I heard `Urwa bin Az-Zubair, Sa`id bin Al-Musaiyab, 'Alqama bin Waqqas and 'Ubaidullah bin `Abdullah narrating from `Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, the story about the liars who said what they said about her and how Allah revealed her innocence afterwards. Each one of the above four narrators narrated to me a portion of her narration. (It was said in it), "The Prophet (ﷺ) stood up, saying, 'Is there anyone who can relieve me from `Abdullah bin Ubai?' On that, Usaid bin Hudair got up and said to Sa`d bin 'Ubada, La`Amrullahi (By the Eternity of Allah), we will kill him!' "
Commentary on the Hadith of Aisha's Innocence
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 6662 recounts the incident of the slander (al-ifk) against Aisha, demonstrating the gravity of false accusation and the importance of defending honor. The Prophet's statement reveals his distress and the need for communal justice.
Scholarly Analysis of the Oath
Usaid bin Hudair's oath "La'Amrullahi" (By the Eternity of Allah) represents a solemn vow affirming his commitment to defend the Prophet's honor. Classical scholars note this demonstrates the permissibility of strong oaths when defending truth and justice.
The immediate response shows the companions' readiness to protect the Prophet's household from slander, establishing the principle that false accusations against chaste women require decisive community action.
Legal and Ethical Implications
This incident from the Book of Oaths and Vows establishes that false accusations against chaste believers constitute major sins requiring both divine and communal accountability.
The narration emphasizes that defending the innocent and upholding truth takes precedence over personal relationships, as seen when companions were prepared to confront Abdullah bin Ubai despite his political standing.