Was the narration from Aisha regarding the verse of stoning and breastfeeding authentic?

Question:

What is the truth of this hadith whose story my mind cannot accept?

(From Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, who said: “The verse of stoning and breastfeeding was revealed, and they were on a sheet under my bed. When the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, died, we were preoccupied with his death, and a domesticated animal entered and ate it.”)

So how can a domesticated animal, which is one of God’s creatures and acts by His command, eat the sheet, while He has promised to preserve His Book until the Day of Judgment and to send it down complete? There are many other such myths that cannot all be mentioned.

Answer:

This report is narrated through chains other than those of the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt. It is reported by Ibn Majah and other hadith scholars. However, through the transmission of the Ahl al-Bayt and in their authored works, it has no basis. Rather, Imam al-Mutawakkil ‘ala Allah Ahmad ibn Sulayman (peace be upon him) declared this hadith weak and rejected it.

He (peace be upon him), while discussing the topic of breastfeeding and addressing those who argued using the statement of the Mother of the Believers Aisha — namely the report mentioned in the question — said:

“If it is said: It was narrated from Aisha that she said: ‘Among what was revealed of the Qur’an were ten breastfeedings that made marriage unlawful; then they were abrogated by five known breastfeedings that make marriage unlawful. The Messenger of God (may God bless him and his family and grant them peace) died while they were still recited as part of the Qur’an, but they were on a sheet beneath the bed. When we became occupied with the death of the Messenger of God (may God bless him and his family and grant them peace), a domesticated animal entered and ate it.’
We say: This report is corrupt in several ways. Among them is that if it had truly been part of the Qur’an, it would not have been lost — and God the Exalted has said:

‘Indeed, We have sent down the Reminder, and surely We will preserve it’ [Qur’an 15:9].

Also, the Messenger of God (may God bless him and his family and grant them peace) would not have died without conveying to the people everything that God revealed to him, for God said:

‘O Messenger, convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message’ [Qur’an 5:67].

Furthermore, the report of a single individual is not accepted in this matter, and it was not narrated from anyone other than Aisha. Thus, the corruption of this report is established.”
(Usul al-Ahkam fi al-Halal wa al-Haram)

With this, the answer to the issue is complete, and praise be to God. Imam al-Mutawakkil ‘ala Allah (peace be upon him) clarified the defects of this report and the reasons for rejecting it.

May God grant you success.

Answered by: Professor al-Kazim al-Zaydi, may God grant him success.

O God, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad

Translation of Ustadh al-Kazim al-Zaydi (May Allah reward him)