Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … The meaning of this hadith becomes clear from the following supporting narration: Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas narrates that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said to his wives: ((Layta sha‘ri! ayyutukunna sahibat al-jamal al-adbab, takhruju fayanhahuha kilab al-Haw’ab, yuqtalu ‘an yaminha wa ‘an yasaraha qatla kathir, thumma tanju ba‘da ma kadat?!)) … “If only I knew! Which one of you will be the companion of the camel with much hair on its face, she will go out and the dogs of Haw’ab will bark at her, a large number of people will be killed on her right and left, and she herself will narrowly escape.” (Al-Albani said: Al-Bazzar narrated it in Kashf al-Astar: 4/94/3273, 3274 and its narrators are trustworthy as stated by Al-Haythami in Majma‘ al-Zawa’id: 7/234, and Al-Hafiz in Fath al-Bari: 13/45)

Imam Al-Albani rahimahullah writes: The summary of the matter is that the chain of this hadith is authentic and there is no problem in its text, contrary to what Ustadh Sa‘id Afghani claims.

At most, this hadith proves that when Sayyida Aisha radi Allahu anha came to know about Haw’ab, she should have turned back, whereas this narration shows that she did not return. Even attributing this matter to Umm al-Mu’minin is not befitting her status.

Our answer is that it is not necessary that only that which befits a person of comprehensive qualities and perfection should issue from him, because the only one who is infallible is he whom Allah protects. The Ahl al-Sunnah should not exaggerate in the status of respected personalities, as the Shia have done regarding their Imams and declared them infallible.

Our view is that going out with that caravan was a mistake on the part of Sayyida Aisha radi Allahu anha. That is why, when she remembered the statement of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam about Haw’ab, she intended to return, but Sayyiduna Zubair radi Allahu anhu reassured her by saying: Perhaps Allah will bring about reconciliation among the people through you. … … . Imam Zayla‘i (Nasb al-Rayah: 4/69-70) says: Sayyida Aisha radi Allahu anha expressed regret over (this mistake), as Ibn Abd al-Barr narrated in (Kitab al-Isti‘ab) that … Sayyida Aisha radi Allahu anha said to Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar radi Allahu anhu: Abu Abd al-Rahman! Why did you not prevent me from going out? He said: I saw that Ibn Zubair had prevailed over you. Then Sayyida Aisha radi Allahu anha said: By Allah! If you had stopped me, I would not have gone.

There is another chain for this report, as Imam Dhahabi said in (Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’: pp. 78-79):

And he also said that Qays said: At first, Sayyida Aisha radi Allahu anha thought that she would be buried in her house with the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, but (after the Battle of Jamal) she said: Because of this action (sin), bury me with the other Mothers of the Believers. Then she was buried in Baqi‘. I (Qays) say: Sayyida Aisha radi Allahu anha meant the incident of the Battle of Jamal, and later she greatly regretted it and repented from it. Although her intention was for good and righteousness, just as Sayyiduna Talha ibn Ubaydullah, Sayyiduna Zubair ibn al-Awwam, and the group of senior Companions radi Allahu anhum ajma‘in exercised ijtihad. May Allah be pleased with them all. (Amin)

Imam Bukhari states in his Sahih: Abu Wa’il said: When Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu sent Sayyiduna Ammar and Sayyiduna Hasan radi Allahu anhuma to Kufa to seek help, Sayyiduna Ammar radi Allahu anhu said in his sermon: I know that Sayyida Aisha radi Allahu anha was the wife of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in this world and will be in the Hereafter as well, but Allah wants to test you as to whether you follow Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu or Sayyida Aisha radi Allahu anha.

This sermon of Sayyiduna Ammar radi Allahu anhu was before the Battle of Jamal; he wanted to prevent people from going out with Sayyida Aisha radi Allahu anha. (Sahihah: 474)