Question:

Dear brothers,

I wanted to ask about verse 5 to 11 of Sura Tahrim in Quran.

Based on many ahadith, the verse 5 is talking about Hefseh and Ayesha. It explicitly says that their heart is so inclined (Yusuf Ali Translation).

In verse 6 it says: ... God will give him in exchange Concorts better than you - who submit, who believe, who are devout, who turn to God in repentance, who worship in humility, wgo travel for faith and fast ...

Then in verse 11 it gives the example of the wives of Loot and Nooh.

Bawed on the above, a Shia has concluded that:

1. Ayesha (and Hefseh as well) had a inclined heart.

2. She didn't have all the qualities that verse 6 says otherwise the verse wouldn't say that in exchange with you God will give the prophet wives with such qualities (like submittion, belief, devoute, etc).

3. Aftter all these and in line with talking about two wives of the prophet God has then given the example of bad wives of two prophets could. This could suggest that Ayesha and Hefseh too can go as astray as the wives of those prophets.

Now in our books I can see nothing but respect and very high concerns and atrubutes for Ayeshah. Why then for a very private matter of the prophet's life, Quran goes this much too extremes in criticising Ayesha?

Please give me reply as I really need to know this.

Answer:
 

Before we start talking about this issue, let us read together what Allah says from the Quran about it:

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
[1] O Prophet! Why holdest thou to be forbidden that which Allah has made lawful to thee? Thou seekest to please thy consorts but Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

[2] Allah has already ordained for you, (O men), the dissolution of your oaths (in some cases): and Allah is your Protector, and He is Full of Knowledge and Wisdom.

[3] When the Prophet disclosed a matter of confidence to one of his consorts, and she then divulged it (to another), and Allah made it known to him, he confirmed part thereof and repudiated a part. Then when he told her thereof, she said, "Who told thee this?" He said, "He told me Who knows and is well-acquainted (with all things)."

4] If ye two turn in repentance to Him, your hearts are indeed so inclined; but if ye back up each other against him, truly Allah is his Protector, and Gabriel, and (every) righteous one among those who believe, and furthermore, the angels will back (him) up.

[5] It may be, if he divorced you (all), that Allah will give him in exchange Consorts better than you, who submit (their wills), who believe, who are devout, who turn to Allah in repentance, who worship (in humility), who travel (for Faith) and fast, previously married or virgins.

In interpreting the verse, “O Prophet! Why holdest thou to be forbidden that which Allah has made lawful to thee?” Quran interpreters reported the following narration from Saheeh Bukhari that explains the story behind the revelation of this verse: 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated:
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) used to spend time with Zainab bint Jahsh and drank honey at her house. She ('A'ishah) further said: Hafsah and I agreed that one whom Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) would visit first should say: I notice that you have an odor of the Maghafir (gum of mimosa). He (the Holy Prophet) visited one of them and she said to him like this, whereupon he said: I have taken honey in the house of Zainab bint Jahsh and I will never do it again. It was at this (that the following verse was revealed): Why do you hold to be forbidden what Allah has made lawful for you . . . (up to) If you both ('A'ishah and Hafsah) turn to Allah up to: And when the Holy Prophet confided an information to one of his wives. This refers to his saying: But I have taken honey.

This was the story behind the revelation of the previous verses. First, Allah reproaches the Prophet peace be upon him in, “O Prophet! Why holdest thou to be forbidden that which Allah has made lawful to thee? Thou seekest to please thy consorts but Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Secondly, Allah reproaches the wives of the Prophet because of their wrongdoing. Their jealousy pushed them to this wrongdoing. Jealousy is a natural thing that a woman posses when confronted with her husband’s other wives.

The more the noble the man, the more jealous the wives are. Just imagine their jealousy when that man is the Prophet peace be upon him who female believers wish as a husband!

However, Allah reproaches the wives of the Prophet peace be upon him harshly and warns them against committing such mistake again. Nevertheless, if these verses slanders against the wives of the Prophet peace be upon him, then the Prophet himself would be the first person to relinquish his wives. Unless the faith and belief of the Shia are more firm than the Prophet’s!

The Shia had for a long time, and will continue forever, slandered against the mothers of the believers, although the Sunnah do not believe in the infallibility of anyone after the Prophet peace be upon him. Ahl Al-Sunnah claim openly that mothers of believers, the companions, and Ahl Al-Bayt do make mistakes. Moreover, the best wrongdoers are those who repent.

These verses started by saying, “O Prophet! Why holdest thou to be forbidden that which Allah has made lawful to thee? Thou seekest to please thy consorts but Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” It contains a divine rebuke for the Prophet for prohibiting honey on himself because of what his wives said about the smell of the honey. Hence, can the Shia clearly libel the Prophet peace be upon him? Or is it so easy to take some parts of these verses to make their points and ignore the other pieces?

One wonders about a group of people who claim to love the Prophet peace be upon him then suspect the chastity of his wives in the name of that love and in the name of the love of Ahl Al-Bayt

The Shia would scream and shout if someone libels the wife of Khomeini! And they would consider that an insult to Khomeini himself. However, things change for the Shia when the goal is no one but the Prophet peace be upon him. Therefore, the Shia allow for anyone to slander and insult the wives of the Prophet peace be upon him and his Companions.