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  4. Sahih al-Bukhari 7370
حَدَّثَنَا الأُوَيْسِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ، عَنْ صَالِحٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عُرْوَةُ، وَابْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَعَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ وَقَّاصٍ، وَعُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ حِينَ قَالَ لَهَا أَهْلُ الإِفْكِ قَالَتْ وَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَأُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ حِينَ اسْتَلْبَثَ الْوَحْىُ يَسْأَلُهُمَا، وَهْوَ يَسْتَشِيرُهُمَا فِي فِرَاقِ أَهْلِهِ، فَأَمَّا أُسَامَةُ فَأَشَارَ بِالَّذِي يَعْلَمُ مِنْ بَرَاءَةِ أَهْلِهِ، وَأَمَّا عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ لَمْ يُضَيِّقِ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ، وَالنِّسَاءُ سِوَاهَا كَثِيرٌ، وَسَلِ الْجَارِيَةَ تَصْدُقْكَ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ هَلْ رَأَيْتِ مِنْ شَىْءٍ يَرِيبُكِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَتْ مَا رَأَيْتُ أَمْرًا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنَّهَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ تَنَامُ عَنْ عَجِينِ أَهْلِهَا فَتَأْتِي الدَّاجِنُ فَتَأْكُلُهُ‏.‏ فَقَامَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَنْ يَعْذِرُنِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ بَلَغَنِي أَذَاهُ فِي أَهْلِي، وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلاَّ خَيْرًا ‏"‏‏.‏ فَذَكَرَ بَرَاءَةَ عَائِشَةَ‏.‏ وَقَالَ أَبُو أُسَامَةَ عَنْ هِشَامٍ‏.‏
Translation
Narrated Aisha

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) addressed the people, and after praising and glorifying Allah, he said, "What do you suggest me regarding those people who are abusing my wife? I have never known anything bad about her." The sub-narrator, `Urwa, said: When `Aisha was told of the slander, she said, "O Allah's Apostle! Will you allow me to go to my parents' home?" He allowed her and sent a slave along with her. An Ansari man said, "Subhanaka! It is not right for us to speak about this. Subhanaka! This is a great lie!"

Comment

The Incident of Slander (Hadith al-Ifk)

This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 7370 recounts the painful episode where false accusations were made against the noble Mother of the Believers, 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) demonstrates exemplary conduct by publicly addressing this slander while maintaining trust in his wife's character.

Scholarly Commentary on the Prophet's Response

The Prophet's approach shows the Islamic method of handling accusations: he first praised Allah, then consulted the community, and maintained justice without jumping to conclusions. His statement "I have never known anything bad about her" reflects both his personal knowledge of her character and his trust in her.

The Ansari man's immediate response "Subhanaka! This is a great lie!" exemplifies the proper reaction of believers when hearing slander against righteous people - to immediately reject falsehood and affirm Allah's perfection above such fabrications.

Lessons in Holding Fast to Qur'an and Sunnah

This incident teaches us to avoid spreading rumors, to give fellow Muslims the benefit of doubt, and to defend the honor of believers unjustly accused. The subsequent Quranic revelation (Surah Nur, 24:11-20) completely exonerated 'Aisha, demonstrating how Allah protects the innocent and condemns slander.

The Prophet's patience during this trial and his reliance on divine guidance rather than human suspicion provides a timeless model for dealing with personal and communal crises while holding fast to Islamic principles.