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." (Using translation from Bukhārī 4141)  

حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الْإِفْكِ مَا قَالُوا فَبَرَّأَهَا اللهُ قَالَ 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 النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِذَا أَرَادَ سَفَرًا أَقْرَعَ بَيْنَ أَزْوَاجِهِ فَأَيَّتُهُنَّ خَرَجَ سَهْمُهَا خَرَجَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَعَهُ فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ «فَأَقْرَعَ بَيْنَنَا فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا فَخَرَجَ فِيهَا سَهْمِي فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ بَعْدَمَا نَزَلَ الْحِجَابُ فَكُنْتُ أُحْمَلُ فِي هَوْدَجٍ وَأَنْزِلُ فِيهِ فَسِرْنَا حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ رَسُولُ اللهِ 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 فَالْتَمَسْتُ صَدْرِي فَإِذَا عِقْدٌ لِي مِنْ جَزْعِ ظَفَارٍ قَدِ انْقَطَعَ فَرَجَعْتُ فَالْتَمَسْتُ عِقْدِي فَحَبَسَنِي ابْتِغَاؤُهُ وَأَقْبَلَ الرَّهْطُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يُرَحِّلُونِي فَاحْتَمَلُوا هَوْدَجِي فَرَحَلُوهُ عَلَى بَعِيرِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرْكَبُ وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنِّي فِيهِ وَكَانَ النِّسَاءُ إِذْ ذَاكَ خِفَافًا لَمْ يُهَبَّلْنَ وَلَمْ يَغْشَهُنَّ اللَّحْمُ إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلْنَ الْعُلْقَةَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَلَمْ يَسْتَنْكِرِ الْقَوْمُ خِفَّةَ الْهَوْدَجِ حِينَ رَفَعُوهُ وَحَمَلُوهُ وَكُنْتُ جَارِيَةً حَدِيثَةَ السِّنِّ فَبَعَثُوا الْجَمَلَ وَسَارُوا وَوَجَدْتُ عِقْدِي بَعْدَمَا اسْتَمَرَّ الْجَيْشُ فَجِئْتُ مَنَازِلَهُمْ وَلَيْسَ بِهَا مِنْهُمْ دَاعٍ وَلَا مُجِيبٌ فَتَيَمَّمْتُ مَنْزِلِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ بِهِ وَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُمْ سَيَفْقِدُونِي فَيَرْجِعُونَ إِلَيَّ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسَةٌ فِي مَنْزِلِي غَلَبَتْنِي عَيْنِي فَنِمْتُ وَكَانَ صَفْوَانُ بْنُ الْمُعَطَّلِ السُّلَمِيُّ ثُمَّ الذَّكْوَانِيُّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْجَيْشِ فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدَ مَنْزِلِي فَرَأَى سَوَادَ إِنْسَانٍ فَعَرَفَنِي حِينَ رَآنِي وَكَانَ يَرَانِي قَبْلَ الْحِجَابِ فَاسْتَيْقَظْتُ بِاسْتِرْجَاعِهِ حِينَ عَرَفَنِي فَخَمَّرْتُ وَجْهِي بِجِلْبَابِي وَاللهِ مَا تَكَلَّمْنَا كَلِمَةً وَلَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْهُ كَلِمَةً غَيْرَ اسْتِرْجَاعِهِ وَهَوَى حَتَّى أَنَاخَ رَاحِلَتَهُ فَوَطِئَ عَلَى يَدِهَا فَقُمْتُ إِلَيْهَا فَرَكِبْتُهَا فَانْطَلَقَ يَقُودُ بِيَ الرَّاحِلَةَ حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الْجَيْشَ مُوغِرِينَ فِي نَحْرِ الظَّهِيرَةِ وَهُمْ نُزُولٌ فَهَلَكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ وَكَانَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّى كِبْرَ الْإِفْكِ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ أُبَيِّ ابْنِ سَلُولٍ» قَالَ عُرْوَةُ كَانَتْ عَائِشَةُ تَكْرَهُ أَنْ يُسَبَّ عِنْدَهَا حَسَّانٌ وَتَقُولُ إِنَّهُ قَدْ قَالَ [البحر الوافر] فَإِنَّ أَبِي وَوَالِدَهُ وَعِرْضِي لِعْرِضِ مُحَمَّدٍ مِنْكُمْ وِقَاءُ [169] قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ فَاشْتَكَيْتُ حِينَ قَدِمْنَا شَهْرًا وَالنَّاسُ يُفِيضُونَ فِي قَوْلِ أَصْحَابِ الْإِفْكِ لَا أَشْعُرُ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَهُوَ يَرِيبُنِي فِي وَجَعِي أَنِّي لَا أَعْرِفُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ اللُّطْفَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرَى مِنْهُ حِينَ أَشْتَكِي إِنَّمَا يَدْخُلُ عَلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ «كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ؟» ثُمَّ يَنْصَرِفُ فَذَلِكَ يَرِيبُنِي وَلَا أَشْعُرُ بِالشَّرِّ حَتَّى خَرَجْتُ حِينَ نَقِهْتُ فَخَرَجَتْ مَعِي أُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ قِبَلَ الْمَنَاصِعِ وَكَانَتْ مُتَبَرَّزَنَا وَكُنَّا لَا نَخْرُجُ إِلَّا لَيْلًا إِلَى لَيْلٍ وَذَلِكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُتَّخَذَ الْكُنُفُ قَرِيبًا مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا وَأَمْرُنَا أَمْرُ الْعَرَبِ الْأُولَى وَكُنَّا نَتَأَذَّى بِالْكُنُفِ أَنْ نَتَّخِذَهَا عِنْدَ بُيُوتِنَا فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَأَمُّ مِسْطَحٍ قِبَلَ بَيْتِي حِينَ فَرَغْنَا مِنْ شَأْنِنَا فَعَثَرَتْ أُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ فِي مِرْطِهَا فَقَالَتْ «تَعِسَ مِسْطَحٌ» فَقُلْتُ لَهَا بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتِ أَتَسُبِّينَ رَجُلًا شَهِدَ بَدْرًا؟ قَالَتْ أَيْ هَنْتَاهُ أَوَ لَمْ تَسْمَعِي مَا قَالَ؟ قُلْتُ وَمَا قَالَ؟ فَأَخْبَرَتْنِي بِقَوْلِ أَهْلِ الْإِفْكِ فَازْدَدْتُ مَرَضًا عَلَى مَرَضِي فَلَمَّا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى بَيْتِي دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ قَالَ «كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ؟» فَقُلْتُ لَهُ ائْذَنْ لِي أَنْ آتِيَ أَبَوَيَّ وَأَنَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْتَيْقِنَ الْخَبَرَ مِنْ قِبَلِهِمَا فَأَذِنَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَجِئْتُ أَبَوَيَّ فَقُلْتُ لِأُمِّي يَا أُمَّتَاهُ مَاذَا يَتَحَدَّثُ النَّاسُ؟ قَالَتْ يَا بُنَيَّةُ هَوِّنِي عَلَيْكِ فَوَاللهِ لَقَلَّمَا كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ قَطُّ وَضِيئَةٌ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّهَا لَهَا ضَرَائِرُ إِلَّا كَثَّرْنَ عَلَيْهَا [170] فَقُلْتُ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ أَوَ لَقَدْ تَحَدَّثَ النَّاسُ بِهَذَا؟ فَبَكَيْتُ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ لَا يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلَا أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحْتُ أَبْكِي فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَأُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ حِينَ اسْتَلْبَثَ الْوَحْيُ يَسْتَشِيرُهُمَا فِي فِرَاقِ أَهْلِهِ فَأَمَّا أُسَامَةُ فَأَشَارَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ بِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ مِنْ بَرَاءَةِ أَهْلِهِ وَبِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ لَهُمْ فِي نَفْسِهِ فَقَالَ أُسَامَةُ «أَهْلُكَ وَلَا نَعْلَمُ إِلَّا خَيْرًا» وَأَمَّا عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ لَمْ يُضَيِّقِ اللهُ عَلَيْكَ وَالنِّسَاءُ سِوَاهَا كَثِيرٌ وَسَلِ الْجَارِيَةَ تَصْدُقْكَ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بَرِيرَةَ فَقَالَ «أَيْ بَرِيرَةُ هَلْ رَأَيْتِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ يَرِيبُكِ؟» قَالَتْ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا رَأَيْتُ عَلَيْهَا قَطُّ أَمْرًا أَغْمِصُهُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنَّهَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ تَنَامُ عَنْ عَجِينِ أَهْلِهَا فَيَأْتِي الدَّاجِنُ فَيأْكُلُهُ قَالَتْ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْ نَوْمِهِ فَاسْتَعْذَرَ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ أُبَيٍّ ابْنِ سَلُولَ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَقَالَ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَنْ يَعْذِرُنِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَذَاهُ فِي أَهْلِي وَاللهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلَّا خَيْرًا وَلَقَدْ ذَكَرُوا رَجُلًا مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا خَيْرًا وَمَا يَدْخُلُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلَّا مَعِي فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ أَخُو بَنِي عَبْدِ الْأَشْهَلِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَنَا أَعْذِرُ مِنْهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْأَوْسِ ضَرَبْتُ عُنُقَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِنَا مِنَ الْخَزْرَجِ أَمَرْتَنَا فَفَعَلْنَا أَمْرَكَ قَالَتْ وَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْخَزْرَجِ وَكَانَتْ أُمُّ حَسَّانٍ ابْنَةَ عَمِّهِ مِنْ فَخِذِهِ وَهُوَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ وَهُوَ سَيِّدُ الْخَزْرَجِ قَالَتْ وَكَانَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ رَجُلًا صَالِحًا وَلَكِنِ احْتَمَلَتْهُ الْحَمِيَّةُ فَقَالَ لِسَعْدِ بْنِ مُعَاذٍ كَذَبْتَ لَعَمْرُ اللهِ لَا تَقْتُلُهُ وَلَا تَقْدِرُ عَلَى قَتْلِهِ فَقَامَ أُسَيْدُ بْنُ حُضَيْرٍ وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّ سَعْدِ بْنِ مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ لِسَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ كَذَبْتَ لَعَمْرُ اللهِ لَيَقْتُلَنَّهُ فَإِنَّكَ مُنَافِقٌ تُجَادِلُ عَنِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فَثَارَ الْحَيَّانِ الْأَوْسُ وَالْخَزْرَجُ [171] حَتَّى هَمُّوا أَنْ يَقْتَتِلُوا وَرَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قَائِمٌ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُخَفِّضُهُمْ حَتَّى سَكَتُوا وَسَكَتَ قَالَتْ وَبَكَيْتُ يَوْمِي ذَلِكَ لَا يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ وَلَمْ أَكْتَحِلْ بِنَوْمٍ وَأَصْبَحَ أَبَوَايَ عِنْدِي وَقَدْ بَقِيتُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ وَيَوْمًا لَا أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ حَتَّى إِنِّي لَأَظُنُّ أَنَّ الْبُكَاءَ فَالِقٌ كَبِدِي فَبَيْنَا أَبَوَايَ جَالِسَانِ عِنْدِي وَأَنَا أَبْكِي اسْتَأْذَنَتْ عَلَيَّ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَأَذِنْتُ لَهَا فَجَلَسَتْ تَبْكِي مَعِي فَبَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ وَلَمْ يَجْلِسْ عِنْدِي مُنْذُ قِيلَ مَا قِيلَ قَبْلَهَا وَلَقَدْ لَبِثَ شَهْرًا لَا يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ فِي شَأْنِي بِشَيْءٍ فَتَشَهَّدَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ حِينَ جَلَسَ ثُمَّ قَالَ «أَمَّا بَعْدُ يَا عَائِشَةُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَإِنْ كُنْتِ بَرِيئَةً فَسَيُبَرِّئُكِ اللهُ وَإِنْ كُنْتِ أَلْمَمْتِ بِذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرِي اللهَ وَتُوبِي إِلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا اعْتَرَفَ بِذَنْبٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ تَابَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ» فَلَمَّا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَقَالَتَهُ قَلَصَ دَمْعِي حَتَّى مَا أُحِسُّ مِنْهُ قَطْرَةً وَقُلْتُ لِأَبِي أَجِبْ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فِيمَا قَالَ فَقَالَ وَاللهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ لِأُمِّي أَجِيبِي رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فِيمَا قَالَ قَالَتْ وَاللهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ وَأَنَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ لَا أَقْرَأُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ كَثِيرًا إِنِّي وَاللهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُمْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ حَتَّى اسْتَقَرَّ فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَصَدَّقْتُمْ بِهِ وَلَئِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ لَا تُصَدِّقُونِي وَلَئِنِ اعْتَرَفْتُ لَكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي مِنْهُ بَرِيئَةٌ لَتُصَدِّقُنِّي فَوَاللهِ لَا أَجِدُ لِي مَثَلًا وَلَا لَكُمْ إِلَّا أَبَا يُوسُفَ حِينَ قَالَ {فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ} [يوسف 18] ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلْتُ فَاضْطَجَعْتُ عَلَى فِرَاشِي وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ حِينَئِذٍ أَنِّي بَرِيئَةٌ وَإِنَّ اللهَ مُبَرِّئِي بِبَرَاءَتِي وَلَكِنْ وَاللهِ مَا كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ أَنَّ اللهَ مَنْزِلٌ فِي شَأْنِي وَحْيًا يُتْلَى لَشَأْنِي فِي نَفْسِي كَانَ أَحْقَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ اللهُ فِيَّ بِأَمْرٍ [172] وَلَكِنْ كُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ يَرَى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فِي النَّوْمِ رُؤْيَا يُبَرِّئُنِي اللهُ بِهَا قَالَتْ فَوَاللهِ مَا رَامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَجْلَسَهُ وَلَا خَرَجَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ حَتَّى أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَخَذَهُ مَا كَانَ يَأْخُذُهُ مِنَ الْبُرَحَاءِ حَتَّى إِنَّهُ لَيَتَحَدَّرُ مِنْهُ الْعَرَقُ مِثْلُ الْجُمَانِ وَهُوَ فِي يَوْمٍ شَاتٍ مِنْ ثِقَلِ الْقَوْلِ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَسُرِّيَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ يَضْحَكُ فَكَانَ أَوَّلُ كَلِمَةٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهَا أَنْ قَالَ يَا عَائِشَةُ «أَمَّا اللهُ فَقَدْ بَرَّأَكِ» فَقَالَتْ لِي أُمِّي قُومِي إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ وَاللهِ لَا أَقُومُ إِلَيْهِ وَإِنِّي لَا أَحْمَدُ إِلَّا اللهَ قَالَتْ وَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالْإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِنْكُمْ لَا تَحْسَبُوهُ شَرًّا لَكُمْ بَلْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمْ مَا اكْتَسَبَ مِنَ الْإِثْمِ} الْعَشْرَ الْآيَاتِ كُلَّهَا فَلَمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ هَذَا فِي بَرَاءَتِي قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ وَكَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحٍ لِقَرَابَتِهِ وَفَقْرِهِ وَاللهِ لَا أُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحٍ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا بَعْدَ الَّذِي قَالَ لِعَائِشَةَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ تَعَالَى {وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ أَنْ يُؤْتُوا أُولِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللهُ لَكُمْ وَاللهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ} فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بَلَى وَاللهِ إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللهُ لِي فَرَجَعَ إِلَى مِسْطَحٍ الَّذِي كَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ وَاللهِ لَا أَنْزِعُهَا مِنْهُ أَبَدًا قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ سَأَلَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ جَحْشٍ عَنْ أَمْرِي فَقَالَ لِزَيْنَبَ مَاذَا عَلِمْتِ أَوْ رَأَيْتِ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ وَهِيَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تُسَامِينِي مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَعَصَمَهَا اللهُ بِالْوَرَعِ وَطَفِقَتْ أُخْتُهَا حَمْنَةُ تُحَارِبُ لَهَا فَهَلَكَتْ فِيمَنْ هَلَكَ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَهَذَا الَّذِي بَلَغَنِي مِنْ حَدِيثِ هَؤُلَاءِ الرَّهْطِ  

Would you like to ride upon my camel tonight and allow me to ride upon your camel and you would see (what you do not generally see) and I would see (what I do not see) generally? She said: Yes. So 'A'isha rode upon the camel of Hafsa and Hafsa rode upon the camel of 'A'isha and Messenger of Allah ﷺ came near the camel of 'A'isha. (whereas) Hafsa had been riding over that. He greeted her and then rode with her until they came down. She ('A'isha) thus missed (the company of the Holy Prophet) and when they sat down, 'A'isha felt jealous. She put her foot in the grass and said: O Allah, let the scorpion sting me or the serpent bite me. And so far as thy Messenger is concerned, I cannot say anything about him. (Using translation from Muslim 2445)  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِذَا خَرَجَ أَقْرَعَ بَيْنَ نِسَائِهِ فَطَارَتِ الْقُرْعَةُ عَلَى عَائِشَةِ وَحَفْصَةَ فَخَرَجَتَا مَعَهُ جَمِيعًا وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِذَا كَانَ بِاللَّيْلِ سَارَ مَعَ عَائِشَةَ وَيَتَحَدَّثُ مَعَهَا فَقَالَتْ حَفْصَةُ لِعَائِشَةَ أَلَا تَرْكَبِينَ اللَّيْلَةَ بَعِيرِي وَأَرْكَبُ بَعِيرَكِ فَتَنْظُرِينَ وَأَنْظُرُ؟ قَالَتْ «بَلَى فَرَكِبَتْ عَائِشَةُ عَلَى بَعِيرِ حَفْصَةَ وَرَكِبَتْ حَفْصَةُ عَلَى بَعِيرِ عَائِشَةَ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَى جَمَلِ عَائِشَةَ وَعَلَيْهِ حَفْصَةُ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ سَارَ مَعَهَا حَتَّى نَزَلُوا وَافْتَقَدَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ فَغَارَتْ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَتْ جَعَلَتْ تَجْعَلُ رِجْلَيْهَا بَيْنَ الْإِذْخِرِ» وَتَقُولُ «يَا رَبِّ سَلِّطْ عَلَيَّ عَقْرَبًا أَوْ حَيَّةً تَلْدَغُنِي عَنْ رَسُولِكَ ﷺ فَلَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقُولَ لَهُ شَيْئًا»