Those Who Slander Ummul Mu’mineen ‘A’isha And The Other Pure Wives (RA)
Subsequent to the revelation of the Qur’anic verses vindicating Hadrat ‘Aa’isha رضي الله عنها, the person who slanders the pure wife of the most noble of all the Prophets, Muhammad Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم, the wife who has been referred to as Mubarraah Minas-Samaa’ [1], such a person is unanimously declared a Murtadd (apostate) because he is effectively falsifying or rejecting the Holy Qur’an.
Just as scepticism in the purity and chastity of Hadrat Maryam bint ‘Imran is tantamount to kufr (disbelief), similarly, to entertain any doubt about the chastity and purity of Hadrat ‘Aa’isha bint Umm Ruman رضي الله عنها is undeniably regarded as kufr as well. And just as the Jews are cursed and damned for their slanderous allegations against Hadrat Maryam عليها السلام, similarly, the Rawafid Shia are cursed and damned for their allegations against Hadrat ‘Aa’isha رضي الله عنها. The slanderers of Hadrat Maryam Siddeeqa عليها السلام were the Jews of Ummat-e ‘Isa (Jesus), and the slanderers of Hadrat ‘Aa’isha رضي الله عنها are the Jews of Ummat-e Muhammadiyyah.
A Rafidi Shia made disparaging remarks against Hadrat ‘Aa’isha رضي الله عنها in front of an Imam of Ahle Bayt. The Imam immediately directed his servant to behead the culprit, saying:
“This person is guilty of disparaging Rasoolullah because Allah declares: “Evil women are for evil men, and pure men are for pure women. These people are innocent of what they (the hypocrites slanderers) say. For them (the pure men and women) is forgiveness and a gracious sustenance.” (24:26) So if this man declares ‘Aa’isha to be an evil woman, he indirectly declares Rasoolullah (Allah forbid) to be an evil man. Hence, this man is a kafir (disbeliever) who deserves to be executed.” The narrator says: “I was present when this man was beheaded.” [2]
Similarly, an Iraqi once uttered a few insulting words against Hadrat ‘Aa’isha رضي الله عنها in the presence of Hasan Ibn Zaid رحمه الله. At once, Hasan Ibn Zaid رحمه الله stood up and whacked him with a stick on his head with such force that his brains spattered out and he died. [3]
Similarly, a person who harbours evil thoughts about any of the other pure wives of Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم is also declared a kafir and deserves to be executed. As mentioned previously in this incident, Rasoolullah addressed the Sahabah in his sermon, saying:
“O Muslims! Who will assist me in challenging that man who has caused me untold anguish in regards to my family?”
From this it is evidently clear that the person who makes any form of vile remark against any member of Rasolullah’s صلى الله عليه وسلم household, whether it is Hadrat ‘Aa’isha رضي الله عنها or any of the other pure wives رضى الله عنهنّ, it is a source of anguish for Rasoolullah and he who causes anguish to Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم is undoubtedly a kafir, as Allah سبحانه و تعالى declares:
“Verily, those who annoy Allah and His Messenger, Allah has cursed them in this world, and in the Hereafter, and has prepared for them a humiliating torment. And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, bear on themselves the crime of slander and plain sin…” Until the verse: “Accursed, wherever found, they shall be seized and killed with a (terrible) slaughter.” (33:57-61)
The moment Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم made this plea, “Who will assist me in challenging that man who has caused me untold anguish in regards my family?” Hadrat Sa’d Ibn Mu’adh رضي الله عنه promptly responded: “O Rasoolullah! We are prepared with all our hearts and lives to kill such a man.”
This is why the ‘Ulamaa’ have unanimously agreed that a person who slanders the wives of ordinary Muslims is termed a fasiq and fajir (flagrant sinner) whilst the malicious person, who, out of his maliciousness, slanders the pure wives of Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم is indisputably declared a kafir and Murtadd (apostate).
Furthermore, Allah سبحانه و تعالى refers to the pure wives of Rasoolullah as Ummahaatul Mu’mineen (the mothers of the believers) in the Qur’an. He says:
“The Prophet is closer to the believers than their ownselves, and his wives are their mothers.” (33:6)
Allah forbid! Would Allah سبحانه و تعالى ever mention a flagrant sinner or adulteress with such a lofty title? Never. Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنهما says: “Not a single wife of any Nabi (prophet) ever perpetrated the sin of adultery.” [4]
Furthermore, the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم who was commissioned by Allah سبحانه و تعالى to stamp out all forms of internal and external shamelessness – and this is exactly what he did; in a few days he transformed the brazen shamelessness of the whole nation into righteous modesty, he converted their adulterous dispositions to anchors of chastity – can there be any uncertainty about such a pure Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم, Allah forbid, that he failed to cleanse his own household of such loathsome transgression? Subhanallah! This is a grave allegation!
Furthermore, the supreme human being صلى الله عليه وسلم upon whom Allah سبحانه و تعالى bestowed the mantel of Risalat (prophethood), the status of honour and love, He chose him as His Mustafa (exclusive) and Mujtaba (privileged), He chose him as His beloved servant and saintly slave, He declared him a paragon of purity and angelic attributes and He assigned Jibra’eel عليه السلام and Mika’eel عليه السلام as his second and minister respectively, it does not behove Allah’s status of glory and propriety to choose an evil adulteress as a wife for the most superior human being. This is why Allah says:
“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.”” (24:16)
At this point in the verse, Allah سبحانه و تعالى mentions the phrase ‘Subhaanak’ as though He implies that Allah سبحانه و تعالى is free and pure of selecting an evil woman as a wife for His revered Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم. So the moment you heard of such an unfounded rumour, you were duty-bound to say: “Subhaanak (glory be to You), this is a blatant slander!”
When Sa’d Ibn Mu’adh رضي الله عنه, Abu Ayyub Ansari رضي الله عنه and Zayd Ibn Haritha رضي الله عنه heard such a glaring rumour, they instantaneously responded by submitting: “Subhaanak, this is a blatant slander!”
According to Fathul-Bari, besides Sa’d Ibn Mu’adh رضي الله عنه and Abu Ayyoob al-Ansari رضي الله عنه, instead of Zayd Ibn Haritha رضي الله عنه, Usamah Ibn Zayd رضي الله عنه is mentioned.
To sum up, the person who utters such unseemly words against any wife of the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, it is not permissible to give any heed whatsoever to such blatant lies. To refer to a person’s wife as an adulteress is, in effect, tantamount to referring to him as a cuckold. Those who accuse Hadrat ‘Aa’isha رضي الله عنها should reflect, what they are indirectly referring to the pure Rasool صلى الله عليه وسلم as. The heart shudders even to imagine something as ominous as this. [Seeratul Mustafa, volume 3, pp 332-336]
Notes:
[1] It was the habit of Masrooq رحمه الله while narrating from Hadrat ‘Aa’isha رضي الله عنها, that he would say: “Siddeeqa bint as-Siddeeq, the beloved of Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم and the Mubarraah Minas-Samaa’ (the lady whose vindication has been declared in the skies through divine revelation) narrated to me.”
[2] Narrated by Lalka’i
[3] As-Sarimul Maslool ‘Ala Shatimir Rasool by Hafidh Ibn Taymiyya رحمه الله
[4] Tafseer Ibn Katheer
Maulana Idris Kandhlawi رحمه الله