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مسند أبي يعلى الموصلي
Musnad Abi Ya'la al-Mawsili
مسند عائشة
Musnad of Aishah
مُسْنَدُ عَائِشَةَ
Musnad of Aishah
Musnad Abi Ya'la 4927 — from Sayyidah Aishah, when the people
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ ، حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ الْمَدَنِيُّ ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ الزُّهْرِيِّ ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ ، وَسَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيِّبِ ، وَعَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ وَقَّاصٍ اللَّيْثِيِّ ، وَعُبَيْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الْإِفْكِ مَا قَالُوا ، فَبَرَّأَهَا اللهُ مِنْهُ ، قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ - وَكُلُّهُمْ حَدَّثَنِي طَائِفَةً مِنْ حَدِيثِهَا ، وَبَعْضُهُمْ أَوْعَى لَهُ مِنْ بَعْضٍ ، وَأَثْبَتُ لَهُ مِنْ بَعْضٍ ، وَأَثْبَتُ لَهُ اقْتِصَاصًا ، وَقَدْ وَعَيْتُ عَنْ كُلِّ رَجُلٍ مِنْهُمُ الْحَدِيثَ الَّذِي حَدَّثَنِي بِهِ ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ، وَبَعْضُ حَدِيثِهِمْ يُصَدِّقُ بَعْضًا - : زَعَمُوا أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ : كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - إِذَا أَرَادَ سَفَرًا أَقْرَعَ بَيْنَ أَزْوَاجِهِ ، فَأَيَّتُهُنَّ خَرَجَ سَهْمُهَا ، خَرَجَ بِهَا مَعَهُ . قَالَتْ : فَأَقْرَعَ بَيْنَنَا فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا ، فَخَرَجَ سَهْمِي ، فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ ، بَعْدَمَا أُنْزِلَ الْحِجَابُ ، فَأَنَا أُحْمَلُ فِي هَوْدَجٍ ، وَأُنْزَلُ فِيهِ ، فَسِرْنَا حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - 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 بِي ، فَاحْتَمَلُوا هَوْدَجِي ، فَرَحَلُوهُ عَلَى بَعِيرِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرْكَبُ ، وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنِّي فِيهِ ، وَكَانَ النِّسَاءُ إِذْ ذَاكَ خِفَافًا لَمْ يَثْقُلْنَ ، وَلَمْ يَغْشَهُنَّ اللَّحْمُ ، وَإِنَّمَا يَأْكُلْنَ الْعُلْقَةَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ ، فَلَمْ يَسْتَنْكِرِ الْقَوْمُ حِينَ رَفَعُوا ثِقَلَ الْهَوْدَجِ ، وَاحْتَمَلُوهُ وَكُنْتُ جَارِيَةً ، حَدِيثَةَ السِّنِّ ، فَبَعَثُوا الْجَمَلَ وَسَارُوا ، فَوَجَدْتُ عِقْدِي بَعْدَمَا اسْتَمَرَّ الْجَيْشُ ، فَجِئْتُ مَنْزِلَهُمْ ، وَلَيْسَ فِيهِ أَحَدٌ ، فَأَمَّمْتُ مَنْزِلِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ فِيهِ ، وَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُمْ سَيَفْقِدُونَنِي ، فَيَرْجِعُونَ إِلَيَّ ، فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسَةٌ فِي مَنْزِلِي ، غَلَبَتْنِي عَيْنَايَ ، فَنِمْتُ ، وَكَانَ صَفْوَانُ بْنُ الْمُعَطَّلِ السُّلَمِيُّ ثُمَّ الذَّكْوَانِيُّ ، مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْجَيْشِ ، فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدَ مَنْزِلِي ، فَرَأَى سَوَادَ إِنْسَانٍ فَأَتَانِي ، وَكَانَ يَرَانِي قَبْلَ الْحِجَابِ ، فَاسْتَيْقَظْتُ بِاسْتِرْجَاعِهِ حِينَ عَرَفَنِي ، فَخَمَّرْتُ وَجْهِي بِجِلْبَابِي ، وَاللهِ مَا تَكَلَّمْتُ بِكَلِمَةٍ ، وَلَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْهُ كَلِمَةً غَيْرَ اسْتِرْجَاعِهِ ، حَتَّى أَنَاخَ رَاحِلَتَهُ ، فَوَطِئَ يَدَهَا فَرَكِبْتُهَا ، فَانْطَلَقَ يَقُودُ بِي الرَّاحِلَةَ حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الْجَيْشَ مُعَرِّسِينَ فِي نَحْرِ الظَّهِيرَةِ ، فَهَلَكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ ، وَكَانَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّى كِبْرَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَيٍّ ابْنُ سَلُولَ ، فَقَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ ، فَاشْتَكَيْتُ بِهَا شَهْرًا ، وَالنَّاسُ يُفِيضُونَ فِي قَوْلِ أَصْحَابِ الْإِفْكِ ، لَا أَشْعُرُ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ ، وَيَرِيبُنِي فِي وَجَعِي أَنِّي لَا أَعْرِفُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - اللُّطْفَ الَّذِي أَرَى مِنْهُ حِينَ أَمْرَضُ ، إِنَّمَا يَدْخُلُ ، فَيُسَلِّمُ ، ثُمَّ يَقُولُ : كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ ؟ فَذَلِكَ يَرِيبُنِي ، وَلَا أَشْعُرُ حَتَّى نَقَهْتُ ، فَخَرَجْتُ أَنَا ، وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ بِنْتُ أَبِي رُهْمٍ قِبَلَ الْمَنَاصِعِ مُتَبَرَّزِنَا لَا نَخْرُجُ إِلَّا لَيْلًا إِلَى لَيْلٍ ، وَذَلِكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ نَتَّخِذَ الْكُنُفَ قَرِيبًا مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا ، وَأَمْرُنَا أَمْرُ الْعَرَبِ الْأُوَلِ فِي الْبَرِّيَّةِ أَوْ فِي التَّنَزُّهِ ، فَأَقْبَلْتُ أَنَا ، وَأُمُّ مِسْطَحٍ بِنْتُ أَبِي رُهْمٍ ، نَمْشِي فَعَثَرَتْ فِي مِرْطِهَا ، فَقَالَتْ : تَعِسَ مِسْطَحٌ ، فَقُلْتُ لَهَا : بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتِ أَتَسُبِّينَ رَجُلًا شَهِدَ بَدْرًا ؟ قَالَتْ : يَا هَنْتَاهُ ، أَلَمْ تَسْمَعِي مَا قَالُوا ؟ قَالَتْ : قُلْتُ : وَمَا قَالُوا ؟ فَأَخْبَرَتْنِي بِقَوْلِ أَهْلِ الْإِفْكِ ، فَازْدَدْتُ مَرَضًا عَلَى مَرَضِي ، فَلَمَّا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى بَيْتِي ، دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فَقَالَ : كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ ؟ فَقُلْتُ : ائْذَنْ لِي آتِ أَبَوَيَّ ، قَالَتْ : وَأَنَا حِينَئِذٍ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْتَيْقِنَ الْخَبَرَ مِنْ قِبَلِهِمَا ، قَالَتْ : فَأَذِنَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فَأَتَيْتُ أَبَوَيَّ ، فَقُلْتُ لِأُمِّي : مَا يَتَحَدَّثُ النَّاسُ ؟ فَقَالَتْ : يَا بُنَيَّةُ هَوِّنِي عَلَى نَفْسِكِ الشَّأْنَ ، فَوَاللهِ ، لَقَلَّمَا كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ قَطُّ وَضِيئَةٌ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّهَا ، وَلَهَا ضَرَائِرُ إِلَّا أَكْثَرْنَ عَلَيْهَا ، قَالَتْ : فَقُلْتُ : سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَلَقَدْ تَحَدَّثَ النَّاسُ بِهَذَا ؟ فَبِتُّ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ ، لَا يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ ، وَلَا أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ ، ثُمَّ أَصْبَحْتُ ، وَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ، وَأُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ ، حِينَ اسْتَلْبَثَ الْوَحْيُ ، يَسْتَشِيرُهُمَا فِي فِرَاقِ أَهْلِهِ .
قَالَتْ : فَأَمَّا أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ ، فَأَشَارَ عَلَيْهِ بِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ مِنْ بَرَاءَةِ أَهْلِهِ ، وَبِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ فِي نَفْسِهِ مِنَ الْوُدِّ لَهَا ، فَقَالَ أُسَامَةُ : أَهْلَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ، وَلَا نَعْلَمُ وَاللهِ إِلَّا خَيْرًا .
وَأَمَّا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ، فَقَالَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ، لَمْ يُضَيِّقِ اللهُ عَلَيْكَ ، وَالنِّسَاءُ سِوَاهَا كَثِيرٌ ، وَسَلِ الْجَارِيَةَ تَصْدُقْكَ .
قَالَتْ : فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - بَرِيرَةَ ، فَقَالَ : يَا بَرِيرَةُ ، هَلْ رَأَيْتِ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا يَرِيبُكِ ؟ فَقَالَتْ بَرِيرَةُ : لَا وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ ، إِنْ رَأَيْتُ مِنْهَا أَمْرًا أَغْمِصُهُ عَلَيْهَا ، أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنَّهَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ ، تَنَامُ عَنِ الْعَجِينِ ، فَتَأْتِي الدَّاجِنُ ، فَتَأْكُلُهُ . قَالَتْ : فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - مِنْ يَوْمِهِ ، فَاسْتَعْذَرَ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ أُبَيٍّ ابْنِ سَلُولَ ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - : مَنْ يَعْذِرُنِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ بَلَغَ أَذَاهُ فِي أَهْلِي ، فَوَاللهِ ، فَوَاللهِ ، فَوَاللهِ - ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ - 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 اللهِ ، أَنَا وَاللهِ أَعْذِرُكَ مِنْهُ ، إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْأَوْسِ ضَرَبْنَا عُنُقَهُ ، وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِنَا الْخَزْرَجِ أَمَرْتَنَا فَفَعَلْنَا فِيهِ أَمْرَكَ . فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ وَهُوَ سَيِّدُ الْخَزْرَجِ ، وَكَانَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ رَجُلًا صَالِحًا ، وَلَكِنِ احْتَمَلَتْهُ الْحَمِيَّةُ ، فَقَالَ : كَذَبْتَ ، لَعَمْرُ اللهِ ، وَاللهِ ، لَا تَقْتُلُهُ ، وَلَا تَقْدِرُ عَلَى قَتْلِهِ . فَقَامَ أُسَيْدُ بْنُ حُضَيْرٍ ، فَقَالَ : كَذَبْتَ ، لَعَمْرُ اللهِ ، وَاللهِ ، لَنَقْتُلَنَّهُ ، فَإِنَّكَ مُنَافِقٌ ، تُجَادِلُ عَنِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ .
قَالَ : فَثَارَ الْحَيَّانِ ، الْأَوْسُ ، وَالْخَزْرَجُ ، حَتَّى مَضَوْا ، وَرَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - قَائِمٌ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ قَالَ : فَنَزَلَ ، فَخَفَّضَهُمْ ، حَتَّى سَكَتُوا ، وَسَكَتَ .
قَالَتْ : وَبَكَيْتُ يَوْمِي لَا يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ ، وَلَا أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ ، فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدِي أَبَوَايَ ، وَقَدْ بَكَيْتُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ وَيَوْمًا ، 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 اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فَجَلَسَ ، وَلَمْ يَجْلِسْ عِنْدِي مِنْ يَوْمِ قِيلَ مَا قِيلَ قَبْلَهَا ، وَقَدْ مَكَثَ شَهْرًا لَا يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ فِي شَأْنِي .
قَالَتْ : فَتَشَهَّدَ ، ثُمَّ قَالَ : أَمَّا بَعْدُ ، يَا عَائِشَةُ ، فَإِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكِ كَذَا وَكَذَا ، فَإِنْ كُنْتِ بَرِيئَةً ، فَسَيُبَرِّئُكِ اللهُ ، وَإِنْ كُنْتِ أَلْمَمْتِ ، فَاسْتَغْفِرِي اللهَ ، وَتُوبِي إِلَيْهِ ، فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا اعْتَرَفَ بِذَنْبِهِ ، ثُمَّ تَابَ ، تَابَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ .
فَلَمَّا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - مَقَالَتَهُ ، قَلَصَ دَمْعِي ، حَتَّى مَا أُحِسُّ مِنْهُ قَطْرَةً ، فَقُلْتُ لِأَبِي : أَجِبْ عَنِّي رَسُولَ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فِيمَا قَالَ . قَالَتْ : فَقَالَ : وَاللهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - .
فَقُلْتُ لِأُمِّي : أَجِيبِي عَنِّي رَسُولَ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فِيمَا قَالَ ، قَالَتْ : وَاللهِ مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - .
قَالَتْ : وَأَنَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ ، لَا أَقْرَأُ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ ، فَقُلْتُ : إِنِّي وَاللهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكُمْ سَمِعْتُمْ بِمَا تُحُدِّثَ بِهِ ، وَقَدْ قَرَّ فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ ، وَصَدَّقْتُمْ بِهِ ، وَلَئِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ : إِنِّي لَبَرِيئَةٌ - وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنِّي لَبَرِيئَةٌ - لَا تُصَدِّقُونَنِي بِذَلِكَ ، وَلَئِنِ اعْتَرَفْتُ لَكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ - اللهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي مِنْهُ بَرِيئَةٌ - لَتُصَدِّقُنِّي ، وَاللهِ مَا أَجِدُ لِي وَلَكُمْ مَثَلًا إِلَّا أَبَا يُوسُفَ ، إِذْ قَالَ : فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ .
قَالَتْ : ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلْتُ عَلَى فِرَاشِي ، وَأَنَا أَرْجُو أَنْ يُبَرِّئَنِي اللهُ ، وَلَكِنْ وَاللهِ مَا ظَنَنْتُ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ فِي شَأْنِي وَحْيٌ يُتْلَى ، وَأَنَا أَحْقَرُ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ أَنْ يُتَكَلَّمَ بِالْقُرْآنِ فِي أَمْرِي ، وَلَكِنْ كُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ يَرَى نَبِيُّ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فِي النَّوْمِ رُؤْيَا تُبَرِّئُنِي .
قَالَتْ : فَوَاللهِ ، مَا رَامَ مَجْلِسَهُ ، وَلَا خَرَجَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ ، حَتَّى أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ، فَأَخَذَهُ مَا كَانَ يَأْخُذُهُ مِنَ الْبُرَحَاءِ ، حَتَّى إِنَّهُ يَتَحَدَّرُ مِنْهُ مِثْلُ الْجُمَانِ مِنَ الْعَرَقِ ، فِي يَوْمٍ شَاتٍ .
قَالَتْ : فَلَمَّا سُرِّيَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - وَهُوَ يَضْحَكُ ، فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ كَلِمَةٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهَا ، أَنْ قَالَ : يَا عَائِشَةُ ، احْمَدِي اللهَ ، فَقَدْ بَرَّأَكِ .
قَالَتْ لِي أُمِّي : قُومِي إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فَقُلْتُ : وَاللهِ لَا أَقُومُ إِلَيْهِ ، وَلَا أَحْمَدُ إِلَّا اللهَ وَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ : إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِنْكُمْ الْآيَاتِ كُلَّهَا ، فَلَمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ هَذَا فِي بَرَاءَتِي ، قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ - وَكَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحِ بْنِ أُثَاثَةَ ، لِقَرَابَتِهِ مِنْهُ - : وَاللهِ ، لَا أُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحٍ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا بَعْدَمَا قَالَ لِعَائِشَةَ ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ : وَلا يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ أَنْ يُؤْتُوا أُولِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا أَلا تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللهُ لَكُمْ وَاللهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ .
قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ : بَلَى ، وَاللهِ ، إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللهُ لِي ، فَرَجَعَ إِلَى مِسْطَحٍ الَّذِي كَانَ يُجْرِي عَلَيْهِ .
وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - سَأَلَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ جَحْشٍ عَنْ أَمْرِي ، فَقَالَ : يَا زَيْنَبُ ، مَا عَلِمْتِ ، وَمَا رَأَيْتِ ؟ قَالَتْ : يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ، أَحْمِي سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي ، فَوَاللهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا خَيْرًا .
قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ : وَهِيَ الَّتِي تُسَامِينِي ، فَعَصَمَهَا اللهُ بِالْوَرَعِ .
قَالَتْ : فَأَمَّا أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ ، فَأَشَارَ عَلَيْهِ بِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ مِنْ بَرَاءَةِ أَهْلِهِ ، وَبِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ فِي نَفْسِهِ مِنَ الْوُدِّ لَهَا ، فَقَالَ أُسَامَةُ : أَهْلَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ، وَلَا نَعْلَمُ وَاللهِ إِلَّا خَيْرًا .
وَأَمَّا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ، فَقَالَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ، لَمْ يُضَيِّقِ اللهُ عَلَيْكَ ، وَالنِّسَاءُ سِوَاهَا كَثِيرٌ ، وَسَلِ الْجَارِيَةَ تَصْدُقْكَ .
قَالَتْ : فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - بَرِيرَةَ ، فَقَالَ : يَا بَرِيرَةُ ، هَلْ رَأَيْتِ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا يَرِيبُكِ ؟ فَقَالَتْ بَرِيرَةُ : لَا وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ ، إِنْ رَأَيْتُ مِنْهَا أَمْرًا أَغْمِصُهُ عَلَيْهَا ، أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنَّهَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ ، تَنَامُ عَنِ الْعَجِينِ ، فَتَأْتِي الدَّاجِنُ ، فَتَأْكُلُهُ . قَالَتْ : فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - مِنْ يَوْمِهِ ، فَاسْتَعْذَرَ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ أُبَيٍّ ابْنِ سَلُولَ ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - : مَنْ يَعْذِرُنِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ بَلَغَ أَذَاهُ فِي أَهْلِي ، فَوَاللهِ ، فَوَاللهِ ، فَوَاللهِ - ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ - 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 اللهِ ، أَنَا وَاللهِ أَعْذِرُكَ مِنْهُ ، إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْأَوْسِ ضَرَبْنَا عُنُقَهُ ، وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِنَا الْخَزْرَجِ أَمَرْتَنَا فَفَعَلْنَا فِيهِ أَمْرَكَ . فَقَامَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ وَهُوَ سَيِّدُ الْخَزْرَجِ ، وَكَانَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ رَجُلًا صَالِحًا ، وَلَكِنِ احْتَمَلَتْهُ الْحَمِيَّةُ ، فَقَالَ : كَذَبْتَ ، لَعَمْرُ اللهِ ، وَاللهِ ، لَا تَقْتُلُهُ ، وَلَا تَقْدِرُ عَلَى قَتْلِهِ . فَقَامَ أُسَيْدُ بْنُ حُضَيْرٍ ، فَقَالَ : كَذَبْتَ ، لَعَمْرُ اللهِ ، وَاللهِ ، لَنَقْتُلَنَّهُ ، فَإِنَّكَ مُنَافِقٌ ، تُجَادِلُ عَنِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ .
قَالَ : فَثَارَ الْحَيَّانِ ، الْأَوْسُ ، وَالْخَزْرَجُ ، حَتَّى مَضَوْا ، وَرَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - قَائِمٌ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ قَالَ : فَنَزَلَ ، فَخَفَّضَهُمْ ، حَتَّى سَكَتُوا ، وَسَكَتَ .
قَالَتْ : وَبَكَيْتُ يَوْمِي لَا يَرْقَأُ لِي دَمْعٌ ، وَلَا أَكْتَحِلُ بِنَوْمٍ ، فَأَصْبَحَ عِنْدِي أَبَوَايَ ، وَقَدْ بَكَيْتُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ وَيَوْمًا ، 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 اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فَجَلَسَ ، وَلَمْ يَجْلِسْ عِنْدِي مِنْ يَوْمِ قِيلَ مَا قِيلَ قَبْلَهَا ، وَقَدْ مَكَثَ شَهْرًا لَا يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ فِي شَأْنِي .
قَالَتْ : فَتَشَهَّدَ ، ثُمَّ قَالَ : أَمَّا بَعْدُ ، يَا عَائِشَةُ ، فَإِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكِ كَذَا وَكَذَا ، فَإِنْ كُنْتِ بَرِيئَةً ، فَسَيُبَرِّئُكِ اللهُ ، وَإِنْ كُنْتِ أَلْمَمْتِ ، فَاسْتَغْفِرِي اللهَ ، وَتُوبِي إِلَيْهِ ، فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا اعْتَرَفَ بِذَنْبِهِ ، ثُمَّ تَابَ ، تَابَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ .
فَلَمَّا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - مَقَالَتَهُ ، قَلَصَ دَمْعِي ، حَتَّى مَا أُحِسُّ مِنْهُ قَطْرَةً ، فَقُلْتُ لِأَبِي : أَجِبْ عَنِّي رَسُولَ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فِيمَا قَالَ . قَالَتْ : فَقَالَ : وَاللهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - .
فَقُلْتُ لِأُمِّي : أَجِيبِي عَنِّي رَسُولَ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فِيمَا قَالَ ، قَالَتْ : وَاللهِ مَا أَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - .
قَالَتْ : وَأَنَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ ، لَا أَقْرَأُ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ ، فَقُلْتُ : إِنِّي وَاللهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكُمْ سَمِعْتُمْ بِمَا تُحُدِّثَ بِهِ ، وَقَدْ قَرَّ فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ ، وَصَدَّقْتُمْ بِهِ ، وَلَئِنْ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ : إِنِّي لَبَرِيئَةٌ - وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنِّي لَبَرِيئَةٌ - لَا تُصَدِّقُونَنِي بِذَلِكَ ، وَلَئِنِ اعْتَرَفْتُ لَكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ - اللهُ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي مِنْهُ بَرِيئَةٌ - لَتُصَدِّقُنِّي ، وَاللهِ مَا أَجِدُ لِي وَلَكُمْ مَثَلًا إِلَّا أَبَا يُوسُفَ ، إِذْ قَالَ : فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ .
قَالَتْ : ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلْتُ عَلَى فِرَاشِي ، وَأَنَا أَرْجُو أَنْ يُبَرِّئَنِي اللهُ ، وَلَكِنْ وَاللهِ مَا ظَنَنْتُ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ فِي شَأْنِي وَحْيٌ يُتْلَى ، وَأَنَا أَحْقَرُ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ أَنْ يُتَكَلَّمَ بِالْقُرْآنِ فِي أَمْرِي ، وَلَكِنْ كُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ يَرَى نَبِيُّ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فِي النَّوْمِ رُؤْيَا تُبَرِّئُنِي .
قَالَتْ : فَوَاللهِ ، مَا رَامَ مَجْلِسَهُ ، وَلَا خَرَجَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ ، حَتَّى أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ، فَأَخَذَهُ مَا كَانَ يَأْخُذُهُ مِنَ الْبُرَحَاءِ ، حَتَّى إِنَّهُ يَتَحَدَّرُ مِنْهُ مِثْلُ الْجُمَانِ مِنَ الْعَرَقِ ، فِي يَوْمٍ شَاتٍ .
قَالَتْ : فَلَمَّا سُرِّيَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - وَهُوَ يَضْحَكُ ، فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ كَلِمَةٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهَا ، أَنْ قَالَ : يَا عَائِشَةُ ، احْمَدِي اللهَ ، فَقَدْ بَرَّأَكِ .
قَالَتْ لِي أُمِّي : قُومِي إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فَقُلْتُ : وَاللهِ لَا أَقُومُ إِلَيْهِ ، وَلَا أَحْمَدُ إِلَّا اللهَ وَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ : إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِنْكُمْ الْآيَاتِ كُلَّهَا ، فَلَمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ هَذَا فِي بَرَاءَتِي ، قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ - وَكَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحِ بْنِ أُثَاثَةَ ، لِقَرَابَتِهِ مِنْهُ - : وَاللهِ ، لَا أُنْفِقُ عَلَى مِسْطَحٍ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا بَعْدَمَا قَالَ لِعَائِشَةَ ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ : وَلا يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ أَنْ يُؤْتُوا أُولِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا أَلا تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللهُ لَكُمْ وَاللهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ .
قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ : بَلَى ، وَاللهِ ، إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللهُ لِي ، فَرَجَعَ إِلَى مِسْطَحٍ الَّذِي كَانَ يُجْرِي عَلَيْهِ .
وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - سَأَلَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ جَحْشٍ عَنْ أَمْرِي ، فَقَالَ : يَا زَيْنَبُ ، مَا عَلِمْتِ ، وَمَا رَأَيْتِ ؟ قَالَتْ : يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ، أَحْمِي سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي ، فَوَاللهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا خَيْرًا .
قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ : وَهِيَ الَّتِي تُسَامِينِي ، فَعَصَمَهَا اللهُ بِالْوَرَعِ .
It is narrated from Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), when the people of the slander said about her what they said, and then Allah Almighty declared her innocent of it. Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri (may Allah have mercy on him) said: All these narrators (Urwah bin al-Zubayr (may Allah have mercy on him), Sa'id bin al-Musayyib (may Allah have mercy on him), Alqamah bin Waqqas al-Laythi (may Allah have mercy on him) and Ubaydullah bin Abdullah bin Utbah (may Allah have mercy on him)) each narrated to me a portion of this hadith of Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her). Some of them retained this hadith better than others and narrated it more firmly, and I memorised from each of them the hadith he narrated to me from Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), and their narrations confirm one another. They state that Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to travel, he would cast lots among his pure wives, and whichever one's name came out, he would take her with him on the journey." She said: "On the occasion of a military expedition which he (peace and blessings be upon him) undertook, he (peace and blessings be upon him) cast lots among us and my name came out, so I set out with him (peace and blessings be upon him). This happened after the commands of hijab had been revealed. I would be mounted while seated in a howdah and lowered down in it. We travelled on until, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had finished that expedition of his and returned, and we had come near Madinah, he (peace and blessings be upon him) announced one night that we would set off. When the departure was announced, I got up and walked until I had gone beyond the army. When I had finished my need, I turned back towards my mount. I put my hand on my chest and found that a necklace of mine, made of Zafar beads, had broken and fallen somewhere. I turned back to look for it, and searching for it delayed me. Meanwhile, the people who were responsible for my mount came, lifted my howdah and placed it on the camel I used to ride, thinking that I was inside it. In those days women were light; their bodies were not heavy and not much flesh covered them, because they ate very little food. So those people did not notice its lightness when they lifted the howdah, and I was a young girl. They raised the camel and set off. I found my necklace after the army had departed. I came to their camping place, and not a single person was there. So I made for the very spot where I had been staying, and thought that when they did not find me, they would come back here looking for me. While I was sitting in my place, my eyes overcame me and I fell asleep. Sayyiduna Safwan bin al-Mu'attal al-Sulami al-Dhakwani (may Allah be pleased with him) was assigned to the rear of the army (to look after anything dropped or left behind). He reached my place in the morning and saw the shape of a person. He came to me; he had seen me before the command of hijab. When he recognised me, I woke up at his saying aloud: 'Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un' (We belong to Allah and to Him we return), and I immediately covered my face with my outer sheet. By Allah! No word passed between us, nor did I hear any word from his tongue except his saying of istirja', until he made his she-camel kneel and pressed down its foreleg with his foot so that I could mount. Then he walked ahead, leading the she-camel by its rein, until we caught up with the army at the very height of the midday heat, when they had halted to rest. Then whoever was to be ruined was ruined, and the one who took the greater share of this slander was Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul (the hypocrite). Then, when we reached Madinah, I was ill for a month, and the people were busy with the talk of the slanderers while I had not the slightest knowledge of it. However, during my illness one thing made me uneasy: I did not see from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) the kindness and care I usually saw in days of illness. He (peace and blessings be upon him) would come in, give the greeting of peace and only ask: 'How is this one?' Only this made me uneasy, but I did not learn of the real matter until I recovered. Then I and the daughter of Abu Ruhm, Sayyidah Umm Mistah (may Allah be pleased with her), went out towards al-Manasi' (the place outside Madinah for relieving oneself). We used to go out only at night, and this was in the days before we had made toilets near our houses; our way was like that of the early Arabs, going out to open grounds or far-off places. I and Sayyidah Umm Mistah bint Abi Ruhm (may Allah be pleased with her) were coming back walking when suddenly she tripped over her cloak and fell, and the words came from her tongue: 'May Mistah perish!' I said to her: 'What an evil thing you have said! Are you speaking ill of a man who took part in the Battle of Badr?' She said: 'O simple girl! Have you not heard what those people have said?' Then she told me what the slanderers were saying, and my illness increased further. When I returned to my house, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came and asked: 'How is this one?' I said: 'Will you permit me to go to my parents?' My intention was to find out the truth of this news from them. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted me, so I came to my parents and asked my mother: 'Mother! What are the people talking about?' She said: 'My daughter! Do not take this matter so heavily upon yourself. By Allah! It rarely happens that a husband has a beautiful wife like her whom he loves, and she has co-wives, without them finding fault with her.' I said: 'Subhan Allah! Has this talk really spread among the people?' I spent that whole night in such a state that until morning my tears did not stop, nor did sleep come to me. In the morning, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Usamah bin Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him), because the revelation had been delayed; he (peace and blessings be upon him) was consulting them both about separating from his wife. Sayyiduna Usamah bin Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) gave the advice based on what he knew of the innocence of his (peace and blessings be upon him) household and of the love he had for her in his heart. He said: 'O Messenger of Allah! She is your wife, and by Allah, we know nothing about her but good.' As for Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Allah has not put you in any difficulty, and there are many women besides her. Ask her slave girl; she will tell you the truth.' So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called Sayyidah Barirah (may Allah be pleased with her) and asked: 'O Barirah! Have you seen anything in her that makes you doubtful?' Sayyidah Barirah (may Allah be pleased with her) replied: 'No, by the One who sent you with the truth! I have never seen anything in her for which I could find fault with her, except that she is a young girl who kneads the dough and falls asleep, and the household goat comes and eats it.' That same day the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up and, seeking help in the matter of Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul, said: 'Who will defend me against the evil of a man whose harm has now reached my family? By Allah! I know nothing about my wife but good, and they have named a man about whom too I know nothing but good; he never entered my house except with me.' At this Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said: 'O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, I will defend you against his evil. If he is from the tribe of Aws, we will strike off his head, and if he is from our brothers the Khazraj, we will carry out whatever you command.' Hearing this, Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him), who was the chief of the Khazraj, stood up. Before this he was a righteous man, but at that moment tribal zeal overcame him. He said (to Sa'd bin Mu'adh): 'You have lied! By Allah, you will not kill him, nor do you have the power to kill him.' Then Sayyiduna Usayd bin Hudayr (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said: 'You are the liar! By Allah, we will certainly kill him. You are a hypocrite, arguing on behalf of the hypocrites.' At this the two tribes, Aws and Khazraj, became so enraged that they were ready to fight, while the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was on the pulpit. He (peace and blessings be upon him) came down from the pulpit and calmed them until they fell silent, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) too fell silent. I wept the whole day; my tears did not stop and sleep did not come. In the morning my parents came to me. I had been weeping like this for two nights and a day, so that I felt the weeping would split my liver. They were both sitting with me and I was weeping when a woman of the Ansar asked permission to come in. I gave her permission, and she too sat down and began weeping with me. We were in this state when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came in and sat down. He (peace and blessings be upon him) had not sat with me since this thing was said; a month had passed and no revelation had come down to him (peace and blessings be upon him) concerning my matter. He (peace and blessings be upon him) recited the testimony of faith (tashahhud) and then said: 'To proceed: O Aishah! Such and such has reached me about you. If you are innocent, Allah will soon make your innocence clear; and if you have committed a slip, then seek Allah's forgiveness and repent to Him, for when a servant confesses his sin and then repents, Allah accepts his repentance.' When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had finished speaking, my tears dried up so completely that I could not feel a single drop. I said to my father: 'Answer the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on my behalf.' He said: 'By Allah! I do not know what to answer the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).' Then I asked my mother to answer, and she too said: 'By Allah! I do not know what to say to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).' I said (and I was a young girl and had not read much of the Qur'an): 'By Allah! I know that you people have heard this thing, that it has settled in your hearts and that you have believed it. Now if I say that I am innocent (and Allah knows that I am certainly innocent), you will not believe me; and if I confess to something of which Allah knows I am innocent, you will believe it. By Allah! My example and yours is just like what the father of Yusuf (peace be upon him) (Sayyiduna Ya'qub (peace be upon him)) said: "So patience is most fitting, and it is Allah whose help is sought against what you describe."' Then I turned over and lay down on my bed. I hoped that Allah would make my innocence clear, but by Allah! I never even imagined that revelation would come down about me that would be recited until the Day of Resurrection. I considered myself far too insignificant to be mentioned in the Qur'an. I only hoped that the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would be shown some vision in his sleep by which Allah would declare me innocent. By Allah! He (peace and blessings be upon him) had not yet risen from his place, nor had any member of the household gone out, when the revelation began to come down upon him (peace and blessings be upon him). The same intensity of revelation came over him (peace and blessings be upon him) as used to come, so that even on a cold day drops of sweat fell like pearls from his (peace and blessings be upon him) blessed body. When this state left the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he (peace and blessings be upon him) was smiling, and the first words that came from his (peace and blessings be upon him) blessed tongue were: 'O Aishah! Praise Allah, for He has declared you innocent.' My mother said to me: 'Get up and go to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) (and thank him).' I said: 'By Allah! I will not get up and go to him, and I will praise and thank none but Allah.' Allah Almighty revealed these verses: "Indeed, those who came with the slander are a group among you." When Allah revealed these verses about my innocence, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), who used to spend on Sayyiduna Mistah bin Uthathah (may Allah be pleased with him) because of his kinship with him, said: 'By Allah! After what Mistah has said about Aishah, I will never give him anything again.' Then Allah Almighty revealed this verse: "And let not those among you who are people of virtue and means swear not to give to relatives, the poor and those who emigrated in the path of Allah, and let them pardon and overlook. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful." Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said (on hearing this): 'Yes indeed! By Allah, I certainly love that Allah should forgive me.' So he resumed for Sayyiduna Mistah (may Allah be pleased with him) the allowance he used to give him before. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had also asked Sayyidah Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her) about my matter: 'O Zaynab! What do you know, and what have you seen?' She said: 'O Messenger of Allah! I protect my ears and my eyes; by Allah, I know nothing about her (Aishah) but good.' Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "She (Zaynab) was the one who used to rival me (in status), but Allah protected her because of her piety and God-fearing."
