The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 3 of 4

222 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
Safwan h. al-Mu%tal confronted hi and struck hi with his sword, saying,
"Receive from me my sword's blade, for I'm a man who
speaks no poetry when attacked!"
He (Ibn Ishaq) related that Thahit h. Qpys b. Shammas seized and hound Safw%n
after he had attacked Hassm. When 'Abd Allah h. Rawaha found hi thus, he
asked, "What's all this?" Thahit replied, "He struck Hassa with his sword."
'Ahd Allah then asked, "Does the Messenger of God (SAAS) know anything
of this?" "No," he replied, and released Safwan. They all then went to see the
Messenger of God (SAAS), and Ihn al-Mu%wl told hi, "Messenger of God,
he did me harm and ridiculed me, and my anger so overcame me that I struck
him." The Messenger of God (SAAS) then said, "Hassan, would you scorn
my people once God gave them guidance?" He added, "Be nice about your
injury." L'As ever YOU say, Messenger of God," he replied. The Messenger of
God (SAAS) compensated him by awarding him Bi'r Ha castle that Abii Talha
had given over as alms, and a Coptic slave-girl named Sirin; she bore him his
son 'Abd al-Rah%n.
'A'isha used to say, "Enquiries were made about Ibn al-Mu'at@l and he was
found to be impotent; he did not approach women. Thereafter he was martyred.
May God be pleased with hi."
Ihn Ishaq stated, "After that, Hassm spoke the following verses in apology for
what he had said about 'A'isha,
'Chaste and sensible, untouched by suspicion, because
of my error she became food for scandal-mongers.
A noble woman of Lu'ayy b. Ghdih, people of honour,
their glory unending.
What was said of you could never apply to you; they
were the words of a slanderer.
If I did speak what you claim, then may my hands never
raise my whip again!
How could this he, in light of my friendship and
support for the illustrious family of the Messenger of
God.
Their dignity is such that all others are beneath them,
falling far short; may their glory last very long."'
There should be written down here the verses of siirat al-Niir, namely from
God's words, "Those who related the calumny are a faction among you. Do
not consider it an evil for you; in fact it is good for you. Let each man of them
suffer the punishment he has earned" to the words, "Forgiveness and a fine
reward" (szirat al-Niir; XXIV, v.11-26). Also here should he inserted the
traditions, chains of transmisssion and other relevant matters that have come
down from the earliest and later authorities. And success comes through God.