The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 435
IX - Repeated Treachery of the Jews, Compilation and Sequence of the Holy Qur ’ā n, Marriage of Ḥaḍrat Zainab ra , the Great Calumny and Mischief of the Hypocrites 435 forged statements of the slanderers were noised widely and rumours were spread. However, until then, I had absolutely no notion of this calumny. One thing I did notice, however, was that during my period of illness, the Holy Prophet sa did not extend to me the usual affection and kindness that I was accustomed to, and this troubled me greatly. When the Holy Prophet sa would visit me, he would only say, “How are you feeling now?” Then he would return. This grieved me deeply. I remained unaware in this state, and my illness rendered me very weak and frail. During these days, I learnt of the scandal which was being propagated about me by chance from a lady named Ummi Miṣṭaḥ, who was distantly related to us as well. Furthermore, I learnt that her son Miṣṭaḥ was also among those who had slandered me. When I heard these things, I forgot about my actual illness, and it was as if another illness took hold of me. After this, when the Holy Prophet sa came to visit me as usual and asked, “How are you feeling now?” I submitted, “O Messenger of Allāh! If you permit, may I go to the home of my parents for a few days?” The Holy Prophet sa granted permission and I went to them. My purpose in doing so was to investigate as to whether such things were actually being said about me. As such, I went there and inquired of my mother. My mother said, “O Daughter! Worry not, it is common that when a person has more than one wife, and he loves one more than the others, other women spread scandal. I spontaneously said, “Holy is Allāh! Holy is Allāh! Are people actually saying these things about me?” Then I began to weep, and my tears would not stop. I did not sleep all night. At dawn, I was still weeping. On that day, the Holy Prophet sa called ‘Alī bin Abī Ṭālib ra and Usāmah bin Zaid ra to seek their counsel, because there had been quite a delay in revelation being sent down (and the Holy Prophet sa was very worried in respect to this matter). The Holy Prophet sa asked both of them, “In the current state, when such things are being said what shall I do? Shall I sever my relations with ‘Ā’ishah?” Usāmah ra submitted, “O Messenger of Allāh! ‘Ā’ishah ra is your wife (i. e. , as God the Exalted has chosen her to be your wife, then He has done so considering her to be worthy), and By God, We know nothing but goodness with respect to ‘Ā’ishah. ” However, (taking the distress of the Holy Prophet sa into consideration), ‘Alī ra said, “O Messenger of Allāh! Allāh the Exalted has not put you in difficulty, and there are plenty of women other than ‘Ā’ishah ra. Nonetheless, (I know nothing of the actual incident), inquire of the household maid, perhaps she knows something and may be able to tell