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 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.