| provide the means for his intercession
on the day of resurrection, and protect the companion
from criticism, and keep him immune from hardships and
upheaval of time, and prevent the issuance of a verdict
by the Muslims for or against him, the Prophet would
never have uttered these historical and everlasting
words to his dearest child: "O Fatimah, daughter
of the Prophet of God! Ask me whatever you wish, for
before the threshold of divine justice, the fact of
your being the daughter of the Prophet will be of no
avail to you."(9)
This historical statement was uttered by the Prophet
to his daughter on the day when the following verse
descended to him: "Inform your close relations."
Indeed, the lofty principles laid down by the Prophet
about justice and equality consider all people equally
in carrying out the punishments based on Islamic injunctions.
The author as viewed
by Dr. Hamid Hafni Dawud
Some time ago, research scholar
Mr. Murtada 'Askari presented his book 'Ahadith of Umm
al-Mu'minin 'A'ishah" to men of learning and scholars,
especially to two groups of readers who fervently sought
truth, heartily desired to discern the philosophy of
Islamic history, and comprehend the reasons and history
of the canon law and its principles. He engaged himself
in this research at a time when he came across undeniable
documents concerning the life of Umm al Mu'minin 'A'ishah,
and he made use of them to present the truth, and express
his views freely. However telling the truth and seeking
it are regarded as an unforgivable offence by the short
sighted and by those who think it improper to criticize
and issue a verdict of any kind against each of the
Prophet's companions, since they themselves have enforced
a limit for this survey and investigations about those
companions.
Mr. 'Askari has, in his book, fully adopted the method
of critics and researchers by employing scientific sequence
and scrutiny, and explained in his introduction the
difficulties and obstacles which existed in the way
of investigation for all seekers of truth. One of these
obstacles may be a scholar's attachment to his own feelings
and partiality, causing him to prefer one group or personality
to another, due to his
|
