The Necklace Incident

"The Necklace" or "Ifq" Incident is an event that took place in Arabia in the first days of 627. It includes the claim that Aisha, one of the wives of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, cheated on Muhammed with Safvan bin Muattal, a young Muslim soldier, during an expedition, and the developments that took place afterwards.

Almost all of the available information about the incident is based on the hadiths reported by Aisha. The events took place in the month of Sha'ban in the fifth year of the Hijrah (627), on the return of the military expedition called Muraysi Gaza, organized against the Banumustaliq tribe. As a result of developments that gave rise to the possibility of conflict between Muslims, those who spread the allegations were punished with flogging and the public was informed that a series of new verses had been revealed by Muhammad.

The word "ifk" originates from Arabic; Attributing a crime to someone means slander.

The Muraisi expedition was organized against the Banumustaliq dynasty from the Huzaa tribe. The Banumustaliq dynasty was raided near the Muraisi water well. After brief clashes, most of the dynasty's men died and the survivors fled. In this expedition, a large amount of booty fell into the hands of the Islamic army. Women and children of Beni Mustalik were captured.^[1]

According to Aisha, before going on the expedition, Muhammad had his wives draw lots with arrows and Aisha got the chance to participate in the expedition. During the expedition, Aisha was wearing her necklace made of Yemeni evil eye beads. It is controversial how this necklace came to Aisha. According to a rumor, her mother Umm Ruman gave it to her as a gift when she became a bride. According to another rumor, he borrowed it from his sister Esma.^[2][3]

After returning from the expedition, while the army stopped near Medina to spend the night, she realized she had lost her necklace.

Aisha left the camp without informing anyone and went to look for her necklace at dawn. She found the necklace, but when she returned, the entire caravan, including her guards, had set off, thinking she was in her litter on her camel. The soldiers loaded the empty litter onto the camel, but they did not realize that Aisha was not inside. According to Aisha, this was because she was young and weak at that time.^[4][5]

Hoping that they would return, Aisha waited at the accommodation point and fell asleep where she sat. Safwan ibn Muattal, one of the rear guards of the army, came across Aisha on his route. He said "We are the servants of Allah and we will return to Allah" and without saying another word, put Aisha on his camel and they walked and caught the caravan at its next stop.^[6] The fact that Aisha was not in the caravan but came with a young soldier gave rise to rumors.

The allegations did not reach of Muhammad, Aisha and other members of the Abu Bakr family for a while. Meanwhile, Aisha became ill and started to rest at home. When Muhammad heard the allegations, he started to act coldly towards Aisha. When Aisha heard rumors started staying at her father's house. According to a narration from Umar, Aisha said to her father, "The Messenger of Allah threw me out of his house."^[7][8] Abu Bakr's household was upset and did not allow Aisha to return to her husband's house for a while.

When Muhammad heard the allegations, he talked to Umar, Uthman, Ali, Usama ibn Zayd and Juwayriyah, whom he had just married, and asked their opinions, after freeing them during the Battle of Muraysi. Uthman and Zayd testified that Aisha was innocent. Omar said that Allah made the marriage between Muhammad and Aisha, and that Allah would not marry him to an unclean woman. Ali said, "O Messenger of Allah, Allah will not give you hardship. There are many women for you. Ask your concubine (Juwayriya), she will inform you of the truth." Juwayriyeh said that she did not see any wrong actions by Aisha, except that she fell asleep while kneading the dough and fed the dough to the goats. According to a rumor, after the incident, Safwan stated that he was hasur (not interested in women or having masculine power).^[9][10]

Muhammad visited Aisha at her father's house^[11] asking him to repent if he had committed a sin, Aisha says: "If I swear, you will not believe me, and if I tell you, you will not accept my innocence."^[12] During the visit, Muhammad enters the state of mind and reads Surah An-Nur, 11 to 20.

"Those who fabricated that grave slander are a group from among you. Do not think that this slander is a bad thing for yourself. On the contrary, it is good for you. There is punishment for each of them for the sin they committed. And whoever among them commits the greatest sin (by leading the charge), there will be a heavy torment.” (An-Nur: 11)

Verse 4 of Surah An-Nur stipulated the requirement of at least four witnesses as evidence in the accusation of adultery (which is not required in any other case):

"Those who accuse chaste women of adultery and cannot produce four witnesses, flog them with eighty lashes. Never accept their testimony again. "These are the sinners."(An-Nur [24]:4)

... When you heard this slander, believing men and women, what if you had a good opinion of your (religious brothers) and said, "This is a clear slander!" If only they (the slanderers) had brought four witnesses to their claims! Since they did not bring witnesses; They are the liars in the sight of Allah...(an-Nur: 12-13)

According to tAl-Tabari, Muhammad said to Aisha: "O Aisha, I give you good news. Allah has revealed that you are sinless." Aisha replied: "With the praise of Allah and your evil opinion..."^[13]

Hassan bin Thabit, Zaynab binti Jahsh's sister Hamne and Mistah b. Usase were held responsible for spreading rumors while main responsible is Abdullah b. Ubay; Abdullah was imposed on twice and once on (80 flogging) the others.^[14][15][16]