Amīr al-Mu’minīn, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Siddīq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ would pay for the expenses of his cousin, Sayyidunā Misṭaḥ b. Uthāthah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, a Companion from Makkah who was poor and had taken part in the battle of Badr. Sayyidunā Misṭaḥ رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ once inadvertently upset Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Siddīq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. He did so by sitting with people who had laid false accusations on the latter’s beloved daughter, Umm al-Mu’minīn, Sayyidatunā ‘Āishah Siddīqah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا (although he himself did not agree with their views, nor make any of the aforementioned accusations).

Disappointed, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Siddīq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ vowed not to provide for Sayyidunā Misṭaḥ رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ any longer. The 22^nd verse of Surah al-Nūr was then revealed, which is as follows:

وَ لَا یَاْتَلِ اُولُوا الْفَضْلِ مِنْكُمْ وَ السَّعَةِ اَنْ یُّؤْتُوْۤا اُولِی الْقُرْبٰى وَ الْمَسٰكِیْنَ وَ الْمُهٰجِرِیْنَ فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰهِ ﳚ-وَ لْیَعْفُوْا وَ لْیَصْفَحُوْاؕ-اَلَا تُحِبُّوْنَ اَنْ یَّغْفِرَ اللّٰهُ لَكُمْؕ-وَ اللّٰهُ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِیْمٌ(۲۲)

And those amongst you who possess excellence and have capacity should not take oath (in not) giving to the relatives, and the needy, and the emigrants in the path of Allah. And they should forgive and overlook. Do you not like that Allah may forgive you? And Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful.^[1]

After the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم recited this verse, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Siddīq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said: “I desire that Allah forgives me, so I shall never discontinue providing for Misṭaḥ رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ.” He resumed his financial assistance thereafter.^[2]

Dear Islamic brothers, did you notice that Amīr al-Mu’minīn, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Siddīq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, took an oath to break ties with his cousin Sayyidunā Misṭaḥ b. Uthāthah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, but when this verse was