أَيْنَ كَانَتْ غَيْبَتُكَ؟ قَالَ كُنْتُ فِي إِخْوَانٍ لِي مِنْ قِبَلِ فَارِسَ فَتَحَدَّثْنَا مَا تَحَدَّثْنَا ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي صَاحِبِي قُمْ يَا سَلْمَانُ انْطَلِقْ فَقُلْتُ لَا دَعْنِي مَعَ هَؤُلَاءِ قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَا تُطِيقُ مَا يُطِيقُ هَؤُلَاءِ يَصُومُونَ الْأَحَدَ إِلَى الْأَحَدِ وَلَا يَنَامُونَ هَذَا اللَّيْلَ وَإِذَا فِيهِمْ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْمُلُوكِ تَرَكَ الْمُلْكَ وَدَخَلَ فِي الْعِبَادَةِ فَكُنْتُ فِيهِمْ حَتَّى أَمْسَيْنَا فَجَعَلُوا يَذْهَبُونَ وَاحِدًا وَاحِدًا إِلَى غَارِهِ الَّذِي يَكُونُ فِيهِ قَالَ فَلَمَّا أَمْسَيْنَا قَالَ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْمُلُوكِ مَا هَذَا الْغُلَامُ لَا تَضَعُوهُ لِيَأْخُذَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْكُمْ فَقَالُوا خُذْهُ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ لِي هَلُمَّ يَا سَلْمَانُ فَذَهَبَ بِي مَعَهُ حَتَّى أَتَى غَارَهُ الَّذِي يَكُونُ فِيهِ فَقَالَ يَا سَلْمَانُ هَذَا خُبْزٌ وَهَذَا أَدَمٌ فَكُلْ إِذَا غَرِثْتَ وَصُمْ إِذَا نَشِطْتَ وَصَلِّ مَا بَدَا لَكَ وَنَمْ إِذَا كَسِلْتَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فَلَمْ يُكَلِّمْنِي إِلَّا ذَلِكَ وَلَمْ يَنْظُرْ إِلَيَّ فَأَخَذَنِي الْغَمُّ تِلْكَ السَّبْعَةَ أَيَّامٍ لَا يُكَلِّمُنِي أَحَدٌ حَتَّى كَانَ الْأَحَدُ فَذَهَبْنَا إِلَى مَكَانِهِمُ الَّذِي كَانُوا يَجْتَمِعُونَ قَالَ وَهُمْ يَجْتَمِعُونَ كُلَّ أَحَدٍ يُفْطِرُونَ فِيهِ فَيَلْقَى بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا فَيُسَلِّمُ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ ثُمَّ لَا يَلْتَقُونَ إِلَى مِثْلِهِ قَالَ فَرَجَعْنَا إِلَى مَنْزِلِنَا فَقَالَ لِي مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ هَذَا خُبْزٌ وَأَدَمٌ فَكُلْ مِنْهُ إِذَا غَرِثْتَ وَصُمْ إِذَا نَشِطْتَ وَصَلِّ مَا بَدَا لَكَ وَنَمْ إِذَا كَسِلْتَ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فَلَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ إِلَيَّ وَلَمْ يُكَلِّمْنِي إِلَى الْأَحَدِ الْآخَرِ وأَخَذَنِي غَمٌّ وَحَدَّثْتُ نَفْسِي بِالْفِرَارِ فَقُلْتُ أَصْبِرُ أَحَدَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةً وَلَمَّا كَانَ الْأَحَدُ رَجَعْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فَأَفْطَرُوا وَاجْتَمَعُوا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ فَقَالُوا لَهُ وَمَا تُرِيدُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ لَا عَهْدَ لِي بِهِ قَالُوا إِنَّا نَخَافُ أَنْ يَحْدُثَ بِكَ حَدَثٌ فَيَلِيَكَ غَيْرُنَا وَكُنَّا نُحِبُّ أَنْ نَلِيَكَ قَالَ لَا عَهْدَ لِي بِهِ فَلَمَّا سَمِعْتُهُ يَذْكُرُ ذَلِكَ فَرِحْتُ قُلْتُ نُسَافِرُ ونَلْقَى النَّاسَ فَيَذْهَبُ عَنِّي الْغَمُّ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَجِدُ فَخَرَجْتُ أَنَا وَهُوَ وَكَانَ يَصُومُ مِنَ الْأَحَدِ إِلَى الْأَحَدِ وَيُصَلِّي اللَّيْلَ كُلَّهُ وَيَمْشِي النَّهَارَ فَإِذَا نَزَلْنَا قَامَ يُصَلِّي فَلَمْ يَزَلْ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ وَعَلَى الْبَابِ رَجُلٌ مُقْعَدٌ يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ فَقَالَ اعْطِنِي فَقَالَ مَا مَعِي شَيْءٌ فَدَخَلْنَا بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ أَهْلُ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ بَشُّوا إِلَيْهِ وَاسْتَبْشَرُوا بِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ غُلَامِي هَذَا فَاسْتَوْصُوا بِهِ فَانْطَلَقُوا بِي فَأَطْعَمُونِي خُبْزًا وَلَحْمًا وَدَخَلَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَلَمْ يَنْصَرِفْ إِلَيَّ حَتَّى كَانَ يَوْمُ الْأَحَدِ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا سَلْمَانُ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَضَعَ رَأْسِي فَإِذَا بَلَغَ الظِّلُّ مَكَانَ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَأَيْقِظْنِي فَوَضَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَنَامَ فَبَلَغَ الظِّلُّ الَّذِي قَالَ فَلَمْ أُوقِظْهُ مَأْوَاةً مِمَّا رَأَيْتُ مِنِ اجْتِهادِهِ وَنَصَبِهِ فَاسْتَيْقَظَ مَذْعُورًا فَقَالَ يَا سَلْمَانُ أَلَمْ أَكُنْ قُلْتُ لَكَ إِذَا بَلَغَ الظِّلُّ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَأَيْقِظْنِي؟ قُلْتُ بَلَى وَلَكِنْ إِنَّمَا مَنَعَنِي مَأْوَاةٌ لَكَ لِمَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ دَأَبِكَ قَالَ وَيْحَكَ يَا سَلْمَانُ إِنِّي أَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَفُوتَنِي شَيْءٌ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ أَعْمَلْ فِيهِ لِلَّهِ خَيْرًا ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي يَا سَلْمَانُ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ أَفْضَلَ دِينِنَا الْيَوْمَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةُ قُلْتُ وَيَكُونُ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ دِينٌ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةِ؟ كَلِمَةٌ أُلْقِيَتْ عَلَى لِسَانِي قَالَ نَعَمْ يُوشِكُ أَنْ يُبْعَثَ نَبِيٌّ يَأْكُلُ الْهَدِيَّةَ وَلَا يَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ خَاتَمُ النُّبُوَّةِ فَإِذَا أَدْرَكْتَهُ فَاتَّبِعْهُ وَصَدِّقْهُ قُلْتُ وَإِنْ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَدَعَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةَ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَإِنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ لَا يَأْمُرُ إِلَّا بِحَقٍّ وَلَا يَقُولُ إِلَّا حَقًّا وَاللهِ لَوْ أَدْرَكْتُهُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَقَعَ فِي النَّارِ لَوَقَعْتُهَا ثُمَّ خَرَجْنَا مِنْ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ فَمَرَرْنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ الْمَقْعَدِ فَقَالَ لَهُ دَخَلْتَ فَلَمْ تُعْطِنِي وَهَذَا الْخُرُوجُ فَأَعْطِنِي فَالْتَفَتَ فَلَمْ يَرَ حَوْلَهُ أَحَدًا قَالَ فَأَعْطِنِي يَدَكَ فَأَخَذَهُ بِيَدِهِ فَقَالَ قُمْ بِإِذْنِ اللهِ قَالَ فَقَامَ صَحِيحًا سَوِيًّا فَتَوَجَّهَ نَحْوَ أَهْلِهِ فَأَتْبَعْتُهُ بَصَرِي تَعَجُّبًا مِمَّا رَأَيْتُ وَخَرَجَ صَاحِبِي فَأَسْرَعَ الْمَشْيَ وَتَبِعْتُهُ فَتَلَقَّانِي رُفْقَةٌ مِنْ كَلْبٍ أَعْرَابٌ فَسَبَوْنِي فَحَمَلُونِي عَلَى بَعِيرٍ وشَدُّونِي وَثَاقًا فَتَدَاوَلَنِي الْبَيَّاعُ حَتَّى سَقَطْتُ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَاشْتَرَانِي رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَجَعَلَنِي فِي حَائِطٍ لَهُ مِنْ نَخْلٍ فَكُنْتُ فِيهِ قَالَ وَمِنْ ثَمَّةَ تَعَلَّمْتُ عَمَلَ الْخُوصِ أَشْتَرِي خُوصًا بِدِرْهَمٍ فَأَعْمَلُهُ فَأَبِيعُهُ بِدِرْهَمَيْنِ فَأَرُدُّ دِرْهَمًا فِي الْخُوصِ وأَسْتَنْفِقُ دِرْهَمًا أُحِبُّ أَنْ آكُلَ مِنْ عَمَلِ يَدِي وَهُوَ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَمِيرٌ عَلَى عِشْرِينَ أَلْفًا فَبَلَغَنَا وَنَحْنُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَدْ خَرَجَ بِمَكَّةَ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ اللهَ ﷻ أَرْسَلَهُ فَمَكَثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللهُ أَنْ نَمْكُثَ فَهَاجَرَ إِلَيْنَا وَقَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا فَقُلْتُ وَاللهِ لَأُجَرِّبَنَّهُ فَذَهَبْتُ إِلَى السُّوقِ فَاشْتَرَيْتُ لَحْمَ جَزُورٍ بِدِرْهَمٍ ثُمَّ طَبَخْتُهُ فَجَعَلْتُ قَصْعَةً مِنْ ثَرِيدٍ فَاحْتَمَلْتُهَا حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ بِهَا عَلَى عَاتِقِي حَتَّى وَضَعْتُهَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ «مَا هَذِهِ أَصَدَقَةٌ أَمْ هَدِيَّةٌ؟» قُلْتُ بَلْ صَدَقَةٌ فَقَالَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ «كُلُوا بِسْمِ اللهِ» وَأَمْسَكَ وَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ فَمَكَثْتُ أَيَّامًا ثُمَّ اشْتَرَيْتُ لَحْمًا أَيْضًا بِدِرْهَمٍ فَأَصْنَعُ مِثْلَهَا فَاحْتَمَلْتُهَا حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ بِهَا فَوَضَعْتُهَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ «مَا هَذِهِ هَدِيَّةٌ أَمْ صَدَقَةٌ؟» قُلْتُ لَا بَلْ هَدِيَّةٌ فَقَالَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ «كُلُوا بِسْمِ اللهِ» وَأَكَلَ مَعَهُمْ قُلْتُ هَذَا وَاللهِ يَأْكُلُ الْهَدِيَّةَ وَلَا يَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ فَنَظَرْتُ فَرَأَيْتُ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ خَاتَمَ النُّبُوَّةِ مِثْلَ بَيْضَةِ الْحَمَامَةِ فَأَسْلَمْتُ

وَعَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ قُلْتُ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ يُحِبُّكَ قَالَ أَحَبَّهُ اللهُ فَتَحَدَّثْنَا وَقُلْنَا لَهُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ أَلَا تُحَدِّثُنَا عَنْ أَصْلِكَ وَمِمَّنْ أَنْتَ؟ قَالَ أَمَّا أَصْلِي وَمِمَّنْ أَنَا فَأَنَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ رَامَهُرْمُزَ كُنَّا قَوْمًا مَجُوسًا فَأَتَانَا رَجُلٌ نَصْرَانِيٌّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَزِيرَةِ كَانَتْ أُمُّهُ مِنَّا فَنَزَلَ فِينَا وَاتَّخَذَ فِينَا دَيْرًا قَالَ وَكُنْتُ فِي كُتَّابِ الْفَارِسِيَّةِ وَكَانَ لَا يَزَالُ غُلَامٌ مَعِي فِي الْكُتَّابِ يَجِيءُ مَضْرُوبًا يَبْكِي قَدْ ضَرَبَهُ أَبَوَاهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَوْمًا مَا يُبْكِيكَ؟ قَالَ يَضْرِبُنِي أَبَوَايَ قُلْتُ وَلِمَ يَضْرِبَانِكَ؟ قَالَ آتِي صَاحِبَ هَذَا الدَّيْرِ فَإِذَا عَلِمَا ذَلِكَ ضَرَبَانِي وَأَنْتَ لَوْ أَتَيْتَهُ سَمِعْتَ مِنْهُ حَدِيثًا عَجِيبًا قُلْتُ فَاذْهَبْ بِي مَعَكَ فَأَتَيْنَاهُ فَحَدَّثَنَا عَنْ بَدْءِ الْخَلْقِ وَعَنْ بَدْءِ خَلْقِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَعَنِ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ قَالَ فَحَدَّثَنَا بِأَحَادِيثَ عَجَبٍ قَالَ وَكُنْتُ أَخْتَلِفُ إِلَيْهِ مَعَهُ قَالَ فَفَطِنَ لَنَا غِلْمَانٌ مِنَ الْكُتَّابِ فَجَعَلُوا يَجِيئُونَ مَعَنَا فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ أَهْلُ الْقَرْيَةِ أَتَوْهُ فَقَالُوا لَهُ يَا هَذَا إِنَّكَ قَدْ جَاوَرْتَنَا فَلَمْ تَرَ مِنْ جِوَارِنَا إِلَّا الْحَسَنَ وَإِنَّا نَرَى غِلْمَانَنَا يَخْتَلِفُونَ إِلَيْكَ وَنَحْنُ نَخَافُ أَنْ تُفْسِدَهُمْ عَلَيْنَا اخْرُجْ عَنَّا قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لِذَلِكَ الْغُلَامِ الَّذِي كَانَ يَأْتِيهِ اخْرُجْ مَعِي قَالَ لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ ذَاكَ وَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ شِدَّةَ أَبَوَيَّ عَلَيَّ قُلْتُ لَكِنِّي أَخْرَجُ مَعَكَ وَكُنْتُ يَتِيمًا لَا أَبَ لِي فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ فَأَخَذْنَا جَبَلَ رَامَهُرْمُزَ فَجَعَلْنَا نَمْشِي ونَتَوَكَّلُ وَنَأْكُلُ مِنْ ثَمَرِ الشَّجَرِ حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا الْجَزِيرَةَ فَقَدِمْنَا نَصِبَيْنِ فَقَالَ لِي صَاحِبِي يَا سَلْمَانُ إِنَّ هَهُنَا قَوْمًا هُمْ عُبَّادُ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ وَأَنَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَلْقَاهُمْ قَالَ فَجِئْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْأَحَدِ وَقَدِ اجْتَمَعُوا فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَاحِبِي فَحَيَّوْهُ وبَشُّوا بِهِ وَقَالُوا أَيْنَ كَانَتْ غَيْبَتُكَ؟ قَالَ كُنْتُ فِي إِخْوَانٍ لِي مِنْ قِبَلِ فَارِسَ فَتَحَدَّثْنَا مَا تَحَدَّثْنَا ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي صَاحِبِي قُمْ يَا سَلْمَانُ انْطَلِقْ فَقُلْتُ لَا دَعْنِي مَعَ هَؤُلَاءِ قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَا تُطِيقُ مَا يُطِيقُ هَؤُلَاءِ يَصُومُونَ الْأَحَدَ إِلَى الْأَحَدِ وَلَا يَنَامُونَ هَذَا اللَّيْلَ وَإِذَا فِيهِمْ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْمُلُوكِ تَرَكَ الْمُلْكَ وَدَخَلَ فِي الْعِبَادَةِ فَكُنْتُ فِيهِمْ حَتَّى أَمْسَيْنَا فَجَعَلُوا يَذْهَبُونَ وَاحِدًا وَاحِدًا إِلَى غَارِهِ الَّذِي يَكُونُ فِيهِ قَالَ فَلَمَّا أَمْسَيْنَا قَالَ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْمُلُوكِ مَا هَذَا الْغُلَامُ لَا تَضَعُوهُ لِيَأْخُذَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْكُمْ فَقَالُوا خُذْهُ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ لِي هَلُمَّ يَا سَلْمَانُ فَذَهَبَ بِي مَعَهُ حَتَّى أَتَى غَارَهُ الَّذِي يَكُونُ فِيهِ فَقَالَ يَا سَلْمَانُ هَذَا خُبْزٌ وَهَذَا أَدَمٌ فَكُلْ إِذَا غَرِثْتَ وَصُمْ إِذَا نَشِطْتَ وَصَلِّ مَا بَدَا لَكَ وَنَمْ إِذَا كَسِلْتَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فَلَمْ يُكَلِّمْنِي إِلَّا ذَلِكَ وَلَمْ يَنْظُرْ إِلَيَّ فَأَخَذَنِي الْغَمُّ تِلْكَ السَّبْعَةَ أَيَّامٍ لَا يُكَلِّمُنِي أَحَدٌ حَتَّى كَانَ الْأَحَدُ فَذَهَبْنَا إِلَى مَكَانِهِمُ الَّذِي كَانُوا يَجْتَمِعُونَ قَالَ وَهُمْ يَجْتَمِعُونَ كُلَّ أَحَدٍ يُفْطِرُونَ فِيهِ فَيَلْقَى بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا فَيُسَلِّمُ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ ثُمَّ لَا يَلْتَقُونَ إِلَى مِثْلِهِ قَالَ فَرَجَعْنَا إِلَى مَنْزِلِنَا فَقَالَ لِي مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ هَذَا خُبْزٌ وَأَدَمٌ فَكُلْ مِنْهُ إِذَا غَرِثْتَ وَصُمْ إِذَا نَشِطْتَ وَصَلِّ مَا بَدَا لَكَ وَنَمْ إِذَا كَسِلْتَ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فَلَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ إِلَيَّ وَلَمْ يُكَلِّمْنِي إِلَى الْأَحَدِ الْآخَرِ وأَخَذَنِي غَمٌّ وَحَدَّثْتُ نَفْسِي بِالْفِرَارِ فَقُلْتُ أَصْبِرُ أَحَدَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةً وَلَمَّا كَانَ الْأَحَدُ رَجَعْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فَأَفْطَرُوا وَاجْتَمَعُوا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ فَقَالُوا لَهُ وَمَا تُرِيدُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ لَا عَهْدَ لِي بِهِ قَالُوا إِنَّا نَخَافُ أَنْ يَحْدُثَ بِكَ حَدَثٌ فَيَلِيَكَ غَيْرُنَا وَكُنَّا نُحِبُّ أَنْ نَلِيَكَ قَالَ لَا عَهْدَ لِي بِهِ فَلَمَّا سَمِعْتُهُ يَذْكُرُ ذَلِكَ فَرِحْتُ قُلْتُ نُسَافِرُ ونَلْقَى النَّاسَ فَيَذْهَبُ عَنِّي الْغَمُّ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَجِدُ فَخَرَجْتُ أَنَا وَهُوَ وَكَانَ يَصُومُ مِنَ الْأَحَدِ إِلَى الْأَحَدِ وَيُصَلِّي اللَّيْلَ كُلَّهُ وَيَمْشِي النَّهَارَ فَإِذَا نَزَلْنَا قَامَ يُصَلِّي فَلَمْ يَزَلْ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ وَعَلَى الْبَابِ رَجُلٌ مُقْعَدٌ يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ فَقَالَ اعْطِنِي فَقَالَ مَا مَعِي شَيْءٌ فَدَخَلْنَا بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ أَهْلُ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ بَشُّوا إِلَيْهِ وَاسْتَبْشَرُوا بِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ غُلَامِي هَذَا فَاسْتَوْصُوا بِهِ فَانْطَلَقُوا بِي فَأَطْعَمُونِي خُبْزًا وَلَحْمًا وَدَخَلَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَلَمْ يَنْصَرِفْ إِلَيَّ حَتَّى كَانَ يَوْمُ الْأَحَدِ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا سَلْمَانُ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَضَعَ رَأْسِي فَإِذَا بَلَغَ الظِّلُّ مَكَانَ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَأَيْقِظْنِي فَوَضَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَنَامَ فَبَلَغَ الظِّلُّ الَّذِي قَالَ فَلَمْ أُوقِظْهُ مَأْوَاةً مِمَّا رَأَيْتُ مِنِ اجْتِهادِهِ وَنَصَبِهِ فَاسْتَيْقَظَ مَذْعُورًا فَقَالَ يَا سَلْمَانُ أَلَمْ أَكُنْ قُلْتُ لَكَ إِذَا بَلَغَ الظِّلُّ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَأَيْقِظْنِي؟ قُلْتُ بَلَى وَلَكِنْ إِنَّمَا مَنَعَنِي مَأْوَاةٌ لَكَ لِمَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ دَأَبِكَ قَالَ وَيْحَكَ يَا سَلْمَانُ إِنِّي أَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَفُوتَنِي شَيْءٌ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ أَعْمَلْ فِيهِ لِلَّهِ خَيْرًا ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي يَا سَلْمَانُ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ أَفْضَلَ دِينِنَا الْيَوْمَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةُ قُلْتُ وَيَكُونُ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ دِينٌ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةِ؟ كَلِمَةٌ أُلْقِيَتْ عَلَى لِسَانِي قَالَ نَعَمْ يُوشِكُ أَنْ يُبْعَثَ نَبِيٌّ يَأْكُلُ الْهَدِيَّةَ وَلَا يَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ خَاتَمُ النُّبُوَّةِ فَإِذَا أَدْرَكْتَهُ فَاتَّبِعْهُ وَصَدِّقْهُ قُلْتُ وَإِنْ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَدَعَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةَ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَإِنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ لَا يَأْمُرُ إِلَّا بِحَقٍّ وَلَا يَقُولُ إِلَّا حَقًّا وَاللهِ لَوْ أَدْرَكْتُهُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَقَعَ فِي النَّارِ لَوَقَعْتُهَا ثُمَّ خَرَجْنَا مِنْ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ فَمَرَرْنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ الْمَقْعَدِ فَقَالَ لَهُ دَخَلْتَ فَلَمْ تُعْطِنِي وَهَذَا الْخُرُوجُ فَأَعْطِنِي فَالْتَفَتَ فَلَمْ يَرَ حَوْلَهُ أَحَدًا قَالَ فَأَعْطِنِي يَدَكَ فَأَخَذَهُ بِيَدِهِ فَقَالَ قُمْ بِإِذْنِ اللهِ قَالَ فَقَامَ صَحِيحًا سَوِيًّا فَتَوَجَّهَ نَحْوَ أَهْلِهِ فَأَتْبَعْتُهُ بَصَرِي تَعَجُّبًا مِمَّا رَأَيْتُ وَخَرَجَ صَاحِبِي فَأَسْرَعَ الْمَشْيَ وَتَبِعْتُهُ فَتَلَقَّانِي رُفْقَةٌ مِنْ كَلْبٍ أَعْرَابٌ فَسَبَوْنِي فَحَمَلُونِي عَلَى بَعِيرٍ وشَدُّونِي وَثَاقًا فَتَدَاوَلَنِي الْبَيَّاعُ حَتَّى سَقَطْتُ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَاشْتَرَانِي رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَجَعَلَنِي فِي حَائِطٍ لَهُ مِنْ نَخْلٍ فَكُنْتُ فِيهِ قَالَ وَمِنْ ثَمَّةَ تَعَلَّمْتُ عَمَلَ الْخُوصِ أَشْتَرِي خُوصًا بِدِرْهَمٍ فَأَعْمَلُهُ فَأَبِيعُهُ بِدِرْهَمَيْنِ فَأَرُدُّ دِرْهَمًا فِي الْخُوصِ وأَسْتَنْفِقُ دِرْهَمًا أُحِبُّ أَنْ آكُلَ مِنْ عَمَلِ يَدِي وَهُوَ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَمِيرٌ عَلَى عِشْرِينَ أَلْفًا فَبَلَغَنَا وَنَحْنُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَدْ خَرَجَ بِمَكَّةَ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ اللهَ ﷻ أَرْسَلَهُ فَمَكَثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللهُ أَنْ نَمْكُثَ فَهَاجَرَ إِلَيْنَا وَقَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا فَقُلْتُ وَاللهِ لَأُجَرِّبَنَّهُ فَذَهَبْتُ إِلَى السُّوقِ فَاشْتَرَيْتُ لَحْمَ جَزُورٍ بِدِرْهَمٍ ثُمَّ طَبَخْتُهُ فَجَعَلْتُ قَصْعَةً مِنْ ثَرِيدٍ فَاحْتَمَلْتُهَا حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ بِهَا عَلَى عَاتِقِي حَتَّى وَضَعْتُهَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ «مَا هَذِهِ أَصَدَقَةٌ أَمْ هَدِيَّةٌ؟» قُلْتُ بَلْ صَدَقَةٌ فَقَالَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ «كُلُوا بِسْمِ اللهِ» وَأَمْسَكَ وَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ فَمَكَثْتُ أَيَّامًا ثُمَّ اشْتَرَيْتُ لَحْمًا أَيْضًا بِدِرْهَمٍ فَأَصْنَعُ مِثْلَهَا فَاحْتَمَلْتُهَا حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ بِهَا فَوَضَعْتُهَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ «مَا هَذِهِ هَدِيَّةٌ أَمْ صَدَقَةٌ؟» قُلْتُ لَا بَلْ هَدِيَّةٌ فَقَالَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ «كُلُوا بِسْمِ اللهِ» وَأَكَلَ مَعَهُمْ قُلْتُ هَذَا وَاللهِ يَأْكُلُ الْهَدِيَّةَ وَلَا يَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ فَنَظَرْتُ فَرَأَيْتُ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ خَاتَمَ النُّبُوَّةِ مِثْلَ بَيْضَةِ الْحَمَامَةِ فَأَسْلَمْتُ

كُنْتُ رَجُلًا فَارِسِيًّا مِنْ أَهْلِ أَصْبَهَانَ مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا جَيُّ وَكَانَ أَبِي دِهْقَانَ قَرْيَتِهِ وَكُنْتُ أَحَبَّ خَلْقِ اللهِ إِلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ بِي حُبُّهُ إِيَّايَ حَتَّى حَبَسَنِي فِي بَيْتِهِ كَمَا تُحْبَسُ الْجَارِيَةُ فَاجْتَهَدْتُ فِي الْمَجُوسِيَّةِ حَتَّى كُنْتُ قَاطِنَ النَّارِ أُوقِدُهَا لَا أَتْرُكُهَا تَخْبُو سَاعَةً وَاحِدَةً وَكَانَتْ لِأَبِي ضَيْعَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ فَشُغِلَ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ لِي يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي قَدْ شُغِلْتُ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ عَنْ ضَيْعَتِي فَاذْهَبْ إِلَيْهَا فَطَالِعْهَا فَأَمَرَهُ فِيهَا بِبَعْضِ مَا يُرِيدُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي لَا تَحْتَبِسْ عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّكَ إِنِ احْتَبَسْتَ عَلَيَّ كُنْتَ أَهَمَّ عَلَيَّ مِنْ ضَيْعَتِي وشَغَلْتَنِي عَنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مِنْ أَمْرِي فَخَرَجْتُ أُرِيدُ ضَيْعَتَهُ أَسِيرُ إِلَيْهَا فَمَرَرْتُ بِكَنِيسَةٍ مِنْ كَنَائِسِ النَّصَارَى فَسَمِعْتُ أَصْوَاتَهُمْ فِيهَا وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ وَكُنْتُ لَا أَدْرِي مَا أَمْرُ النَّاسِ لِحَبْسِ أَبِي إِيَّايَ فِي بَيْتِهِ فَلَمَّا سَمِعْتُ أَصْوَاتَهُمْ دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْظُرُ مَا يَصْنَعُونَ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُمْ أَعْجَبَتْنِي صَلَاتُهُمْ وَرَغِبْتُ فِي دِينِهِمْ وَقُلْتُ هَذَا وَاللهِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدِّينِ الَّذِي نَحْنُ عَلَيْهِ فَمَا بَرِحْتُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِمْ حَتَّى غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَتَرَكْتُ ضَيْعَةَ أَبِي ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ مَنْ أَبْصَرَكُمْ بِهَذَا الدِّينِ؟ قَالُوا رَجُلٌ بِالشَّامِ ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ إِلَى أَبِي وَقَدْ بَعَثَ فِي طَلَبِي وَقَدْ شَغَلْتُهُ عَنْ عَمَلِهِ قَالَ أَبِي بُنَيَّ أَيْنَ كُنْتَ؟ أَلَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكَ مَا عَهِدْتُ؟ قُلْتُ إِنِّي مَرَرْتُ بِنَاسٍ يُصَلُّونَ فِي كَنِيسَةٍ لَهُمْ فَدَخَلْتُ إِلَيْهِمْ فَمَا زِلْتُ عِنْدَهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ حَتَّى غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَالَ أَيْ بُنَيَّ لَيْسَ فِي ذَلِكَ الدِّينِ خَيْرٌ دِينُكَ وَدِينُ آبَائِكَ خَيْرٌ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ حَبَسَنِي فِي بَيْتِهِ وَبَعَثْتُ إِلَى النَّصْرَانِيِّ فَقُلْتُ إِذَا قَدِمَ إِلَيْكُمْ رَكْبٌ مِنَ الشَّامِ فَأَخْبِرُونِي بِهِمْ فَقَدِمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَكْبٌ مِنَ الشَّامِ تُجَّارٌ مِنَ النَّصَارَى فَأَخْبَرُونِي بِهِمْ فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِذَا قَضَوْا حَوَائِجَهُمْ وَأَرَادُوا الرَّجْعَةَ إِلَى بِلَادِهِمْ أَخْبِرُونِي بِهِمْ فَأَلْقَيْتُ الْحَدِيدَ مِنْ رِجْلَيَّ ثُمَّ خَرَجْتُ مَعَهُمْ حَتَّى قَدِمْتُ الشَّامَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْتُهَا قُلْتُ مَنْ أَفْضَلُ أَهْلِ هَذَا الدِّينِ عِلْمًا؟ قَالُوا الْأَسْقُفُ فِي الْكَنِيسَةِ فَجِئْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي قَدْ رَغِبْتُ فِي هَذَا الدِّينِ فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مَعَكَ أَخْدُمُكَ فِي كَنِيسَتِكَ وَأَتَعَلَّمُ مِنْكَ وَأُصَلِّي مَعَكَ قَالَ فَادْخُلْ فَدَخَلْتُ مَعَهُ وَكَانَ رَجُلَ سُوءٍ يَأْمُرُ بِالصَّدَقَةِ وَيُرَغِّبُهُمْ فِيهَا فَإِذَا جَمَعُوا بِهِ إِلَيْهِ شَيْئًا مِنْهَا اكْتَنَزَهُ لِنَفْسِهِ فَلَمْ يُعْطِ إِنْسَانًا مِنْهَا شَيْئًا حَتَّى جَمَعَ قِلَالًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَوَرِقٍ فَأَبْغَضْتُهُ بُغْضًا شَدِيدًا لِمَا رَأَيْتُهُ يَصْنَعُ ثُمَّ مَاتَ وَاجْتَمَعَتْ إِلَيْهِ النَّصَارَى لِيَدْفِنُوهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِنَّ هَذَا كَانَ رَجُلَ سُوءٍ يَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ وَيُرَغِّبُكُمْ فِيهَا فَإِذَا جِئْتُمُوهُ بِهَا اكْتَنَزَهَا لِنَفْسِهِ وَلَمْ يُعْطِ الْمَسَاكِينَ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا قَالُوا وَمَا عِلْمُكَ بِذَلِكَ؟ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ فَأَنَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى كَنْزِهِ قَالُوا فَدُلَّنَا عَلَيْهِ فَدَلَلْتُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَاسْتَخْرَجُوا ذَهَبًا وَوَرِقًا فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوا وَاللهِ لَا نَدْفِنُهُ أَبَدًا فَصَلَبُوهُ ثُمَّ رَجَمُوهُ بِالْحِجَارَةِ وَكَانَ ثَمَّ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَجَعَلُوهُ مَكَانَهُ قَالَ يَقُولُ سَلْمَانُ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَجُلًا لَا يُصَلِّي الْخَمْسَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْهُ أَزْهَدَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَلَا أَرْغَبَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَلَا أَدْأَبَ لَيْلًا وَنَهَارًا مِنْهُ فَأَحْبَبْتُهُ حُبًّا لَمْ أُحِبَّهُ شَيْئًا قَطُّ فَمَا زِلْتُ مَعَهُ زَمَانًا ثُمَّ حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا فُلَانُ إِنِّي قَدْ كُنْتُ مَعَكَ فَأَحْبَبْتُكَ حُبًّا لَمْ أُحِبَّهُ شَيْئًا قَطُّ وَقَدْ حَضَرَكَ مَا تَرَى مِنْ أَمْرِ اللهِ ﷻ فَإِلَى مَنْ تُوصِي بِي وَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي؟ قَالَ أَيْ بُنَيَّ وَاللهِ مَا أَعْلَمُ أَحَدًا عَلَى مَا كُنْتُ عَلَيْهِ لَقَدْ هَلَكَ النَّاسُ وَبَدَّلُوا وَتَرَكُوا كَثِيرًا مِمَّا كَانُوا عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا رَجُلًا بِالْمَوْصِلِ وَهُوَ فُلَانٌ وَهُوَ عَلَى مَا كُنْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَالْحَقْ بِهِ فَلَمَّا مَاتَ وَغُيِّبَ لَحِقْتُ بِصَاحِبِ الْمَوْصِلِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا فُلَانُ إِنَّ فُلَانًا أَوْصَانِي عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ أَنْ أَلْحَقَ بِكَ وَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّكَ عَلَى أَمْرِهِ قَالَ فَأَقِمْ عِنْدِي فَأَقَمْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَوَجَدْتُهُ خَيْرَ رَجُلٍ عَلَى أَمْرِ صَاحِبِهِ فَلَمْ أَلْبَثْ أَنْ مَاتَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ قُلْتُ لَهُ يَا فُلَانُ إِنَّ فُلَانًا أَوْصَانِي إِلَيْكَ وَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَلْحَقَ بِكَ وَقَدْ حَضَرَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللهِ مَا تَرَى فَإِلَى مَنْ تُوصِي بِي وَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي؟ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ مَا أَعْلَمُ بَقِيَ أَحَدٌ آمُرُكَ أَنْ تَأْتِيَهُ إِلَّا رَجُلًا بِعَمُّورِيَّةَ بِأَرْضِ الرُّومِ عَلَى مِثْلِ مَا نَحْنُ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا مَاتَ وَغُيِّبَ لَحِقْتُ بِصَاحِبِ عَمُّورِيَّةَ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ خَبَرِي فَقَالَ أَقِمْ عِنْدِي فَأَقَمْتُ عِنْدَ خَيْرِ رَجُلٍ عَلَى هَدْيِ أَصْحَابِهِ وَأَمْرِهِمْ وَاكْتَسَبْتُ حَتَّى كَانَتْ عِنْدِي بُقَيْرَاتٌ وَغُنَيْمَةٌ ثُمَّ نَزَلَ بِهِ أَمْرُ اللهِ ﷻ فَلَمَّا حُضِرَ قُلْتُ لَهُ يَا فُلَانُ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مَعَ فُلَانٍ فَأَوْصَانِي إِلَى فُلَانٍ ثُمَّ أَوْصَى فُلَانٌ إِلَى فُلَانٍ ثُمَّ أَوْصَانِي فُلَانٌ إِلَيْكَ فَإِلَى مَنْ تُوصِي بِي وَإِلَى مَنْ تَأْمُرُنِي؟ قَالَ وَاللهِ مَا أَعْلَمُ أَصْبَحَ عَلَى مِثْلِ مَا نَحْنُ فِيهِ أَحَدٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ آمُرُكَ أَنْ تَأْتِيَهُ وَلَكِنْ أَظَلَّكَ زَمَانُ نَبِيٍّ هُوَ مَبْعُوثٌ بِدِينِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ﷺ يَخْرُجُ بِأَرْضِ الْعَرَبِ إِلَى أَرْضٍ أَظُنُّهُ قَالَ ذَاتِ نَخْلٍ بِهِ عَلَامَاتٌ لَا تَخْفَى يَأْكُلُ الْهَدِيَّةَ وَلَا يَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ خَاتَمُ النُّبُوَّةِ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَلْحَقَ بِذَلِكَ الْبِلَادِ فَافْعَلْ ثُمَّ مَاتَ وَغُيِّبَ فَمَكَثْتُ بِعَمُّورِيَّةَ مَا شَاءَ اللهُ أَنْ أَمْكُثَ مَرَّ بِي نَفَرٌ مِنْ كَلْبٍ تُجَّارٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ تَحْمِلُونِي إِلَى أَرْضِ الْعَرَبِ وَأُعْطِيكُمْ بَقَرَاتِي هَذِهِ وَغُنَيْمَتِي هَذِهِ؟ قَالُوا نَعَمْ فَأَعْطَيْتُهُمْ وَحَمَلُونِي مَعَهُمْ حَتَّى إِذَا قَدِمُوا وَادِي الْقُرَى ظَلَمُونِي فَبَاعُونِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ يَهُودِيٍّ فَكُنْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَرَأَيْتُ النَّخْلَ فَرَجَوْتُ الْبَلَدَ الَّذِي وَصَفَ لِي صَاحِبِي وَلَمْ يَحِقَّ فِي نَفْسِي فَبَيْنَا أَنَا عِنْدَهُ قَدِمَ عَلَيْهِ ابْنُ عَمٍّ لَهُ مِنْ بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ وَابْتاعَنِي مِنْهُ فَحَمَلَنِي إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَوَاللهِ مَا هُوَ إِلَّا أَنْ رَأَيْتُهَا عَرَفْتُهَا بِصِفَةِ صَاحِبِي فَأَقَمْتُ بِهَا فَبَعَثَ اللهُ ﷻ رَسُولَهُ ﷺ وَأَقَامَ بِمَكَّةَ مَا أَقَامَ مَا أَسْمَعُ لَهُ بِذِكْرٍ مَعَ مَا أَنَا فِيهِ مِنْ شُغْلِ الرِّقِّ ثُمَّ هَاجَرَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَوَاللهِ إِنِّي لَفِي رَأْسِ عِذْقٍ لِسَيِّدِي أَعْمَلُ فِيهِ بَعْضَ الْعَمَلِ وَسَيِّدِي جَالِسٌ تَحْتِي إِذْ أَقْبَلَ ابْنُ عَمٍّ لَهُ حَتَّى وَقَفَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ قَاتَلَ اللهُ بَنِي فِيَلَةَ وَاللهِ إِنَّهُمْ لَيَجْتَمِعُونَ عَلَى رَجُلٍ قَدِمَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ مَكَّةَ الْيَوْمَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ فَلَمَّا سَمِعْتُهَا أَخَذَنِي الْفَرَحُ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنِّي سَأَسْقُطُ عَلَى سَيِّدِي وَنَزَلْتُ عَنِ النَّخْلَةِ وَجَعَلْتُ أَقُولُ لِابْنِ عَمِّهِ ذَلِكَ مَاذَا يَقُولُ؟ فَغَضِبَ سَيِّدِي فَلَطَمَنِي لَطْمَةً شَدِيدَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا لَكَ وَلِهَذَا؟ أَقْبِلْ عَلَى عَمَلِكَ قُلْتُ لَا شَيْءَ إِنَّمَا أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَسْتَفْتِيَهُ عَمَّا قَالَ وَقَدْ كَانَ عِنْدِي شَيْءٌ قَدْ جَمَعْتُهُ فَلَمَّا أَمْسَيْتُ أَخَذْتُهُ ثُمَّ ذَهَبْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ بِقُبَاءَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ رَجُلٌ صَالِحٌ وَمَعَكَ أَصْحَابٌ لَكَ غُرَبَاءُ ذَوُو حَاجَةٍ وَهَذَا شَيْءٌ كَانَ عِنْدِي صَدَقَةٌ فَرَأَيْتُكُمْ أَحَقَّ بِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِكُمْ وقَرَّبْتُهُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لِأَصْحَابِهِ «كُلُوا وَأَمْسَكَ هُوَ فَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ مِنْهُ» فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي هَذِهِ وَاحِدَةٌ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفْتُ عَنْهُ فَجَمَعْتُ شَيْئًا فَتَحَوَّلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ ثُمَّ جِئْتُهُ بِهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ رَأَيْتُكَ لَا تَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ وَهَذِهِ هَدِيَّةٌ أَكْرَمْتُكَ بِهَا فَأَكَلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْهَا وَأَمَرَ أَصْحَابَهُ فَأَكَلُوا وَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي هَاتَانِ ثِنْتَانِ ثُمَّ جِئْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ بِبَقِيعِ الْغَرْقَدِ قَدِ اتَّبَعَ جِنَازَةَ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَدَرْتُ أَنْظُرُ إِلَى ظَهْرِهِ هَلْ أَرَى الْخَاتَمَ الَّذِي وَصَفَ لِي صَاحِبِي؟ فَلَمَّا رَآنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ اسْتَدَرْتُ عَرَفَ أَنِّي أَسْتَثْبِتُ فِي شَيْءٍ وُصِفَ لِي فَأَلْقَى رِدَاءَهُ عَنْ ظَهْرِهِ فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى الْخَاتَمِ فَعَرَفْتُهُ فَأَكْبَبْتُ عَلَيْهِ أُقَبِّلُهُ وَأَبْكِي فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «تَحَوَّلْ» فَتَحَوَّلْتُ فَجَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَصَصْتُ عَلَيْهِ حَدِيثِي كَمَا حَدَّثْتُكَ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَأُعْجِبَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَسْمَعَ ذَلِكَ أَصْحَابُهُ ثُمَّ شَغَلَ سَلْمَانَ الرِّقُّ حَتَّى فَاتَهُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ بَدْرًا وأُحُدًا ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «كَاتِبْ يَا سَلْمَانُ» فَكَاتَبْتُ صَاحِبِي عَلَى ثَلَاثِمِائَةِ نَخْلَةٍ أُحْيِيهَا لَهُ وَبِأَرْبَعِينَ أُوقِيَّةً فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لِأَصْحَابِهِ «أَعِينُوا أَخَاكُمْ» فَأَعَانُونِي فِي النَّخْلِ الرَّجُلُ بِثَلَاثِينَ وَالرَّجُلُ بِعِشْرِينَ وَالرَّجُلُ بِخَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ وَالرَّجُلُ بِعَشْرٍ وَالرَّجُلُ بِقَدْرِ مَا عِنْدَهُ حَتَّى اجْتَمَعَتْ لِي ثَلَاثُمِائَةِ نَخْلَةٍ فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «اذْهَبْ يَا سَلْمَانُ فَآذِنِّي حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَنَا أَضَعُهَا بِيَدِي» فَفَقَّرْتُ لَهَا وَأَعَانَنِي أَصْحَابِي حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغْتُ جِئْتُهُ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَعِي إِلَيْهَا فَجَعَلْتُ إِلَيْهَا فَجَعَلْتُ أُقَرِّبُ لَهُ الْوَدِيَّ وَيَضَعُهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِيَدِهِ حَتَّى فَرَغْنَا وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ سَلْمَانَ بِيَدِهِ مَا مَاتَ مِنْهُ وَدِيَّةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ فَأَدَّيْتُ النَّخْلَ وَبَقِيَ عَلَيَّ الْمَالُ فَأَتَى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِمِثْلِ بَيْضَةِ الدَّجَاجَةِ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ مِنْ بَعْضِ الْمَغَازِي فَقَالَ «مَا فَعَلَ الْفَارِسِيُّ الْمُكَاتَبُ؟» فَدُعِيتُ لَهُ فَقَالَ «خُذْ هَذِهِ فأَدِّ بِهَا مَا عَلَيْكَ» فَقُلْتُ وَأَيْنَ تَقَعُ هَذِهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مِمَّا عَلَيَّ؟ فَقَالَ «خُذْهَا فَإِنَّ اللهَ ﷻ سَيُؤَدِّيهَا عَنْكَ» فَوَزَنْتُ لَهُ مِنْهَا فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسُ سَلْمَانَ بِيَدِهِ أَرْبَعِينَ أُوقِيَّةً وأَوْفَيْتُهُمْ حَقَّهُمْ وَعُتِقَ سَلْمَانُ وَشَهِدَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ الْخَنْدَقَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَفُتْهُ مَشْهَدٌ

كُنْتُ رَجُلًا مِنْ أَهْلِ جَيٍّ وَكَانَ أَهْلُ قَرْيَتِي يَعْبُدُونَ الْخَيْلَ الْبُلْقَ وَكُنْتُ أَعْرِفُ أَنَّهُمْ لَيْسُوا عَلَى شَيْءٍ فَقِيلَ لِي إِنَّ الدِّينَ الَّذِي تَطْلُبُ إِنَّمَا هُوَ بِالْمَغْرِبِ فَخَرَجْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ الْمَوْصِلَ فَسَأَلْتُ عَنْ أَفْضَلِ رَجُلٍ فِيهَا فَدُلِلْتُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ فِي صَوْمَعَةٍ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ جَيٍّ وَإِنِّي جِئْتُ أَطْلُبُ الْعِلْمَ وَأَتَعَلَّمُ فَضُمَّنِي إِلَيْكَ أَخْدُمُكَ وأَصْحَبُكَ وتُعَلِّمُنِي مِمَّا عَلَّمَكَ اللهُ؟ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَصَحِبْتُهُ فَأَجْرَى عَلَيَّ مِثْلَ مَا كَانَ يُجْرِي عَلَيْهِ الْخَلَّ وَالزَّيْتَ وَالْحُبُوبَ فَلَمْ أَزَلْ مَعَهُ حَتَّى نَزَلَ بِهِ الْمَوْتُ فَجَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ أَبْكِيهِ فَقَالَ مَا يُبْكِيكَ؟ قُلْتُ يُبْكِينِي أَنِّي خَرَجْتُ مِنْ بِلَادٍ أَطْلُبُ الْخَيْرَ فَرَزَقَنِي اللهُ ﷻ فَصَحِبْتُكَ فَعَلَّمْتَنِي وَأَحْسَنْتَ صُحْبَتِي فَنَزَلَ بِكَ الْمَوْتُ وَلَا أَدْرِي أَيْنَ أَذْهَبُ قَالَ لِي أَخٌ بِالْجَزِيرَةِ بِمَكَانِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَهُوَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ فَائْتِهِ فَأَقْرِئْهُ مِنِّي السَّلَامَ وَأَخْبِرْهُ أَنِّي أَوْصَيْتُ إِلَيْهِ وأَوْصَيْتُكَ بِصُحْبَتِهِ قَالَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ قُبِضَ الرَّجُلُ خَرَجْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ الرَّجُلَ الَّذِي وَصَفَ لِي فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِالْخَبَرِ وَأَقْرَأْتُهُ السَّلَامَ مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ وَأَخْبَرْتُهُ أَنَّهُ هَلَكَ وَأَمَرَنِي بِصُحْبَتِهِ قَالَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ قُبِضَ الرَّجُلُ خَرَجْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ الرَّجُلَ الَّذِي وَصَفَ لِي فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ وأَوْفَيْتُهُ السَّلَامَ مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ أَنَّهُ هَلَكَ وَأَمَرَنِي بِصُحْبَتِهِ قَالَ فَضَمَّنِي إِلَيْهِ وَأَجْرَى عَلَيَّ كَمَا كَانَ يُجْرَى عَلَيَّ مَعَ الْآخَرِ فَصَحِبْتُهُ مَا شَاءَ اللهُ ثُمَّ نَزَلَ بِهِ الْمَوْتُ فَلَمَّا أَنْ نَزَلَ بِهِ الْمَوْتُ جَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ أَبْكِي فَقَالَ لِي مَا يُبْكِيكَ؟ قُلْتُ خَرَجْتُ مِنْ بِلَادِي أَطْلُبُ الْخَيْرَ فَرَزَقَنِي اللهُ ﷻ صُحْبَةَ فُلَانٍ فَأَحْسَنَ صُحْبَتِي وَعَلَّمَنِي فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ بِهِ الْمَوْتُ أَوْصَى بِي إِلَيْكَ فَضَمَمْتَنِي وَأَحْسَنْتَ صُحْبَتِي وَعَلَّمْتَنِي وَقَدْ نَزَلَ بِكَ الْمَوْتُ فَلَا أَدْرِي أَيْنَ أَتَوَجَّهُ؟ قَالَ فَائْتِ أَخًا لِي عَلَى قُرْبِ الرُّومِ فَهُوَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ فَائْتِهِ وَاقْرِأْهُ مِنِّي السَّلَامَ واصْحَبْهُ فَإِنَّهُ عَلَى الْحَقِّ فَلَمَّا قُبِضَ الرَّجُلُ خَرَجْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِخَبَرِي وبِوَصِيَّةِ الْآخَرِ قَبْلَهُ قَالَ فَضَمَّنِي إِلَيْهِ وَأَجْرَى عَلَيَّ كَمَا يُجْرَى عَلَيَّ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ بِهِ الْمَوْتُ جَلَسْتُ أَبْكِي عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ فَقَالَ لِي مَا يُبْكِيكَ؟ فَقَصَصْتُ قِصَّتِي قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ اللهَ رَزَقَنِي صُحْبَتَكَ وَأَحْسَنْتَ صُحْبَتِي وَقَدْ نَزَلَ بِكَ الْمَوْتُ فَلَا أَدْرِي أَيْنَ أَتَوَجَّهُ؟ قَالَ لَا أَيْنَ مَا بَقِيَ أَحَدٌ أَعْلَمُهُ عَلَى دِينِ عِيسَى فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَكِنْ هَذَا أَوَانٌ يَخْرُجُ فِيهِ نَبِيٌّ أَوْ قَدْ خَرَجَ بِتِهَامَةَ فَأَنْتَ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ لَا يَمُرُّ بِكَ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا سَأَلْتَهُ عَنْهُ وَإِذَا بَلَغَكَ أَنَّهُ خَرَجَ فَائْتِهِ فَإِنَّهُ النَّبِيُّ الَّذِي بَشَّرَ بِهِ عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَآيَةُ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ خَاتَمَ النُّبُوَّةِ وَأَنَّهُ يَأْكُلُ الْهَدِيَّةَ وَلَا يَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ قَالَ فَكَانَ لَا يَمُرُّ بِي أَحَدٌ إِلَّا سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْهُ فَمَرَّ بِي نَاسٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ فَسَأَلْتُهُمْ فَقَالُوا نَعَمْ قَدْ ظَهْرَ فِينَا رَجُلٌ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ فَقُلْتُ لِبَعْضِهِمْ هَلْ لَكُمْ إِلَى أَنْ أَكُونَ عَبْدًا لِبَعْضِكُمْ عَلَى أَنْ تَحْمِلُونِي عُقْبَةً وتُطْعِمُونِي مِنَ الْكِسَرِ فَإِذَا بَلَغْتُمْ إِلَى بِلَادِكُمْ فَإِنْ شَاءَ أَنْ يَبِيعَ بَاعَ وَإِنْ شَاءَ أَنْ يَسْتَعْبِدَ اسْتَعْبَدَ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ أَنَا فَصِرْتُ عَبْدًا لَهُ حَتَّى قَدِمَ بِي مَكَّةَ فَجَعَلَنِي فِي بُسْتَانٍ لَهُ مَعَ حُبْشَانٍ كَانُوا فِيهِ فَخَرَجْتُ وَسَأَلْتُ فَلَقِيتُ امْرَأَةً مِنْ أَهْلِ بِلَادِي فَسَأَلْتُهَا فَإِذَا أَهْلُ بَيْتِهَا قَدْ أَسْلَمُوا وَقَالَتْ لِي إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فِي الْحِجْرِ هُوَ وَأَصْحَابُهُ إِذَا صَاحَ عُصْفُورٌ بِمَكَّةَ حَتَّى إِذَا أَضَاءَ لَهُمُ الْفَجْرُ تَفَرَّقُوا فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى الْبُسْتَانِ فَكُنْتُ أَخْتَلِفُ لَيْلَتِي فَقَالَ لِي الْحُبْشَانُ مَا لَكَ؟ فَقُلْتُ أَشْتَكِي بَطْنِي قَالَ وَإِنَّمَا صَنَعْتُ ذَلِكَ لِئَلَّا يَفْقِدُونِي إِذَا ذَهَبْتُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ السَّاعَةُ الَّتِي أَخْبَرَتْنِي الْمَرْأَةُ الَّتِي يَجْلِسُ فِيهَا هُوَ وَأَصْحَابُهُ خَرَجْتُ أَمْشِي حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُحْتَبٍ وَأَصْحَابُهُ حَوْلَهُ فَأَتَيْتُهُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ فَعَرَفَ نَبِيُّ اللهِ ﷺ الَّذِي أُرِيدُ فَأَرْسَلَ حَبْوَتَهُ فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى خَاتَمِ النُّبُوَّةِ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ اللهُ أَكْبَرُ هَذِهِ وَاحِدَةٌ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ اللَّيْلَةُ الْمُقْبِلَةُ لَقَطْتُ تَمْرًا جَيِّدًا ثُمَّ انْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَوَضَعْتُهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ «مَا هَذَا؟» قُلْتُ هُوَ هَدِيَّةٌ فَأَكَلَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ لِلْقَوْمِ «كُلُوا» قَالَ قُلْتُ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللهِ فَسَأَلَنِي عَنْ أَمْرِي فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ «اذْهَبْ فَاشْتَرِ نَفْسَكَ» فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى صَاحِبِي فَقُلْتُ بِعْنِي نَفْسِي؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ عَلَى أَنْ تُنْبِتَ لِي مِائَةَ نَخْلَةٍ فَإِذَا أَنْبَتَتْ جِئْنِي بِوَزْنِ نَوَاةٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «اشْتَرِ نَفْسَكَ بِالَّذِي سَأَلَكَ وَائْتِنِي بِدَلْوٍ مِنْ مَاءِ الْبِئْرِ الَّذِي كُنْتَ تَسْقِي مِنْهَا ذَلِكَ النَّخْلَ» قَالَ فَدَعَا لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فِيهَا ثُمَّ سَقَيْتُهَا فَوَاللهِ لَقَدْ غَرَسْتُ مِائَةَ نَخْلَةٍ فَمَا غادَرَتْ مِنْهَا نَخْلَةٌ إِلَّا نَبَتَتْ فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ أَنَّ النَّخْلَ قَدْ نَبَتْنَ فَأَعْطَانِي قِطْعَةً مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَانْطَلَقْتُ بِهَا فَوَضَعْتُهَا فِي كِفَّةِ الْمِيزَانِ وَوَضَعَ فِي الْجَانِبِ الْآخَرِ نَوَاةً فَوَاللهِ مَا اسْتَقَلَّتِ الْقِطْعَةُ الذَّهَبُ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ قَالَ وَجِئْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فأَعْتَقَنِي

[Machine] I entered upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the mosque of Al-Madinah and he began saying, "Where is so and so, son of so and so?" He continued to look for them and send messages until they gathered around him. He said, "I am going to narrate a Hadith to you, so memorize it, comprehend it, and narrate it to others after me. Verily, Allah has chosen from His creation a special creation." Then he recited the verse, "Allah chooses from the angels messengers and from the people" (Quran 22:75). "A creation that will be admitted into Paradise. And indeed, I am the chosen one among you, the most beloved to me and the closest to me, just as Allah chose and established brotherhood between the angels. Stand up, O Abu Bakr." So Abu Bakr stood up and came close to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and sat down in front of him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "You have a hand with me, and by it, Allah will reward you. If I were to take a close friend, I would have taken you as my close friend, but you are from me as my shirt is from my body." And he shook his shirt with his hand and then said, "Approach, O Umar." So Umar came closer, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "You used to be stern with us, O Abu Hafs, so I supplicated to Allah to strengthen this religion by you or by Abu Jahl, so Allah did it with you, and you both are the most beloved to me. You will be with me at the Pond in Paradise, third among three from this Ummah." Then he moved to the side and hugged Abu Bakr, then he called Uthman and repeated the same for him. And he continuously called him until he drew closer until his knees touched the knees of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Then he looked at him and after that he looked at the sky and said, "Glory be to Allah the Almighty" three times. Then he looked at Uthman and found that the buttons of his garment were open, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fastened them with his own hands and said, "Join your garments to your neck, for Allah will grant you your needs. Indeed, you have a position with the people of the heavens, that when the people drink from the Cistern, your basin will overflow with blood, and I will say, 'Who did this to you?' So you will reply, 'So and so and so and so.' This is the statement

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فِي مَسْجِدِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ «أَيْنَ فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ» فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَتَفَقَّدُهُمْ وَيَبْعَثُ إِلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى اجْتَمَعُوا عِنْدَهُ فَقَالَ «إِنِّي مُحَدِّثُكُمْ بِحَدِيثٍ فَاحْفَظُوهُ وَعُوهُ وَحَدِّثُوا بِهِ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ اصْطَفَى مِنْ خَلْقِهِ خَلْقًا» ثُمَّ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ {اللهُ يَصْطَفِي مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا وَمِنَ النَّاسِ} «خَلْقًا يُدْخِلُهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ وَإِنِّي مُصْطَفًى مِنْكُمْ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ أَصْطَفِيَهُ ومُؤَاخٍ بَيْنَكُمْ كَمَا آخَى اللهُ بَيْنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ قُمْ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ» فَقَامَ فَجَثَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ «إِنَّ لَكَ عِنْدِي يَدًا إِنَّ اللهَ يَجْزِيكَ بِهَا فَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلًا لَاتَّخَذْتُكَ خَلِيلًا فَأَنْتَ مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ قَمِيصِي مِنْ جَسَدِي» وَحَرَّكَ قَمِيصَهُ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ «ادْنُ يَا عُمَرً» فَدَنَا فَقَالَ «قَدْ كُنْتَ شَدِيدَ الشَّغَبِ عَلَيْنَا أَبَا حَفْصٍ فَدَعَوْتُ اللهَ أَنْ يُعِزَّ الدِّينَ بِكَ أَوْ بِأَبِي جَهْلٍ فَفَعَلَ اللهُ ذَلِكَ بِكَ وَكُنْتَ أَحَبَّهُمَا إِلَيَّ فَأَنْتَ مَعِي فِي الْجَنَّةِ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ» ثُمَّ تَنَحَّى وآخا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ثُمَّ دَعَا عُثْمَانَ فَقَالَ «ادْنُ يَا عُثْمَانُ ادْنُ يَا عُثْمَانُ» فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَدْنُو مِنْهُ حَتَّى أَلْصَقَ رُكْبَتِهِ بِرُكْبَةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَقَالَ «سُبْحَانَ اللهِ الْعَظِيمِ» ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَى عُثْمَانَ فَإِذَا أَزْرَارُهُ مَحْلُولَةٌ فَزَرَّرَهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ اجْمَعْ عِطْفَيْ رِدَائِكَ عَلَى نَحْرِكَ فَإِنَّ لَكَ شَأْنًا فِي أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ أَنْتَ مِمَّنْ يَرِدُ عَلَيَّ الْحَوْضَ وَأَوْدَاجُهُ تَشْخُبُ دَمًا فَأَقُولُ مَنْ فَعَلَ هَذَا بِكَ؟ فَتَقُولُ فُلَانٌ وَفُلَانٌ وَذَلِكَ كَلَامُ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَذَلِكَ إِذْ هَتَفَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَّا إِنَّ عُثْمَانَ أَمِينٌ عَلَى كُلِّ خَاذِلٍ ثُمَّ دَعَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ عَوْفٍ فَقَالَ «ادْنُ يَا أَمِينَ اللهِ وَالْأَمِينُ فِي السَّمَاءِ يُسَلِّطُكَ اللهُ عَلَى مَالِكَ بِالْحَقِّ أَمَا إِنَّ لَكَ عِنْدِي دَعْوَةً وَقَدْ أَخَّرْتُهَا» قَالَ خِرْ لِي يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ «حَمَّلْتَنِي يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ أَمَانَةً أَكْثَرَ اللهُ مَالَكَ» قَالَ وَجَعَلَ يُحَرِّكُ يَدَهُ ثُمَّ تَنَحَّى وَآخَى بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ عُثْمَانَ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ طَلْحَةُ وَالزُّبَيْرُ فَقَالَ «ادْنُوَا مِنِّي» فَدَنَوَا مِنْهُ فَقَالَ «أَنْتُمَا حَوَارِيِّيَّ كَحَوَارِيِّي عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ» ثُمَّ آخَى بَيْنَهُمَا ثُمَّ دَعَا سَعْدَ بْنَ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ وَعَمَّارَ بْنَ يَاسِرٍ فَقَالَ «يَا عَمَّارُ تَقْتُلُكُ الْفِئَةُ الْبَاغِيَةُ» ثُمَّ آخَى بَيْنَهُمَا ثُمَّ دَعَا عُوَيْمِرًا أَبَا لدَّرْدَاءِ وَسَلْمَانَ الْفَارِسِيِّ فَقَالَ «يَا سَلْمَانُ أَنْتَ مِنَّا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَقَدْ آتَاكَ اللهُ الْعِلْمَ الْأَوَّلَ وَالْعِلْمَ الْآخِرَ وَالْكِتَابَ الْأَوَّلَ وَالْكِتَابَ الْآخِرَ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «أَلَا أَرْشَدُكَ يَا أَبَا الدَّرْدَاءِ؟» قَالَ بَلَى بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ «أَنْ تُنْقِذْ يُنْقِذُوكَ وَإِنْ تَتْرُكْهُمْ لَا يَتْرُكُوكَ وَإِنْ تَهْرَبْ مِنْهُمْ يُدْرِكُوكَ فَأَقْرِضْهُمْ عِرْضَكَ لِيَوْمِ فَقْرِكَ» فَآخَى بَيْنَهُمَا ثُمَّ نَظَرَ فِي وُجُوهِ أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ «أَبْشِرُوا وقَرُّوا عَيْنًا فَأَنْتُمْ أَوَّلُ مَنْ يَرِدُ عَلَيَّ الْحَوْضَ وَأَنْتُمْ فِي أَعْلَى الْغُرَفِ» ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ «الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي يَهْدِي مِنَ الضَّلَالَةِ» فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ذَهَبَ رُوحِي وَانْقَطَعَ ظَهْرِي حِينَ رَأَيْتُكَ فَعَلْتَ مَا فَعَلْتَ بِأَصْحَابِكَ غَيْرِي فَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ سَخْطَةٍ عَلَيَّ فَلَكَ الْعُتْبَى وَالْكَرَامَةُ فَقَالَ «وَالَّذِي بَعَثَنِي بِالْحَقِّ مَا أخَّرْتُكَ إِلَّا لِنَفْسِي فَأَنْتَ عِنْدِي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى وَوَارِثِي» فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَا أَرِثُ مِنْكَ؟ قَالَ «مَا أَوْرَثَتِ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ» قَالَ وَمَا أَوْرَثَتِ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ قَبْلَكَ؟ قَالَ «كِتَابَ اللهِ وَسُنَّةَ نَبِيِّهِمْ وَأَنْتَ مَعِي فِي قِصْرِي فِي الْجَنَّةِ مَعَ فَاطِمَةَ ابْنَتِي وَرَفِيقِي» ثُمَّ تَلَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الْآيَةَ {إِخْوَانًا عَلَى سُرَرٍ مُتَقَابِلِينَ} الْأَخِلَّاءُ فِي اللهِ يَنْظُرُ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ