The lineage of Usaid bin Al-Hudair bin Simak bin 'Atik bin Imrau'l- Qais bin Zaid bin ' Abdul- Ashhal Al-Ansari Al-Ashhali. His father was Hudair, the skilled .
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The Hero of the Day of As-Saqifah.
After the demised of Rasulullah SAW
On the day of as Saqifah, just after the death of Rasulullah SAW, a group of the Ansar led by Sa'ad ibn Ubaidah announced their to succession and debated furiously. Usaid Ibn Hudair RA who was a prominent Ansar, took a positive attitude in settling the matter. Usaid Ibn Hudair RA stood up and said "you know that the messenger of Allah was one of the Muhajirun, his successor then should be one of the Muhajirun. We used to be the Ansar of the messenger of Allah. Today we have to be the Ansar of his Successor." And his words bought peace and safety.
Usaid ibn Hudair RA spent his life as a humble worshipper, sacrificing his energy and money in the cause of righteousness and putting the advice of Rasulullah SAW in mind "Be patient until you meet in the realm of Paradise". In the month of Shaaban AH 20 Usaid died. The commander of the Faithful Umar insisted on carrying his bier on his shoulders. Under the Earth of Al Baqi, the companions buried the body of a great believer.
Who was he and how he accepted Islam.
Usaid Ibn Hudair RA inherited characteristics handed down from father to son, his father Hudair al Ka'iab was the leader of al Aws and one of the great nobles and strong fighter of the Arabs in the pre Islamic Era. When Islam made its way towards him he was guided by Allah. He took his place and became an Ansar. Usaid Ibn Hudair RA embraced Islam quickly. The prophet saw sent Musab ibn Umayr to Medina to teach the Ansar, and call others to the religion of Allah.
Usaid Ibn Hudair RA became Muslim.
After Usaid Ibn Hudair RA became Muslim he became one of the most trustworthy men at the time. During the expedition against Bani al Mustaliq, Abdullah ibn Ubay was so furious, he said to the people of Madina " you've let them enter your town and shared your money...'' Zaid ibn Arqam heard these and went to tell the prophet saw, he was hurt very much. The prophet went to Usaid Ibn Hudair RA and said "did you not hear your friend say this"? Usaid Ibn Hudair RA replied "which friend?" the prophet said "Abdullah ibn Ubay". Usaid Ibn Hudair RA said "what did he say?" the prophet replied and said “he claimed that if he returned to Madina, the more honorable will expel the meaner from there.” Usaid Ibn Hudair RA said "by Allah, you will expel from there”. Usaid Ibn Hudair RA used to solve problems using his presence of mind.
Usaid Ibn Hudair RA inherited noble characteristics, handed down from father to son. His father, Hudair Al-Kataa'ib, was a leader of Al-Aws and one of the great nobles and strong fighters of the Arabs in the pre-Islamic era.
Usaid Ibn Hudair RA inherited from his father status, courage, and hospitality. Before becoming a Muslim, he was one of Al-Madinah's leaders, a noble of the Arabs, and one of their excellent spearmen.
When Islam attracted him and he was guided to the Way of the Almighty, Worthy of All Praise, he was best honored when he took his place as one of Allah and His Messenger's Ansar and one of the foremost believers in the great religion of Islam.
Usaid Ibn Hudair RA embraced Islam quickly, decisively, and honorably. Rasulullah SAW sent Musa’ab Ibn ‘Umair to Al-Madinah to teach and instruct the Muslim Ansar who had given their allegiance to Rasulullah SAW in the First Pledge of ‘Aqabah and to call others to Allah's religion.
On that day Usaid Ibn Hudair RA and Sa'd Ibn Mu'aadh RA, who were leaders of their people, were discussing this stranger who had come from Makkah to denounce their religion and call to a new one unknown to them. Sa'd said to Usaid Ibn Hudair RA, "Go directly to this man and deter him."
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So Usaid Ibn Hudair RA carried his spear and hurried to Musa’ab Ibn Umair RA while he was a guest of As'ad Ibn Zurarah, one of the leaders of Al-Madinah who was among the early believers in Islam. And there, where Musa’ab and As'ad Ibn Zurarah were sitting, Usaid Ibn Hudair RA saw a crowd of people listening carefully to the rational words with which Musa’ab Ibn Umair RA was calling them to Allah.
Usaid surprised them with his anger and outburst. Musa’ab said to him, "Won't you sit down and listen? If our matter pleases you, accept it, and if you hate it, we'll stop calling you to what you hate."
Usaid Ibn Hudair RA was an ‘enlightened and intelligent man whom the people of Al-Madinah called "Al-Kamil" (The Perfect), a nickname that his father used to bear before him. So, when he found Musa’ab appealing to logic and reason, he stuck his spear in the ground and said to him, "You're right, tell me what you have."
Musa’ab Ibn Umair RA started reciting the Holy Qur’an to him and explaining to him the call of the new religion, the true religion whose standard Rasulullah SAW was ordered to spread. Those who attended this assembly said, "By Allah, we saw Islam in Usaid's face before he spoke. We knew it because of his brilliance and easiness."
No sooner did Musa’ab finish his words than Usaid Ibn Hudair RA was overwhelmed and he shouted, "How good these words are! What do you do if you want to embrace this religion?" Musa’ab said, "Purify your body and clothes, and bear true witness, then pray."
Usaid's character was straight, strong, and clear. He would not hesitate a second in face of strong opposition, if he knew his own way.
So Usaid Ibn Hudair RA got up quickly to welcome the new religion which was penetrating his heart and overwhelming his soul. Usaid Ibn Hudair RA washed, purified himself, and prostrated to Allah the Lord of the Worlds in worship, announcing his embracement of Islam and abandonment of paganism.
Usaid Ibn Hudair RA had to go back to Sa'd Ibn Mu'aadh to give him the news of the task which had been assigned to him to deter and expel Musa’ab Ibn ‘Umair. He went back to Sa'd, but as he approached Sa'd said to those around him, "Usaid's face is changed. I swear it."
Yes. He went with a challenging, angry face and came back with a face full of mercy and light.
Usaid Ibn Hudair RA decided to use his intelligence. He knew that Sa'd Ibn Mu'aadh was well known for his pure nature and keen determination. He knew that Islam was not far from him. He only needed to hear what he himself had heard of Allah's word, which Rasulullah SAW envoy to them, Musa’ab Ibn ‘Umair, was good at reciting and explaining. But if he said to Sa'd, I've embraced Islam; go and embrace it, and the outcome would not have been ensured. He had to prompt Sa'd in a way that would push him to Musa'ab's gathering in order to see and listen. How could he do this?
As we said before, Musa’ab was a guest at As'ad Ibn Zurarah house. As'ad Ibn Zurarah was Sa'd Ibn Mu’aadh cousin. So Usaid said to Sa'd," I was told that the Harithah tribe went out to kill As'ad Ibn Zurarah and they know he is your cousin."
Angry and heated, Sa'd took his spear and ran fast to where Sa'd, Musa’ab, and the Muslims with them were sitting. When he came near the gathering, he found nothing but quiet overwhelming them while Musa’ab Ibn ‘Umair sat in the middle of them reciting Allah's verses humbly, and they carefully listened to him.
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Just then he realized the trick that Usaid Ibn Hudair RA had played on him to make him go to this gathering and listen to what the envoy of Islam, Musa'ab Ibn Umair RA was saying. So, Usaid's insight into his friend's character proved to be accurate.
Sa'd had hardly heard the Qur’an when Allah opened his heart to Islam, and soon he took his place among the first believers.
Usaid Ibn Hudair RA bore a strong, belief in his heart and mind, and his belief made him full of patience, discernment, and sound appraisal that made him a trustworthy man.
During the expedition against Bani Al-Mustaliq, Abdullah Ibn Ubay was so furious that he said to the people of Al-Madinah around him," You've let them enter your town and share your money. By Allah, if you cease giving them what you have, they'll turn to another place. By Allah, if we return to Al-Madinah, indeed the more honorable will expel the meaner from there."
The venerable Companion, Zaid Ibn Arqam RA heard these poisoned hypocritical words, so he had to inform Rasulullah SAW. Rasulullah SAW was much hurt. When he met Usaid he said, "Don't you know what your friend has said?" Usaid asked, "Which friend, O Messenger of Allah?" Rasulullah SAW answered, ‘"Abd Allah Ibn Ubay." Usaid said, "What did he say?" Rasulullah SAW said, "He claimed that if he returned to Al-Madinah, the more honorable will expel the meaner from there." Then Usaid said, "By Allah, you, O Messenger of Allah, will expel him from there, by Allah's permission. By Allah, he is the meaner and you are the more honorable."
He added, "O Messenger of Allah, treat him gently. By Allah, Allah brought you to us while the people of Abdullah were preparing to crown him king of Al-Madinah. He sees that Islam has deprived him of kingship."
With this calm, profound thinking, Usaid Ibn Hudair RA used to solve problems using his presence of mind.
And his words brought peace and safety.
Usaid Ibn Hudair RA spent his life as a humble worshipper, sacrificing his energy and money in the cause of goodness, and putting the advice of Rasulullah SAW to the Ansaris’ in his mind: "Be patient until you meet me in the realm of Paradise."
He was the object of honor and love by Saidina Abu Bakar As-Siddiq RA because of his religiosity and noble manners. He also had the same status in the heart of the Commander of the Faithful Saidina Umar Al Khattab RA and in the hearts of all the Companions.
Listening to his voice while reciting Qur’an was one of the greatest honor. That the companions aspired. His voice was so humble and resonant that Rasulullah SAW said about it that the angels came near its possessor one night to hear it.
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Usaid ibn Hudair RA spent his life as a humble worshipper, sacrificing his energy and money in the cause of righteousness and putting the advice of Rasulullah SAW in mind "Be patient until you meet in the realm of Paradise". In the month of Shaaban AH 20 Usaid died. The commander of the Faithful Umar insisted on carrying his bier on his shoulders. Under the Earth of Al Baqi, the companions buried the body of a great believer.
Selected Hadith Narrated by & Attributed to Usaid Ibn Hudair RA.
About the pious Usaid Ibn Hudair RA – Even the angel descent to listen to his Quran recitation.
وَقَالَ اللَّيْثُ حَدَّثَنِي يَزِيدُ بْنُ الْهَادِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أُسَيْدِ بْنِ حُضَيْرٍ، قَالَ بَيْنَمَا هُوَ يَقْرَأُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ وَفَرَسُهُ مَرْبُوطٌ عِنْدَهُ إِذْ جَالَتِ الْفَرَسُ فَسَكَتَ فَسَكَتَتْ فَقَرَأَ فَجَالَتِ الْفَرَسُ، فَسَكَتَ وَسَكَتَتِ الْفَرَسُ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ فَجَالَتِ الْفَرَسُ، فَانْصَرَفَ وَكَانَ ابْنُهُ يَحْيَى قَرِيبًا مِنْهَا فَأَشْفَقَ أَنْ تُصِيبَهُ فَلَمَّا اجْتَرَّهُ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ حَتَّى مَا يَرَاهَا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ حَدَّثَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " اقْرَأْ يَا ابْنَ حُضَيْرٍ اقْرَأْ يَا ابْنَ حُضَيْرٍ ". قَالَ فَأَشْفَقْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنْ تَطَأَ يَحْيَى وَكَانَ مِنْهَا قَرِيبًا فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي فَانْصَرَفْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَإِذَا مِثْلُ الظُّلَّةِ فِيهَا أَمْثَالُ الْمَصَابِيحِ فَخَرَجَتْ حَتَّى لاَ أَرَاهَا. قَالَ " وَتَدْرِي مَا ذَاكَ ". قَالَ لاَ. قَالَ " تِلْكَ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ دَنَتْ لِصَوْتِكَ وَلَوْ قَرَأْتَ لأَصْبَحَتْ يَنْظُرُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهَا لاَ تَتَوَارَى مِنْهُمْ ". قَالَ ابْنُ الْهَادِ وَحَدَّثَنِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ خَبَّابٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ عَنْ أُسَيْدِ بْنِ حُضَيْرٍ
Usaid bin Hudair RA narrated: That while he was reciting Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow) at night, and his horse was tied beside him, the horse was suddenly startled and troubled. When he stopped reciting, the horse became quiet, and when he started again, the horse was startled again. Then he stopped reciting and the horse became quiet too. He started reciting again and the horse was startled and troubled once again. Then he stopped reciting and his son, Yahya was beside the horse. He was afraid that the horse might trample on him. When he took the boy away and looked towards the sky, he could not see it. The next morning he informed the Prophet who said, "Recite, O Ibn Hudair! Recite, O Ibn Hudair!" Ibn Hudair replied, "O Allah's Apostle! My son, Yahya was near the horse and I was afraid that it might trample on him, so I looked towards the sky, and went to him. Then I looked at the sky, I saw something like a cloud containing what looked like lamps, so I went out in order not to see it." The Prophet said, "Do you know what that was?" Ibn Hudair replied, "No." The Prophet said, "Those were Angels who came near to you for your voice and if you had kept on reciting till dawn, it would have remained there till morning when people would have seen it as it would not have disappeared."
Found In: Sunan An-Nasai Chapter No: 1, The Book of Purification
Hadith no: 324
Narrated: Aisyah RA
“The Messenger of Allah (saw) sent Usaid bin Hudair and some other people to look for a necklace that Aisha had left behind in a place where she had stopped (while traveling). The time for prayer came and they did not have Wudu, and they could not find any water, so they prayed without Wudu. They mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah (saw), and Allah, the Mighty and Sublime revealed the verse of Tayammum. Usaid bin Hudair said: ‘May Allah reward you with good, for by Allah, nothing ever happened to you that you dislike, but Allah makes it good for you and the Muslims.’” (Sahih)
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Found In: Sunan Ibn Majah Chapter No: 3, The Chapters on Dry Ablution
Hadith no: 568
Narrated: Aisha
that she borrowed a necklace from Asma’, and she lost it. The Prophet (saw) sent some people to look for it, and the time for prayer came so they prayed without ablution. When they came to the Prophet (saw) they complained to him about that, then the Verse of dry ablution was revealed. Usaid bin Hudair said: “May Allah reward you with good, for by Allah, nothing ever happens to you but Allah grants you a way out and blesses the Muslims thereby.” (Sahih)
Relevance: 19.3241
Found In: Sahih Bukhari Chapter No: 7, Rubbing hands and feet with dust (Tayammum)
Hadith no: 332
Narrated: Urwas father
Aisha said, "I borrowed a necklace from Asma' and it was lost. So Allah's Apostle sent a man to search for it and he found it. Then the time of the prayer became due and there was no water. They prayed (without ablution) and informed Allah's Apostle about it, so the verse of Tayammum was revealed." Usaid bin Hudair said to 'Aisha, "May Allah reward you. By Allah, whenever anything happened which you did not like, Allah brought good for you and for the Muslims in that." Al-Jurf and the time for the 'Asr prayer became due while he was at Marbad-AnNa'am (sheep-fold), so he (performed Tayammum) and prayed there and then entered Medina when the sun was still high but he did not repeat that prayer.
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Found In: Sunan An-Nasai Chapter No: 1, The Book of Purification
Hadith no: 289
Narrated: Anas
“When one of their womenfolk menstruated, the Jews would not eat or drink with them, nor mix with them in their houses. They asked the Prophet of Allah (saw) about that, and Allah the Mighty and Sublime revealed: They ask you concerning menstruation. Say: ‘That is an Adha (a harmful thing).’ [2:222] So the Messenger of Allah (saw) commanded them to eat and drink with them (menstruating women) and to mix with them in their houses, and to do everything with them except intercourse. The Jews said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (saw) does not leave anything of our affairs except he goes against it.’ Usaid bin Hudair and ‘Abbad bin Bishr went and told the Messenger of Allah (saw) and they said: ‘Should we have intercourse with them when they are menstruating?’ The expression of the Messenger of Allah (saw) changed greatly until we thought that he was angry with them, and they left. Then the Messenger of Allah (saw) received a gift of milk, so he sent someone to bring them back and he gave them some to drink, so they knew that he was not angry with them.” (Sahih)
Relevance: 15.2994
Found In: Sahih Muslim Chapter No: 3, The Book of Menstruation (Kitab Al-Haid)
Hadith no: 592
Narrated: Thabit
Among the Jews, when a woman menstruated, they did not dine with her, nor did they live with them in their houses; so the Companions of the Apostle (may peace be upon him) asked The Apostle (may peace be upon him), and Allah, the Exalted revealed:" And they ask you about menstruation; say it is a pollution, so keep away from woman during menstruation" to the end (Qur'an, ii. 222). The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Do everything except intercourse. The Jews heard of that and said: This man does not want to leave anything we do without opposing us in it. Usaid b. Hudair and Abbad b. Bishr came and said: Messenger of Allah, the Jews say such and such thing. We should not have, therefore, any contactwith them (as the Jews do). The face of the Messenger of Allah (way peace be upon him) underwent such a change that we thought he was angry with them, but when they went out, they happened to receive a gift of milk which was sent to the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him). He (the Holy Prophet) called for them and gave them drink, whereby they knew that he was not angry with them.
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Found In: Sunan An-Nasai Chapter No: 3, The Book of Menstruation and Istihadah
Hadith no: 369
Narrated: Anas
“When one of their womenfolk menstruated, the Jews would not eat or drink with them, or mix with them in their houses. They (the Companions) asked the Prophet of Allah (saw) about that, and Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, revealed the Ayah: They ask you concerning menstruation. Say: “That is an Adha (a harmful thing).[2:222] So the Messenger of Allah (saw) commanded them to eat and drink with them (menstruating women) and to mix with them in their houses, and to do everything with them except intercourse. The Jews said: 'The Messenger of Allah (saw) does not leave anything of our affairs except he goes against it.' Usaid bin Hudair and 'Abbad bin Bishr went and told the Messenger of Allah (saw) and they said: 'Should we have intercourse with them when they are menstruating?' The expression of the Messenger of Allah (saw) changed greatly until we thought that he was angry with them, and they left. Then the Messenger of Allah (saw) received a gift of milk, so he sent someone to bring them back and he gave them some to drink, so we knew that he was not angry with them.” (Sahih)
Relevance: 15.1148
Found In: Sahih Bukhari Chapter No: 7, Rubbing hands and feet with dust (Tayammum)
Hadith no: 330
Narrated: Aisha
(the wife of the Prophet) We set out with Allah’s Apostle on one of his journeys till we reached Al-Baida' or Dhatul-Jaish, a necklace of mine was broken (and lost). Allah's Apostle stayed there to search for it, and so did the people along with him. There was no water at that place, so the people went to Abu- Bakr As-Siddiq and said, "Don't you see what 'Aisha has done? She has made Allah's Apostle and the people stay where there is no water and they have no water with them." Abu Bakr came while Allah's Apostle was sleeping with his head on my thigh, He said, to me: "You have detained Allah's Apostle and the people where there is no water and they have no water with them. So he admonished me and said what Allah wished him to say and hit me on my flank with his hand. Nothing prevented me from moving (because of pain) but the position of Allah's Apostle on my thigh. Allah's Apostle got up when dawn broke and there was no water. So Allah revealed the Divine Verses of Tayammum. So they all performed Tayammum. Usaid bin Hudair said, "O the family of Abu Bakr! This is not the first blessing of yours." Then the camel on which I was riding was caused to move from its place and the necklace was found beneath it.
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Found In: Sunan An-Nasai Chapter No: 1, The Book of Purification
Hadith no: 311
Narrated: Aisha
“We went out with the Messenger of Allah (saw) on one of his journeys, and when we were in Al-Baida’ or Dhat Al-Jaish, a necklace of mine broke and fell. The Messenger of Allah (saw) stayed there looking for it and the people stayed with him. There was no water near them, and they did not have water with them. The people came to Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, and said: ‘Do you see what Aisha has done? She has made the Messenger of Allah (saw) and the people stop and they are not near any water and they do not have water with them.’ Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, came while the Messenger of Allah (saw) was resting his head on my thigh and had gone to sleep. He said: ‘You have detained the Messenger of Allah (saw) and the people, and they are not near any water and they do not have any water with them.’” Aisha said: “Abu Bakr rebuked me and said whatever Allah willed he would say. He started poking me on my hip, and the only thing that prevented me from moving was the fact that the Messenger of Allah (saw) was resting on my thigh. The Messenger of Allah (saw) slept until morning when he woke up without any water. Then Allah, the Mighty and Sublime revealed the verse of Tayammum. Usaid bin Hudair said: ‘This is not the first time we have been blessed because of you, O family of Abu Bakr!’” She said: “Then we made the camel that I had been riding stand up, and we found the necklace beneath it.” (Sahih)
Relevance: 13.3666
Found In: Sahih Muslim Chapter No: 3, The Book of Menstruation (Kitab Al-Haid)
Hadith no: 714
Narrated: Aisha
We went with the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) on one of his journeys and when we reached the place Baida or Dhat al-jaish, my necklace was broken (and fell somewhere). The Messenger of Allah (way peace be upon him) along with other people stayed there for searching it. There was neither any water at that place nor was there any water with them (the Companions of the Holy Prophet). Some persons came to my father Abu Bakr and said: Do you see what Aisha has done? She has detained the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and persons accompanying him, and there is neither any water here or with them. So Abu Bakr came there and the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was sleeping with his head on my thigh. He (Abu Bakr) said: You have detained the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and other persons and there is neither water here nor with them. She (Aisha) said: Abu Bakr scolded me and uttered what Allah wanted him to utter and nudged my hips with his hand. And there was nothing to prevent me from stirring but for the fact that the messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was lying upon my thigh. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) slept till it was dawn at a waterless place. So Allah revealed the verses pertaining to tayammum and they (the Holy Prophet and his Companions) performed tayammum. Usaid bin al-Hudair who was one of the leaders said: This is not the first of your blessings, 0 Family to Abu Bakr. Aisha said: We made the camel stand which was my mount and found the necklace under it.
Relevance: 12.5096
Found In: Sunan Ibn Majah Chapter No: 7, The Chapters of Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them
Hadith no: 1411
Narrated: Abul-Abrad
The freed slave of Banu Khatmah, said that he heard Usaid bin Zuhair Ansari who was one of the Companions of the Prophet (saw) narrating that the Prophet (saw) said: "One prayer in the Quba Mosque is like Umrah."
Relevance: 10.1247
Found In: Sahih Bukhari Chapter No: 50, Witnesses
Hadith no: 842
Narrated: Aisha
(the wife of the Prophet (SAW)) "Whenever Allah's Apostle (SAW) intended to go on a journey, he would draw lots amongst his wives and would take with him the one upon whom the lot fell. During a Ghazwa of his, he drew lots amongst us and the lot fell upon me, and I proceeded with him after Allah had decreed the use of the veil by women. I was carried in a Howdaj (on the camel) and dismounted while still in it. When Allah's Apostle (SAW) was through with his Ghazwa and returned home, and we approached the city of Medina, Allah's Apostle (SAW) ordered us to proceed at night. When the order of setting off was given, I walked till I was past the army to answer the call of nature. After finishing I returned (to the camp) to depart (with the others) and suddenly realized that my necklace over my chest was missing. So, I returned to look for it and was delayed because of that. The people who used to carry me on the camel, came to my Howdaj and put it on the back of the camel, thinking that I was in it, as, at that time, women were light in weight, and thin and lean, and did not use to eat much. So, those people did not feel the difference in the heaviness of the Howdaj while lifting it, and they put it over the camel. At that time I was a young lady. They set the camel moving and proceeded on. I found my necklace after the army had gone, and came to their camp to find nobody. So, I went to the place where I used to stay, thinking that they would discover my absence and come back in my search. While in that state, I felt sleepy and slept. Safwan bin Muattal As-Sulami Adh-Dhakwani was behind the army and reached my abode in the morning. When he saw a sleeping person, he came to me, and he used to see me before veiling. So, I got up when I heard him saying, "Inna lil-lah-wa inn a ilaihi rajiun (We are for Allah, and we will return to Him)." He made his camel knell down. He got down from his camel, and put his leg on the front legs of the camel and then I rode and sat over it.
Safwan set out walking, leading the camel by the rope till we reached the army who had halted to take rest at midday. Then whoever was meant for destruction, fell into destruction, (some people accused me falsely) and the leader of the false accusers was Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul. After that we returned to Medina, and I became ill for one month while the people were spreading the forged statements of the false accusers. I was feeling during my ailment as if I were not receiving the usual kindness from the Prophet (SAW) which I used to receive from him when I got sick. But he would come, greet and say, 'How is that (girl)?' I did not know anything of what was going on till I recovered from my ailment and went out with Um Mistah to the Manasi where we used to answer the call of nature, and we used not to go to answer the call of nature except from night to night and that was before we had lavatories near to our houses.
And this habit of ours was similar to the habit of the old Arabs in the open country (or away from houses). So, I and Um Mistah bint Ruhm went out walking. Um Mistah stumbled because of her long dress and on that she said, 'Let Mistah be ruined.' I said, 'You are saying a bad word. Why are you abusing a man who took part in (the battle of) Badr?' She said, 'O Hanata (you there) didn't you hear what they said?' Then she told me the rumors of the false accusers. My sickness was aggravated, and when I returned home, Allah's Apostle (SAW) came to me, and after greeting he said, 'How is that (girl)?' I requested him to allow me to go to my parents. I wanted then to be sure of the news through them I Allah's Apostle (SAW) allowed me, and I went to my parents and asked my mother, 'What are the people talking about?' She said, 'O my daughter! Don't worry much about this matter. By Allah, never is there a charming woman loved by her husband who has other wives, but the women would forge false news about her.' I said, 'Glorified be Allah! Are the people really taking of this matter?'
That night I kept on weeping and could not sleep till morning. In the morning Rasulullah SAW called Ali bin Abu Talib RA and Usamah bin Zaid RA when he saw the Divine Inspiration delayed, to consul them about divorcing his wife (i.e. 'Aisha). Usamah bin Zaid RA said what he knew of the good reputation of his wives and added, 'O Rasulullah! Keep you wife, for, by Allah, we know nothing about her but good.' 'Ali bin Abu Talib RA said, 'O Rasulullah! Allah has no imposed restrictions on you, and there are many women other than her, yet you may ask the woman-servant who will tell you the truth.' On that Rasulullah SAW called Barirah and said, 'O Barirah. Did you ever see anything which roused your suspicions about her?' Barirah said, 'No, by Allah Who has sent you with the Truth, I have never seen in her anything faulty except that she is a girl of immature age, who sometimes sleeps and leaves the dough for the goats to eat.' On that day Rasulullah SAW ascended the pulpit and requested that somebody support him in punishing 'Abdullah bin Ubay bin Salul. Rasulullah SAW said, 'Who will support me to punish that person (Abdullah bin Ubay bin Salul) who has hurt me by slandering the reputation of my family?
By Allah, I know nothing about my family but good, and they have accused a person about whom I know nothing except good, and he never entered my house except in my company.' Sad bin Muadh RA got up and said, 'O Rasulullah!! by Allah, I will relieve you from him. If that man is from the tribe of the Aws, then we will chop his head off, and if he is from our brothers, the Khazraj, then order us, and we will fulfill your order.' On that Sad bin Ubadah, the chief of the Khazraj and before this incident, he had been a pious man, got up, motivated by his zeal for his tribe and said, 'By Allah, you have told a lie; you cannot kill him, and you will never be able to kill him.' On that Usaid bin Hudair RA got up and said (to Sad bin Ubadah), 'By Allah! You are a liar. By Allah, we will kill him; and you are a hypocrite, defending the hypocrites.' On this the two tribes of Aws and Khazraj got excited and were about to fight each other, while Rasulullah SAW was standing on the pulpit. He got down and quietened them till they became silent and he kept quiet.
On that day I kept on weeping so much so that neither did my tears stop, nor could I sleep. In the morning my parents were with me and I had wept for two nights and a day, till I thought my liver would burst from weeping. While they were sitting with me and I was weeping, an Ansari woman asked my permission to enter, and I allowed her to come in. She sat down and started weeping with me. While we were in this state, Rasulullah SAW came and sat down and he had never sat with me since the day they forged the accusation. No revelation regarding my case came to him for a month. He recited Tashahhud (i.e. none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is His Rasul and then said, 'O Aisha! I have been informed such-and-such about you; if you are innocent, then Allah will soon reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him to forgive you, for when a person confesses his sin and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance.' When Rasulullah SAW finished his speech my tears ceased completely and there remained not even a single drop of it. I requested my father to reply to Rasulullah SAW on my behalf. My father said, By Allah, I do not know what to say to Rasulullah SAW.' I said to my mother, 'Talk to Rasulullah on my behalf.' She said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to Rasulullah SAW I was a young girl and did not have much knowledge of the Quran. I said. 'I know, by Allah, that you have listened to what people are saying and that has been planted in your minds and you have taken it as a truth.
Now, if I told you that I am innocent and Allah knows that I am innocent, you would not believe me and if I confessed to you falsely that I am guilty, and Allah knows that I am innocent you would believe me. By Allah, I don't compare my situation with you except to the situation of Yusuf's (Joseph's) father (i.e. Jacob) who said, '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 to the other side of my bed hoping that Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah I never thought that Allah would reveal Divine Inspiration in my case, as I considered myself too inferior to be talked of in the Holy Quran. I had hoped that Rasulullah SAW might have a dream in which Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah, Rasulullah SAW had not got up and nobody had left the house before the Divine Inspiration came to Rasulullah SAW So, there overtook him the same state which used to overtake him, (when he used to have, on being inspired divinely). Rasulullah SAW was sweating so much so that the drops of the sweat were dropping like pearls though it was a (cold) wintry day. When that state of Rasulullah SAW was over, he was smiling and the first word he said, Aisha! Thank Allah, for Allah has declared your innocence.' My mother told me to go to Rasulullah SAW I replied, 'By Allah I will not go to him and will not thank but Allah.' So Allah revealed: "Verily! They who spread the slander are a gang among you . . ." (24.11) When Allah gave the declaration of my Innocence, Abu Bakr RA, who used to provide for Mistah bin Athatha for he was his relative, said, 'By Allah, I will never provide Mistah with anything because of what he said about Aisha.' But Allah later revealed:
"And let not those who are good and wealthy among you swear not to help their kinsmen, those in need and those who left their homes in Allah's Cause. Let them forgive and overlook. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? Verily! Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." (24.22) After that Abu Bakr RA said, 'Yes ! By Allah! I like that Allah should forgive me,' and resumed helping Mistah whom he used to help before. Rasulullah SAW also asked Zainab bint Jahsh RA (i.e. Rasulullah’s wife about me saying, 'What do you know and what did you see?' She replied, 'O Rasulullah! I refrain to claim hearing or seeing what I have not heard or seen. By Allah, I know nothing except goodness about Aisha." Aisha further added "Zainab was competing with me (in her beauty and Rasulullah's love), yet Allah protected her (from being malicious), for she had piety."
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