Al-ifk: the most severe form of lying and slander. It is said to be the falsehood that one does not realize until it suddenly confronts them.

Its root is al-afk, which means to turn away, because it is a saying that is turned away from its truth. What is meant is what was turned against Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her. Al-'usbah: the group from ten to forty, and likewise al-'asabah. They gathered: Abdullah ibn Ubayy, the head of hypocrisy, Zayd ibn Rafi'ah, Hassan ibn Thabit, Mistah ibn Athathah, Hamnah bint Jahsh, and those who supported them. It was read: kabiruhu with a dammah and kasrah, meaning he magnified it.

The one who took charge was Abdullah, due to his deep animosity towards the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, and his seizing of opportunities, seeking a way to slander.

Every participant in the story of al-ifk from that group receives their share of sin according to their involvement. The great punishment is for Abdullah, because most of the evil was from him. It is narrated that Safwan, may Allah be pleased with him, passed by her litter while he was among his people and said: Who is this? They said: Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her. He said: By Allah, she did not escape from it nor did he escape from her, and he said: The wife of your Prophet spent the night with a man until morning, then he came leading her.

The address in the saying 'He is better for you' is for those among the believers who were troubled by that, especially the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, Abu Bakr, Aisha, and Safwan ibn al-Mu'attal, may Allah be pleased with them. The meaning of it being better for them is that they earned great reward in it, because it was a clear trial and a manifest affliction, and that eighteen verses were revealed regarding it, each one independent in glorifying the status of the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, comforting him, exalting the Mother of the Believers, may Allah be pleased with her, purifying the People of the House, and warning those who spoke about it or heard of it without rejecting it, along with several mercies for the listeners and reciters until the Day of Judgment, and religious benefits, rulings, and etiquettes that are not hidden from those who reflect upon them.