Bukhari

Narrated `Aisha: After the slanderers had given a forged statement against her, Allah's Apostle called `Ali bin Abi Talib and Usama bin Zaid when the Divine Inspiration was delayed. He wanted to ask them and consult them about the question of divorcing me. Usama gave his evidence that was based on what he knew about my innocence, but `Ali said, "Allah has not put restrictions on you and there are many women other than her. Furthermore you may ask the slave girl who will tell you the truth." So the Prophet asked Barira (my salve girl), "Have you seen anything that may arouse your suspicion?" She replied, "I have not seen anything more than that she is a little girl who sleeps, leaving the dough of her family (unguarded) that the domestic goats come and eat it." Then the Prophet stood on the pulpit and said, "O Muslims! Who will help me against the man who has harmed me by slandering my wife? By Allah, I know nothing about my family except good." The narrator added: Then the Prophet mentioned the innocence of `Aisha. (See Hadith No. 274, Vol. 6)

And it is also mentioned that consultation should be sought before making a firm decision about a matter and before announcing it, as it is said «فإذا عزمت فتوكل على الله‏» "Then when you have made a decision (that is, after consultation), put your trust in Allah (and carry it out)." Then, when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had made a decision after consultation, it was not permissible for anyone to advance an opinion before Allah and His Messenger (that is, to give another opinion). And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) consulted his companions in the Battle of Uhud whether to stay in Madinah and fight or to go out. When he had put on his armor and decided to go out and fight, some people began to say that it would be better to stay in Madinah. He did not pay attention to their words because (after consultation) he had already made a decision. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that when a Prophet (having prepared for battle) puts on his armor (and arms himself), he cannot remove it except by Allah’s command (this hadith has been connected by Tabarani from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both). And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) consulted Ali and Usamah bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with them both) in the case of the great slander that was made against Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), and he listened to their opinions until the Quran was revealed, and he punished the slanderers with lashes, and he did not pay attention to the difference of opinion between Ali and Usamah (may Allah be pleased with them both) (Ali’s opinion has been mentioned above), rather he judged according to Allah’s command, and after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), all the Imams and Caliphs used to consult trustworthy people and scholars in permissible matters so that they could choose what was easiest, then when they found a command from the Quran or Hadith, they would not listen to anyone against it, because following the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is foremost for everyone. And Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) considered it appropriate to fight those who did not give zakat, so Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "How will you fight those people when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, 'I have been commanded to fight the people until they say La ilaha illallah; when they say La ilaha illallah, they have protected their lives and wealth from me.'" Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "I will certainly fight those who separate the obligations which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) kept together." After that, Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) agreed with him. In short, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) did not pay attention to Umar’s advice; he had the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) with him: those who differentiate between prayer and zakat, and change the commands and pillars of the religion, should be fought (they have become disbelievers). And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever changes his religion (turns away from Islam), kill him." And those companions who participated in Umar’s consultations were those who were reciters of the Quran (that is, scholars), whether young or old, and whenever Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) heard a command from the Book of Allah, he would stop and act accordingly, and would not listen to anyone’s advice against it.

And it is also mentioned that consultation should be sought before making a firm decision about a matter and before announcing it, as it is said «فإذا عزمت فتوكل على الله‏» "Then when you have made a decision (that is, after consultation), put your trust in Allah (and carry it out)." Then, when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had made a decision after consultation, it was not permissible for anyone to advance an opinion before Allah and His Messenger (that is, to give another opinion). And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) consulted his companions in the Battle of Uhud whether to stay in Madinah and fight or to go out. When he had put on his armor and decided to go out and fight, some people began to say that it would be better to stay in Madinah. He did not pay attention to their words because (after consultation) he had already made a decision. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that when a Prophet (having prepared for battle) puts on his armor (and arms himself), he cannot remove it except by Allah’s command (this hadith has been connected by Tabarani from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both). And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) consulted Ali and Usamah bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with them both) in the case of the great slander that was made against Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), and he listened to their opinions until the Quran was revealed, and he punished the slanderers with lashes, and he did not pay attention to the difference of opinion between Ali and Usamah (may Allah be pleased with them both) (Ali’s opinion has been mentioned above), rather he judged according to Allah’s command, and after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), all the Imams and Caliphs used to consult trustworthy people and scholars in permissible matters so that they could choose what was easiest, then when they found a command from the Quran or Hadith, they would not listen to anyone against it, because following the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is foremost for everyone. And Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) considered it appropriate to fight those who did not give zakat, so Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "How will you fight those people when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, 'I have been commanded to fight the people until they say La ilaha illallah; when they say La ilaha illallah, they have protected their lives and wealth from me.'" Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "I will certainly fight those who separate the obligations which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) kept together." After that, Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) agreed with him. In short, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) did not pay attention to Umar’s advice; he had the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) with him: those who differentiate between prayer and zakat, and change the commands and pillars of the religion, should be fought (they have become disbelievers). And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever changes his religion (turns away from Islam), kill him." And those companions who participated in Umar’s consultations were those who were reciters of the Quran (that is, scholars), whether young or old, and whenever Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) heard a command from the Book of Allah, he would stop and act accordingly, and would not listen to anyone’s advice against it.

Narrated `Aisha: After the slanderers had given a forged statement against her, Allah's Apostle called `Ali bin Abi Talib and Usama bin Zaid when the Divine Inspiration was delayed. He wanted to ask them and consult them about the question of divorcing me. Usama gave his evidence that was based on what he knew about my innocence, but `Ali said, "Allah has not put restrictions on you and there are many women other than her. Furthermore you may ask the slave girl who will tell you the truth." So the Prophet asked Barira (my salve girl), "Have you seen anything that may arouse your suspicion?" She replied, "I have not seen anything more than that she is a little girl who sleeps, leaving the dough of her family (unguarded) that the domestic goats come and eat it." Then the Prophet stood on the pulpit and said, "O Muslims! Who will help me against the man who has harmed me by slandering my wife? By Allah, I know nothing about my family except good." The narrator added: Then the Prophet mentioned the innocence of `Aisha. (See Hadith No. 274, Vol. 6)

Narrated Aisha: Allah's Apostle addressed the people, and after praising and glorifying Allah, he said, "What do you suggest me regarding those people who are abusing my wife? I have never known anything bad about her." The sub-narrator, `Urwa, said: When `Aisha was told of the slander, she said, "O Allah's Apostle! Will you allow me to go to my parents' home?" He allowed her and sent a slave along with her. An Ansari man said, "Subhanaka! It is not right for us to speak about this. Subhanaka! This is a great lie!"