Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul, the leader of the slanderer spread false news that Ayesha the wife of the Holy Prophet and the Daughter of Abu Bakar had spent times with one Safwan bin Mu`attal while she was traveling with the Holy Prophet, with whom she was separated by accident and later united at the time of Journey.
The following verses were revealed to the Holy Prophet while he was sitting in the house of Abu Bakar, in support of Ayesha`s good character.
It was revealed:-
Verily those who brought forth the slander (against ‘Aishah) are a group among you. Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you. Unto every man among them will be paid that which he had earned of the sin, and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be a great torment. (11).
Why then, did not the believers, men and women, when you heard it (the slander), think good of their own people and say: “This (charge) is an obvious lie ?” (12)
Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they (the slanderers) have not produced witnesses! Then with Allah they are the liars. (13)
Had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy unto you in this world and in the Hereafter, a great torment would have touched you for that whereof you had spoken. (14)
When you were propagating it with your tongues, and uttering with your mouths that whereof you had no knowledge, you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great. (15)
And why did you not, when you heard it, say: “It is not right for us to speak of this. Glory be to You (O Allah)! This is a great lie.” (16)
Allah forbids you from it and warns you not to repeat the like of it forever, if you are believers. (17)
And Allah makes the Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) plain to you, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (18)
Verily, those who like that (the crime of) illegal sexual intercourse should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you know not. (19)
And had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy on you, (Allah would have hastened the punishment upon you). And that Allah is full of Kindness, Most Merciful. (20)
O you who believe! Follow not the footsteps of Shaitan. And whosoever follows the footsteps of Shaitan, then, verily he commands Al-Fahsha’ [i.e. to commit indecency , illegal sexual intercourse], and Al-Munkar [disbelief and polytheism (i.e. to do evil and wicked deeds; and to speak or to do what is forbidden in Islam)]. And had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy on you, not one of you would ever have been pure from sins. But Allah purifies whom He wills, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. (21)
