The Event as Reported by Ayesha

The Event as Reported by Ayesha

Before we address the analysis and conclusions submitted by Ibn al Hashimi let us point out some blatant discrepancies.

1. What was the lineage of Mistah?

In Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 281, Umm Mistah accompanies Aisha to answer the call of nature here all we know is her name but in other traditions her ancestry has been cited whilst in Volume 6, Book 60, Number 274 we are told Um Mistah who was the daughter of Abi Ruhm bin Abd Manaf, and her mother was daughter of Sakhr bin Amir who was the aunt of Abi Bakr As-Siddiq, and her son was Mistah bin Uthatha. Unusually her ancestry differs in Aisha’s citation of the event in Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 462, Um Mistah who was the daughter of Abu Ruhm bin Al-Muttalib bin Abd Manaf, whose mother was the daughter of Sakhr bin ‘Amir and the aunt of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and whose son was Mistah bin Uthatha bin ‘Abbas bin Al-Muttalib, went out

So here as we can see Um Mistah is the granddaughter of Abd Manaf whilst in the previous tradition she is referred to as the daughter of Abd Manaf.

2. How many times did Um Mistah stumble?

In Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 281 whilst Um Mistah stumbled three times in the other traditions she only mentioned to have stumbled on one occasion.

3. Which Wahi was delayed?

In Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 274 Aisha informs us: “He had stayed a month without receiving any Divine Inspiration concerning my case”. Here Ayesha informs that the delay was purely over her matter but in Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 462 she says “When the Divine Inspiration was delayed” so there was a blanket ban on the Wahi.

4. Who did Ayesha discuss the matter with?

We read in Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 281 that Ayesha speaks to both her parents about the matter whilst in Volume 6, Book 60, Number 274 and Volume 5, Book 59, Number 462 she only speaks to her mother the conversation with her father is nowhere to be found.

5. When did Ayesha obtain receipt of the slander?

The traditions are in agreement that Ayesha obtained receipt of the scandal via Umm Mistah, but they contradict one another in terms of timing. In Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 281 the Prophet (s) makes a plea before the mosque with regards to the innocence of his wife. At this point Ayesha knows nothing of the scandal, she learns about that night Umm Mistah informs her. In Volume 6, Book 60, Number 274 Umm Mistah informs Ayesha, so that by the time the Prophet (s) issues his public plea in the Mosque she was fully aware of what had been said about her. Why is there such an evident discrepancy?

6. Why did Ayesha refuse to go to Rasulullah (s)

In Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 281 Ayesha explains the cause of her anger and in particular singles out the lack of support from her parents “I said, “By Allah, I will not do it and will not thank him nor thank either of you, but I will thank Allah Who has revealed my innocence. You have heard this story but neither did not deny it nor change it (to defend me),”. Compare this to Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 274 Ayesha makes mentions as to why she was so angry

” I said, “By Allah, I will not go to him and I will not thank anybody but Allah.” So Allah revealed: “Verily! They who spread the Slander are a gang among you. Think it not….” (24.11-20).