User:Lehrasap/Sanbox Ifk: Difference between revisions

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= Tٰitle: Incident of IFK + Ruling of 4 witnesses + Pure men have pure wives =
In the [https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4141 incident of Ifk], an accusation of adultery was levied against ‘Aisha. The name of the incident takes its name from the word "ifk" إفك meaning "slander", "lie", "calumny", or "falsehood." This word is specifically used in surat-an-nuur (Surah 24) verse 12. or "During an expedition, the Muslim caravan accidentally departed without ‘Aisha. She remained at the camp, where Safwan (a companion of Muhammad) found her later. They stayed there at night, and the next day, he brought 'Aisha back to Muhammad. Rumors that Aisha and Safwan had committed adultery spread in the wake of this incident.  
In the [https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4141 incident of Ifk], an accusation of adultery was levied against ‘Aisha. The name of the incident takes its name from the word "ifk" إفك meaning "slander", "lie", "calumny", or "falsehood." This word is specifically used in surat-an-nuur (Surah 24) verse 12. or "During an expedition, the Muslim caravan accidentally departed without ‘Aisha. She remained at the camp, where Safwan (a companion of Muhammad) found her later. They stayed there at night, and the next day, he brought 'Aisha back to Muhammad. Rumors that Aisha and Safwan had committed adultery spread in the wake of this incident.  


Later, Quranic verses (Surah Nur) were revealed about the innocence of 'Aisha against those slanders.  
Inside the house, Muhammad also doubted 'Aisha, and he consulted people to divorce 'Aisha. But outside the house, Muhammad wanted to end these rumors, as they were affecting his claim of prophethood. Thus Muhammad ordered to kill 'Abdullah Ibn Ubai for slandering 'Aisha in this case, but the tribe of 'Abdullah refused to obey Muhammad and they defended 'Abdullah. A war was about to begin between the two tribes of Muslims upon this issue.


Nevertheless, Islam critics point out that there are 'human errors' present in the revelation:
No revelation came about the innocence of 'Aisha initially despite the tense situation of war. Only after one month, Muhammad claimed the revelation of Quranic verses for the innocence of 'Aisha. It is doubted by Islam critics that the revelation was delayed for one month, while Muhammad wanted to make sure that 'Aisha was not pregnant (i.e. if a woman gets her monthly menstrual blood, then it is a sign that she is not pregnant). Muhammad had many wives at that time, but he was unable to bear any children from all of them. Thus, if only 'Aisha would have become pregnant one month after being alone with Safwan, then people would have started doubting the revelation too for announcing the innocence of 'Aisha. 


#Firstly Quranic verses [https://quranx.com/24.12?context=4 24:12-16 of Surah Nur] questioned the people why they doubted 'Aisha's innocence and why didn't they immediately deny those slanders at their own. But Islam critics point out that there is contradiction in Quranic revelation and Muhammad's own behavior. It was Muhammad himself who doubted 'Aisha, and he even wanted to divorce her, and thus those verses should have condemned Muhammad first instead of those companions.
There were 3 Sahaba (companions), who made the slander of adultery against 'Aisha. At that time, Muhammad claimed the revelation of more Quranic verses, which not only stipulated the minimum number of witnesses to 4 in case of adultery, but they also stipulated that all the witnesses would be lashed 80 times if their number is less than 4 (even if they are telling the truth).
#Then Quran came up with this argument that 'Aisha should had been considered free of doubts as pure men could have only the pure women, and she was wed with Muhammad, who was a pure man.  But Islam critics point out that this Quranic argument shows a human error, as there is no guarantee that pure men will always get pur women (or vice-versa).
#Then the revelation came up with entirely new ruling that number of witnesses should be 4 in case of slandering. And another new ruling was this if number of witnesses is 3 (or less), then all of them will be lashed 80 times, '''even if they are telling the truth'''. But Islam critics consider this ruling too to be a 'human error' and illogical to punish the witnesses even if they are telling the truth.
#Then Islam critics point out that this whole drama of Ifk, which continued for one month, happened only due to the '''unnatural restrictions''' of Islam in the name of 'Islamic Modesty', where it forbids any interaction between the men and the women.


==Contradiction between the Quranic revelation and Muhammad's behaviour==
==Details about the Incident of IFK==
'Aisha narrated the incident of Ifk as following: 
'Aisha provided the following details about the incident of IFK (recorded from 'Aisha through multiple chains of narration). 


{{Quote|{{Bukhari|||4141|darussalam}}|Narrated `Aisha:
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|||4141|darussalam}}|Narrated `Aisha:
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('Aisha further said after that immediately revelation started coming to Muhammad and he said to her) 'O `Aisha! Allah has declared your innocence!' Then my Mother said to me, 'Get up and go to him (i.e. Allah's Messenger ). I replied, '''<nowiki/>'By Allah, I will not go to him,''' and I praise none but Allah.}}
('Aisha further said after that immediately revelation started coming to Muhammad and he said to her) 'O `Aisha! Allah has declared your innocence!' Then my Mother said to me, 'Get up and go to him (i.e. Allah's Messenger ). I replied, '''<nowiki/>'By Allah, I will not go to him,''' and I praise none but Allah.}}


Thus, Muhammad was extremely angry upon `Abdullah bin Ubai and the group of people who were hurting Muhammad's reputation, while slandering 'Aisha was affecting the claim of Muhammad's prophethood too indirectly. Muhammad wanted to quiet all of those voices and thus he ordered the killing of `Abdullah bin Ubai for that, but this was not possible as Muslims of `Abdullah's tribe defended him.  
== Criticism: Why did Muhammad doubt 'Aisha and didn't immediately think well of 'Aisha? ==
After one month, Muhammad claimed that divine revelation came to him, which condemned that group of people for not '''immediately''' believing in the innocence of 'Aisha. {{Quote|1=[https://quranx.com/24.12?context=4 Quran 24:12-16]|2=Why did the faithful men and women '''not think well of their people (i.e. 'Aisha and Safwan)''' when they heard this, and said: '''"This is a clear lie?"''' ... Why did you not say when you heard it: '''"It is not for us to speak of it? God preserve us, it is a great lie!"'''}}But the Islam critics claim that Muhammad's own actions were against this Quranic Verse. According to 'Aisha:


After one month, Muhammad claimed that divine revelation came to him, which condemned that group of people for not '''immediately''' believing in the innocence of 'Aisha.
*Muhammad himself didn't immediately thought well about 'Aisha, but he himself started doubting 'Aisha.
{{Quote|1=[https://quranx.com/24.12?context=4 Quran 24:12-16]|2=Why did the faithful men and women '''not think well of their people (i.e. 'Aisha and Safwan)''' when they heard this, and said: '''"This is a clear lie?"''' ... Why did you not say when you heard it: '''"It is not for us to speak of it? God preserve us, it is a great lie!"'''}}
*And instead of saying it to be a clear lie, Muhammad himself stopped showing KINDNESS towards 'Aisha, despite her being ill. Even if he came to 'Aisha, then he only greeted her, and then left.
Muhammad was extremely mad at the group of people who were slandering his wife, and greatly disturbed by the things they were saying. Thus in order to teach them a lesson, he himself created this drama of revelation after one month. And in these verses, he himself put those conditions i.e.:
 
*immediately thinking good about 'Aisha and Safwan,
*and immediately denying it as an obvious falsehood
*and immediately considering it to be a great lie.
 
But the problem occurred when later 'Aisha also told the story, which was happening '''inside the house''' during this period, where:
 
*It was also Muhammad himself who neither immediately thought good about 'Aisha,
*nor Muhammad immediately denied it as an obvious falsehood,
*nor Muhammad completely rejected it immediately by saying it to be a big lie.
 
But contrary to this, according to 'Aisha:
 
*Muhammad himself started doubting 'Aisha.
*And Muhammad stopped showing KINDNESS towards 'Aisha, despite her being ill. Even if he came to 'Aisha, then he only greeted her, and then left.
*Then Muhammad also started investigating about the character of 'Aisha from Ali and Zayd (the adopted son), and Barira (i.e. the maid-servant) inside the house.
*Then Muhammad also started investigating about the character of 'Aisha from Ali and Zayd (the adopted son), and Barira (i.e. the maid-servant) inside the house.
*Then Muhammad also consulted them regarding giving "Divorce" to 'Aisha.
*Then Muhammad also consulted them regarding giving "Divorce" to 'Aisha.
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*Then Muhammad claimed divine revelation came to him which proved her innocence, but 'Aisha was still so much upset with Muhammad's behaviour when her mother asked her to accompany Muhammad, then 'Aisha refused to even go with him.
*Then Muhammad claimed divine revelation came to him which proved her innocence, but 'Aisha was still so much upset with Muhammad's behaviour when her mother asked her to accompany Muhammad, then 'Aisha refused to even go with him.


Islam critics point out that:
Islam critics claim that outside the house, Muhammad was trying hard to keep the mouths shut of people from raising doubts in this incident, by even giving orders to kill 'Abdullah bin 'Ubai, but inside the house, he was himself doubting 'Aisha. '''But as a human being, he made a mistake and didn't anticipate that later his own behaviour would be disclosed by 'Aisha too,''' '''which would put his own behaviour in direct contradiction to this revelation'''. Thus it is enough to understand that this was not a revelation by any divine being, but it was only the '''Human Drama''' of Muhammad.


*Outside the house, Muhammad was trying hard to keep the mouths shut of people from raising doubts in this incident, by even giving orders to kill 'Abdullah bin 'Ubai, but inside the house, he was himself doubting 'Aisha. '''But as a human being, he made a mistake and didn't anticipate that later his own behaviour would be disclosed by 'Aisha too,''' '''which would put his own behaviour in direct contradiction to this revelation'''.
==Criticism: Quranic claim that pure Men have only the pure Women==
*Thus it is enough to understand that this was not a revelation by any divine being, but it was only the human drama of Muhammad. If this revelation was really from any divine being, then this revelation would have been threatening Muhammad first before threatening that group of outside people for doubting 'Aisha and not immediately rejecting it completely as a big lie.
 
==Quranic claim that Pure Men have only the pure Women==
In this same revelation of Surah Nur, Quran also claimed that pure men have only the pure women. This Quranic claim should serve as an argument that 'Aisha was innocent, while she was wed to a pure man i.e. Muhammad.
In this same revelation of Surah Nur, Quran also claimed that pure men have only the pure women. This Quranic claim should serve as an argument that 'Aisha was innocent, while she was wed to a pure man i.e. Muhammad.
{{Quote|1=[https://quranx.com/24.3?context=24 Surah Nur 4:3 and 4:26]|2=The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator or a polytheist, and that has been made unlawful to the believers ۔۔۔
{{Quote|1=[https://quranx.com/24.3?context=24 Surah Nur 4:3 and 4:26]|2=The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator or a polytheist, and that has been made unlawful to the believers ۔۔۔
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{{Quote|[http://m.qtafsir.com/Surah-An-Noor/The-Goodness-of-%60Aishah-becau--- Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Surah Nur 24:26]|"Evil women are for evil men and evil men are for evil women, and good women are for good men and good men are for good women.'' This also necessarily refers back to what they said, i.e., '''Allah would not have made `A'ishah the wife of His Messenger unless she had been good, because he is the best of the best of mankind. If she had been evil, she would not have been a suitable partner either according to His Laws or His decree'''.}}
{{Quote|[http://m.qtafsir.com/Surah-An-Noor/The-Goodness-of-%60Aishah-becau--- Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Surah Nur 24:26]|"Evil women are for evil men and evil men are for evil women, and good women are for good men and good men are for good women.'' This also necessarily refers back to what they said, i.e., '''Allah would not have made `A'ishah the wife of His Messenger unless she had been good, because he is the best of the best of mankind. If she had been evil, she would not have been a suitable partner either according to His Laws or His decree'''.}}


The Qur'an itself though gives the example of wife of Lut, who was not pure of heart, while Lut himself was a pure man. The Qur'an also gives the example of wife of Pharaoh; she was a pure woman, while Pharaoh was not. Similarly with wife of Noah, who herself was not pure. This explanation thus seems to go against the known biographies of many of the Islamic prophets, and appears here somewhat contrived for this particular incident.  
But the Islamic critics point out that this Quranic claim of pure men only having pure women goes against the human logic. The Qur'an itself gives the example of wife of Lut, who was not pure of heart, while Lut himself was a pure man. The Qur'an also gives the example of wife of Pharaoh; she was a pure woman, while Pharaoh was not. Similarly with wife of Noah, who herself was not pure. This explanation thus seems to go against the known biographies of many of the Islamic prophets. And there are also common observation that many Muslim men do fornication in the western countries with the western women, but then go back to their country of origin, and wed the Muslim girls/women, who are pure according to the Islamic standards.


==Quranic order of 4 eye-witnesses in the case of slandering==
==Criticism: Islamic Ruling of 4 eye-witnesses in the case of adultery==
Muhammad also claimed the revelation of verse 24 of Surah Nur at the same time of incident of Ifk:  
Muhammad also claimed the revelation of verse 24 of Surah Nur at the same time of incident of Ifk. This verse stipulated an '''entirely new condition''' of number of witnesses to be 4 in case of slandering. And it also stipulated '''another entirely new condition''' i.e. if there numbers are less than 4, then all the witnesses should be lashed 80 times, '''even if they are telling the truth'''. {{Quote|[https://quranx.com/24.4 Surah Nur 24:2]|And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after.}}
The first one who made a slander of adultery against 'Aisha was 'Abdullah Ibn Ubai. Muhammad firstly ordered his killing. But he was an influential person and Muhammad failed to incite the Muslims from his tribe to kill him.


*This verse stipulated an '''entirely new condition''' of number of witnesses to be 4 in case of slandering.
Then there were 3 other Sahaba (companions) who also made the slander of adultery against 'Aisha. They were:
*And it also stipulated '''another entirely new condition''' if there numbers are 3 (or less), then all those witnesses should be lashed 80 times, '''even if they are telling the truth'''.
{{Quote|[https://quranx.com/24.4 Surah Nur 24:2]|And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after.}}
Firstly Muhammad tried to kill 'Abdullah Ibn Ubai. But he was an influential person and Muhammad failed to incite the Muslims from his tribe to kill him.
 
Then there were 3 other Sahaba (companions) who were also talking against 'Aisha. They were:


#Hassan bin Thabit (the famous poet)
#Hassan bin Thabit (the famous poet)
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These 3 companions were not influential like 'Abdullah bin Ubai. Thus after the revelation of verse 24:4, those 3 got the punishment of 80 lashes each, while their numbers were less than 4.   
These 3 companions were not influential like 'Abdullah bin Ubai. Thus after the revelation of verse 24:4, those 3 got the punishment of 80 lashes each, while their numbers were less than 4.   


Islam critics point out that human logic would always guide you that:
Islam critics claim that this Islamic ruling is totally against human rationale to lash the witnesses '''even if they are telling the truth.''' This illogical ruling proves that no revelation was coming from any divine being, but it was Muhammad himself, who was extremely angry upon those people who were putting his position of prophethood in danger by slandering 'Aisha. '''And Muhammad wanted to teach them the lesson'''. And for this reason he himself did this human drama of revelation, and stipulated the numbers of witnesses to be 4, and to punish all if their numbers are less that 4, even if they are telling the truth. The number of those witnesses was 3. But if their number was 4, then Muhammad would have still punished them by simply raising the number of witnesses to 5. And if the number of witnesses was 5, then still Muhammad would have still punished them by putting the condition of 6 witnesses.


*This Islamic ruling is totally against human rationale to lash the witnesses '''even if they are telling the truth.'''
==Criticism: How did Muhammad know that Allah will ''''soon'''<nowiki/>' reveal the verses of innocence of 'Aisha after one month?==
*This illogical ruling proves that no revelation was coming from any divine being, but it was Muhammad himself, who was extremely angry upon those people who were putting his position of prophethood in danger by slandering 'Aisha. '''And Muhammad wanted to teach them the lesson'''. And for this reason he himself did this human drama of revelation, and stipulated the numbers of witnesses to be 4, and to punish all if their numbers are less that 4, even if they are telling the truth.
*The number of those witnesses was 3. But if their number was 4, then Muhammad would have still punished them by simply raising the number of witnesses to 5. And if the number of witnesses was 5, then still Muhammad would have still punished them by putting the condition of 6 witnesses.
 
==How did Muhammad know that Allah will ''''soon'''<nowiki/>' reveal the verses of innocence of 'Aisha after one month?==
No revelation came for 'Aisha's innocence for the whole month. Then Muhammad came to 'Aisha (who was staying in her parent's house at that time) and he claimed that Allah will ''''soon'''<nowiki/>' reveal the verses about her innocence. And then surprisingly, only after one minute, he claimed that revelation came and it made 'Aisha free of those accusations.
No revelation came for 'Aisha's innocence for the whole month. Then Muhammad came to 'Aisha (who was staying in her parent's house at that time) and he claimed that Allah will ''''soon'''<nowiki/>' reveal the verses about her innocence. And then surprisingly, only after one minute, he claimed that revelation came and it made 'Aisha free of those accusations.
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|||4141|darussalam}}|Allah's Messenger came, greeted us and sat down. He had never sat with me since that day of the slander. '''A month had elapsed and no Divine Inspiration came to him about my case'''. Allah's Apostle then recited Tashah-hud and then said, 'Amma Badu, O `Aisha! I have been informed so-andso about you; if you are innocent, '''then soon Allah will reveal your innocence''', and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him for forgiveness for when a slave confesses his sins and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance ...
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|||4141|darussalam}}|Allah's Messenger came, greeted us and sat down. He had never sat with me since that day of the slander. '''A month had elapsed and no Divine Inspiration came to him about my case'''. Allah's Apostle then recited Tashah-hud and then said, 'Amma Badu, O `Aisha! I have been informed so-andso about you; if you are innocent, '''then soon Allah will reveal your innocence''', and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him for forgiveness for when a slave confesses his sins and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance ...
(Aisha said)  'By Allah, no doubt I know that you heard this (slanderous) speech so that it has been planted in your hearts (i.e. minds) and you have taken it as a truth. Now if I tell you that I am innocent, you will not believe me, and if confess to you about it, and Allah knows that I am innocent, you will surely believe me ... Then I turned to the other side and lay on my bed ... But, by Allah, before Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) left his seat and before any of the household left, the Divine inspiration came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). So there overtook him the same hard condition which used to overtake him. The sweat was dropping from his body like pearls though it was a wintry day and that was because of the weighty statement which was being revealed to him. When that state of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was over, '''he got up smiling, and the first word he said was, 'O `Aisha! Allah has declared your innocence!''''}}
(Aisha said)  'By Allah, no doubt I know that you heard this (slanderous) speech so that it has been planted in your hearts (i.e. minds) and you have taken it as a truth. Now if I tell you that I am innocent, you will not believe me, and if confess to you about it, and Allah knows that I am innocent, you will surely believe me ... Then I turned to the other side and lay on my bed ... But, by Allah, before Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) left his seat and before any of the household left, the Divine inspiration came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). So there overtook him the same hard condition which used to overtake him. The sweat was dropping from his body like pearls though it was a wintry day and that was because of the weighty statement which was being revealed to him. When that state of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was over, '''he got up smiling, and the first word he said was, 'O `Aisha! Allah has declared your innocence!''''}}


Islam critics point out that:
Islam critics claim that Muhammad could have only make such claim (i.e. '''soon''' revelation will come for her innocence) '''when it was in his own hands to make the revelations at any time''' that he wished. And it is strange that indeed the revelation came immediately after that as soon as Muhammad and 'Aisha finished their conversation.


*Muhammad could only make such claim (i.e. '''soon''' revelation will come for her innocence) '''when it was in his own hands to make the revelations at any time''' that he wished.
All the people who show magic tricks, they play with the minds of others, and make many such dramas in order to convince the people that they are indeed talking with unseen creatures. Therefore, Muhammad once himself forgot that he had to sweat while claiming the descent of revelation, and instead of that, he slept and kept on snorting.
*And it is strange that indeed the revelation came immediately after that as soon as Muhammad and 'Aisha finished their conversation.
 
And regarding Muhammad's sweating due to the revelation, then Islam critics point out that all the people who show magic tricks, they play with the minds of others, and make many such dramas in order to convince the people that they are indeed talking with unseen creatures.
 
Therefore, Muhammad once himself forgot that he had to sweat while claiming the descent of revelation, and instead of that, he slept and kept on snorting.  


{{Quote|{{Muslim||1180|reference}} and {{Bukhari|||1789|darussalam}}|A man said (to the Holy Prophet): What do you command me to do during my Umra? (It was at this juncture) that '''the revelation came to the Messenger of Allah''' (ﷺ) and he was covered with a cloth, and Ya'la said: Would that I see revelation coming to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: Would it please you to see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) receiving the revelations 'Umar lifted a corner of the cloth '''and I looked at him and he was emitting a sound of snorting. He (the narrator) said: I thought it was the sound of a camel'''. When he was relieved of this (revelation) he said: Where is he who asked about Umra? When the person came, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: Wash out the trace of yellowness, or he said: the trace of perfume and put off the cloak and do in your 'Umra what you do in your Hajj.}}
{{Quote|{{Muslim||1180|reference}} and {{Bukhari|||1789|darussalam}}|A man said (to the Holy Prophet): What do you command me to do during my Umra? (It was at this juncture) that '''the revelation came to the Messenger of Allah''' (ﷺ) and he was covered with a cloth, and Ya'la said: Would that I see revelation coming to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: Would it please you to see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) receiving the revelations 'Umar lifted a corner of the cloth '''and I looked at him and he was emitting a sound of snorting. He (the narrator) said: I thought it was the sound of a camel'''. When he was relieved of this (revelation) he said: Where is he who asked about Umra? When the person came, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: Wash out the trace of yellowness, or he said: the trace of perfume and put off the cloak and do in your 'Umra what you do in your Hajj.}}


So, neither any hard condition overtook Muhammad, nor he sweat due to the heavy weigt of the revelation, but this time he forgot it and kept on sleeping and snorting comfortably while receiving the revelation.  
So, neither any hard condition overtook Muhammad, nor he sweat due to the heavy weight of the revelation, but this time he kept on sleeping and snorting comfortably while receiving the revelation.  


==Why was the revelation delayed for the whole month?==
==Criticism: Why was the revelation delayed for the whole month?==
If at the end Allah had to reveal the verses of innocence of 'Aisha, why didn't then this revelation come earlier? The incident of 'Abdullah Ibn Ubai and the group of people was also over just in the beginning. Therefore, if Allah wanted to reveal the verses about 4 witnesses and about pure men having only the pure women, then it could have also be done immediately after the incident of 'Abdullah Ibn Ubai. Nothing more happened during the remaining whole month, except that Muhammad never visited 'Aisha in her parent's house to show any kindness towards her in her illness. So, why to torture 'Aisha for complete one month?
No revelation came about the innocence of 'Aisha initially despite the tense situation of war between the two Muslim tribes. Only after one month, Muhammad claimed the revelation of Quranic verses for the innocence of 'Aisha. It is doubted by Islam critics that the revelation was delayed for one month, while Muhammad wanted to make sure that 'Aisha was not pregnant (i.e. if a woman gets her monthly menstrual blood, then it is a sign that she is not pregnant). Muhammad had many wives at that time, but he was unable to bear any children from all of them. Thus, if only 'Aisha would have become pregnant one month after being alone with Safwan, then people would have started doubting the revelation for announcing the innocence of 'Aisha, and this would have destroyed his claim of prophethood completely. Therefore, although on one side Muhammad was trying to limit the slanders against 'Aisha, but on the other hand he let the door open to punish 'Aisha if she would have become pregnant later.


An intelligent investigator keeps all the doors of doubts open. And one of the doubt is that it might be that Muhammad waited for complete one month, '''while he wanted to make sure that 'Aisha was not pregnant''' (Note: If woman doesn't bleed at time of her first period, then it is a sign that she has become pregnant). 
==Criticism: Role of Hijab and Islamic Modesty in the incident of Ifk==
 
The idea of 'Hijab' and 'Islamic Modesty' plays a role in this incident:
Had Muhammad announced the innocence of 'Aisha through revelation earlier, and later 'Aisha would have become pregnant, then it would have totally destroyed his claim of prophethood and revelation. That is why, although outside the house, Muhammad was strongly defending 'Aisha, but still he didn't use the revelation for this defense for complete one month. 
 
==Role of 'Islamic Modesty' in the incident of Ifk==
The idea of 'Islamic Modesty' plays a role in this incident:
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|||4141|darussalam}}|Narrated `Aisha:
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|||4141|darussalam}}|Narrated `Aisha:


... '''I was carried (on the back of a camel) in my howdah and carried down while still in it (when we came to a halt)'''. So we went on till Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had finished from that Ghazwa of his and returned. When we approached the city of Medina he announced at night that it was time for departure. So when they announced the news of departure, I got up and went away from the army camps, and after finishing from the call of nature, I came back to my riding animal. I touched my chest to find that my necklace which was made of Zifar beads (i.e. Yemenite beads partly black and partly white) was missing. So I returned to look for my necklace and my search for it detained me. '''(In the meanwhile) the people who used to carry me on my camel, came and took my howdah and put it on the back of my camel on which I used to ride, as they considered that I was in it'''...They made the camel rise and all of them left (along with it). I found my necklace after the army had gone.}}
... '''I was carried (on the back of a camel) in my howdah and carried down while still in it (when we came to a halt)'''. So we went on till Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had finished from that Ghazwa of his and returned. When we approached the city of Medina he announced at night that it was time for departure. So when they announced the news of departure, I got up and went away from the army camps, and after finishing from the call of nature, I came back to my riding animal. I touched my chest to find that my necklace which was made of Zifar beads (i.e. Yemenite beads partly black and partly white) was missing. So I returned to look for my necklace and my search for it detained me. '''(In the meanwhile) the people who used to carry me on my camel, came and took my howdah and put it on the back of my camel on which I used to ride, as they considered that I was in it'''...They made the camel rise and all of them left (along with it). I found my necklace after the army had gone.}}The Islamic idea of hijab necessitates the wholesale separation of women from the society of all men, who are not in some way related to them. Even conversation, and any kind of interaction between men and women is considered vulgarity, and is against the 'Islamic Modesty'. Therefore, on this journey too, 'Aisha was made to hide from the eyes of men behind the curtains of her howdah. And since men and women could not even 'greet' each other as it is also considered vulgar in Shariah, thus those men (who were lifting her howdah) were unable to find out if she was present in the howdah or not, by simply saying 'hello' to her. Therefore, this whole incident happened only due to these restrictions upon the woman in name of Hijab and Islamic Modesty.  
 
Some of the unique culture presumptions of Islam come to play in this incident:
 
#The Islamic idea of hijab necessitates the wholesale separation of women from the society of all men not in some way related to them.
#Even conversation, and any kind of interaction between men and women is considered vulgarity, and is against the 'Islamic Modesty'; this goes back to the ancient Arab idea that a man and women when left alone for any period of time would most certainly engage in sexual relations.
 
Therefore, on this journey too, 'Aisha was made hide from the eyes of men behind the curtains of her howdah. And since men and women could not even 'greet' each other as it is also considered vulgar in Shariah and under traditional Arab society, those men (who were lifting her howdah) were unable to find out if she was present in the howdah or not, by simply saying 'hello' to her.  
 
The results here were quite dire:
 
*'Aisha was weeping whole night long for one complete month and she was in pain. And even she was innocent, but still even Muhammad planted this slander in his heart and he showed no kindness towards her.
*It split the Muslims into two camps ready to kill one another


Moreover, Islam critics point out that:
Moreover, Islam critics claim that such 'restrictions' in name of 'Islamic Modesty' are against the 'Human '''NATURE'''<nowiki/>'. And these unnatural restrictions make the society so much paranoid and skeptic, that it becomes a 'psycho' case. Muslims are unable to tell why these 2 companions (i.e. Hassan bin Thabit and Mistah) made a slander against 'Aisha. But the reason seems to be simple that these unnatural restrictions are making members of Islamic society paranoid, where they believe in such things which actually are not there.(Note: Muslims still use "Radhi Allahu 'Anhu" for these 2 companions and consider them to be the people of high status). Even today, thousands of killings take place in Islamic societies, in name of ''''Honour Killing'''<nowiki/>', which are based merely upon doubts and paranoia.


*Such 'restrictions' in name of 'Islamic Modesty' are against the ''''NATURE'''<nowiki/>'.
Also see again this lack of interaction between them when Safwan found 'Asiha, and they didn't exchanged any words with each other.
*And these unnatural restrictions make the society so much paranoid and skeptic, that it becomes a 'psycho' case.
*Muslims are unable to tell why these 2 companions (i.e. Hassan bin Thabit and Mistah) made a slander against 'Aisha. But the reason seems to be simple that these unnatural restrictions are making members of Islamic society paranoid and turning them into psycho cases, where they believe in such things which actually are not there.  (Note: Muslims still use "Radhi Allahu 'Anhu" for these 2 companions and consider them to be the people of high status).
*Even today, thousands of killings take place in Islamic societies, in name of ''''Honour Killing'''<nowiki/>', which are based merely upon doubts and paranoia.
 
The sole reason for this one month long drama was only this restriction upon the interaction of men and women in name of 'Islamic Modesty'. And this same thing is 'hunting' the Islamic society even today.
 
Also see again this lack of interaction between them when Safwan found 'Asiha.


{{Quote|{{Bukhari|||4141|darussalam}}|Narrated 'Aisha:  
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|||4141|darussalam}}|Narrated 'Aisha:  
... While I was sitting in my resting place, I was overwhelmed by sleep and slept. Safwan bin Al-Muattal As-Sulami Adh-Dhakwani was behind the army. When he reached my place in the morning, he saw the figure of a sleeping person and he recognized me on seeing me '''as he had seen me before the order of compulsory veiling (was prescribed)'''. So I woke up when he recited Istirja' (i.e. "Inna li l-lahi wa inna llaihi raji'un") as soon as he recognized me, '''I veiled my face with my head cover at once, and by Allah, we did not speak a single word''', and I did not hear him saying any word besides his Istirja'. He dismounted from his camel and made it kneel down, putting his leg on its front legs and then I got up and rode on it. Then he set out leading the camel that was carrying me till we overtook the army in the extreme heat of midday}}
... While I was sitting in my resting place, I was overwhelmed by sleep and slept. Safwan bin Al-Muattal As-Sulami Adh-Dhakwani was behind the army. When he reached my place in the morning, he saw the figure of a sleeping person and he recognized me on seeing me '''as he had seen me before the order of compulsory veiling (was prescribed)'''. So I woke up when he recited Istirja' (i.e. "Inna li l-lahi wa inna llaihi raji'un") as soon as he recognized me, '''I veiled my face with my head cover at once, and by Allah, we did not speak a single word''', and I did not hear him saying any word besides his Istirja'. He dismounted from his camel and made it kneel down, putting his leg on its front legs and then I got up and rode on it. Then he set out leading the camel that was carrying me till we overtook the army in the extreme heat of midday}}


Islam critics ask:
Islam critics ask what wrong could have happened if they would have greeted each other, and Safwan would have asked her about the problem why she was alone there, and if she needed some other kind of help too in that situation? Even today Muslim ladies and girls are unable to take help without any hesitation in each and every field from men (either they are male doctors or male teachers etc). So much energy of the society is wasted in these unnatural restrictions, and half of the Islamic society (i.e. women) become practically useless and unable to help with the productivity.
 
*How could Islam be considered a 'religion of nature' when it has made it so difficult that even in emergencies men and women don't even exchange a single word?
*What wrong could have happened if they would have greeted each other, and Safwan would have asked her about the problem why she was alone there, and if she needed some other kind of help too in that situation?
 
Even today Muslim ladies and girls are unable to take help without any hesitation in each and every field from men (either they are male doctors or male teachers etc). So much energy of the society is wasted in these unnatural restrictions, and half of the Islamic society (i.e. women) become practically useless and unable to help with the productivity.  


PS:  
PS:  
Line 166: Line 105:
Muslims are divided on the issue if woman's 'face' should be veiled or not. Those who support the veiling of face too, they present this tradition as a proof, while here 'Aisha veiled her full face from Safwan.   
Muslims are divided on the issue if woman's 'face' should be veiled or not. Those who support the veiling of face too, they present this tradition as a proof, while here 'Aisha veiled her full face from Safwan.   


==Why did Muhammad use to take his wives during the battles?==
==Criticism: Why did Muhammad use to take his wives during the battles?==
In the pre-islamic Jahiliyyah period in Arabia, the Kings acted like the dictators. They didn't allow their common soldiers to take their wives during the journeys, but did bring their own wives for themselves, despite the extra burden this imposed on their army.   
In the pre-islamic Jahiliyyah period in Arabia, the Kings acted like the dictators. They didn't allow their common soldiers to take their wives during the journeys, but did bring their own wives for themselves, despite the extra burden this imposed on their army.   


Latest revision as of 10:17, 15 January 2022

Tٰitle: Incident of IFK + Ruling of 4 witnesses + Pure men have pure wives

In the incident of Ifk, an accusation of adultery was levied against ‘Aisha. The name of the incident takes its name from the word "ifk" إفك meaning "slander", "lie", "calumny", or "falsehood." This word is specifically used in surat-an-nuur (Surah 24) verse 12. or "During an expedition, the Muslim caravan accidentally departed without ‘Aisha. She remained at the camp, where Safwan (a companion of Muhammad) found her later. They stayed there at night, and the next day, he brought 'Aisha back to Muhammad. Rumors that Aisha and Safwan had committed adultery spread in the wake of this incident.

Inside the house, Muhammad also doubted 'Aisha, and he consulted people to divorce 'Aisha. But outside the house, Muhammad wanted to end these rumors, as they were affecting his claim of prophethood. Thus Muhammad ordered to kill 'Abdullah Ibn Ubai for slandering 'Aisha in this case, but the tribe of 'Abdullah refused to obey Muhammad and they defended 'Abdullah. A war was about to begin between the two tribes of Muslims upon this issue.

No revelation came about the innocence of 'Aisha initially despite the tense situation of war. Only after one month, Muhammad claimed the revelation of Quranic verses for the innocence of 'Aisha. It is doubted by Islam critics that the revelation was delayed for one month, while Muhammad wanted to make sure that 'Aisha was not pregnant (i.e. if a woman gets her monthly menstrual blood, then it is a sign that she is not pregnant). Muhammad had many wives at that time, but he was unable to bear any children from all of them. Thus, if only 'Aisha would have become pregnant one month after being alone with Safwan, then people would have started doubting the revelation too for announcing the innocence of 'Aisha.

There were 3 Sahaba (companions), who made the slander of adultery against 'Aisha. At that time, Muhammad claimed the revelation of more Quranic verses, which not only stipulated the minimum number of witnesses to 4 in case of adultery, but they also stipulated that all the witnesses would be lashed 80 times if their number is less than 4 (even if they are telling the truth).

Details about the Incident of IFK

'Aisha provided the following details about the incident of IFK (recorded from 'Aisha through multiple chains of narration).

Narrated `Aisha:

(Because of the event) some people brought destruction upon themselves and the one who spread the Ifk (i.e. slander) more, was `Abdullah bin Ubai Ibn Salul." (Urwa said, "The people propagated the slander and talked about it in his (i.e. `Abdullah's) presence and he confirmed it and listened to it and asked about it to let it prevail." `Urwa also added, "None was mentioned as members of the slanderous group besides (`Abdullah) except Hassan bin Thabit and Mistah bin Uthatha and Hamna bint Jahsh along with others about whom I have no knowledge,...

`Aisha added, "After we returned to Medina, I became ill for a month. The people were propagating the forged statements of the slanderers while I was unaware of anything of all that, but I felt that in my present ailment, I was not receiving the same kindness from Allah's Messenger as I used to receive when I got sick. (But now) Allah's Messenger would only come, greet me and say,' How is that (lady)?' and leave. ...

('Aisha further said) When the Divine Inspiration was delayed, Allah's Messenger called `Ali bin Abi Talib and Usama bin Zaid to ask and consult them about divorcing me ...

(Muhammad also asked Barira, the maid-servant) and Barira said to him, 'By Him Who has sent you with the Truth. I have never seen anything in her (i.e. Aisha) which I would conceal, except that she is a young girl who sleeps leaving the dough of her family exposed so that the domestic goats come and eat it.' So, on that day, Allah's Messenger got up on the pulpit and complained about `Abdullah bin Ubai (bin Salul) before his companions, saying, 'O you Muslims! Who will relieve me from that man who has hurt me with his evil statement about my family? By Allah, I know nothing except good about my family and they have blamed a man (i.e. Safwan) about whom I know nothing except good and he used never to enter my home except with me.

' Sa`d bin Mu`adh the brother of Banu `Abd Al-Ashhal got up and said, 'O Allah's Messenger ! I will relieve you from him; if he is from the tribe of Al-Aus, then I will chop his head off, and if he is from our brothers, i.e. Al-Khazraj, then order us, and we will fulfill your order.' On that, a man from Al-Khazraj got up. Um Hassan, his cousin, was from his branch tribe, and he was Sa`d bin Ubada, chief of Al-Khazraj. Before this incident, he was a pious man, but his love for his tribe goaded him into saying to Sa`d (bin Mu`adh). 'By Allah, you have told a lie; you shall not and cannot kill him. If he belonged to your people, you would not wish him to be killed.' On that, Usaid bin Hudair who was the cousin of Sa`d (bin Mu`adh) got up and said to Sa`d bin 'Ubada, 'By Allah! You are a liar! We will surely kill him, and you are a hypocrite arguing on the behalf of hypocrites.' On this, the two tribes of Al-Aus and Al Khazraj got so much excited that they were about to fight while Allah's Messenger was standing on the pulpit. Allah's Messenger kept on quietening them till they became silent and so did he.

... ('Aisha further told that she went to her parents house and stayed there. And after one month) Allah's Messenger came, greeted us and sat down. He had never sat with me since that day of the slander. A month had elapsed and no Divine Inspiration came to him about my case. Allah's Apostle then recited Tashah-hud and then said, 'Amma Badu, O `Aisha! I have been informed so-and so about you; if you are innocent, then soon Allah will reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him for forgiveness for when a slave confesses his sins and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance.' ...

('Aisha further said) Then I said to my mother, 'Reply to Allah's Messenger on my behalf concerning what he has said.' She said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's Messenger .' In spite of the fact that I was a young girl and had a little knowledge of Qur'an, I said, 'By Allah, no doubt I know that you heard this (slanderous) speech so that it has been planted in your hearts (i.e. minds) and you have taken it as a truth. Now if I tell you that I am innocent, you will not believe me, and if confess to you about it, and Allah knows that I am innocent, you will surely believe me. By Allah, I find no similitude for me and you except that of Joseph's father when he said, '(For me) patience in the most fitting against that which you assert; it is Allah (Alone) Whose Help can be sought.' Then I turned to the other side and lay on my bed; ...

('Aisha further said after that immediately revelation started coming to Muhammad and he said to her) 'O `Aisha! Allah has declared your innocence!' Then my Mother said to me, 'Get up and go to him (i.e. Allah's Messenger ). I replied, 'By Allah, I will not go to him, and I praise none but Allah.
Sahih Bukhari 4141 (Dar-us-Salam Ref)

Criticism: Why did Muhammad doubt 'Aisha and didn't immediately think well of 'Aisha?

After one month, Muhammad claimed that divine revelation came to him, which condemned that group of people for not immediately believing in the innocence of 'Aisha.

Why did the faithful men and women not think well of their people (i.e. 'Aisha and Safwan) when they heard this, and said: "This is a clear lie?" ... Why did you not say when you heard it: "It is not for us to speak of it? God preserve us, it is a great lie!"
Quran 24:12-16

But the Islam critics claim that Muhammad's own actions were against this Quranic Verse. According to 'Aisha:

  • Muhammad himself didn't immediately thought well about 'Aisha, but he himself started doubting 'Aisha.
  • And instead of saying it to be a clear lie, Muhammad himself stopped showing KINDNESS towards 'Aisha, despite her being ill. Even if he came to 'Aisha, then he only greeted her, and then left.
  • Then Muhammad also started investigating about the character of 'Aisha from Ali and Zayd (the adopted son), and Barira (i.e. the maid-servant) inside the house.
  • Then Muhammad also consulted them regarding giving "Divorce" to 'Aisha.
  • Even after one month, Muhammad was still doubting 'Aisha and he asked 'Aisha if she had committed a sin, then she should confess it and repent.
  • 'Aisha said, she was so much disappointed with this behaviour of Muhammad, that she refused to even talk to him directly.
  • 'Aisha even refused to testify her innocence to Muhammad, while she was of opinion that the slander had already been planted in the heart of Muhammad, and he would not accept her testimony.
  • 'Aisha further said, but if she falsely confess that she indeed committed a sin, then Muhammad was immediately going to believe it.
  • Then 'Aisha turned her face from Muhammad, and laid on the other side of bed.
  • Then Muhammad claimed divine revelation came to him which proved her innocence, but 'Aisha was still so much upset with Muhammad's behaviour when her mother asked her to accompany Muhammad, then 'Aisha refused to even go with him.

Islam critics claim that outside the house, Muhammad was trying hard to keep the mouths shut of people from raising doubts in this incident, by even giving orders to kill 'Abdullah bin 'Ubai, but inside the house, he was himself doubting 'Aisha. But as a human being, he made a mistake and didn't anticipate that later his own behaviour would be disclosed by 'Aisha too, which would put his own behaviour in direct contradiction to this revelation. Thus it is enough to understand that this was not a revelation by any divine being, but it was only the Human Drama of Muhammad.

Criticism: Quranic claim that pure Men have only the pure Women

In this same revelation of Surah Nur, Quran also claimed that pure men have only the pure women. This Quranic claim should serve as an argument that 'Aisha was innocent, while she was wed to a pure man i.e. Muhammad.

The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator or a polytheist, and that has been made unlawful to the believers ۔۔۔ Women impure are for men impure, and men impure for women impure and women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity: these are not affected by what people say: for them there is forgiveness, and a provision honourable.
Surah Nur 4:3 and 4:26

Ibn Kathir wrote in his Tafsir under this verse 26 of Surah Nur:

"Evil women are for evil men and evil men are for evil women, and good women are for good men and good men are for good women. This also necessarily refers back to what they said, i.e., Allah would not have made `A'ishah the wife of His Messenger unless she had been good, because he is the best of the best of mankind. If she had been evil, she would not have been a suitable partner either according to His Laws or His decree.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Surah Nur 24:26

But the Islamic critics point out that this Quranic claim of pure men only having pure women goes against the human logic. The Qur'an itself gives the example of wife of Lut, who was not pure of heart, while Lut himself was a pure man. The Qur'an also gives the example of wife of Pharaoh; she was a pure woman, while Pharaoh was not. Similarly with wife of Noah, who herself was not pure. This explanation thus seems to go against the known biographies of many of the Islamic prophets. And there are also common observation that many Muslim men do fornication in the western countries with the western women, but then go back to their country of origin, and wed the Muslim girls/women, who are pure according to the Islamic standards.

Criticism: Islamic Ruling of 4 eye-witnesses in the case of adultery

Muhammad also claimed the revelation of verse 24 of Surah Nur at the same time of incident of Ifk. This verse stipulated an entirely new condition of number of witnesses to be 4 in case of slandering. And it also stipulated another entirely new condition i.e. if there numbers are less than 4, then all the witnesses should be lashed 80 times, even if they are telling the truth.

And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after.
Surah Nur 24:2

The first one who made a slander of adultery against 'Aisha was 'Abdullah Ibn Ubai. Muhammad firstly ordered his killing. But he was an influential person and Muhammad failed to incite the Muslims from his tribe to kill him.

Then there were 3 other Sahaba (companions) who also made the slander of adultery against 'Aisha. They were:

  1. Hassan bin Thabit (the famous poet)
  2. Mistah
  3. Hamna bint Jahsh (She was a sister of Zaynab, who was another wife of Muhammad)

These 3 companions were not influential like 'Abdullah bin Ubai. Thus after the revelation of verse 24:4, those 3 got the punishment of 80 lashes each, while their numbers were less than 4.

Islam critics claim that this Islamic ruling is totally against human rationale to lash the witnesses even if they are telling the truth. This illogical ruling proves that no revelation was coming from any divine being, but it was Muhammad himself, who was extremely angry upon those people who were putting his position of prophethood in danger by slandering 'Aisha. And Muhammad wanted to teach them the lesson. And for this reason he himself did this human drama of revelation, and stipulated the numbers of witnesses to be 4, and to punish all if their numbers are less that 4, even if they are telling the truth. The number of those witnesses was 3. But if their number was 4, then Muhammad would have still punished them by simply raising the number of witnesses to 5. And if the number of witnesses was 5, then still Muhammad would have still punished them by putting the condition of 6 witnesses.

Criticism: How did Muhammad know that Allah will 'soon' reveal the verses of innocence of 'Aisha after one month?

No revelation came for 'Aisha's innocence for the whole month. Then Muhammad came to 'Aisha (who was staying in her parent's house at that time) and he claimed that Allah will 'soon' reveal the verses about her innocence. And then surprisingly, only after one minute, he claimed that revelation came and it made 'Aisha free of those accusations.

Allah's Messenger came, greeted us and sat down. He had never sat with me since that day of the slander. A month had elapsed and no Divine Inspiration came to him about my case. Allah's Apostle then recited Tashah-hud and then said, 'Amma Badu, O `Aisha! I have been informed so-andso about you; if you are innocent, then soon Allah will reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him for forgiveness for when a slave confesses his sins and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance ... (Aisha said) 'By Allah, no doubt I know that you heard this (slanderous) speech so that it has been planted in your hearts (i.e. minds) and you have taken it as a truth. Now if I tell you that I am innocent, you will not believe me, and if confess to you about it, and Allah knows that I am innocent, you will surely believe me ... Then I turned to the other side and lay on my bed ... But, by Allah, before Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) left his seat and before any of the household left, the Divine inspiration came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). So there overtook him the same hard condition which used to overtake him. The sweat was dropping from his body like pearls though it was a wintry day and that was because of the weighty statement which was being revealed to him. When that state of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was over, he got up smiling, and the first word he said was, 'O `Aisha! Allah has declared your innocence!'
Sahih Bukhari 4141 (Dar-us-Salam Ref)

Islam critics claim that Muhammad could have only make such claim (i.e. soon revelation will come for her innocence) when it was in his own hands to make the revelations at any time that he wished. And it is strange that indeed the revelation came immediately after that as soon as Muhammad and 'Aisha finished their conversation.

All the people who show magic tricks, they play with the minds of others, and make many such dramas in order to convince the people that they are indeed talking with unseen creatures. Therefore, Muhammad once himself forgot that he had to sweat while claiming the descent of revelation, and instead of that, he slept and kept on snorting.

A man said (to the Holy Prophet): What do you command me to do during my Umra? (It was at this juncture) that the revelation came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he was covered with a cloth, and Ya'la said: Would that I see revelation coming to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: Would it please you to see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) receiving the revelations 'Umar lifted a corner of the cloth and I looked at him and he was emitting a sound of snorting. He (the narrator) said: I thought it was the sound of a camel. When he was relieved of this (revelation) he said: Where is he who asked about Umra? When the person came, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: Wash out the trace of yellowness, or he said: the trace of perfume and put off the cloak and do in your 'Umra what you do in your Hajj.
Sahih Muslim 1180 (Fuwad Abdul Baqi reference, Dar-us-Salam) and Sahih Bukhari 1789 (Dar-us-Salam Ref)

So, neither any hard condition overtook Muhammad, nor he sweat due to the heavy weight of the revelation, but this time he kept on sleeping and snorting comfortably while receiving the revelation.

Criticism: Why was the revelation delayed for the whole month?

No revelation came about the innocence of 'Aisha initially despite the tense situation of war between the two Muslim tribes. Only after one month, Muhammad claimed the revelation of Quranic verses for the innocence of 'Aisha. It is doubted by Islam critics that the revelation was delayed for one month, while Muhammad wanted to make sure that 'Aisha was not pregnant (i.e. if a woman gets her monthly menstrual blood, then it is a sign that she is not pregnant). Muhammad had many wives at that time, but he was unable to bear any children from all of them. Thus, if only 'Aisha would have become pregnant one month after being alone with Safwan, then people would have started doubting the revelation for announcing the innocence of 'Aisha, and this would have destroyed his claim of prophethood completely. Therefore, although on one side Muhammad was trying to limit the slanders against 'Aisha, but on the other hand he let the door open to punish 'Aisha if she would have become pregnant later.

Criticism: Role of Hijab and Islamic Modesty in the incident of Ifk

The idea of 'Hijab' and 'Islamic Modesty' plays a role in this incident:

Narrated `Aisha: ... I was carried (on the back of a camel) in my howdah and carried down while still in it (when we came to a halt). So we went on till Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had finished from that Ghazwa of his and returned. When we approached the city of Medina he announced at night that it was time for departure. So when they announced the news of departure, I got up and went away from the army camps, and after finishing from the call of nature, I came back to my riding animal. I touched my chest to find that my necklace which was made of Zifar beads (i.e. Yemenite beads partly black and partly white) was missing. So I returned to look for my necklace and my search for it detained me. (In the meanwhile) the people who used to carry me on my camel, came and took my howdah and put it on the back of my camel on which I used to ride, as they considered that I was in it...They made the camel rise and all of them left (along with it). I found my necklace after the army had gone.
Sahih Bukhari 4141 (Dar-us-Salam Ref)

The Islamic idea of hijab necessitates the wholesale separation of women from the society of all men, who are not in some way related to them. Even conversation, and any kind of interaction between men and women is considered vulgarity, and is against the 'Islamic Modesty'. Therefore, on this journey too, 'Aisha was made to hide from the eyes of men behind the curtains of her howdah. And since men and women could not even 'greet' each other as it is also considered vulgar in Shariah, thus those men (who were lifting her howdah) were unable to find out if she was present in the howdah or not, by simply saying 'hello' to her. Therefore, this whole incident happened only due to these restrictions upon the woman in name of Hijab and Islamic Modesty.

Moreover, Islam critics claim that such 'restrictions' in name of 'Islamic Modesty' are against the 'Human NATURE'. And these unnatural restrictions make the society so much paranoid and skeptic, that it becomes a 'psycho' case. Muslims are unable to tell why these 2 companions (i.e. Hassan bin Thabit and Mistah) made a slander against 'Aisha. But the reason seems to be simple that these unnatural restrictions are making members of Islamic society paranoid, where they believe in such things which actually are not there.(Note: Muslims still use "Radhi Allahu 'Anhu" for these 2 companions and consider them to be the people of high status). Even today, thousands of killings take place in Islamic societies, in name of 'Honour Killing', which are based merely upon doubts and paranoia.

Also see again this lack of interaction between them when Safwan found 'Asiha, and they didn't exchanged any words with each other.

Narrated 'Aisha: ... While I was sitting in my resting place, I was overwhelmed by sleep and slept. Safwan bin Al-Muattal As-Sulami Adh-Dhakwani was behind the army. When he reached my place in the morning, he saw the figure of a sleeping person and he recognized me on seeing me as he had seen me before the order of compulsory veiling (was prescribed). So I woke up when he recited Istirja' (i.e. "Inna li l-lahi wa inna llaihi raji'un") as soon as he recognized me, I veiled my face with my head cover at once, and by Allah, we did not speak a single word, and I did not hear him saying any word besides his Istirja'. He dismounted from his camel and made it kneel down, putting his leg on its front legs and then I got up and rode on it. Then he set out leading the camel that was carrying me till we overtook the army in the extreme heat of midday
Sahih Bukhari 4141 (Dar-us-Salam Ref)

Islam critics ask what wrong could have happened if they would have greeted each other, and Safwan would have asked her about the problem why she was alone there, and if she needed some other kind of help too in that situation? Even today Muslim ladies and girls are unable to take help without any hesitation in each and every field from men (either they are male doctors or male teachers etc). So much energy of the society is wasted in these unnatural restrictions, and half of the Islamic society (i.e. women) become practically useless and unable to help with the productivity.

PS:

Muslims are divided on the issue if woman's 'face' should be veiled or not. Those who support the veiling of face too, they present this tradition as a proof, while here 'Aisha veiled her full face from Safwan.

Criticism: Why did Muhammad use to take his wives during the battles?

In the pre-islamic Jahiliyyah period in Arabia, the Kings acted like the dictators. They didn't allow their common soldiers to take their wives during the journeys, but did bring their own wives for themselves, despite the extra burden this imposed on their army.

Muhammad also followed the footsteps of these jahili dictator kings. The incident of Ifk happened while Muhammad took 'Aisha with him in that journey.

In this same Hadith about Ifk, 'Aisha narrated:

Narrated `Aisha: Whenever Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) intended to go on a journey, he used to draw lots amongst his wives, and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to take with him the one on whom lot fell. He drew lots amongst us during one of the Ghazwat (in which the incident of Ifk happened) which he fought. The lot fell on me and so I proceeded with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).
Sahih Bukhari 4141 (Dar-us-Salam Ref)


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