IV This is the final part of the story of Ifk narrated by Ayesha herself in a Hadith recorded by Al-Bukhari (6/60, no. 274). Still a young girl as I was and though I had little knowledge of Qur'an, I said (to Allah's Messenger), “By Allah, I know that you heard this story (of the Ifk) so much so that it has been planted in your minds and you have believed it. So now, if I tell you that I am innocent, and Allah knows that I am innocent, you will not believe me; and if I confess something, and Allah knows that I am innocent of it, you will believe me. By Allah, I cannot find of you an example except that of Yusuf's father: “So (for me) patience is most fitting against that which you assert and it is Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought.” Then I turned away and lay on my bed, and at that time I knew that I was innocent and that Allah would reveal my innocence. But by Allah, I never thought that Allah would sent down about my affair, Divine Revelation that would be recited (forever), as I considered myself too unworthy to be talked of by Allah with something that was to be recited (i.e. Qur'an). But I hoped that Allah's Messenger might have a vision in which Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah, Allah's Messenger had not left his seat and nobody had left the house when the Divine Revelation came to Allah's Messenger. So there overtook him the same hard condition which used to overtake him (when he was Divinely Inspired) so that the drops of his sweat were running down, like pearls, though it was a (cold) winter day, and that was because of the heaviness of the Statement which was revealed to him. When that state of Allah's Messenger was over, he was smiling and the first word he said was, “Ayesha, Allah has declared your innocence.” My mother said to me, “Get up and go to him.” I said, “By Allah, I will not go to him and I will not thank anybody but Allah.” Benefits: • The maturity and Imaan of Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her). She knew any amount of clarification would not dispel the rumors, yet she had full trust in Allah that Allah would declare her innocence to the people. • Her humility. Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) did not consider that Allah would mention about her in the Qur'an. The higher a person is in Imaan, the more humility that person acquires. • Her status. Allah defended her honor and revealed 20 verses in the Qur'an because of this incident (Surah Noor, 24:11-31) – verses that will be read by the Ummah till the Day of Judgment. What more could be said regarding our mother's status. • Her Tawheed. When Ayesha's mother told her to thank the Messenger (peace be upon him), she replied saying that she would thank Allah alone, and no one else. This shows her strong and correct belief in Allah. No creation can ever be associated with Him. She knew that it was only Allah who could and did help her out of her problem. So Allah revealed: “Verily! Those who brought forth the slander are a group among you. Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you. Unto every man among them will be paid that which he had earned of the sin, and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be a great torment. Why then, did not the believers, men and women, when you heard it (the slander) think good of their own people and say: “This (charge) is an obvious lie?” Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they (the slanderers) have not produced witnesses! Then with Allah they are the liars. Had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy unto you in this world and in the Hereafter, a great torment would have touched you for that whereof you had spoken. When you were propagating it with your tongues, and uttering with your mouths that whereof you had no knowledge, you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great. And why did you not, when you heard it, say? “It is not right for us to speak of this. Glory be to You (O Allah) this is a great lie.” Allah forbids you from it and warns you not to repeat the like of it forever, if you are believers...” (Qur'an, 24:11-17) Benefits: • The truthfulness of the Prophet (peace be upon him). He had to wait for a whole month before he received revelation. This proves he acted based on Allah's guidance. Allah revealed as He willed and the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not have a say in the matter as to when and where he would receive revelation. • The severity of backbiting, slandering and spreading gossips and tales. • Allah tests, just as He tested His most beloved slave. The tests are eventually good for us as long as we remain patient and remain steadfast on the straight path. • Three of the Sahabah – Hasan Bin Thabit, Mistah, and Hamnah – were whipped, while the chief of the hypocrites was left because Allah said “as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be a great torment.” He was left for the greater punishment. • The Sahabah did fall into mistakes, but they as a people were the best generation who practiced Islamic teachings and implemented Islamic laws in the best manner possible. When Allah revealed this to confirm my innocence, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, who used to provide for Mistah Bin Uthatha because of kinship and his poverty, said, “By Allah, I will never provide for Mistah anything after what he has said about Ayesha.” So Allah revealed: “And let not those among you who are blessed with graces and wealth swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kinsmen, Al-Masakin (the poor), and those who 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.” (Qur'an, 24.22) Abu Bakr said, “Yes, by Allah, I wish that Allah should forgive me.” So he resumed giving Mistah the aid he used to give him before and said, “By Allah, I will never withhold it from him at all.” Ayesha further said: Allah's Messenger had also asked Zainab Bint Jahsh about my case. He said, “O Zainab! What have you seen?” She replied, “O Allah's Messenger! I protect my hearing and my sight (by refraining from telling lies). I know nothing but good (about Ayesha).” Of all the wives of Allah's Messenger, it was Zainab who aspired to receive from him the same favor as I used to receive, yet, Allah saved her (from telling lies) because of her piety. But her sister, Hamnah, kept on fighting on her behalf so she was destroyed as were those who invented and spread the slander.
