Sahih Adab al-Mufrad

‘Awf bin Harith bin Tufail, who was the son of the stepbrother of Lady ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), narrates from Lady ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that once, Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Zubair said regarding some purchase, sale, or gift of ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): “By Allah! Either ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) refrains from this, or I will put a restriction on her.” (When this statement reached Lady ‘A’ishah [may Allah be pleased with her]), she said: “Did ‘Abdullah bin Zubair say this?” The people said: “Yes.” Upon this, ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “(I) vow to Allah that I will never speak to Ibn Zubair again.” When the boycott of ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) from Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) became prolonged, he sought intercession from the Muhajirun. ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “By Allah, I will not accept anyone’s intercession regarding him, and the vow I have made, I will never break it.” When this period became long for ‘Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him), he spoke to Miswar bin Makhramah and ‘Abdur Rahman bin Miswar bin ‘Abd Yaghuth, both of whom were from Banu Zuhrah, and said to them: “I beseech you both by Allah, take me to ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her). It is not permissible for her to take a vow to cut ties with me.” So Miswar and ‘Abdur Rahman took him along, and they had wrapped themselves in their cloaks. When they sought permission from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), they said: “Peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah. May we come in?” ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) replied: “Yes, all of you come in.” They said: “O Mother of the Believers, shall we all come in?” She said: “Yes, all of you come in.” ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) did not know that ‘Abdullah bin Zubair was with them. When they entered, ‘Abdullah bin Zubair slipped inside the curtain. He embraced ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), pleaded with her, and began to weep, and Miswar and ‘Abdur Rahman also pleaded with ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) to speak to him and accept his apology, saying: “You know that the Messenger of Allah forbade boycotting, as you are aware. And it is not permissible for a man to continue a boycott with his brother for more than three days.” When they increased their advice and pressure, she would remind them of her oath and vow and would weep, saying: “I have made a very firm vow.” They continued to press her until she spoke to Ibn Zubair. Then, as expiation for her vow, she freed forty slaves. Even after freeing forty slaves, whenever she remembered this incident, she would weep until her scarf became wet with her tears.

Upon this, Ibn Zubair spoke to Miswar bin Makhramah and ‘Abdur Rahman bin ‘Abd Yaghuth, both of whom were from Banu Zuhrah, and said to them: “I beseech you both by Allah, go to ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her). It is not permissible for her to take a vow to cut ties with me.” Miswar and ‘Abdur Rahman hid ‘Abdullah bin Zubair in their cloak and reached there, and sought permission from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) to enter, saying: “Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. May we come in?” Upon this, ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “You all come in.” They both said again: “Shall we all come in?” She said: “Yes, all of you come in.” ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was not aware that Ibn Zubair was with them. When all of them entered, Ibn Zubair went inside the curtain and, placing his head on the shoulder of ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), began to plead and weep, and from outside the curtain, Miswar and ‘Abdur Rahman insisted to ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) to accept his excuse and speak to him. Both of them began to say: “You know well that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has forbidden cutting off relations, and it is not permissible for any person to cut off relations with his Muslim brother for more than three nights.” ‘Awf narrated that when they advised her a lot and troubled her, she began to understand and started to weep, saying: “I have made a vow, and the vow is severe.” They continued to plead until she spoke to ‘Abdullah bin Zubair, and then, as expiation for her vow, she freed forty souls. After that, even when she had freed forty souls, whenever she mentioned it, her tears would wet her scarf.