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The slander against Aishah, Mother of the believers 
The journey back to Madinah was long, and after a halt, late 
one night, the Prophet decided to break camp. ‘Aishah , who 

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realised she had lost her necklace, had gone off to look for it and 
returned to find the camp had moved on without her. Although 
her empty howdah (riding enclosure) seemed very light, the men 
who saddled it ascribed it to ‘Aisha’s diminutive frame. She, on 
the other hand, fell asleep unafraid. Surely, they would discover 
her absence and would return for her, she thought. 
She lay sleeping until she was discovered by Safwan bin 
Mu’attal Salami , a Companion of the Prophet. Safwan, who 
was a heavy sleeper and a late riser, had been assigned to retrieve 
anything inadvertently left behind by the troops. His job was to 
follow the trail left by the troops. When he drew near, he 
recognised ‘Aishah, whom he had seen in the days before veiling 
was enjoined upon Muslim women. 
He exclaimed, “To Allah we belong and to Him we return!” 
in greeting, and these were the only words he spoke to her. 
Aishah covered her face instantly. Silently, out of reverence for 
the Prophet’s wife, Safwan brought his camel for her to mount. 
He held the camel’s reins and walked ahead, and they travelled in 
this manner. It was noon by the time they caught up with the rest 
of the people, who had encamped shortly before. 
The sight of Aishah’s camel being led by Safwan gladdened 
the malevolent heart of Abdullah bin Ubayy. Here at last was the 
perfect way to pierce the heart of the Prophet and tarnish the 
reputation of his favourite wife. He would begin a lie about how 
Aishah and Safwan had deliberately stayed behind together. 
Insinuations and malicious lies were woven and embroidered until 
they began to look like the fabric of truth. Abdullah’s friends and 
allies gleefully repeated the lies not just among themselves but to 
the general body of credulous Muslims, who were blinded by the 
sandstorm of lies swirling around them. 
‘Aishah on the other hand, fell ill after her return to Madinah 
and remained confined to bed for a month. Although Madinah 
was buzzing with the scurrilous and false rumours of her 

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clandestine meeting with Safwan, she was unaware of what was 
being said. The only hurt she felt was that her husband was 
uncharacteristically cold and distant with her. Where was the 
tenderness he reserved for her? Why did he leave immediately 
after enquiring about her health without even sitting by her side? 
Moreover, he had nothing to say to her after exchanging 
greetings. 
The Prophet himself was considerably hurt that the 
community was giving credence to what could only be a lie. His 
wives had to be beyond reproach, but since ‘Aishah had 
unwittingly become a target of slander; he himself had to act to 
control the damage done to his household and the community at 
large. His anguish grew with the fact that he had not had a single 
revelation during this period. He consulted with his Companions 
about how he should deal with the situation affecting his 
household and all of Madinah. Ali subtly advocated separation, 
but Usama and the others counselled otherwise. 
Following this consultation, the Prophet ascended the 
pulpit and declared it was up to the people to seek redress from 
the one whose evil had touched even their Prophet’s household. 
His words were taken to heart by the chieftain of the Aus tribe, 
who pronounced the death sentence on Abdullah bin Ubayy for 
beginning the scandal. Since Abdullah bin Ubayy belonged to the 
Khazraj tribe, their chieftain took the sentence as an affront to 
the entire tribe. More disunity and ill will were bred until the 
Prophet intervened to heal the breach. 
By then, ‘Aishah herself had recovered from her illness, and 
one night she went to relieve herself accompanied by Umm 
Mistah. In the darkness, Umm Mistah tripped over her sheet and 
then proceeded to curse her son. ‘Aishah rebuked her for her 
imprecation, but the lady told ‘Aishah she was justified in cursing 
him. After all, wasn’t he also parroting the same lies about 
‘Aishah? 

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“What lies?” asked ‘Aishah. The whole story came rushing 
out and ‘Aishah listened silently. When she returned it was to ask 
the Prophet’s permission to go to her parents’ house. Once she 
got there her parents sorrowfully confirmed that all of Madinah 
was whispering about ‘Aishah and Safwan. The tears would not 
stop. Two nights and a day went by, and ‘Aishah cried while her 
parents watched and wept too. 
After the second night had passed, the Prophet came to 
see ‘Aishah. Struggling with his own emotions, he said, as 
befitting the spiritual head of the community and her husband, 
“‘Aishah! I have come to know of this and that about you. If you 
are innocent, Allah will bring your innocence to light. If you have 
sinned, then repent and seek Allah’s forgiveness, for He forgives 
those who repent.” 
‘Aishah listened without tears. She asked her parents to reply 
on her behalf, but they sat mute with grief and reverence for the 
Prophet . Then ‘Aishah spoke in ringing tones: 
“By Allah, I know that the lie had been repeated so much so 
that it has stuck to your hearts and you people have taken it as 
true. Now, if I say I am innocent – and Allah knows well that I 
am innocent – you will not accept it as true. In case I confess 
anything – and Allah knows very well that I am quite innocent – 
you will take it as true. Thus, I for myself and for you, say what 
the father of Yusuf said: “…Patience is beautiful. I seek the 
help of Allah against what you assert.” (12: 18) 
With those words she turned her back on the Prophet and 
lay down. At that moment Allah sent the Prophet a revelation. 
When the state of inspiration ended, the Prophet was smiling. 
He said, “O Aishah! Allah has declared you innocent!” “Get up 
and face the Prophet , said ‘Aishah’s mother to her daughter. 
“By Allah! I shall not get up to face him. I shall praise Allah 
alone.” 

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The verses that were revealed on this occasion pertained to 
the exoneration of ‘Aishah and are to be found in Surah Al-Noor, 
verses eleven through twenty. They state clearly that the people 
who invented the lie about a chaste woman (whose only sin was 
negligence) had sinned and so had those who repeated it and 
believed it. 
The verses specifically ordain punishment for slanderers and 
stipulate a code of conduct for Muslims to safeguard the chastity 
of their women. It is made a part of one’s faith to avoid suspicion, 
and to refuse to believe in, and or circulate slander. To repeat 
unfounded gossip is to defile oneself and society, to bring in 
discord, and to harm believing women, and in the following 
verses, Allah lays down strict punishment for slanderers: 
“Those who brought forward the lie are a body among 
yourselves. Do not consider it bad for you. On the contrary, it is 
good for you. Every man will be given the sin he earned, and 
those who were primarily responsible will receive great 
punishment. When the believers heard the rumour, why did they 
not assume the best about their own people and say, ‘This 
allegation is an obvious lie?’ Why did they not bring four 
witnesses to prove the accusation was true? Since they did not 
produce any witnesses, they stand as liars before Allah. And were 
it not for the Grace and Mercy of Allah on you in this world and 
in the Hereafter, you would have been seized by a tremendous 
punishment for what you uttered. You said something that you 
had no knowledge of and considered it but a small thing, but to 
Allah it was a very great matter. And when you heard the 
slanderous lie, why did you not say, ‘We should not talk about 
this. Glory be to Allah! This is a most serious allegation!’ Allah 
admonishes you to never behave in such a way again if you are 
indeed believers. And Allah makes his signs, lessons and 
revelations clear for you, He is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”
(24: 11-18) 

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His heart thus burdened with grief, the Prophet went to 
his Companions and recited before them the verses revealed 
concerning ‘Aishah’s acquittal. In compliance with the divine 
injunction in the verses, he ordered punishment for the 
slanderers, eighty lashes to each of the two males and one female 
from among the Muslims who had repeated the lies. 
Hassan bin Thabit, Mistah bin Athatha and Hamnah bint 
Jahsh, in bearing the punishment, escaped punishment in the 
Hereafter and were forgiven. However, Abdullah bin Ubayy, the 
leader of the liars and his accomplices, got off unscathed, 
unrepentant. They face a far more terrible punishment in the 
Hereafter.