Misconception: Sayyidah Aisha deceived the daughter of al Jawn, viz. Asma’ bint al Nu’man, and Mulaykah bint Ka’b until Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam divorced them

The Rawafid believe that Sayyidah Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha deceived the daughter of al Jawn, viz. Asma’ bint al Nu’man, and lied to her. When she was brought to Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam on their wedding night, Sayyidah Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha counselled her:

إن النبي صلى الله عليه آله و سلم ليعجبه من المرأة إذا دخل عليها أن تقول له أعوذ بالله منك

Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is charmed by a woman who says to him when he approaches her, “I seek Allah’s protection from you.”

Her intention behind this was for her to be divorced. And so it happened, Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam divorced her after hearing this statement of hers.

The second woman who she deceived according to them is Mulaykah bint Ka’b. Ibn Sa’d reports:

أن النبي صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم تزوج مليكة بنت كعب و كانت تعرف بجمال بارع فدخلت عليها عائشة فقالت لها أما تستحيين أن تنكحي قاتل أبيك فاستعاذت من رسول الله صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم فطلقها فجاء قومها إلى النبي صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم فقالوا يا رسول الله إنها صغيرة و إنها لا رأي لها و إنها خدعت فارتجعها فأبى رسول الله صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم

Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married Mulaykah bint Ka’b who was known for her outstanding beauty. Aisha approached her and scolded her, “Are you not ashamed of marrying your father’s murderer?” Consequently, she sought protection from Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam who divorced her. Her family came to Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and pleaded, “O Messenger of Allah, she is young and has no discernment and she has been deceived so revoke her.” However, Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam refused.[1]

Answer

The first narration: Al Bukhari has reported the original incident in his Sahih al Bukhari:

أن ابنة الجون لما أدخلت على رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم و دنا منها قالت أعوذ بالله منك فقال لها لقد عذت بعظيم الحقي بأهلك

When al Jawn’s daughter was brought to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and he drew close to her, she said, “I seek Allah’s protection from you.”

Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam told her, “Indeed, you have sought protection with a Great Being. Return to your family.”[2]

The addition which the Shia use to condemn Sayyidah Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha is reported by Ibn Sa’d[3], however it is a weak addition which has been narrated with different wording. Many scholars have declared it da’if (weak). Its origin is from al Waqidi who is a kadhab (great liar).

Furthermore, Ibn Sa’d clarified after recording it:

قال محمد بن عمر مما يضعف هذا الحديث ذكر عائشة أنها قالت لها ألا تستحيين و عائشة لم تكن مع رسول الله في ذلك السفر

Muhammad ibn ‘Umar clarifies, “Mention of Aisha saying, ‘Are you not ashamed,’ is something that reveals the weakness of this hadith since Aisha was not with Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam on this journey.”

Ibn al Salah[4] says:

لم أجد لها أصلا ثابتا … و الحديث في صحيح البخاري بدون هذه الزيادة البعيدة

I have not found any established basis for it.

The hadith appears in Sahih al Bukhari without this fanciful far-fetched addition.[5]

Al Nawawi elucidates:

فهذه الزيادة ليس لها أصل صحيح و هي ضعيفة جدا من حيث الإسناد و من حيث المعنى و قد رواها محمد بن سعد كاتب الواقدي في كتابه الطبقات لكن بإسناد ضعيف

This addition has no authentic source. It is extremely da’if (weak) in relation to isnad and meaning. Muhammad ibn Sa’d – al Waqidi’s scribe – has reported it in his book al Tabaqat, with a da’if isnad however.[6]

Hafiz ibn Hajar states:

فيه الواقدي و هو معروف بالضعف

Al Waqidi is present therein who is infamous for du’f (weakness).[7]

In addition, Abu Ma’shar al Madani also features in the isnad who has been labelled da’if (weak) by Ibn Ma’in, al Nasa’i, al Daraqutni, and others.

Abu Ma’shar al Madani

Al Bukhari remarked, “Munkar al hadith (he contradicts reliable narrators).”
Ibn Ma’in said, “His ahadith are worthless.”[8]
Al Nasa’i commented, “Matruk al hadith (suspected of hadith forgery).”

And to top it all, it is mursal.

The second narration: Hisham al Kalbi appears in the isnad who is a Rafidi kadhab (great liar) and is notorious for fabricating against the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

Hisham al Kalbi

Ahmed said about him, “He was nothing but a story-teller and genealogist. I do not think anyone reports from him.”
Ibn Ma’in comments, “ Ahadith are not transmitted from people like him.”
Ibn ‘Asakir remarks, “A Rafidi. Not reliable.”
Al Daraqutni and others say, “Matruk (suspected of hadith forgery).”[9]

NEXT ⇒ Misconception: Aisha modified salah by making itmam while on a journey

[1] Al Tabaqat al Kubra vol. 8 pg. 148

[2] Sahih al Bukhari Hadith: 5254

[3] Al Tabaqat al Kubra vol. 8 pg. 145

[4] ‘Uthman ibn ‘Abdul Rahman ibn ‘Uthman, Abu ‘Amr al Shahrzuri. A Shafi’i and one of the A’immah of the Muslims in knowledge and piety. He was born in 577 A.H. and gained deep understanding and proficiency in the madhab and its principles as well as in hadith and its sciences. Ma’rifat Anwa’ ‘Ilm al Hadith is one of his books. He passed away in 643 A.H. (Siyar A’lam al Nubala’ vol. 23 pg. 140; Tabaqat al Shafi’iyyah al Kubra vol. 8 pg. 326)

[5] Al Badr al Munir vol. 7 pg. 453

[6] Tahdhib al Asma’ wa al Lughat of al Nawawi vol. 4 pg. 51

[7] Al Talkhis al Habir vol. 3 pg. 281; al Silsilat al Da’ifah Hadith: 2244

[8] Al Du’afa’ wa al Matrukun pg. 92; al Du’afa’ wa al Matrukin of Ibn al Jawzi vol. 3 pg. 175

[9] Lisan al Mizan vol. 6 pg. 196

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