Imam of the biggest Sunni masjid, Shaikh Abdul Hameed pointed towards the virtues of the wives of the prophet Muhammad (Azwaj-e-Mutahharaat) and advised media men to avoid from insulting the companions, the wives of the last messenger Muhammad PBUH which really make the Sunnis angry.
After recitation of the Quranic verse from Sourat-ul-Ahzab, 6: “النبي أولى بالمؤمنين من أنفسهم وأزواجه أمهاتهم
(The Prophet is closer to the believers than themselves, and his wives are their mothers.)
Certainly holy prophet (PBUH) is the spiritual father of entire Muslim ummah and he is very kind to Muslim community. Concerning this Ayah, Imam Bukhari narrated from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet said: “There is no believer except I am the closest of all people to him in this world and in the Hereafter.” Recite, if you wish: “The Prophet is closer to the believers than themselves.” If any believer leaves behind any wealth, let his/her own relatives inherit it, but if he leaves behind any debt or orphans, bring them to me and I will take care of them.”
When the holy prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم is closer to us than ourselves so definitely he will be much closer to us than our parents, and all other relatives; why not he would be closer to us? He faced many difficulties just for the sake of this ummah, as he prayed for us every time; that is why we love him, and respect him more than our parents, and more than entire creatures in the world, Mawlana Abdul Hameed pointed.
Respected Shaikh Abdul Hameed expressed the great status of spotless wives of prophet (PBUH) which have been mentioned in the above verse of holy Quran, it means, they are unlawful for marriage. In terms of honor, respect and veneration, it is not permissible for them to be alone with them, and the prohibition of marriage to them does not extend to their daughters and sisters, according to scholarly consensus. Every one knows that Syidah A’yisha (RA) and Sayidah Hafsa (RA) both of them are the prophet’s wives, all the companions of holy prophet (PBUH) treat them like a son meets his mother.
Shaikh Abdul Hameed continued saying, “Commonly each human being whether he is Muslim or non-Muslim knows how to treat with his mother, thus lets non to say against her, and all the time tries to prove her clean and spotless, in the same way it is the duty of each Muslim to know the status of prophet’s wives (may God be pleased with them); because they are our mothers as Quran expressed their position, especially Syedah A’yisha Siddiqa رضی اللہ عنھا as she was a distinguished personality amongst all the prophet’s wives, she had a big part of Islamic knowledge, she knew Islamic law more than other women, she narrated a lot of Ahadeeth (sayings of the prophet Muhammad) from our holy prophet (PBUH), she was counted among those prophet’s companions who narrated much Ahadeeth, the number of hers narrated Ahadeeth is 2210, she was most eloquent of that time, she is the most collector of prophet’s sayings, and many other men & women companions narrated a lot of Ahadeeth from her.
Imam Zuhri رحمۃ اللہ علیہ says: “Sayeda A’yisha (RA) was a great Islamic scholar, and many other high-ups companions narrated from her.” Certainly the four pious Caliphs and son of Umar and Ibn-e-Masood and Ibn-e-Abbas and other great prophet’s companions would refer to Syeda A’yisha (RA) and such companions would prefer her thought on others thoughts.
Then respected Shaikh mentioned the difficulties and patience of Syeda A’yisha (RA) what she faced in the event of “Efk”, when our holy prophet (PBUH) migrated to Medina Monawwarah, there an other kind of enemy of Islam was found out that was hypocrisy, such enemies of Islam tried all the time to plan against Islam and the Muslim community, especially they were planning much more against holy prophet (PBUH) and his spotless family and Abu Bakr Siddiq رضی اللہ عنہ ; because these two persons were the main roots of Muslim community. They spread out many propaganda against Islam and Muslims as you can imagine the danger propaganda of them from the event of “Efk”, as it was narrated by Syeda A’yisha Siddiqa (RA) in Sahih Al Bukhari and Allah almighty also exonerate her and vindicate her of what she had been accused.
Our beloved mother says: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) had finished his expedition and began the journey back to Medina Monawwarah during the night; permission was granted to move about. So since we had been permitted to move about, I got up and walked until I had completely left the encampment. Once I had answered the call of nature, I began to return to my carriage but I was surprised to discover that a necklace of mine that was made of sweet-smelling black beads had broken. So I grabbed what remained of my necklace, I searched for the rest of it. Those who were assigned to my carriage lifted it into place upon the camel which carried me assuming that I was in it.
Women at that time were very lean and slim since they did not carry much extra weight. They used to satisfy themselves with small portions of food so the men were not surprised by the light weight of the carriage when they lifted it. I was also a young lady at that time. However, they drove my camel away and proceeded. I finally recovered the rest of my necklace after the army had left. Then I returned to their original encampment but there was no one there to be found. I then proceeded to the place where they had initially set down my carriage. I thought that they would realize that they had left me and return to me.
So while I was seated in the place where my carriage was, my eyes became heavy, and I was overcome by sleep. Safwan bin Moattal Al Solami (صفوان بن المعطل السلمي) used to follow the army from the rear. He was following the army during the early morning light to recover whatever may not have been visible and thus abandoned at night. He saw the blackness of a person sleeping, so he came closer and recognized me once he saw me. He had seen me prior to the legislation of the Hijab I immediately woke up when I heard him say ‘innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiooūn’ once he realized who I was and immediately covered my face with my jilbāb. By Allāh he did not speak a single word to me and I did not hear anything from him except for his statement: ‘innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiooūn’until he prompted his camel to lower itself such that I could mount it without assistance. Then he began to walk leading his camel which carried me until we reached the army after they had stopped to rest from the afternoon’s heat. Then whoever was meant for destruction fell into destruction. And the one who led those who falsely accused me of indiscretion was Abdullāh ibn Ubay ibn Salūl. So after we arrived in Madīnah, I began to complain of a sickness that remained with me for close to a month. The people had begun to involve themselves in the statements of those who slandered me. While this was happening, I was completely unaware. However, I began to suspect something was different while I was sick since I had not received from the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) the same level of sensitivity and empathy that I used to witness from him prior to my becoming ill. The Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) would enter, offer me the salāms and then say: ‘How is that [young lady]?’ Then he would leave. That made me suspicious but I did not suspect any evil or wrongdoing until I left after having completely recovered from my illness.
Umm e Misṭaḥ left with me in the same direction towards a wide expansive field located on the outskirts of Madīnah where we used to answer the call of nature. We did not used to go there for this purpose except from night to night. This was before we had concealed places to relieve ourselves that were closer to our homes. And our habit was similar to the affair of the earlier Arabs who also relieved themselves far from their homes since using places inside of the home for this purpose would be difficult to bear and troublesome. So I along with Umm Misṭaḥ proceeded, and she was the daughter of Abū Ruhm ibn e Abdi
Manāf and her mother was the daughter of Ṣakhr ibn e Āmir who was the maternal aunt of Abū Bakr aṣ-Ṣiddīq. Her son was Misṭaḥ ibn Uthāthah. As I and Umm Misṭaḥ approached my house after having walked such a great distance, Umm Misṭaḥ stumbled over her own garment and then said: ‘Misṭaḥ is wretched!’ So I said to her: How evil is the statement that you just said.
How could you dishonor a man who attended the battle of Badr?! She said: ‘O you there, have you not heard what he said?’ Āeishah (RA) said: Then I said: What did he say? Then she informed me of what the false accusers were spreading, which added insult to injury. Then when I returned to my home, the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) came to me, offered me the salāms and then said: ‘How is that [young lady]?’ Then I said to him: Would you permit me to go be with my parents? She said: I wanted to verify this news with them. She said: The Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) gave me his permission, and I returned to my parents. Then I said to my mother: O mother, what are the people saying? She responded: O my daughter, don’t bother yourself with that. By Allāh, there is rarely ever a woman that is beloved and held in high regard by her husband except that for her there are other wives that conspire against her. Āeishah (RA) said: I said: Subḥāna Allāh, the people are really saying this? Then she said: Then I wept that night until the morning came. The tears would not stop falling nor could I fall asleep and then morning came and I was still crying.
Āeishah (RA) said: And while we remained in this state, the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) entered. He offered his salāms and then sat down. Āeishah (RA) said: And he had not sat beside me since before what was said had been said. An entire month had passed, and nothing was revealed concerning my situation. Āeishah (RA) then said: Then the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) said: Ashhadu an lā ilāhah illa Allāh wa Ashhadu anna Muḥammadan Rasūlullāh as he sat down and then he said: ‘As to what follows, O Āeishah; indeed such & such has reached me concerning you. If you are innocent of this, then certainly Allāh will vindicate you. And if you have fallen into sin then seek the forgiveness of Allāh and repent to Him. For indeed, whenever the servant confesses to his sin and then repents to Allāh, then Allāh will accept his repentance.’ She (Āeishah [RA]) said: Once the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) had finished with what he wanted to say, my tears stopped falling to the extent that I did not detect a single drop.Then I asked my father: Answer the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) on my behalf concerning what he has said. He responded: By Allāh, I don’t know what I can say to the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH). Then I asked my mother: Answer the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) on my behalf. She responded: I don’t know what I can say to the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) Then Āeishah (RA) said: I said, and at that time I was a young woman who hadn’t read a lot of the Qurān: Certainly, by Allāh, I have come to realize that you have surely heard enough of this speech that you may have come to accept it within yourselves and perhaps even believe it. So if I were to say to you that certainly I am innocent and Allāh knows that I am innocent, you still may not believe me. And if I were to confess to this [while I am innocent of it] and Allāh knows that I am innocent you may believe me. By Allāh, I don’t know of an example that I can offer you other than the example of the father of Yūsuf who said:
‘So patience is most fitting. And it is Allāh whose help is sought against that which you assert’ [Sūrah Yūsuf 12:18]
Āyishah (RA) said: Then I turned over to the other side and lay on my bed. Āyishah (RA) said: At the time, I knew that I was innocent and that Allāh would ultimately be the one to prove my innocence. But by Allāh, I never thought that Allāh would send down revelation concerning my situation that would be recited. In my mind, my situation was much less significant than what might require that Allāh speaks concerning it with revelation that is thereafter recited. Rather, at the time I hoped that the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) would see something in a dream wherein Allāh would establish my innocence. She (Āyishah) (RA) said: By Allāh, the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) did not leave this sitting nor did any of my family
members until after revelation had descended upon him. He was overcome by the state that often accompanied revelation. Indeed, it caused pearls of sweat to descend from him in the winter because of the heaviness and weight of the speech that was revealed to him. She (Āyishah) (RA) said: And once the revelation had ended, and this state of his subsided, he was laughing. And the first word that he said after this had occurred was: ‘O (Āyishah) as for Allāh the Mighty and Majestic, then He has indeed vindicated you.’ Then my mother said: Stand up and go to him! Then she (Āyishah) (RA) said: I said: By Allāh, I will not stand up
And go to him and I will not praise another besides Allāh the Mighty and Majestic. Allāh revealed: ‘Indeed, those who introduced the slander [or ifk] are a group amongst you. Do not consider it bad for you…’ [Sūrah an-Nūr 24:11].”
The head of Darululoom Zahedan more added, “Only foolish man and hypocrite can say bad words about the wives of prophet (PBUH), every one must know that the respect of prophet’s wives is as necessary as the respect of holy prophet (PBUH) is, and hating his wives is exactly hating prophet (PBUH), according to holy Quran this danger action will draw the deviation of Allah almighty as Allah almighty says: : “إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآَخِرَةِ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا مُهِينًا”.
(Verily, those who annoy Allah and His Messenger, Allah have cursed them in this world and in the Hereafter, and have prepared for them a humiliating torment.)”
At the end of his speech respected Shaikh pointed to the fatwa which was given by the leader of Iran Ayatollah Khamenahi that he declared Haram to hate Syeda A’yisha (RA) and Shaikh said that this fatwa of Islamic revolution leader finished away every kind of mischief and made our enemies disappointed.
Addressing the owners of satellite TV channels, radio stations, newspapers, journals and specially staff of the state media he further said, “Who ever blasphemes the Sunnis’ holy personalities and azwaj-e-mutahharat in fact he/she violate the issued fatwa of Ayatollah Khamenahi. There are some elements who curse Umar-e-Farooq (RA) and some of the prophet’s wives; they must stop their hateful actions. We respect the twelve imams of Shias though we do not declare them ma’soum (safe from sins) but we respect them as you can find many Sunnis named Raza, Sadeq, Baqer, Ali, Hasan, Husain and Zahra. We believe that it is necessary for Sunni community to respect the Shia’s respected things and it is Shia’s duty as well to respect the Sunni’s respectful personalities. A part of the extremist Shiite all Muslims believe that the companions and the mothers of Muslims are respectable.