And when the matter is unclear, the believer seeks to establish the facts until the truth becomes clear to him. He undertakes an act of obedience only with knowledge and intention; if he abandons it, he is sinful. Neglecting what is obligatory is a sin, and doing what is forbidden is a sin. This is a vast subject, and there is neither might nor power except through Allah.

An example of this is the Prophet’s leaving ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ubayy and similar leaders of hypocrisy and wickedness unpunished, because of the supporters they had. Eliminating his wrongdoing through some form of punishment would necessarily have entailed the loss of a greater good, owing to his people’s anger and partisan zeal, and to the aversion people would feel upon hearing that Muhammad was killing his companions.

Thus, when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, addressed the people during the incident of the slander, saying what he said to them