Parabels of the Qur’an

Episode Twenty

Amr Khaled

The story of the incident of Al-Ifk (Falsehood):

In the name of Allah[1], The All-Merciful, The Ever-Merciful.  All prayers and peace of Allah be upon Prophet Muhammad (SAWS)[2]

Today's story occurred in the fifth year after hijrah (the migration from Makkah to Madinah).  It happened after the Battle of the Trench which was the last battle between Quraysh and the Muslims.

The aim behind the story of the incident of Al-Ifk (falsehood):

The story is mentioned through out twenty ayahs[3] in surat[4] an-Nur.  The story is directed to the press and to the media warning them from spreading rumors.  It is also directed to women and to youth who make up false lies against other women.  The prophet suffered a lot from this in order to teach the humanity these concepts.  These lessons are reflected through the Qur'an.  Allah says what can be translated as:" Will they not then contemplate the Qur’an? And if it had been from (any where) other than the Providence of Allah, indeed they would have found in it many difference (s)."  (TMQ, 4:82) [5].

"Will they then not contemplate the Qur’an? Or are there locks upon (their) hearts?"(TMQ, 47:28).

The situation in Madinah:

There were 700 hypocrites in Madinah; Abdullah Ibn-Ubai Ibn-Salul was their leader. Before hijrah, he was aiming at becoming the king of Madinah; but people abandoned him and they supported and followed the prophet Muhammad (SAWS).   That is why his heart was full of hatred towards the Messenger of Allah.  He pretended to be a Muslim while in fact his heart was filled with disbelief and hypocrisy.  He used rumors as a weapon to fight Muhammad (SAWS).

The story of the incident of Al-Ifk (Falsehood):

Lady Aisha narrated the story and said that she was chosen by a lot to accompany the Prophet in the Battle of bani-al Mostalak in which the Muslims gained victory.  The army settled for a while when Lady Aisha discovered that she had lost her necklace which she had borrowed from one of Al Ansar's women. She decided to go back and look for the necklace till she found it.  When she returned back she found that the army had left not noticing that they had left her behind.  She stayed where she was, until Safwan Ibn Al-Mu’attil who was one of the companions- found her sleeping.  He woke her up; she rode the camel, without speaking to him, until they reached the army.    Unfortunately, Abdullah Ibn- Salul saw them coming so he began to spread rumors and to raise questions about what they were doing and why they were late. He accused the wife of the prophet of adultery with one of the most honest companions.

Out of Allah's mercy, Lady Aisha fell ill for 27 days. She did not know about these false accusations untill she knew all about it by chance from Om Mostah.

Signs of prophecy:

The story is considered a sign and a proof of Muhammad’s prophecy (SAWS).  The first proof is that the ayaht which cleared Lady Aisha's name were revealed after the spreading of the rumors with a whole month.  If the prophet wrote the Qur'an by himself -as some of the Orientalists say- he would have written these ayaht immediately to put an end to the matter, but this did not happen.  The second proof is that the prophet did not punish anyone who talked falsely about his wife.  He dealt with the situation as a prophet and a leader not as a husband who is directed by his anger. 

Lady Aisha finally knew the reason of the grief that she found in the prophet's eyes.  The prophet's grief was much more than the pain he felt at the Battle of Uhud.  The prophet suffered that much, and Jibril (AS) (Gabriel) did not come for a whole month in order to teach humanity a lesson that should be remembered.  Allah says what can be translated as:"…. do not reckon it evil for you; no indeed, it is charitable for you…."(TMQ, 24:11).

Lady Aisha took the permission to stay at her parents' house for a while. She found that their suffering and their pain were as sever as hers.

Types of People in Medina

Medina was split into four different types of people:

-        The silent majority, who neither believed nor rejected the news. They were neutral.

-        The minority, who rejected this news such as Abu Ayub Al Ansari and his wife.

-        The hypocrites, who spread the false rumors.

-        The believers, who mistakenly believed the false rumors.

Safwan got very upset when he heard about Hassaan talking about him, so he went to complain to the Prophet (SAWS). As a result, the Prophet asked Hassaan to apologize and make up for the damage he had done to Safwan.

When an Orientalists accused Aisha of her wrongdoing and questioned how she could face her people, a noble scholar replied by saying that she faced her people just as Maryam faced her people with Isa (AS) (Jesus). They were both confident of their innocence.

Aisha cried so much for three consecutive days that she thought her liver was going to explode.

The Prophet’s Position

The Prophet had to choose one of four options:

Divorce Aisha, however he did not do that.

Defend her. However, since he was her husband he could not take advantage of his status as the Prophet to defend his own wife.

Leave it to the society to decide.

This is the option he chose, which was to talk to various classes of people in the society about the issue. He talked to Um Aymna, his wife Lady Zainab Bint-Jahsh, and then the young generation like Usama Bin Zaid and Ali Ibn Abi Taleb. He also talked to Omar Ibnul-Khattab.

The Prophet’s decision was very wise as he dealt with the problem patiently and systematically. He consulted various people and then stood on his pulpit to calm things down.

Aisha cried for three nights until the Prophet (SAWS) came to her as she was with her father. He told her that if she was innocent then Allah (SWT) ^[6] would prove her innocence to the world, and if she was guilty then she should repent. Even her parents couldn’t defend her and she decided to say what Ya'qub (AS) (Jacob)'s said which is mentioned in the Qur'an.  Allah says what can be translated as: "So, patience is becoming. And Allah is (The One) Whose help is to be sought against what you describe.” (TMQ, 12:18).

She even prayed to Allah to prove her innocence.

Proof of Innocence from the Heavens

As the prophet was among his family, he started receiving the  revelation from Allah (SWT) and then smiled and gave Aisha the good news from Allah (SWT). Allah revealed the verses and said what can be translated as: " Surely the ones who came with the falsehood are a band of you; do not reckon it evil for you; no indeed, it is charitable for you. Every person of them will have whatever vice he earned (charged) to him; and whoever of them took upon himself the greater part of it, he will have a tremendous torment." (TMQ, 24:11).

Lessons of Social Manners in Surat an-Nur

The youth should get married as soon as possible.  Allah says what can be translated as: "And wed the spouseless among you, and the righteous among your bondmen and maids. In case they are poor, Allah will enrich them of His Grace…." (TMQ, 24:32).

Asking for permission before disturbing parents in their bedroom.  Allah says what can be translated as: " O you who have believed, let the ones your right hands possess and the ones of you who have not reached puberty ask permission of you three times: right before the dawn prayer, and (the time) while you lay aside your clothes during mid-day, and right after the eventide prayer-three privacies for you. It is no fault in you or them, after these (times), that you go about one to the other (Literally: some of you to some others). Thus Allah makes evident to you the signs, and Allah is Ever-Knowing, Ever-Wise." (TMQ, 24:58).

Lowering one’s gaze.  Allah says what can be translated as: " Say to the (male) believers, that they cast down their be holdings, (i.e., “modestly” cast down their eyes) and preserve their private parts; that is more cleansing for them. Surely Allah is Ever-Cognizant of whatever they work out." (TMQ, 24:30).

Women should dress modestly and wear the hijab[7].  Allah says what can be translated as: "And say to the female believers to cast down their be holdings, and preserve their private parts, and not display their adornment except such as is outward, and let them fix (Literally: strike) closely their veils over their bosoms, and not display their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husbands’ fathers, or their sons, or their husbands' sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’s sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or what their right hands possess, or (male) followers, men without desire (Literally: without being endowed with “sexual” desire) or young children who have not yet attained knowledge of women’s privacies, and they should not strike their legs (i.e., stamp their feet) so that whatever adornment they hide may be known. And repent to Allah altogether, (O) you believers, that possibly you would prosper." (TMQ, 24:31).

Conclusion

This Surah was named an-Nur because it teaches us proper social manners, which can lighten up our society if we act upon them. Allah (SWT) is the source of this light.

"Allah is The Light of the heavens and the earth…."(TMQ, 24:35).

His light sheds on the mosques

"In houses (that) Allah has permitted to be raised up and His Name to be mentioned therein- in them do extol to Him in the early mornings and the (hours) before sunset."(TMQ, 24:36).

and on men.

"Men whom neither commerce nor trade (Literally: selling) diverts from the Remembrance of Allah, and keeping up the prayer, and the bringing of the Zakat, (Paying the poor-dues) fearing a Day when hearts and beholdings will be turning about," (TMQ, 24:37).

Those who don’t follow the teachings of this Surah will be lost in darkness.

"Or (they are) as darkness (es) in a tumultuous sea (vast and deep) enveloped by waves above which are waves, upon which are clouds: darknesses above each other, (Some of them “are” above some “others”) when he brings out his hand, he could almost not see it. And for whomever Allah makes no light, then in no way (can) he have light."(TMQ, 24:40).

Therefore, we need to read Surat an-Nur and follow its teaching to lighten up our lives and our society.

Translated by: The English Convoy – Dar al-Tarjama

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