His point was that Aisha’s innocence was more manifest than Mary’s, and that the grounds for suspicion were stronger in Mary’s case than in Aisha’s. Since, despite this, those who maligned Mary have been proven liars, it follows all the more that those who maligned Aisha are liars (1).

A debate of the same kind occurs when two groups are compared, one of which has more numerous and greater virtues (2), while its faults (3) are fewer and lesser. If its faults are mentioned, the response is that the faults of the other group are greater. This is exemplified by the words of Allah Most High:

{They ask you about fighting in the sacred month. Say, “Fighting during it is a grave matter.”}

[Then He said]

(4)

{But barring people from the path of Allah, disbelieving in Him, barring access to the Sacred Mosque, and expelling its people from it are graver in the sight of Allah; and persecution is graver than killing.}

[Surat al-Baqara: 217]

(5)

The unbelievers reproached one of the Muslim detachments for killing Ibn al-Hadramī during the sacred month. Allah Most High therefore said: This is grave, but the polytheists’ disbelief in Allah, their barring people from His path and from the Sacred Mosque, and their expulsion of its people from it are graver in the sight of Allah. For this was a wholesale obstruction from that without which salvation—