16.

Book of Divorce

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كِتَابُ الطَّلَاقِ

Khawlah bint Tha'labah said: By Allah, concerning Aws ibn as-Samit, Allah Almighty revealed the beginning of Surat Al-Mujadila (Chapter 58). She said: I was with him and he was an old man with a bad temper and he annoyed me. One day he entered upon me, I asked him for something, he became angry and said, “You are upon me like my mother's back.” Then he went out and sat in the company of his people for a while. Then he entered upon me, and whenever he intended me for himself. I said: No, by the One in whose Hand is the soul of Khawlah, you will not succeed until Allah and His Messenger judge between us with His judgment. She said: He attacked me, but I defended myself from him, so I overpowered him with what a woman overpowers an old, weak man, then I threw him down, then I went out to one of my neighbors and borrowed clothes from her, then I went out until I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and I sat between his hands and I mentioned to him what I had encountered from him, so I complained to him about what I had encountered from his bad temper. She said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "O Khawlah! The son of your uncle is an old man, so fear Allah regarding him.” She said: By Allah, I did not leave until the Quran was revealed. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was overwhelmed by what was overwhelming him, then he was relieved of it and he said, “O Khawlah! Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has revealed concerning you and your husband.” She said: Then he recited to me: {Allah has heard the statement of she who argues with you [O Muhammad] concerning her husband, and complains to Allah...} until His saying: {And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment} The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Tell him to free a slave.” She said: I said, “O Messenger of Allah! He does not have anything to free.” He said, “Let him fast for two consecutive months.” She said: I said, “By Allah, O Messenger of Allah! He is an old man who cannot fast.” He said, “Let him feed six poor people a Wasq (a certain measure) of dates.” She said: I said, “By Allah, O Messenger of Allah! He does not have that.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Then we will help him with an Araq (a certain measure smaller than a Wasq) of dates.” She said: I said, “And I, O Messenger of Allah! I will help him with another Araq.” He said, “You are right and you have done well. Go and give it in charity on his behalf. Then recommend good to the son of your uncle.” She said: So I did.