What is Faith?

Avoiding retaliation for the sake of God While the Muslims were returning from the Bani Mustaliq campaign, Aishah was detained by the loss of a necklace. She eventually found the necklace, but having lost trace of the Muslim party, she went to sleep at the place where they had set up their camp the night before. There she was spotted by a Companion, who seating her on his camel and himself holding the reins, brought her back to Madinah. When they reached home, there were certain hypocrites who used this episode to spread false scandals about Aishah. One of the scandalmongers was Mistah, a relative of Abu Bakr who received a monthly stipend from his wealthy kinsman. When Abu Bakr discovered Mistah’s role in the slandering of his daughter, Aishah, he swore an oath that he would stop giving any money to Mistah. Then this verse of the Qur’an was revealed: “Let not the honourable and the rich among you swear not to give to their kindred, the poor, and those who have emigrated for the cause of God. Rather let them pardon and forgive, Do you not wish God to forgive you? He is Forgiving, Merciful.” (24:22) On hearing the revelation of this verse, Abu Bakr said, “I would certainly like God to forgive me.” (IBN HISHAM, AL-SIRAH AL-NABAWIYYAH)