There had already been revealed (1) the verses (2) declaring her innocence when the slanderers accused her. Allah declared her innocent from above the seven heavens and counted her among the pure women (3).
[The Rāfidī’s claim concerning Aisha—may Allah be pleased with her—that she disclosed the Messenger of Allah’s secret and disobeyed Allah’s command by marching against Ali, and the response to it]
Chapter. R, H, S: The Twenty-Sixth Chapter.
The Rāfidī said (4): “She disclosed a secret of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—and the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said to her, ‘You will fight Ali while wronging him’ (5). She then disobeyed Allah’s command in His words, Exalted is He:
‘Remain in your homes’ [Surah al-Ahzāb: 33]
She went forth (6) among a multitude of people to fight Ali, although he had committed no offense, because the Muslims unanimously agreed to kill
(1) A and B read: “and it had already been revealed.”
(2) A, B, and S read: “the verse.”
(3) A and B read: “among the *sayyināt* (women of guarded honor). And Allah grants success.” W reads: “The verses concerning accusations of unchastity had already been revealed when the slanderers accused her. Allah then sent down from heaven the declaration of her innocence and counted her among the pure women who are for pure men.” Ibn Kathīr said in his commentary on the words of Allah Most High: “Vile things are for vile people, and vile people are for vile things; good things are for good people, and good people are for good things. Those are innocent of what they say; theirs are forgiveness and a generous provision” [Surah al-Nūr: 26]: “Ibn Abbās said: ‘Vile words are for vile men, and vile men are for vile words; good words are for good men, and good men are for good words.’ He said: ‘This verse was revealed concerning Aisha and the slanderers.’ The same interpretation is reported from Mujāhid, Atā, Saīd ibn Jubayr, al-Shabī, al-Hasan ibn Abī al-Hasan al-Basrī, Habīb ibn Abī Thābit, and al-Dahhāk; Ibn Jarīr also adopted it.” See *Tafsīr al-Tabarī* (Būlāq ed.), 18/84–86.
(4) In K, p. [0–9] 12 (M).
(5) “Him” is omitted from A and B.
(6) N, M, and W omit “and” before “she went forth.”