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'''‘Iddah (i.e. waiting period)'''
=Muhammad's behaviour during the incident of IFK=
In the [https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4141 incident of Ifk], an accusation of adultery was levied against ‘Aisha. During an expedition, the Muslim caravan accidentally departed without ‘Aisha. She remained at the camp, when Safwan ibn al-Mu‘attal found her. They stayed there at night, and the next day, he brought 'Aisha back to Muhammad. Rumours that Aisha and Safwan had committed adultery were spread.  


‘Iddah<ref>In Islam, '''''iddah''''' or '''''iddat''''' (Arabic: العدة‎; ''period of waiting'') is the period a woman must observe after the death of her husband or after a divorce, during which she may not marry another man.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iddah]</ref> (waiting period) of different kind of women in Islam is as under:
Muhammad became extremely angry upon the people who were slandering 'Aisha, as it was not only hurting Muhammad personally, but it was also indirectly hurting the Muhammad's claim of prophethood too.


*'''A widow woman''': Waiting period is 4 months and 10 days
After one month, Quranic verses [https://quranx.com/24.12?context=4 24:12-16 of Surah Nur] were revealed, which condemned that group of people who doubted the innocence of 'Aisha, and asked them why they didn't immediately thought good of 'Aisha and denied it completely as a falsehood and a lie.
*'''A pregnant woman''': Waiting period is up to 9 months (till the birth of the baby)
*'''A divorced woman''': Waiting period is 3 menstrual cycles. (However, Islam critics point out that actually she would not get the attention and love and emotional help from any man for 6 menstrual cycles. The first 3 menstrual cycles are the process of Divorce, in which she could not leave the husband's house, and her husband does not touch her. And after the divorce, again she has to stay in the "waiting period" of 3 more menstrual cycles with many restrictions. She practically has to stay under these strict restrictions for about 6 months).


Muslim Scholars claim that rulings of 'Iddah could neither be abolished, nor could be changed as the rulings of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharia Islamic Sharia]  are based upon wisdom, justice and the best interests of the women, and they protect the women against the gender oppression and misogyny, while the man made laws of the modern Western world lead to the sexual exploitation of the women<ref>[https://islamqa.info/en/answers/39286 Islam Question Answer Fatwa Website: Is it correct to think that fatwas may vary according to time and place?] </ref><ref>[https://yaqeeninstitute.org/read/paper/women-in-islamic-law-examining-five-prevalent-myths Women in Islamic Law: Examining Five Prevalent Myths]</ref>.
But Islam critics point out a contradiction here, while later 'Aisha also revealed the inside story at home, where Muhammad was himself doubting 'Aisha right from the beginning till even after one month.  


While Islam critics claim that:
Thus Islam critics claim that these verses were human drama of revelation by Muhammad at his own, where he wanted to shut the outside voices against his household. But at the same time, Muhammad made a human mistake and forgot that he himself doubted 'Aisha and even thought of divorcing her.


*'Iddah rulings are illogical, and thus they have contradictions.
==Contradiction between Quranic revelation and Muhammad's behaviour==
*And all these restrictions of 'Iddah are only targeting the women and only women have to suffer unilaterally, while men are totally free to enjoy their life.
'Aisha narrated the incident of Ifk as following: 


==‘Iddah and the ‘parentage’ of the child==
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|||4141|darussalam}}|Narrated `Aisha:
Islam advocates claim that ‘Iddah is necessary in order to keep the ‘parentage’ of the child safe.


But the Islam critics object ,and present the following arguments:
'''(Because of the event) some people brought destruction upon themselves and the one who spread the Ifk (i.e. slander) more, was `Abdullah bin Ubai Ibn Salul."''' (Urwa said, "The people propagated the slander and talked about it in his (i.e. `Abdullah's) presence and he confirmed it and listened to it and asked about it to let it prevail." `Urwa also added, "None was mentioned as members of the slanderous group besides (`Abdullah) except '''Hassan bin Thabit and Mistah bin Uthatha and Hamna bint Jahsh along with others about whom I have no knowledge''',...


*Becoming free of blood of the first menstrual cycle is enough to know if the woman is pregnant or not, and about the “parentage” of the child.
`Aisha added, "After we returned to Medina, I became ill for a month. The people were propagating the forged statements of the slanderers '''while I was unaware of anything of all that,''' '''but I felt that in my present ailment, I was not receiving the same kindness from Allah's Messenger as I used to receive when I got sick. (But now) Allah's Messenger would only come, greet me and say,' How is that (lady)?' and leave'''. ...  
*That is why Islam itself stipulated the ‘Iddah (waiting period) of only one menstrual cycle for the prisoner/slave woman<ref>[https://sunnah.com/abudawud:2158 Sunnan Abu Dawud: 2158]</ref>, and also of a free Muslim woman who takes divorce through [[Khul']]<ref>[https://islamqa.info/en/answers/5163/does-iddah-apply-in-the-case-of-khula Islam Question Answer Fatwa Website]</ref>.
*After this first menstrual cycle, Muslim men are allowed to have sex with them.
*Muhammad himself had sex with Saffiyah the same night, when in the day her father, brother and husband was killed, while she became free from blood of her first menstrual cycle the same day<ref>[https://sunnah.com/bukhari/64/251 Sahih Bukhari:2158]</ref>. Muhammad married her as a free woman.
*Thus 3 monthly cycle 'Iddah of divorced woman, or 4 months 10 days 'Iddah of a widow, or the birth of child in case of pregnant woman has nothing to do with the parentage of the child.


==Restrictions upon the women during 'Iddah:==
('Aisha further said) When the Divine Inspiration was delayed, '''Allah's Messenger called `Ali bin Abi Talib and Usama bin Zaid to ask and consult them about divorcing me ...'''  


===First Restriction: She has to undergo the 'Iddah even without any 'maintenance' money===
(Muhammad also asked Barira, the maid-servant) and Barira said to him, 'By Him Who has sent you with the Truth. I have never seen anything in her (i.e. Aisha) which I would conceal, except that she is a young girl who sleeps leaving the dough of her family exposed so that the domestic goats come and eat it.' So, on that day, Allah's Messenger got up on the pulpit and complained about `Abdullah bin Ubai (bin Salul) before his companions, saying, ''''O you Muslims! Who will relieve me from that man who has hurt me with his evil statement about my family?''' By Allah, I know nothing except good about my family and they have blamed a man (i.e. Safwan) about whom I know nothing except good and he used never to enter my home except with me.
{{Quote|[https://daruliftaa.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/rules_of_iddat-1.pdf Dar-ul-Ifta]|The '''maintenance and providing of shelter for a woman observing the Iddat of Death are not the responsibility of her in-laws. She also does not have the right to take her maintenance out of the Estate of her deceased husband.'''}}
Thus Islam Critics point out that:


*A woman has no choice, but to compulsorily undergo the 'Iddah of period of 4 months and 10 days (or up to 9 months in case of pregnancy), but she has no right for maintenance money from the estate of her husband for this long period of time.
' Sa`d bin Mu`adh the brother of Banu `Abd Al-Ashhal got up and said, 'O Allah's Messenger ! I will relieve you from him; if he is from the tribe of Al-Aus, then I will chop his head off, and if he is from our brothers, i.e. Al-Khazraj, then order us, and we will fulfill your order.' On that, a man from Al-Khazraj got up. Um Hassan, his cousin, was from his branch tribe, and he was Sa`d bin Ubada, chief of Al-Khazraj. Before this incident, he was a pious man, but his love for his tribe goaded him into saying to Sa`d (bin Mu`adh). 'By Allah, you have told a lie; you shall not and cannot kill him. If he belonged to your people, you would not wish him to be killed.' On that, Usaid bin Hudair who was the cousin of Sa`d (bin Mu`adh) got up and said to Sa`d bin 'Ubada, 'By Allah! You are a liar! We will surely kill him, and you are a hypocrite arguing on the behalf of hypocrites.' On this, the two tribes of Al-Aus and Al Khazraj got so much excited that they were about to fight while Allah's Messenger was standing on the pulpit. Allah's Messenger kept on quietening them till they became silent and so did he.  
*This is a huge financial burden upon the women, who often don't even have any source of income in the Islamic countries.


===Second Restriction: She has to obligatorily stay only in the house of Husband during the ‘Iddah===
... ('Aisha further said) Allah's Messenger came, greeted us and sat down. '''He had never sat with me since that day of the slander.''' '''A month had elapsed and no Divine Inspiration came to him about my case.''' Allah's Apostle then recited Tashah-hud and then said, 'Amma Badu, O `Aisha! I have been informed so-and so about you; '''if you are innocent, then soon Allah will reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him for forgiveness for when a slave confesses his sins and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance.''''  ...
According to the Islamic Sharia'h, If the husband dies:


*then a woman has to stay ONLY in the house of her husband during this whole period of 'Iddah.
('Aisha further said)  Then I said to my mother, 'Reply to Allah's Messenger on my behalf concerning what he has said.' She said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's Messenger .' In spite of the fact that I was a young girl and had a little knowledge of Qur'an, I said, '''<nowiki/>'By Allah, no doubt I know that you heard this (slanderous) speech so that it has been planted in your hearts (i.e. minds) and you have taken it as a truth. Now if I tell you that I am innocent, you will not believe me, and if confess to you about it, and Allah knows that I am innocent, you will surely believe me.''' By Allah, I find no similitude for me and you except that of Joseph's father when he said, '(For me) patience in the most fitting against that which you assert; it is Allah (Alone) Whose Help can be sought.' '''Then I turned to the other side and lay on my bed;''' ...
*She is not allowed to spend this time of 'Iddah in any other place (like house of her parents or any other family members)<ref>Fatwas Website Islamqa.Org. [https://web.archive.org/web/20211028112250/https://islamqa.org/hanafi/askmufti/45291/laws-of-the-iddat/ Laws of Iddat].</ref><ref>[https://islamqa.info/en/answers/10670/what-a-recently-widowed-woman-is-not-allowed-to-do Islam Question Answer Fatwa Website]</ref>.


Islam critics object here that:
('Aisha further said after that immediately revelation started coming to Muhammad and he said to her) 'O `Aisha! Allah has declared your innocence!' Then my Mother said to me, 'Get up and go to him (i.e. Allah's Messenger ). I replied, '''<nowiki/>'By Allah, I will not go to him,''' and I praise none but Allah.}}


*What does that have to do with the ‘parentage’ of the child where she stays after the death of her husband?
Thus, Muhammad was extremely angry upon `Abdullah bin Ubai and the group of people who were hurting Muhammad's reputation, while slandering 'Aisha was also affecting the claim of Muhammad's prophethood too indirectly. Muhammad wanted to shut all those voices and he ordered to kill `Abdullah bin Ubai for that, but he failed as Muslims of `Abdullah's tribe defended him.  
*Why could she not spend the waiting period in the house of her parents, where she feels comfortable and where she is among the people who love her? This could help her immensely to come out of the sorrow of the death of her husband.
*And in the house of her husband, she could be all alone, and she has to live like she is in a 'solitary confinement' like situation, while she is not allowed to leave the house, and she could not come in contact with any man.
*Moreover, it could be a huge mental torture for many women to live for 4 long months (or upto 9 months in case of pregnancy) in the house where their husbands died.


===She has to stay in the husband’s house, even if it doesn’t belong to her husband, or even if he hasn’t left any maintenance money for the wife===
After one month, Muhammad claimed that divine revelation came to him, which condemned that group of people for not immediately believing the innocence of 'Aisha.
{{Quote|{{Abudawud||2293|hasan}}|Furay'ah said that she came to the Messenger of Allah and asked him whether she could return to her people, Banu Khidrah, for her husband went out seeking his slaves who ran away. When they met him at al-Qudum, they murdered him.
{{Quote|1=[https://quranx.com/24.12?context=4 Quran 24:12-16]|2=Why did the faithful men and women '''not think well of their people (i.e. 'Aisha and Safwan)''' when they heard this, and said: '''"This is a clear lie?"''' ... Why did you not say when you heard it: '''"It is not for us to speak of it? God preserve us, it is a great lie!"'''}}
Islam critics object here, and point out that there is a contradiction between this Quranic revelation and the behaviour of Muhammad during this incident.  


So I asked the Messenger of Allah: "Should I return to my people, '''for he did not leave any dwelling house of his own and maintenance for me'''?
They claim that Muhammad was extremely mad upon that group of people. Thus in order to teach them a lesson, he himself did this drama of revelation after one month. And in these verses, he himself put those conditions i.e.:


She said: The Messenger of Allah replied: Yes. She said: I came out, and when I was in the apartment or in the mosque, he called for me, or he commanded (someone to call me) and, therefore, I was called.
*immediately thinking good about 'Aisha and Safwan,
*and immediately denying it as an obvious falsehood
*and immediately considering it to be a great lie.


He said: what did you say? So I repeated my story which I had already mentioned about my husband.
But the problem occurred when later 'Aisha also told what was happening inside the house during this period, where:


'''Thereupon he said: Stay in your house till the term (of four months and 10 days) lapses.'''
*It was also Muhammad himself who neither immediately thought good about 'Aisha,
*nor Muhammad immediately denied it as an obvious falsehood,
*nor Muhammad completely rejected it immediately by saying it to be a big lie.


She said: So I passed my waiting period in it (her house) for four months and ten days. When Uthman ibn Affan became caliph, he sent for me and asked me about that; so I informed him, '''and he followed it and decided cases accordingly'''.}}
But contrary to this, according to 'Aisha<ref>Sahih Bukhari, Book of Military Expeditions. [https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4141]</ref>:


Thus Islam Critics raise the objections that:
*Muhammad himself started doubting 'Aisha.
*And Muhammad stopped showing KINDNESS towards 'Aisha, despite her being sick. Even if he came to 'Aisha, then only greeted her, and then left.
*Then Muhammad also started investigating about the character of 'Aisha from Ali and Zayd (the adopted son), and Barira (i.e. the maid-servant) inside the house.
*Then Muhammad also consulted them regarding giving "Divorce" to 'Aisha.
*Even after one month, Muhammad was still doubting 'Aisha and he asked 'Aisha if she had committed a sin, then she should confess it and then she should repent.
*'Aisha said, she was so much disappointed with this behaviour of Muhammad, that she refused to even talk to him.
*'Aisha said, she would not say anything to testify her innocence in front of Muhammad, while this slander has  been planted in the heart of Muhammad, and he will not believe in her testimony.
*'Aisha further said, but if she falsely confess that she indeed committed a sin, then Muhammad was immediately going to believe it.
*Then 'Aisha turned her face from Muhammad, and laid on the other side of bed.
*Then Muhammad claimed divine revelation came to him which proved her innocence, and 'Aisha's mother wanted her to accompany Muhammad, but 'Aisha denied to go with him.


*How is it a 'justice' with a woman that firstly she is compelled to live in that house, and secondly then also to pay for the rent?
Islam critics point out that outside the house, Muhammad was trying hard to keep the mouths shut of people in raising doubts in this incident, by even giving orders to kill 'Abdullah bin 'Ubai, but inside the house, he was himself doubting 'Aisha. But as a human being, he made a mistake and didn't anticipate that later his own behaviour would be disclosed by 'Aisha too.  
*Why is she compelled to bear the expenses of her daily needs at her own, while her family could have taken care of her easily if she would have stayed in the house of her parents/brothers/sisters.


===Third Restriction: She could not leave the house even for daily walks, or visit the relatives or attend any social gathering===
Thus it is enough to understand that this was not a divine revelation, but it was the human drama of Muhammad itself, while if this revelation was really divine, then Quran would have been threatening Muhammad before threatening that group of outside people for doubting 'Aisha and not immediately rejecting it completely as a big lie.  
{{Quote|[https://web.archive.org/web/20211014113704/https://islamqa.org/hanafi/askmufti/45453/visiting-relatives-in-iddat/ IslamQA Fatwa Website]|'''Question''': Is a woman allowed to visit family members like her parents or sisters if she is observing iddat and use the excuse that she will be with her family so she doesn’t  see the problem?</br>
'''Answer''': A woman who has been divorced is not allowed to leave the confines of her home during the iddat for whatever reason, '''be it to visit friends or relatives or to attend the funeral of even her parents'''.}}
She could also not go outside for daily walks, as they are not a necessity ([https://web.archive.org/web/20211014114224/https://www.islamweb.net/en/fatwa/349861/woman-in-iddah-may-go-out-for-need Fatwa 1], [https://web.archive.org/web/20211014114300/https://idealwoman.org/2021/can-a-woman-go-out-for-a-walk-during-iddat/ Fatwa 2]).  


Islam Critics object that:
== Quranic claim that Pure Men have only the pure Women ==
Islam critics point out that at the same time, in this same Surah Nur, Muhammad also further claimed the revelation of verses which say that pure men have only pure women. This should also serve as an argument that 'Aisha was innocent, while she was wed to a pure man i.e. Muhammad.
{{Quote|1=[https://quranx.com/24.3?context=24 Surah Nur 4:3 and 4:26]|2=The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator or a polytheist, and that has been made unlawful to the believers ۔۔۔


*Women are also human beings. They thus also need to entertain themselves by going out in the parks, and daily walks, and shopping, and eating in restaurants, attending the parties, sleeping at her parents house, visiting her relatives etc.
Women impure are for men impure, and men impure for women impure and women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity: these are not affected by what people say: for them there is forgiveness, and a provision honourable.}}
*All these restrictions are non-Natural and against the human nature.
But Islam critics claim that this Quranic argument is against the human rationale and the history:
*And putting these restrictions 'unilaterally' only upon the women does not constitute to 'doing Justice with the women'.
*These restrictions are draconian, and practically putting a woman in a 'solitary confinement' like situation.


===Fourth Restriction: She could not even use collyrium/kohl in eyes despite eye disease, while it beautifies her===
* Quran itself gave the example of wife of Lut, who was not pure, while Lut himself was a pure man.
Although a woman is allowed to take medical care during ‘Iddah, still she should not use collyrium/kohl as a cure even against any eye disease, while it beautifies her.  
* And Quran also gave the example of wife of Pharaoh. She was a pure woman, while Pharaoh was not.
* Same is about the wife of Noah, who was not pure.
* And thousands of Muslim men commit fornication with the western girls and become impure (according to Islam). Later these Muslim men get the citizenship and they divorce their western partners, and go to their Islamic lands and marry the so-called pure Muslim girls, who didn't indulge in fornication before.  


{{Quote|{{Bukhari||68|81|in-book}}|Um Salama said that a woman came to Allah's Messenger and said, "O Allah's Messenger ! The husband of my daughter has died and she is suffering from an eye disease. Can she apply  collyrium/kohl to her eye?" Allah's Messenger replied, "No," twice or thrice. (Every time she repeated her question) he said, "No."}}
Thus according to the Islam critics, human rationale and history, both are denying this Quranic argument that pure men have only pure women. This proves only this that the revelation was Muhammad'd own human drama, and thus it was Muhammad who was making this human mistake.  


===Fifth Restriction: Women are not allowed to use good clothes, jewelry, perfume, Henna and to comb the hairs or to oil them===
== Quranic order of 4 eye-witnesses in case of fornication ==
Women in 'Iddah are not allowed to wear good clothes, or jewelry, or use perfume or Henna. Even combing hairs and applying the oil to them is also forbidden<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20211028112250/https://islamqa.org/hanafi/askmufti/45291/laws-of-the-iddat/ IslamQA Fatwa Website]</ref>. And even washing the face with aloe is also forbidden.
Muhammad also claimed the revelation of verse 24 of Surah Nur at the same time of incident of Ifk, which not only stipulated the number of witnesses to be 4 in case of fornication/adultery, but it also stipulated if there numbers were less than 4, then all those witnesses should be lashed 80 times, even if they were telling the truth.  
{{Quote|[https://sunnah.com/mishkat:3333 Mishkat al-Masabih 3333]|Umm Salama said: God’s Messenger came to visit me when Abu Salama died, and I had put the juice of aloes on myself. He asked me what it was, and I told him it was only the juice of aloes and contained no perfume, so he said, “It gives the face a glow, so apply it only at night and remove it in the daytime, and do not comb yourself with scent or henna, for it is a dye.” I asked God’s Messenger what I should use when combing myself, and he told me to use lote-tree leaves and smear my head copiously with them. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani declared this Hadith to be FAIR (حسن) (link).}}Islam critics question here the Islamic logic, that:
{{Quote|[https://quranx.com/24.4 Surah Nur 24:2]|And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after.}}
Islam critics also point out that firstly Muhammad tried to kill 'Abdullah Ibn Ubai. But he was an influential person and Muhammad failed to incite the Muslims from his tribe to kill him.


*A woman is not coming in any kind of contact with any man during the 'iddah, as she is not allowed to let any non-Mahram man to enter her house, and she is herself not allowed to leave the house.
Then there were 3 other people who also testified against 'Aisha. They were:
*So, what is wrong if she wear good clothes, and jewelry, and use perfume, and use henna and comb her hairs with oil, and wash her face with aloe in the house, where she is alone, or at maximum with other women?
*At maximum, the usage of perfume could be restricted in case if she had to leave the house in urgent situation.


===Sixth Restriction: She should give up her Natural needs of getting any emotional support and attention and love from any other partner during the ‘Iddah===
# Hassan bin Thabit
Islam critics point out that:
# Mistah
# Hamna bint Jahsh


*Need of sex is not only limited to men, but it is a natural need of woman too. But Islam does not recognise this right and natural need of a woman, and it has limited it to the man only. Thus, a woman is not allowed to have sex with any partner for this long period of time of ‘Iddah.
These 3 Sahaba (companions) were not influential like 'Abdullah bin Ubai. Thus after the revelation of verse 24:4, those 3 got the punishment of 80 lashes each.  
*But sex is not the only problem, while divorce or death of husband also comes with extreme emotional stress for the woman. This is exactly the time when some of them may need emotional support and attention from a caring partner the most, who could talk with them and give them love and attention, so that they feel themselves “secure” in the partner's arms.
*On the other hand, Muslim men are allowed to have sex with other wives and dozens of slave-girls the same night. There is absolutely no restrictions upon them to even control themselves for even for a single day.


===Seventh Restriction: She could not secure herself and her children financially through relationship with any other partner in the ‘Iddah===
Islam critics point out that human logic would always guide you that:
Islam critics object here that the Hadith of Furay'ah (which has already been mentioned above) proves that a woman has to stay in the waiting period in the house of her deceased husband, even though he left no maintenance money for her.


*And women in Islamic society are poorly educated.
* This Islamic Ruling is totally against human rationale to lash the witnesses even if they are telling the truth only due to the reason that 4 eye-witnesses were not present at the time of incident of fornication/adultery.
*And Islamic society also does not provide women with job opportunities too, but she has to face so many hurdles in doing a job outside.
* This proves that Muhammad was extremely angry and upset, and there was not divine revelation, but it was a human drama by Muhammad, where he was fabricating those verses himself in order to fulfil his purposes.  
*Thus, the best bet for such a divorced/widow Muslim woman (even if she is pregnant) is to get another partner and get herself and her children financially secured in this way.
* The number of those witnesses was 3. But if their number were 4, then Muhammad would have still punished them by putting the condition of 5 witnesses. And if the number of witnessed were 5, then still Muhammad would have still punished them by putting the condition of 6 witnesses.  
*But Islam has also completely blocked this opportunity for the woman too. Neither other men are allowed to see her, nor to meet her and decide if they could come into the relationship, nor they could make any proposal to them.
*She is all alone during the ‘Iddah period to financially secure herself and her children.<br />


===Islam Advocates: Strict 'restrictions' are placed upon the divorced woman during the 'Iddah due to the danger of her indulging in a SIN===
But Islam critics don't agree with this excuse, while:


*If normal Muslim women (or even the virgin Muslim girls) are allowed to go outside to entertain themselves in the Parks, and for picnic, and attend the social gatherings, and visit their relatives, and sleep in their parent's home, and attend the funerals of their parents and they don't indulge into sin, why then a widow or a divorced woman will indulge in the sin for doing these same things?
*And if normal Muslim women (or even the virgin Muslim girls) are allowed to use the Kohl in their eyes, and parfum, and comb their hairs, and use the jewelry, and to wear good clothes, and use henna, or to wash their faces with Aloe, and still they don't indulge into sin, why then a divorced woman or a widow will indulge in the sin for doing the same thing?


===Did Muhammad copy this practice of ‘Iddah from the pre-Islamic period of Ignorance?===
Islam critics claim that:


*Muhammad copied this ‘Iddah from the culture of people of Pre-Islam period of ignorance.
*And when Muslim women protested upon it, then Muhammad told the women to happily accept all these Islamic restriction of waiting period without questioning them, as they last only for 4 months and 10 days, and while they had to stay in 'Iddah for complete one year in the pre-Islamic days.


And as a proof, Islam critics quote the following hadith:


{{Quote|{{Bukhari|||5336|darussalam}}|Um Salama said that a woman came to Allah's Messenger and said, "O Allah's Messenger ! The husband of my daughter has died and she is suffering from an eye disease. Can she apply  collyrium/kohl to her eye?" Allah's Messenger replied, "No," twice or thrice. (Every time she repeated her question) he said,''' "No." Then Allah's Messenger added, "It is just a matter of four months and ten days. In the Pre-Islamic Period of ignorance a widow among you should throw a globe of dung when one year has elapsed (i.e. she had to stay in ‘Iddah for the whole one year)." '''}}Islam critics object that this reason (which was given by Muhammad in the above mentioned hadith) is illogical. An oppression does not become legal while it is on smaller scale than the previous larger scale oppression.


==Reason for 'iddah of a widow==
Islam advocates claim that reason for the 4 month and 10 days long 'iddah of a widow is to ''''mourn'''<nowiki/>' the death of the husband<ref>Reason for 4 months 10 days long Iddah of a widow [https://www.islamweb.net/en/fatwa/88684/rights-of-a-deceased-husband-on-his-wife]</ref>.


While Islam critics object upon it while:


*There is no obligation of any “mourning” upon a man if the wife dies. This makes it a double standard situation against the women.
*Husband is totally free to marry a new wife the same night.
*And he is also totally free to have sex with his other wives and dozens of slave girls the same night, and there is no restriction upon him in name of ‘mourning’.
*Only the woman is compelled to ‘mourn’ the death of her husband.
*Only she is deprived of her natural needs of having love with any partner in the name of ‘mourning’, and only she has to undergo the strickt restrictions of 'Iddah.


Moreover, Islamic critics also criticise Islamic Sharia, while it says that a widow has also to observe 'Iddah, even if <ref>Widow has to observe 'Iddah even if she never saw the husband after the marriage, or even if she is a small child. [https://www.islamweb.net/en/fatwa/145179/the-waiting-period-of-an-old-woman-after-the-death-of-her-husband]</ref>:


*She has never seen his husband after the marriage.
*Or even if the marriage has not been consummated.
*Or even if she is a minor child.
*Islam critics thus question why should she mourn if she no emotional connection and love for him in her heart?
*What if the husband was abusive and he tortured her when he was alive, and thus she HATED him? This is  cruel to still compel a woman for such a long obligatorily waiting period, with so many restrictions.


Therefore, Islam critics point out that Islam could have left it upon the woman:


*That she could decide for herself if she loved her deceased husband or not.
*That she decides herself to mourn his death or not.
*That she decides how long she wants to mourn, and when she is ready for the new relationship.
*That she decides if living in her deceased husband’s house is causing her unnecessary mental stress or not.
*That she decides for herself if she needs the help and love of her parents and family or not by staying with them.
*Woman is not a “'''Brainless Creature'''”, who is unable to even decide for the matters which are only related to her and her personal life?


==Reason for the 'Iddah of a pregnant woman==
== References ==
According to the Quran, the waiting period of a pregnant woman is till the birth of a child ([https://quranx.com/65.4 Quran 65:4]).
<references />
 
And then Muhammad further told the '''Scientific LOGIC''' behind this Quranic order:
{{Quote|{{Abudawud||2158|darussalam}}|The Messenger of Allah said: It is not lawful for a man who believes in Allah and the last day '''to water what another has sown with his water (meaning intercourse with a woman who is pregnant from her previous husband).'''}}
Islam critics objects that this is a scientific mistake, while:
 
*Science is very clear if woman has already become pregnant, then other man could do as much sex as possible, but his sperms are not going to have any effects upon the fetus (i.e. he is not going to water the fetus from previous man). No DNA changes are going to take place in the fetus due to the sex. These were the concepts of times of ignorance, and Muhammad took this concept from them.
 
Moreover, Islam critics also points out that once again the pregnant woman has to bear the consequences of this practice unilaterally.
 
*The pregnant woman is alone after the death of her husband, and she is financially very weak.
*What if the deceased husband left no money for her and the baby?
*And it is impossible for her to go to the work outside while carrying the baby in her belly.
*A woman is in a state of extreme emotion during the pregnancy. This is exactly the time when she needs emotional support the most from a partner, who could take care of her, or of her father/mother/family, but she is compelled to stay at the husband's house.
*She is compelled to face all these difficulties 'alone' till the birth of the baby.
 
Moreover, Islam critics also point out that in principle:
 
*A pregnant woman should not go for ‘Iddah of even a single day, while the parentage of the child is already known due to her pregnancy.
*If husband could divorce such a pregnant woman and then start having sex with dozens of other slave girls and wives, why then should the pregnant woman be deprived of the emotional support and love and attention and care of the new partner, in a hard time when she needs these things the most?
 
==Reasons for the 'Iddah in case of divorce==
Islam critics point out that:
 
*The whole process of Divorce + ‘Iddah lasts for 6 menstrual cycles for a divorced woman.
*If Muslim husband decides to give her a divorce, then woman is still compelled to stay for the next 3 menstrual cycles with him in his house<ref>Woman has to stay for 3 menstrual cycles at home of husband during the process of [https://abukhadeejah.com/divorce-talaq-iddah-remarriage-khula/ Talaq] </ref>.
*During these 3 months, wife is not allowed to come in contact with any man. And her husband also does not touch her. She is again in a 'solitary confinement' like situation in the house of her husband.
*But the husband is free to have sex with other wives and slave girls during all this time.
*And after the divorce, she again has to undergo a waiting period of 3 more menstrual cycles<ref>'Iddah of 3 menstrual cycles after the divorce.[https://www.islamic-sharia.org/downloads/talaq/]</ref>.  But why?  There is no issue of parentage of the child either, while her husband didn’t touch her for the last 3 menstrual cycles. And there is no option of reunion of both of them after the divorce, till the time she undergoes the Quranic Halala. So, why is the woman then still forced to undergo solitary confinement like situation for the next 3 more months in the name of ‘Iddah?
 
===Islam Advocates: She has to observe 'Iddah while she was 'alone' with a man under one roof===
Islam advocates say, even if the husband has not touched her for the last 3 menstrual cycles, still she has to observe restrictions of 'Iddah of 3 more months, while<ref>Privacy under one roof causes women to observe 'Iddah of 3 months. [https://daruliftaa.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/rules_of_iddat-1.pdf]</ref>:
 
*She was ‘alone’ with her previous husband under one roof in privacy during the process of 3 Talaqs.
*And the WITNESSES of man and woman are not accepted in Islam that they didn’t have sex during this period.
*Therefore, restrictions of 'Iddah of 3 more menstrual cycles will safeguard the parentage of the child in case she became pregnant from the previous husband.
 
But the Islam critics object and point out that:
 
*If the witness of ONLY man is accepted in the process of Talaq (i.e. he didn’t touch her for the last 3 menstrual cycles), and he gets her divorced on the bases of his single witness, why then the witnesses of BOTH the Man and Woman are rejected when they testify that they didn’t have the sex for the last 3 menstrual cycles, and thus she is not pregnant, and thus she does not need any further ‘Iddah in name of parentage of the child?
*As compared to the rejection of witnesses of these 2 Free Adult Muslim Man and Woman, Islam allows the man to start having sex with the slave woman of another person, on the bases of ''''singular testimony'''<nowiki/>' of the slave-girl alone, that she is not pregnant, and her owner made her Halal for him to use her as a sex object.
{{Quote|[https://web.archive.org/web/20201101155533/http://www.shiapen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/fatwa_alamgiri_v3_p268.jpg Fatawa Alamgiri, vol 3, page 268, Urdu edition]|A Singular Report is enough in the religious issues. Therefore, if a slave woman comes to any person and tells him that her master has gifted her to him, then that person could trust the testimony of that slave-girl and have sex with her.}}
 
*And lastly, even one menstrual cycle is enough to know if she is pregnant or not (just like the prisoner/slave woman). Why then she still has to undergo the 3 menstrual cycles long waiting period? This again makes no sense.
*And why should she not use perfume and make-up and make herself attractive to other men, as there is no option of returning to previous husband without the Halala?
 
Moreover:
 
*A wife who hasn't seen her husband for years, should also undergo the sufferings of 'Iddah in case of divorce. But why? There are no chances of her being pregnant.
*A minor girl (who has not started to menstruate), why then does she also have to undergo the waiting period of 3 months in case of divorce, as she couldn't even get pregnant?
*Similarly, an old woman could also not get pregnant, why then does also have to undergo the solitary confinement like restrictions of ‘Iddah in case of divorce?
 
===Islam Advocates: 'Iddah is necessary while a women is emotionally disturbed after the divorce===
An Islam advocate wrote:
{{Quote|1=[https://www.reddit.com/r/DebateReligion/comments/q8lp7y/comment/hgr5oij/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 Reddit]|2="The last thing on a woman's mind after she has got divorced is intimacy. She is mentally disturbed and needs time to come out of this shock"}}
While Islam critics point out that:
 
*The answer is simple, i.e. to let the women decide for themselves. If they don't have wish, then no one should force them into any relationship. And what to talk about 3 menstrual cycles of 'Iddah, they could stay out of any new relationship for an year or longer as they wish.
*But if they wish otherwise, and decide to enter into a new relationship just after the divorce (or even in case of becoming a widow), then no one should stop them. There could be many women for whom divorce is not a mental shock, but divorce is a form of  freedom for them and it is a ''''mental relief'''<nowiki/>' for them to come out of an abusive relationship.
*Why then religion want to forcefully imposes itself upon the masses, killing the wishes and the right of self-determination of millions of women.
*It would become double standards if the religion considers that men are not mentally disturbed from Talaq, and thus have the right to decide for themselves to have sex with multiple other slave women or wives the same night, or to take marry another wife same night, but only women are unable to decide for themselves.
 
Moreover:
 
*Islam itself allowed the pregnant woman to deliver a child after divorce or becoming a widow (be it only few hours), and then immediately wed to another man. This proves that Islam itself doesn't consider that all women are necessarily mentally stressed, or emotionally attached with the previous husbands despite the divorce.
*Muhammad himself married Saffiyah the same night, when in the day her husband was killed, and Muhammad didn't care if she was mentally stressed or emotionally attached with her previous husband.  
 
==Islam Critics: The process of Divorce in Islam is again UNJUST towards the women==
Islam advocates claim that a woman has to stay in the house of husband for 3 menstrual cycles during the process of divorce, while this could provide them with the chance to reconcile<ref>Staying in husband's home during the process of divorce.[https://abukhadeejah.com/divorce-talaq-iddah-remarriage-khula/]</ref>.
 
But Islam critics object to this process of divorce, and ask:
 
*But what if the husband is an abusive evil person? What if he tortures her all this period without any reason? What if he beats her so wildly that she gets bruises all over her body? Why they still she has to still stay with such an abusive husband for 3 months?  (Please read the [[Khul']] article, that woman could not get her freedom through Khul', even if the husband is abusive and tortures her. Only if he breaks any part of her body, in that case she could get her freedom through the court)
*Only the woman is forced to sacrifice in the name of so-called “reconcilement” in this Islamic Talaq process, while  husband has to bring no sacrifice. He is free to have sex with all other wives and slave girls during this whole period of 3 months.
 
Moreover:
 
*Is there any guarantee that this dispute between husband and wife is going to resolve in 3 months time of Talaq process?
*Is it not possible that it may take more than 3 months that both of them come back in their senses and end the dispute after this period? For example, a man comes back to his senses after 1 years, and realises that it was a mistake to divorce his wife and she was totally innocent.  Then what are the options available there to undo this mistake?  The answer is, there are NO more options available, while she could not return to him without undergoing the process of Halala, which is considered as a shameful process. So, what then is the 'Divine Wisdom' in this ruling, which limits this reconcilationary period to only 3 menstrual cycles?
 
Moreover:
 
*Islam compels the woman to stay in the house of husband during the process of Talaq. While it has been seen that in cases of disputes, it could also be helpful that both parties take a break from each other and live separately for some period of time.
*This provides both parties with chance to ponder upon, and to learn from their mistakes in a better way and they realise their mistakes in a better way.
*When wife has to face the difficulties in living in house of her parents or brothers/sisters, then she realises quickly the importance of house of her husband. And when husband has to do all the work in the house alone, and has to take care of the children alone too, then he also realises his mistake quickly.
*But Islam closed this option for them by ordering the woman for not leaving the husband's house even in case of serious disputes.
 
===Islam Critics: Pronouncing 3 Divorces in one sitting is also illogical and an Injustice towards the woman===
Islam advocates say that Islam also allows pronouncing 3 divorces in one sitting, which will spare the woman of 3 months restrictions of divorce process. But Islam critics again object upon it and point out that:
 
*Only may is allowed to give Talaq in this way.  Why these double standards?  Is woman a 'brainless emotional creature', who could not take decisions about her own life.
*And this divorce becomes valid even if the wife was totally innocent, and he only pronounced 3 divorces in '''ANGER'''. This proves that blaming only women for being emotionally unstable is not correct, but men could also become totally emotionally unstable, especially in the state of Anger and they are capable of doing every kind of stupid things, including killing others.
*What type of '''Divine Wisdom''' is this, then to give right to such emotionally unstable men in anger to divorce their wives in 3 seconds, by saying 3 times Talaq Talaq Talaq?
*The consequences of such 3 times Talaq in anger has to be bear by the poor innocent wife, where her whole family is destroyed and she may loose her children too.
*And despite being totally innocent, again only she is forced to undergo the shameful process of Halala too, if she wishes to reunite with here family (i.e. husband and the children).
*Is it really that giving rights with Justice to the woman by Islam?
 
==Islam Critics: Blackmailing the women in name of ‘reconcilement & settlement’ in the Divorce Process==
Islam critics claim while only the woman suffers during the long process of Islamic Talaq, thus it works as a weapon in hands of  an abusive husband, to blackmail her unjustly, and to usurp her rights by compelling her to give up her rights.
{{Quote|1=[https://quranx.com/4.128?context=3 Quran 4:128-129]|2=And if a woman fears from her husband contempt or evasion, there is no sin upon them if they make terms of '''settlement''' between them (i.e. woman agrees upon leaving some of her rights) … And you will never be able to do '''Justice (Arabic: تَعْدِلُوْا)''' between wives, even if you should strive [to do so].}}
 
Islam critics point out that here occurs a contradiction in Islamic Sharia, while earlier at time of allowing 4 wives, the writer of Quran stipulated the condition of "Justice (Adl عدل)":
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|3}}|If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal '''JUSTLY (Arabic: تَعْدِلُوا۟)''' with them, then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.}}
 
But later the writer of Quran allowed the husband to blackmail the wife by threatening her with divorce, and showing contempt and evasion and thus compelling her to give away her rights in the name of settlement. Thus, the condition of Justice was abrogated for the so-called settlement which is always going in favor of the husband while he controls the right of giving divorce.
 
Muhammad himself threatened his wife Sawdah with Talaq (while she was older in age as compared to the other wives of Muhammad). Thus, Sawadah started weeping and she came to ‘Aisha’s house and told Muhammad that she was ready to give her TURN To ‘Aisaha, but Muhammad should not make her homeless by divorcing her in that old age. Sawdah served Muhammad the longest, and in the most difficult times, and she did nothing wrong. Still she had to suffer, and to give up her right in name of so-called 'settlement'.
 
==Islam Advocates: Some women have Implantation Bleeding despite being pregnant==
Islam advocates that Islamic 'Iddah of 3 menstrual cycles is correct, while some women have implantation bleeding despite being pregnant, and it is difficult for a woman to differentiate between he periods and the [https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-spotting-last#implantation-spotting implantation bleeding]. 
 
While Islam critics say that:
 
*Laws and rules are made on the bases of "Generality", and not on the bases of "Exceptions".
*Islam itself does not accepts this "exceptional" incidents for making the "general laws".
*Therefore, Islam itself made a law that the 'Iddah of a prisoner/slave woman is only one menstrual cycle.
 
Islam advocates reply it by saying that the ''''status'''<nowiki/>' of a slave woman is not equal to the the status of a free woman, and thus Islam is correct to extend the 'Iddah of free woman to 3 months in case of divorce.
 
But Islam critics point out that:
 
*This issue is not about the '<nowiki/>'''status'''<nowiki/>' of a slave woman or a free woman, but the issue is about the ''''parentage'''<nowiki/>' of the child, which stays the same in both the cases.
*And even the 'Iddah of free Muslim woman in Islam in case of Khul' is only one period<ref>[https://islamqa.info/en/answers/5163/does-iddah-apply-in-the-case-of-khula 'Iddah in Khul' is one menstrual period]</ref>.
*And Muhammad himself slept with Saffiyyah the same night when her first menstrual blood stopped. Note that Saffiyyah was not a slave, but a free woman when Muhammad took her as a wife.
{{Quote|{{Muslim|16|99}}|He (the Holy Prophet) then granted Saffiyyah emancipation and married her. Thabit said to him: Abu Hamza, how much dower did he (the Holy Prophet) give to her? He said: He granted her freedom and then married her. On the way Umm Sulaim embellished her and then sent her to him (the Holy Prophet) at night.}}{{Quote|{{Bukhari|||2893|darussalam}}|Narrated Anas bin Malik: We arrived at Khaibar, and when Allah helped His Apostle to open the fort, the beauty of Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtaq whose husband had been killed while she was a bride, was mentioned to Allah's Apostle. The Prophet selected her for himself, and set out with her, and when we reached a place called Sidd-as-Sahba,' '''Safiya became clean from her (first) menses then Allah's Apostle took her into his bed.'''}}
 
Thus Islam critics claim that:
 
*There is no Hadith of Muhammad present, in which he ever mentioned 'Iddah of 3 periods due to any Implantation bleeding.
*Muhammad adopted the practice of 'Iddah, while it was the tradition of that era, and Muhammad was a part of that society.
*But in the modern era, when science discovered these facts, then Muslims now try to present these scientific discoveries as miracles of Islam.
*But Muslims will fail, as contradictions in Islam will then occur (like Muslims having sex with prisoner/slave women and  while Muhammad had himself sex with Saffiyyah after only the first menstrual cycle.
*And what about a minor girl wife (who does not menstruate yet), or an old lady (who could not bear any children), or a woman who hasn't seen her husband for years? Muhammad ordered them too to observe the 'Iddah of 3 periods (or 3 months) too. But why? Certainly not due to the implantation bleeding in them, but while it was a tradition of that era.
 
==Islam Critics:Why no 'Iddah in name of 'mourning' for the Prisoner/Slave women?==
Islam critics point out that:
 
*Muslim are allowed to drive sexual pleasures from the prisoner virgin girls with ‘penetration’ the same night, without giving them any time to mourn their dead family members.
*And as far as the prisoner women are concerned, who already have husbands, then penetration in their vaginas is not allowed. But still Muslims are allowed to undress them and to take all kind of sexual pleasures with their naked bodies except for penetration.
{{Quote|1=[http://web.archive.org/save/http://library.islamweb.net/newlibrary/display_book.php?idfrom=4080&idto=4081&bk_no=52&ID=1404&idfrom=4523&idto=5022&bookid=18&startno=425 Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqallani, in his book Fath-ul-Bari]|2=وقال عطاء لا بأس أن يصيب من جاريته الحامل ما دون الفرج
 
Translation:
 
Atta said: ‘There is no harm to drive sexual pleasure from the body of the pregnant slave/(or prisoner) woman except from vagina’}}
According to Islamic Scholars, the Fiqh (Jurisprudence) of Imam Bukhari lies in the “Headings of Chapters” of his Book. And Imam Bukhari gave this heading in his book Sahih Bukhari<ref>[https://islamweb.net/ar/library/index.php?page=bookcontents&ID=4081&bk_no=52&flag=1 Sahih Bukhari]</ref>:<blockquote>''Chapter: If one buys a slave woman, can he then take her along with him in a journey without her completing her waiting period?''</blockquote>Under this heading, Imam Bukhari writes:
{{Quote|1=[https://islamweb.net/ar/library/index.php?page=bookcontents&ID=4081&bk_no=52&flag=1 Sahih Bukhari]|2=ولم ير الحسن بأسا أن يقبلها أو يباشرها. وقال ابن عمر ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ إذا وهبت الوليدة التي توطأ أو بيعت أو عتقت فليستبرأ رحمها بحيضة، ولا تستبرأ العذراء. وقال عطاء لا بأس أن يصيب من جاريته الحامل ما دون الفرج.
 
Translation:
 
Hasan Basri finds nothing objectionable in kissing a woman or to having sex with her. And Ibn Umar said that such a slave woman who is given as a present, or who is sold, or who is made free, but sex had been done with her before that, then she had to undergo a waiting period. '''And Atta said if a slave woman had become pregnant (from the earlier owner/husband), then still pleasure could be derived from the whole of her body, except for her vagina.'''}}
In order to understand the trauma of those captive women due to the killing of their relatives, please see the following tradition.
{{Quote|1=[https://books.google.de/books?id=4A-4ZC4l0dMC&pg=PA122&lpg=PA122&dq=she+commanded+that+Safiyyah+should+be+kept+behind+him+and+that+the+Messenger+of+God+had+chosen+her+for+himself&source=bl&ots=pHDBKo-6Bv&sig=W8sWDq8ZJ4nLwFZpsA1obfYZJ48&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwizjuC41L7bAhVHXRQKHSEhD7EQ6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q=she%20commanded%20that%20Safiyyah%20should%20be%20kept%20behind%20him%20and%20that%20the%20Messenger%20of%20God%20had%20chosen%20her%20for%20himself&f=false History of Tabari, Volume 8, Page 112]|2=Ibn Ishaq said: After the Messenger of God conquered al-Qamus, Safiyyah bint Huyayy was brought to him, and another woman with her. Bilal (a companion), who was the one who brought them, led them past some of the slain Jews. When the woman who was with Safiyyah saw them, she cried out, struck her face, and poured dust on her head. When the Messenger of God saw her, he said, "Take this she-devil away from me!" ... The Messenger of God said to Bilal, when he saw the Jewish woman doing what he saw her do, "Are you devoid of mercy, Bilal, that you take two women past their slain men?"}}
Islam critics thus question the double standards here:
 
* On one side, Islam advocates claim that Muslim women is not allowed to be wed during 3 periods/months long 'Iddah while she is mentally under stress after the divorce. 
* But on the other side, they deny any such mental stress for the prisoner women and girls, and what to talk about divorce, but even after killing all the men of their family, Muslim men use them as sex object the same night. They are provided with no time to come out of their mental stress. 
 
Contrary to Islam, the Judaims and the Christianity allowed the prisoner women to mourn their relatives for one complete month, during which men were not allowed  to take any other sexual services from them. 
 
{{Quote|1=[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2021&version=NIV Bible, Deuteronomy, Chap 21]|2='''Marrying a Captive Woman'''
 
(10) When you go to war against your enemies and the Lord your God delivers them into your hands and you take captives,
 
(11) if you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife.
 
(12) Bring her into your home and have her shave her head, trim her nails
 
(13) and put aside the clothes she was wearing when captured. '''After she has lived in your house and mourned her father and mother for a full month''', then you may go to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife.
 
(14) If you are not pleased with her, let her go wherever she wishes. You must not sell her or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her.}}
 
Islam critics point out that Muhammad rejected the Sharia of Moses in this case, and he followed the laws of the pagan Arab society of that time, as it benefitted him and the Muslims financially and they were free to seek sexual pleasures through the prisoner women the same night.
 
==References==
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 23:26, 3 December 2021

Muhammad's behaviour during the incident of IFK

In the incident of Ifk, an accusation of adultery was levied against ‘Aisha. During an expedition, the Muslim caravan accidentally departed without ‘Aisha. She remained at the camp, when Safwan ibn al-Mu‘attal found her. They stayed there at night, and the next day, he brought 'Aisha back to Muhammad. Rumours that Aisha and Safwan had committed adultery were spread.

Muhammad became extremely angry upon the people who were slandering 'Aisha, as it was not only hurting Muhammad personally, but it was also indirectly hurting the Muhammad's claim of prophethood too.

After one month, Quranic verses 24:12-16 of Surah Nur were revealed, which condemned that group of people who doubted the innocence of 'Aisha, and asked them why they didn't immediately thought good of 'Aisha and denied it completely as a falsehood and a lie.

But Islam critics point out a contradiction here, while later 'Aisha also revealed the inside story at home, where Muhammad was himself doubting 'Aisha right from the beginning till even after one month.

Thus Islam critics claim that these verses were human drama of revelation by Muhammad at his own, where he wanted to shut the outside voices against his household. But at the same time, Muhammad made a human mistake and forgot that he himself doubted 'Aisha and even thought of divorcing her.

Contradiction between Quranic revelation and Muhammad's behaviour

'Aisha narrated the incident of Ifk as following:

Narrated `Aisha:

(Because of the event) some people brought destruction upon themselves and the one who spread the Ifk (i.e. slander) more, was `Abdullah bin Ubai Ibn Salul." (Urwa said, "The people propagated the slander and talked about it in his (i.e. `Abdullah's) presence and he confirmed it and listened to it and asked about it to let it prevail." `Urwa also added, "None was mentioned as members of the slanderous group besides (`Abdullah) except Hassan bin Thabit and Mistah bin Uthatha and Hamna bint Jahsh along with others about whom I have no knowledge,...

`Aisha added, "After we returned to Medina, I became ill for a month. The people were propagating the forged statements of the slanderers while I was unaware of anything of all that, but I felt that in my present ailment, I was not receiving the same kindness from Allah's Messenger as I used to receive when I got sick. (But now) Allah's Messenger would only come, greet me and say,' How is that (lady)?' and leave. ...

('Aisha further said) When the Divine Inspiration was delayed, Allah's Messenger called `Ali bin Abi Talib and Usama bin Zaid to ask and consult them about divorcing me ...

(Muhammad also asked Barira, the maid-servant) and Barira said to him, 'By Him Who has sent you with the Truth. I have never seen anything in her (i.e. Aisha) which I would conceal, except that she is a young girl who sleeps leaving the dough of her family exposed so that the domestic goats come and eat it.' So, on that day, Allah's Messenger got up on the pulpit and complained about `Abdullah bin Ubai (bin Salul) before his companions, saying, 'O you Muslims! Who will relieve me from that man who has hurt me with his evil statement about my family? By Allah, I know nothing except good about my family and they have blamed a man (i.e. Safwan) about whom I know nothing except good and he used never to enter my home except with me.

' Sa`d bin Mu`adh the brother of Banu `Abd Al-Ashhal got up and said, 'O Allah's Messenger ! I will relieve you from him; if he is from the tribe of Al-Aus, then I will chop his head off, and if he is from our brothers, i.e. Al-Khazraj, then order us, and we will fulfill your order.' On that, a man from Al-Khazraj got up. Um Hassan, his cousin, was from his branch tribe, and he was Sa`d bin Ubada, chief of Al-Khazraj. Before this incident, he was a pious man, but his love for his tribe goaded him into saying to Sa`d (bin Mu`adh). 'By Allah, you have told a lie; you shall not and cannot kill him. If he belonged to your people, you would not wish him to be killed.' On that, Usaid bin Hudair who was the cousin of Sa`d (bin Mu`adh) got up and said to Sa`d bin 'Ubada, 'By Allah! You are a liar! We will surely kill him, and you are a hypocrite arguing on the behalf of hypocrites.' On this, the two tribes of Al-Aus and Al Khazraj got so much excited that they were about to fight while Allah's Messenger was standing on the pulpit. Allah's Messenger kept on quietening them till they became silent and so did he.

... ('Aisha further said) Allah's Messenger came, greeted us and sat down. He had never sat with me since that day of the slander. A month had elapsed and no Divine Inspiration came to him about my case. Allah's Apostle then recited Tashah-hud and then said, 'Amma Badu, O `Aisha! I have been informed so-and so about you; if you are innocent, then soon Allah will reveal your innocence, and if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him for forgiveness for when a slave confesses his sins and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance.' ...

('Aisha further said) Then I said to my mother, 'Reply to Allah's Messenger on my behalf concerning what he has said.' She said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to Allah's Messenger .' In spite of the fact that I was a young girl and had a little knowledge of Qur'an, I said, 'By Allah, no doubt I know that you heard this (slanderous) speech so that it has been planted in your hearts (i.e. minds) and you have taken it as a truth. Now if I tell you that I am innocent, you will not believe me, and if confess to you about it, and Allah knows that I am innocent, you will surely believe me. By Allah, I find no similitude for me and you except that of Joseph's father when he said, '(For me) patience in the most fitting against that which you assert; it is Allah (Alone) Whose Help can be sought.' Then I turned to the other side and lay on my bed; ...

('Aisha further said after that immediately revelation started coming to Muhammad and he said to her) 'O `Aisha! Allah has declared your innocence!' Then my Mother said to me, 'Get up and go to him (i.e. Allah's Messenger ). I replied, 'By Allah, I will not go to him, and I praise none but Allah.

Thus, Muhammad was extremely angry upon `Abdullah bin Ubai and the group of people who were hurting Muhammad's reputation, while slandering 'Aisha was also affecting the claim of Muhammad's prophethood too indirectly. Muhammad wanted to shut all those voices and he ordered to kill `Abdullah bin Ubai for that, but he failed as Muslims of `Abdullah's tribe defended him.

After one month, Muhammad claimed that divine revelation came to him, which condemned that group of people for not immediately believing the innocence of 'Aisha.

Why did the faithful men and women not think well of their people (i.e. 'Aisha and Safwan) when they heard this, and said: "This is a clear lie?" ... Why did you not say when you heard it: "It is not for us to speak of it? God preserve us, it is a great lie!"

Islam critics object here, and point out that there is a contradiction between this Quranic revelation and the behaviour of Muhammad during this incident.

They claim that Muhammad was extremely mad upon that group of people. Thus in order to teach them a lesson, he himself did this drama of revelation after one month. And in these verses, he himself put those conditions i.e.:

  • immediately thinking good about 'Aisha and Safwan,
  • and immediately denying it as an obvious falsehood
  • and immediately considering it to be a great lie.

But the problem occurred when later 'Aisha also told what was happening inside the house during this period, where:

  • It was also Muhammad himself who neither immediately thought good about 'Aisha,
  • nor Muhammad immediately denied it as an obvious falsehood,
  • nor Muhammad completely rejected it immediately by saying it to be a big lie.

But contrary to this, according to 'Aisha[1]:

  • Muhammad himself started doubting 'Aisha.
  • And Muhammad stopped showing KINDNESS towards 'Aisha, despite her being sick. Even if he came to 'Aisha, then only greeted her, and then left.
  • Then Muhammad also started investigating about the character of 'Aisha from Ali and Zayd (the adopted son), and Barira (i.e. the maid-servant) inside the house.
  • Then Muhammad also consulted them regarding giving "Divorce" to 'Aisha.
  • Even after one month, Muhammad was still doubting 'Aisha and he asked 'Aisha if she had committed a sin, then she should confess it and then she should repent.
  • 'Aisha said, she was so much disappointed with this behaviour of Muhammad, that she refused to even talk to him.
  • 'Aisha said, she would not say anything to testify her innocence in front of Muhammad, while this slander has been planted in the heart of Muhammad, and he will not believe in her testimony.
  • 'Aisha further said, but if she falsely confess that she indeed committed a sin, then Muhammad was immediately going to believe it.
  • Then 'Aisha turned her face from Muhammad, and laid on the other side of bed.
  • Then Muhammad claimed divine revelation came to him which proved her innocence, and 'Aisha's mother wanted her to accompany Muhammad, but 'Aisha denied to go with him.

Islam critics point out that outside the house, Muhammad was trying hard to keep the mouths shut of people in raising doubts in this incident, by even giving orders to kill 'Abdullah bin 'Ubai, but inside the house, he was himself doubting 'Aisha. But as a human being, he made a mistake and didn't anticipate that later his own behaviour would be disclosed by 'Aisha too.

Thus it is enough to understand that this was not a divine revelation, but it was the human drama of Muhammad itself, while if this revelation was really divine, then Quran would have been threatening Muhammad before threatening that group of outside people for doubting 'Aisha and not immediately rejecting it completely as a big lie.

Quranic claim that Pure Men have only the pure Women

Islam critics point out that at the same time, in this same Surah Nur, Muhammad also further claimed the revelation of verses which say that pure men have only pure women. This should also serve as an argument that 'Aisha was innocent, while she was wed to a pure man i.e. Muhammad.

The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator or a polytheist, and that has been made unlawful to the believers ۔۔۔ Women impure are for men impure, and men impure for women impure and women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity: these are not affected by what people say: for them there is forgiveness, and a provision honourable.

But Islam critics claim that this Quranic argument is against the human rationale and the history:

  • Quran itself gave the example of wife of Lut, who was not pure, while Lut himself was a pure man.
  • And Quran also gave the example of wife of Pharaoh. She was a pure woman, while Pharaoh was not.
  • Same is about the wife of Noah, who was not pure.
  • And thousands of Muslim men commit fornication with the western girls and become impure (according to Islam). Later these Muslim men get the citizenship and they divorce their western partners, and go to their Islamic lands and marry the so-called pure Muslim girls, who didn't indulge in fornication before.

Thus according to the Islam critics, human rationale and history, both are denying this Quranic argument that pure men have only pure women. This proves only this that the revelation was Muhammad'd own human drama, and thus it was Muhammad who was making this human mistake.

Quranic order of 4 eye-witnesses in case of fornication

Muhammad also claimed the revelation of verse 24 of Surah Nur at the same time of incident of Ifk, which not only stipulated the number of witnesses to be 4 in case of fornication/adultery, but it also stipulated if there numbers were less than 4, then all those witnesses should be lashed 80 times, even if they were telling the truth.

And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after.

Islam critics also point out that firstly Muhammad tried to kill 'Abdullah Ibn Ubai. But he was an influential person and Muhammad failed to incite the Muslims from his tribe to kill him.

Then there were 3 other people who also testified against 'Aisha. They were:

  1. Hassan bin Thabit
  2. Mistah
  3. Hamna bint Jahsh

These 3 Sahaba (companions) were not influential like 'Abdullah bin Ubai. Thus after the revelation of verse 24:4, those 3 got the punishment of 80 lashes each.

Islam critics point out that human logic would always guide you that:

  • This Islamic Ruling is totally against human rationale to lash the witnesses even if they are telling the truth only due to the reason that 4 eye-witnesses were not present at the time of incident of fornication/adultery.
  • This proves that Muhammad was extremely angry and upset, and there was not divine revelation, but it was a human drama by Muhammad, where he was fabricating those verses himself in order to fulfil his purposes.
  • The number of those witnesses was 3. But if their number were 4, then Muhammad would have still punished them by putting the condition of 5 witnesses. And if the number of witnessed were 5, then still Muhammad would have still punished them by putting the condition of 6 witnesses.








References

  1. Sahih Bukhari, Book of Military Expeditions. [1]