Masruq narrated that we were present in the service of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) when Hassan bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) was also there, reciting his poetry to the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her). One of the verses was, the translation of which is: "She is serious and chaste, upon whom no accusation has ever been made; every morning, she does not eat the flesh of ignorant sisters while being hungry." Upon this, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "But you have not proven to be like that." Masruq narrated that then I asked Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), "Why do you allow him to come to you, when Allah Almighty has already said about him: 'And for the one among them who took the greatest part in this, there is a great punishment.'" Upon this, the Mother of the Believers said: "What punishment could be more severe than becoming blind?" (Hassan's eyesight was lost in the last part of his life.) Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said to him that Hassan (may Allah be pleased with him) used to defend the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).