64/34. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4143 — Aisha's Pain and Patience
The narration of Al-Ifk
وَالْأَفَكِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ النِّجْسِ وَالنَّجَسِ يُقَالُ: إِفْكُهُمْ أَفْكُهُمْ وَأَفَكُهُمْ فَمَنْ قَالَ: "أَفَكَهُمْ" يَقُولُ صَرَفَهُمْ عَنْ الْإِيمَانِ وَكَذَّبَهُمْ كَمَا قَالَ {يُؤْفَكُ عَنْهُ مَنْ أُفِكَ} يُصْرَفُ عَنْهُ مَنْ صُرِفَ
Hadith About Aisha's Patience During the Slander
Sahih Bukhari : 4143
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4143
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَسْرُوقُ بْنُ الأَجْدَعِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَتْنِي أُمُّ رُومَانَ ـ وَهْىَ أُمُّ عَائِشَةَ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ بَيْنَا أَنَا قَاعِدَةٌ أَنَا وَعَائِشَةُ إِذْ وَلَجَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَقَالَتْ فَعَلَ اللَّهُ بِفُلاَنٍ وَفَعَلَ. فَقَالَتْ أُمُّ رُومَانَ وَمَا ذَاكَ قَالَتْ ابْنِي فِيمَنْ حَدَّثَ الْحَدِيثَ. قَالَتْ وَمَا ذَاكَ قَالَتْ كَذَا وَكَذَا. قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ سَمِعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ نَعَمْ. قَالَتْ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ. فَخَرَّتْ مَغْشِيًّا عَلَيْهَا، فَمَا أَفَاقَتْ إِلاَّ وَعَلَيْهَا حُمَّى بِنَافِضٍ، فَطَرَحْتُ عَلَيْهَا ثِيَابَهَا فَغَطَّيْتُهَا. فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " مَا شَأْنُ هَذِهِ ". قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَخَذَتْهَا الْحُمَّى بِنَافِضٍ. قَالَ " فَلَعَلَّ فِي حَدِيثٍ تُحُدِّثَ بِهِ ". قَالَتْ نَعَمْ. فَقَعَدَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ حَلَفْتُ لاَ تُصَدِّقُونِي، وَلَئِنْ قُلْتُ لاَ تَعْذِرُونِي، مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُكُمْ كَيَعْقُوبَ وَبَنِيهِ، وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ، قَالَتْ وَانْصَرَفَ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ شَيْئًا، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عُذْرَهَا ـ قَالَتْ ـ بِحَمْدِ اللَّهِ لاَ بِحَمْدِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ بِحَمْدِكَ.
Masruq bin Al-Aida Narrated from:
Um Ruman, the mother of `Aisha said that while `Aisha and she were sitting, an Ansari woman came and said, "May Allah harm such and-such a person!" Um Ruman said to her, What is the matter?" She replied, "My son was amongst those who talked of the story (of the Slander)." Um Ruman said, "What is that?" She said, "So-and-so...." and narrated the whole story.On that `Aisha said, "Did Allah's Apostle hear about that?" She replies, "yes." `Aisha further said, "And Abu Bakr too?" She replied, "Yes." On that, `Aisha fell down fainting, and when she came to her senses, she had got fever with rigors. I put her clothes over her and covered her. The Prophet (ﷺ) came and asked, "What is wrong with this (lady)?" Um Ruman replied, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! She (i.e. `Aisha) has got temperature with rigors." He said, "Perhaps it is because of the story that has been talked about?" She said, "Yes."`Aisha sat up and said, "By Allah, if I took an oath (that I am innocent), you would not believe me, and if I said (that I am not innocent), you would not excuse me. My and your example is like that of Jacob and his sons (as Jacob said): 'It is Allah (Alone) Whose Help can be sought against that you assert.' Um Ruman said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) then went out saying nothing. Then Allah declared her innocence. On that, `Aisha said (to the Prophet), "I thank Allah only; thank neither anybody else nor you."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4143In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 187USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 464
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4143
This hadith about Aisha's patience gives a shorter report of the Ifk story from her mother, Um Ruman. Aisha heard that the Prophet and Abu Bakr had also heard what people were saying. The shock was so heavy that she fainted, then woke with fever and chills. When the Prophet came and asked about her condition, it became clear that the story had reached her. Aisha then said that if she swore, they would not believe her, and if she spoke, they would not excuse her. She turned to the meaning of Jacob's words: Allah alone is sought for help against what people assert. Then Allah declared her innocence.
What we learn from this hadith
- Slander can cause real pain and distress to the person accused.
- Aisha answered the trial with patience and reliance on Allah.
- Allah's help is sought when people make painful claims.
