The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 440
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 440 Mr. Muir has also committed other blatant mistakes in relating this incident. For example, he writes that Ṣafwān ra and ‘Ā’ishah ra were unable to catch the army en-route, and then openly entered Madīnah before the gaze of all, 1 even though this is absolutely incorrect and categorically baseless. The Aḥādīth and history both substantiate that Ṣafwān and Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra managed to catch up to the Muslim army en-route in only a few hours. 2 Thankfully enough, however, in relation to the actual calumny itself, Mr. Muir accepts the innocence of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra. As such, he writes: “Little remark is needed regarding the character of Ayesha, and the alleged message from above to which it gave occasion. There are not materials sufficient for deciding upon the chargest brought against her, and the question is immaterial. ” 3 In terms of logic and narration, this allegation proves to be clearly false and forged, because except for the absolutely coincidental occurrence that Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra was left behind by the Muslim army, and then she caught up to it in the company of Ṣafwān ra , the slanderers had nothing else in their hands. In other words, there were no witnesses, nor any further evidence; and of course, until a charge is substantiated, it cannot be accepted as true. Especially if the objection relates to such people whose life is proof of the purity of their dispositions. However, for the additional satisfaction of the Muslims and so that a fundamental rule could be established in relation to such cases for the future, divine revelation was sent down. This revelation confirmed the innocence of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra and Ṣafwān ra , and declared the aspersion as being completely false. Furthermore, it also presented such a fundamental law to the world with regards to occurrences of this nature, that the honour and dignity of the people, peace and harmony of society, and 1 The Life of Mahomet, By Sir William Muir, Chapter XVI (Misadventure of Ayesha), p. 311, Published by Smith, Elder & Co. London (1878) 2 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābu Ḥadīthil-Ifki, Ḥadīth No. 4141 * Tārīkhur-Rusuli Wal-Mulūk (Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī), By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī, Volume 3, p. 120, Dhikrul-Aḥdāthillatī Kānat Fī Sanati Sittim-Minal-Hijrati / Ḥadīthul-Ifki, Dārul- Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002) * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 675, Khabarul-Ifki Fī Ghazwati Banil-Muṣṭaliq, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) 3 The Life of Mahomet, By Sir William Muir, Chapter XVI (Guilt or Innocence of Ayesha), p. 315, Published by Smith, Elder & Co. London (1878)