أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ كُنْتُ جَالِسًا فِي نَاسٍ بِالْكُوفَةِ فِي مَجْلِسٍ - لِلأَنْصَارِ - عَظِيمٍ فِيهِمْ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي لَيْلَى فَذَكَرُوا شَأْنَ سُبَيْعَةَ فَذَكَرْتُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ فِي مَعْنَى قَوْلِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ حَتَّى تَضَعَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي لَيْلَى لَكِنَّ عَمَّهُ لاَ يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ فَرَفَعْتُ صَوْتِي وَقُلْتُ إِنِّي لَجَرِيءٌ أَنْ أَكْذِبَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ وَهُوَ فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْكُوفَةِ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَلَقِيتُ مَالِكًا قُلْتُ كَيْفَ كَانَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ يَقُولُ فِي شَأْنِ سُبَيْعَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَتَجْعَلُونَ عَلَيْهَا التَّغْلِيظَ وَلاَ تَجْعَلُونَ لَهَا الرُّخْصَةَ لأُنْزِلَتْ سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ الْقُصْرَى بَعْدَ الطُّولَى ‏.‏

"I was sitting with some people in Al-Kufah in a large gathering of the Ansar, among whom was 'Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Laila. They spoke about the story of Subai'ah and I mentioned what 'Abdullah bin 'Utbah bin Mas'ud had said in meaning." (One of the narrators) Ibn 'Awn's saying was: "when she gives birth." Ibn Abi Layla said: 'But his (paternal) uncle did not say that.' I raised my voice and said: 'Would I dare to tell lies about 'Abdullah bin 'Utbah when he is in the vicinity of Al-Kufah?'" He said: "Then I met Malik and said: 'What did Ibn Mas'ud say about the story of Subai'ah?' He said: 'He said: "Are you going to be too strict with her and not allow her the concession (with regard to the 'Iddah)? The shorter Surah about women (At-Talaq) was revealed after the longer one (Al-Baqarah)."'"