Sahih Al-Bukhari — Hadith #6074

Narrated by `Aisha (the Prophet's wife): It was reported to her that `Abdullah bin Az-Zubair, upon learning that she was selling or giving something away as a gift, had said, "By Allah, if `Aisha does not stop this, I will declare her incapable of managing her affairs." I asked, "Did he (`Abdullah bin Az-Zubair) really say that?" The people replied, "Yes." `Aisha then said, "I swear by Allah that I will never speak to Ibn Az-Zubair again." When this estrangement lasted for a long time, `Abdullah bin Az-Zubair sought intercession on his behalf with her, but she replied, "By Allah, I will not accept anyone's intercession for him, and I will not commit any sin by breaking my vow." As the situation became difficult for Ibn Az-Zubair, he asked Al-Miswar bin Makhrama and `Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Aswad bin 'Abu Yaghuth, who were from the tribe of Bani Zahra: “I beg you, by Allah, to allow me to enter upon `Aisha, for it is not permissible for her to take a vow to sever ties with me.” So Al-Miswar and `Abdur-Rahman, wrapped in their cloaks, asked permission to enter, saying: “Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you! May we enter?” `Aisha replied: “Enter.” They asked: “All together?” She said: “Yes, all of you enter,” unaware that Ibn Az-Zubair was with them. When they entered, Ibn Az-Zubair went into the separate room, took her by the hand, and began to weep for her forgiveness. Al-Miswar and `Abdur-Rahman also asked her to speak to him and accept his repentance. They told her, “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade what you know about severing ties (not speaking to one's Muslim brothers), because it is not permissible for a Muslim to not speak to his brother for more than three nights (days).” As they persisted in reminding her of the importance of maintaining good family relations and forgiving the faults of others, and as they put her in a difficult situation, she began to remind them as well and wept, saying, “I made a vow, and (the matter of) the vow is difficult.” They (Al-Miswar and `Abdur-Rahman) continued to insist until she spoke to `Abdullah bin Az-Zubair, and then she freed forty slaves in expiation for her vow. Later, whenever she remembered her vow, she wept so much that her veil was soaked with tears.