an oath and then sees a course that is better, let him expiate for his oath and do what is better; for Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. With respect to oaths, once you have offered the expiation and carried out the better option—as the Prophet ﷺ instructed—Allah’s forgiveness and mercy encompass you.

2_ The merit of reconciling people. It is well known that mending relations is among the noblest of deeds. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “There is no good in most of their secret talks except in the case of those who enjoin charity, or what is right, or reconciliation between people. Whoever does that seeking the pleasure of Allah, We shall grant him a tremendous reward.”

3_ The permissibility of using lawful stratagems that do not lead to anything prohibited, for the two men employed a ruse to gain entrance to ʿĀʾishah—may Allah be pleased with her—while accompanied by ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Zubayr.

4_ The tenderness of the Companions’ hearts and how quickly they were moved to tears out of fear of Allah—may Allah be pleased with them. This is proof of a soft heart and reverence for Allah; the harder a person’s heart becomes, the farther he is from weeping, Allah protect us. Thus, when people were closer to thoughts of the Hereafter than they are today, we found among them humility, tears, night prayer, turning to Allah, charity, and good works. But when hearts hardened, admonitions passed over them like water gliding over smooth stone, bringing no benefit at all. We ask Allah to grant well-being to us and to you.