and the vile men [are suited] to the vile women.” (Al-Nur 24:26)

Thus, whoever accuses any one of the Messenger’s wives of fornication is—God forbid—branding the Prophet himself as vile, for Allah has declared, “The vile women are for the vile men.” Realize, then, how grave this matter is and how great a danger it poses. It is therefore obligatory upon us to harbor genuine love for every member of the Prophet’s household: all of his wives and the believing relatives from his clan.

1/346 — Yazid ibn Hayyan reported: “I set out, together with Husayn ibn Sabrah and ʿAmr ibn Muslim, to visit Zayd ibn Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him). When we were seated before him, Husayn said, ‘O Zayd, you have been granted immense good. You saw the Messenger of Allah, heard his speech, fought alongside him, and prayed behind him—you have indeed attained great good. So relate to us, O Zayd, what you heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’

Zayd replied, ‘My dear nephew, by Allah, I have grown old, my era is long past, and I have forgotten some of what I once memorized from the Messenger of Allah. Whatever I recount to you, accept it, and do not burden me to recall what I no longer remember.’

He then said, ‘One day the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood among us to address the people at a spring called Khumm, between Mecca and Medina. He praised Allah, exalted Him, admonished, and reminded us. Then he said:

“Now to proceed: O people, I am but a human being. The messenger of my Lord is soon to come, and I will answer his call. I am leaving among you two weighty trusts. The first is the Book of Allah; in it are guidance and light. Hold fast to the Book of Allah and cling to it.”

He urged adherence to the Book of Allah and encouraged devotion to it. Then he said:

“And [I remind you of] my household—by Allah, I remind you concerning my household; by Allah, I remind you concerning my household.”