8. THE INCIDENT OF UK (THE SLANDER)
Let us turn to the most critical incident in A’ishah’s life: the incident of Ifk. There is no doubt that it was one of the most grievous trials that faced the Prophetic house. Allah, Most High, revealed eighteen Qur’anic verses; each verse has its unique style in honoring the Prophet (peace be upon him), defending the reputation of Aishah, and purifying the Prophet’s household.
A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated, He (Allah’s Messenger) drew lots amongst us during one of his Battles (namely that of Banu al-Mustalaq). The lot fell on me and so I proceeded with Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) after Allah’s order of veiling (the women) was revealed. I was carried (on the back of a camel) in my howdah and carried down while still in it (when we came to a halt). We proceeded until Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) had finished this Battle and returned.
When we approached Madinah, he announced at night that it was time for departure. So, when they announced the news of departure, I got up and went away from the army camps, and after relieving myself, I came back to my riding animal. I touched my chest and found that my necklace, which was made of Zifar beads (i.e. Yemenite beads partly black and partly white) were missing.
Therefore, I returned to look for my necklace, a matter which detained me. (In the meanwhile) the people who used to carry me on my camel, came and took howdah and put it on the back of my camel on which I used to ride, as they considered that I was in it. In those days women were thin because they did not get fat, and flesh did not cover their bodies in abundance as they used to eat a little food. Those people, therefore, disregarded the lightness of the howdah while lifting and carrying it; and at that time I was still young. They made the camel rise and all of them left (along with it). I found my necklace after the army left.
Then, I came to where they camped but I found absolutely no one. Then, I intended to go to the place where I used to stay, thinking that they would miss me and come back to me. While I was sitting in my resting-place, I was overcome by sleep. Safwan ibn al-Miattal was behind the army. When he reached my place in the morning, he saw a figure of a sleeping person and he recognized me at first sight as he had seen me before the order of compulsory veiling (was prescribed). I woke up when he recited Istirjö (i.e. he said, ‘we belong to Allah and to Him is our return’) as soon as he recognized me. I veiled my face with my head cover at once, and by Allah, we did not speak a single word, and I did not hear him saying anything besides his IstirjcÜ. He dismounted from his camel and made it kneel down, putting his leg on its front legs and then I got up and rode on it. Then, he set out leading the camel that was carrying me until we caught the army at an extremely hot midday while they were at a halt (taking a rest). (Because of the event) some people brought destruction upon themselves and the one who spread the Ifk (i.e. slander) more, was Abd Allah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul.”
A’ishah added, “After we returned to Madinah, I became ill for a month. The people were propagating the forged statements of the slanderers while I was not aware of anything at all, but I felt that in my present ailment, I was not receiving the same kindness from Allah’s Messenger as I used to receive when I got sick. (But now) Allah’s Messenger would only come, greet me and say, ‘How are you?’ and leave. That roused my doubts, but I did not discover the evil (i.e. slander) until I went out after my convalescence. I went out with Umm Mastah to al-Manast where we answered the call of nature. We used not to go out (to answer the call of nature) except at night. After we finished, we returned to my house. Ongoing back, Umm Mastah stumbled by getting her foot entangled in her covering sheet, and then she said, ‘Let Mastah be ruined!’ I said, ‘What a hard word you have said! Do you abuse a man who took part in the Battle of Badr?’ On that she said, ‘O! what a little you are! Did you not hear what he (i.e. Mastah) said? I said, ‘What did he say?’ Then, she told me the slander of the people of Jfk. This made my ailment aggravate. When I reached my home, Allah’s Messenger came to me, and after greeting me, he said, ‘How are you?’ I said, ‘Will you allow me to go to my parents?’ as I wanted to be sure about the news through them. Allah’s Messenger allowed me (and I went to my parents) and asked my mother, ‘O mother! What are the people talking about? She said, ‘O my daughter! Do not worry, for if a beautiful woman was loved by her husband who also has other wives besides her, they would find faults with her.’ I said, ‘Glory be to Allah. Are people really saying such things?’ I kept on weeping that night until dawn. I could neither stop crying nor sleep. I kept on weeping until the morning of the next day.
As the Divine Inspiration was delayed Allah’s Messenger called ibn Abu Talib and Usamah ibn Zayd to ask and consult them about divorcing me. Usamah ibn Zayd said what he knew of my innocence, and the respect he preserved in himself for me. Usamah said to Allah’s Messenger! She is your wife and we do not know anything except good about her.’ s Ali ibn Abu Talib said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger! Allah does not put you in difficulty and there are plenty of women other than her, yet, ask the maid-servant who will tell you the truth. t After that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) called Burayrah (i.e. the maid-servant) and said, ‘O Burayrah! Did you ever see anything that aroused your suspicion? Burayrah said to him, ‘By Him Who has sent you with the Truth, I have never seen her (i.e. A’ishah) do anything which I would conceal rather than that she is a young girl who sleeps leaving the door of her family exposed; as a result, the domestic goats come and eat it.
And, on that day, Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) got up on the pulpit and complained about Allah ibn Ubayy (ibn Salul) before his Companions, saying, ‘O you Muslims! Who will relieve me from that man who has hurt me with his evil statement about my family? By Allah, I know nothing except good about my family. They (i.e. people) have blamed a man about whom I know nothing except good and he never entered my home except with me. 
On that, Usayd ibn Hudayr, cousin of (ibn Mu-adh), got up and said to Söd ibn Ubadah, “By Allah! You are a liar! We will surely kill him, and you are a hypocrite arguing on the behalf of hypocrites.” On this, the two tribes of al-Aws and al-Khazraj got so excited that they were about to fight while Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) was standing on the pulpit. Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) kept on quieting them until they became silent. That day my tears never ceased and I could not sleep.
In the morning, my parents were with me. I wept continuously for two nights and a day until they thought that my liver would burst from weeping. While my parents were sitting with me and I was weeping, an Ansari woman asked me to grant her admittance. I allowed her to come in. She sat down and started weeping with me. While we were in this state, Allah’s Messenger came, greeted us, and sat down. He had never sat with me since that day of the slander. A month had elapsed and no Divine Inspiration came to him concerning my situation. Allah’s Messenger then recited at-Tashahhud (the greetings) and then said, ‘Then, O A’ishah! I have been informed so-and-so about you; if you are innocent, then soon Allah will reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him for forgiveness for when a slave confesses his sins and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance.
When Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) finished his speech, my tears ceased flowing completely that I no longer felt that a single drop was left. I said to my father, Reply to Allah’s Messenger on my behalf concerning what he has said.” My father said, ‘By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah’s Messenger.’ Then I said to my mother, Reply to Allah’s Messenger on my behalf concerning what he has said.” She said, By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah’s Messenger.’ Although I was a young girl and had a little knowledge of the Qur’an, I said, ‘By Allah, no doubt I know that you heard this slander so that it has been planted in your heart (i.e. mind) and you have taken it as a truth. Now if I tell you that I am innocent, you will not believe me, and if I confess to you about it, and Allah knows that I am innocent, you will surely believe me. By Allah, I find no similitude for me and you except that of Yusuf’s father when he said, {… (For me) patience is the most fitting against that which you assert; it is Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought. Then, I turned to the other side and lay on my bed; I knew then that I was innocent and hoped that Allah would reveal my innocence. But, by Allah, I never thought that Allah would reveal about my case Divine Inspiration that would be recited (forever) as I considered myself too unworthy to be talked of by Allah. I only hoped that Allah’s Messenger might have a vision in which Allah would prove my innocence. But, by Allah, before Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) left his seat and before any of the household departed, the Divine Inspiration came to Allah’s Messenger.
And, he (peace be upon him) was overtaken by the same hard condition, which used to overtake him, (when he used to be inspired Divinely). The sweat was dripping from his body like pearls though it was a wintry day and that was because of the weighty statement, which was being revealed to him. When Allah’ Messenger (peace be upon him) was released from that state, he got up smiling, and the first word he said was “Aishah! Allah has declared your innocence!’ Then my Mother said to me, Get up and go to him (i.e. Allah’s Messenger). I replied, ‘By Allah, I will not go to him, I praise none but Allah.’ Allah revealed the ten verses”
Those who brought onward the lie are a body among yourselves, think it not to be an evil to you, on the contrary it is good for *you, to every man among them (will come the punishment) of the sin that he earned, and to him who took on himself the lead among them, will be a penalty grievous.
Why did not the believer’s men and women, when you heard of the affair, thought well of their people and say, ‘This (charge) is an obvious lie?’ Why did they not bring four witnesses to prove it? When they have not brought the witnesses, such men, in the sight of Allah, (stand forth) themselves as liars! Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, in this world and the Hereafter, a grievous penalty would have seized you in that you rushed glibly into this affair. Behold, you received it on your tongues, and said out of your mouth things of which you had no knowledge; and you thought it to be a light matter, while it was most serious in the sight of Allah. And why did you not, when you heard it, say, ‘It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory be to Allah! This is a most serious slander! Allah admonishes you, that you may never repeat such (conduct), if you are (true) believers. And, Allah makes the signs plain to you: for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. Those who love (to see) scandal published broadcast among the believers will have a grievous penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: Allah knows, and you know not. Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, and that Allah is full of kindness and mercy, (you would be ruined indeed). (An-Nur: 11-20)
The Lessons of This Incident
Actually, the incident of Uk was a hard trial to A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) as well as to the Prophet (peace be upon him) who was accused in his honor regarding A’ishah, the most beloved wife to his heart. This incident, in effect, showed that Aisha was an ideal woman in enduring sufferings and afflictions. Allah (the Exalted and Glorified) upgraded the status of A’ishah through revealing her innocence from the top of the seven heavens. ibn az-Zubayr said, “If A’ishah had not had a virtue other than that (which happened in) the incident of Ifk, she would not have needed any more. No wonder, as Allah has revealed Qur’anic verses concerning her, which will be recited until the Day of Judgment.
The Position of the Believers
Eventually, the believers’ response towards this incident was very great when they thought good of the wife of their Prophet. This was proved by the answer of Abu Ayyub to his wife when she asked him whether he had heard what people were circulating against. He assured her that it is not right of them to speak of this, and added that it was a lie. Then, he asked her if she herself would do such a thing. She swore by Allah that she would not. He said, “Yet, she is better than you.” She said, ‘There Allah revealed the verses, why did not the believers, men and women, when you heard of the affair, thought well of their people and said…
Thus, thinking good of others should be the condition of all Muslims towards people.
On the other hand, the position of the Mothers of the Believers towards this incident was great. Allah, Most High, safeguarded them from rushing into this affair. They knew A’ishah as the most beloved wife to the Prophet’s heart.The Prophet (peace be upon him), before the Divine Revelation declared the innocence of A’ishah, once asked Zyanab bint Jahsh, who had a position not less than that of A’ishah in the Prophet’s heart, about A’ishah saying, ‘”O Zaynab! What have you known and seen (of A’ishah)?” Upon this she replied, “O Messenger of Allah! I protect my hearing and my sight (by refraining from telling lies). By Allah, I have known only good about her.” Accordingly, (may Allah be pleased with her) praised her response saying that Allah, Most High, saved her (from slander) because of her piety.
To Be Serene and in Control
The saying of A’ishah, So I intended to go to the place where I used to stay, thinking that they would miss me and come back to me (in my search)…” indicates her serenity, peacefulness of heart, and sound judgment. This tranquility lays behind her sound decision not to leave the place in which she used to stay thinking that when they discovered her missing they would go back and bring her. This is a very good lesson to every Muslim woman concerning how to face predicaments and how to deal with such matters.
Lessons and Rulings to be Learned from This Hadith
Ibn Hajar said, “We can take the following benefits from this hadith:
It is permissible for the woman to wear ornaments as necklace and the like while traveling. Also, this hadith teaches how to preserve our property regardless of its amount or value in the way that is not excessive nor neglectful. ‘Aisha’s necklace was not made of gold or jewels, but she went back looking for it.
One should say Istikhfar when facing adversity, and a woman should veil her face from the sight of a non-Mahram.
A Muslim should relieve the troubled, save the strayed, honor the noble, give them preference when necessary, and behave politely and piously when dealing with men and women.
A Muslim should know how to deal with his wife in different circumstances as he should treat her with kindness and intimacy but if something wrong happened, he should change his treatment in the way that would make her aware that something is wrong even if it has not been proven.
A Muslim should pay a visit to the sick, and that the family of the sick person should not inform him of something that would aggravate his illness.
When a woman wants to go out for some errand or another she should ask another woman to join her so as to protect her from any harm.
A Muslim should defend the honor of his fellow Muslim brother especially if he is one of the virtuous people and he should deter whomever tries to hurt him.
The wife should not go out of her house without the permission of her husband even if she wants to visit her parents.
We should give glad tidings to the one who is favored by a blessing or when an affliction is taken away from him.”
(SOURCE: Wives of Prophet Muhammad, Their Strives and Their Lives by Muhammad Fathi Mus’ ad)
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