The Outset of Dissension in Islam — Page 120
120 H A D RAT MIRZA BASHIR-UD-DIN MAHMUD AHMAD wife of Muhammad sa , the Messenger of Allah, in his absence. These foolish people said that the wife of the Holy Prophet sa was a liar, even though she was correct in her statement. Hadrat ‘ Uthm a n ra was the guardian of the orphans of Ban u Umayyah. On seeing their growing enmity, her concern that the wealth of the orphans and widows may go to waste was correct. The true liars were those who took up the task of destroying the faith whilst claiming to love Muhammad sa , the Messenger of Allah; not Ummi H ab i bah ra , Ummul-Mu’min i n. 102 H A D RAT ‘ A ’ ISHAH RA PREPARES FOR HAJJ When news of the treatment meted out to Hadrat Ummi H ab i bah ra spread throughout Madinah, the companions and residents of Madinah were left shocked; they understood that now it was useless to hope of any good to come from the rebels. It was at this very time that Hadrat ‘ A ’ishah ra decided to go for hajj and she began to make preparations for the journey. When people learned that she was about to leave Madinah, some of them requested that if she remained behind, perhaps this would be conducive to bringing an end to the conflict and the rebels would take heed. However, she refused saying: “Do you want me to receive the same treatment as Ummi H ab i bah ra. By God! I cannot put my honour at risk (as she was the honour of the Holy Prophet sa ). If I am targeted in any way, what will be the means of my protection? Only 102. T a r i khu t-T abar i , vol. 5, pp. 177-178, Dhikrul-Khabari ‘ An Qatlih i Wa Kaifa Qutila, Published by D a rul-Fikr, Beirut, 2002 edition