be known, for the death of someone who has been poisoned does not go unnoticed. It is said, however, that his wife poisoned him. There is no doubt that he died in Medina while Muʿāwiyah was in Syria. Thus, the most that anyone could surmise [and say] (1) is that Muʿāwiyah sent word to her and instructed her to do so.
It may instead be said that his wife poisoned him (2) for some other motive of the sort that may prompt women to such acts, for he divorced frequently and did not remain with any one wife.
It has also been said (3) that her father, al-Ashʿath ibn Qays, instructed her to do so (4), for he was suspected of secretly harboring hostility toward ʿAlī (5) and his son al-Hasan.
If it is then claimed that Muʿāwiyah instructed her father, this is nothing but conjecture. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said (6):
“Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the falsest form of speech.” (7)
In sum, Muslims unanimously agree that no judgment may be rendered under Islamic law on the basis of something like this, and so there does not follow
(1) “That it be said” is an addition in A and B.
(2) A and B: “His wife poisoned him for some motive.”
(3) N, M, and W: “And it may be said.”
(4) N, M, and W: “He ordered that it be done.”
(5) R: “of some hostility toward ʿAlī.”
(6) N, M, R, S, and H: “And the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said.”
(7) The hadith narrated by Abū Hurayra—may Allah be pleased with him—is found in al-Bukhārī, 8/19 (Book of Good Manners, “Chapter on the Prohibition of Mutual Envy and Turning Away from One Another,” and “Chapter on ‘O you who believe, avoid much suspicion…’”). Its wording is: “Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the falsest of speech. Do not pry, spy on one another, engage in sham bidding, envy one another, hate one another, or turn your backs on one another. Be servants of Allah and brothers.” The hadith is also found in al-Bukhārī, 4/5 (Book of Bequests, chapter on the words of Allah Most High, “After any bequest that is made or debt”); 7/19 (Book of Marriage, “No Man Should Propose to a Woman Already Betrothed to His Brother…”); 8/148–149 (Book of Inheritance, “Teaching the Laws of Inheritance”); Muslim, 4/1985 (Book of Virtue, Maintaining Ties, and Good Manners, “The Prohibition of Suspicion…”); as well as in the Sunan of al-Tirmidhī, the Muwatta, and numerous places in the Musnad.