In the name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent
Those who concocted the falsehood were a band from among you. Do not regard it as bad for you; indeed it is good for you. Each one of them shall bear what he has earned of sin; and awesome suffering awaits the one who took on himself the lead among them. (Light, Al-Noor: 24: 11) After giving an account of the accusation leveled at Aishah, the Prophet’s wife, concerning her honor and faithful conduct, we discussed the effect of that accusation on Aishah, her parents and Safwan ibn Al-Mu’attal, the Prophet’s companion who was named in this false accusation. We know for certain that Aishah was absolutely innocent, as was Safwan, because God Himself describes the whole episode as sheer falsehood. Yet the declaration of her innocence was delayed. Today we are discussing the effect of this false accusation on the Prophet himself.
Let us consider how Muhammad (peace be upon him), God’s messenger and the man at the pinnacle of the Hashimite clan, the noblest in Arabia, found himself subject to an accusation that involved none other than Aishah, the woman who occupied a special place in his heart as his most beloved wife. It was an accusation that meant that the most private place in his home, which was the source of purity, was not pure. The Prophet, who was very keen to guard every sanctity in his community, was faced with an accusation that showed that the sanctity of his own household was violated. God’s messenger, who was protected against all harm, was shown through this accusation to have no protection from God!
With this accusation leveled at Aishah (may God be pleased with her), the Prophet encounters an accusation that runs against his personal honor and against every thing that is dear to an Arab, and to a Prophet. Yet the accusation is made, and becomes a subject of conversation in Madinah for one whole month, and he has no means to put an end to it. For a definite purpose of His own, God let this falsehood circulate for a whole month, revealing nothing to set the record straight and put the facts as they were. Muhammad, the man, suffers all that a human being experiences in such a hard situation. Shame and heart-felt pain were part of what he endured. But he also suffered from the absence of the light that always illuminated his way, i.e. revelation. Doubt crept into his heart, despite the numerous indications that confirmed his wife’s innocence. Yet he lacked clear certainty as the rumors continued to circulate in Madinah. His loving heart was tormented by doubt which he could not clear because he was, after all, a human being who experienced all human feelings. He was a man who could not entertain the thought that his bed could be stained. Once the seed of doubt creeps into a man’s heart, it becomes difficult to remove without clear and decisive evidence.
Alone, he finds this whole burden too heavy. Therefore, he sends for Usamah ibn Zayd, a young man who had a position close to his heart (as Usamah was the son of the man the Prophet had adopted as his own son in pre-Islamic days). He also sends for Ali ibn Abi Talib, his trusted cousin. He consulted them both about this very private matter. Ali, the Prophet’s close relative, was keenly aware of the difficulty of the situation and the pain, worry and doubt experienced by the Prophet, his cousin who had brought him up. Hence, he tells him that God had not restricted him in matters of marriage. He also advises that the Prophet should ask the maid, so that he would get some reassurance. Usamah, on the other hand, realized how compassionate the Prophet felt toward his wife, and how troubling to him was the thought of leaving her. He, therefore, stressed what he knew of her certain purity and the fact that those who circulated the rumor were indeed liars.
In his eagerness to establish the truth, and in his continued worry, Muhammad, the man, derived some support from Usamah’s statement and the maid’s report. He spoke to the people in the mosque, reproaching those who did not respect his honor, spoke ill of his wife and accused a man who was known to be virtuous and with no blemish on his character. This led to friction between the Aws and the Khazraj, culminating in mutual accusations and verbal abuse. All took place in the Prophet’s presence, which gives us a picture of the atmosphere that prevailed in the Muslim community during that very strange period. It was a time when the sanctity of the Muslim leadership was breached. The Prophet was further hurt by the absence of the light which he always expected to illuminate his way. Therefore, he goes to Aishah, telling her of people’s talk and asking her for a clear statement that could bring him relief.
At this point when the Prophet’s pain was at its most acute, his Lord turned to him with compassion. Revelations were bestowed from on high, making Aishah’s innocence absolutely clear. Thus, the noble household of the Prophet was free of blame. The hypocrites who had circulated this falsehood were exposed. The proper way of dealing with such a serious matter is outlined for the Muslim community.
Referring to this passage of the Qur’an that was revealed to deal with her case, Aisha says: “I knew that I was innocent and that God would make my innocence known. It did not occur to me for a moment, however, that God would reveal a passage of the Qur’an concerning me. I felt myself too humble for God to include my case in His revelations. All I hoped for was that the Prophet should see something in his dream to prove my innocence.”
But the question was not merely that of Aishah and her personal status. It touched on the Prophet, his personality and his role in the Muslim community. It indeed touched on his relation with his Lord and his message. The falsehood story was not aimed at Aishah as a person. It aimed to undermine the entire faith of Islam, by casting doubts about the Prophet sent by God to deliver this message. For this reason, a whole passage of the Qur’an was revealed to provide a final verdict about this invented falsehood. Thus, the Qur’an directs the Muslim camp in the raging battle, revealing the divine wisdom behind all developments.
We will comment on the relevant verses next week, God willing.
- Arab News Islam 29 August 2003
