Radhiallaho anha was sleeping, and noticed a person lying on the
ground. When he came closer, he recognised Aishah Radhiallaho
anha whom he had seen before the Ayat about Tardah* (veil) was
revealed. He loudly recited:
Thereupon she woke up and covered her face. He made his
camel sit down and she mounted it He then led the camel by its
nose-string and overtook the caravan. Abdullah Ibne Ubayye, the
leader of the hypocrites and a deadly enemy of the Muslims, seized
this chance of stand ermonge ring and making a scandal. He gave
wide publicity to this incident. Some of the simple-minded Muslims
also joined in this rumour. Imagine the Majesty and Might of Allah
Ta'ala, this kept circulating for a month and no Ayat was revealed to
prove the innocence of Aishah Radhiallaho anha. Rasulullah
Sallallaho alaihe wasallam and all the Muslims were distressed due
to that incident. Obviously, it was a severe shock. Rasulullah
Sallallaho alaihe wasallam consulted a number of men and women
and made inquiries about it, but no satisfactory solution was forth-
coming until, after one month, a whole 'Ruku' of Surah an-Noor was
revealed indicating the innocence of Aishah Radhiallaho anha and
containing severe reprimand of Allah Ta*ala for those who circulated
the slander without any basis.' One of such persons was Mistah
Radhiallaho anha, a Sahabi, who was related to and was looked after by Abu Bakr Radhiallaho anho. Abu Bakr Radhiallaho anho was
much grieved over the participation of that Sahabi in spreading the
false allegation and, in that grief, he swore that he would no longer
help Mistah Radhiallaho anho; therefore, the above Ayaat were
revealed. It appears that beside Abu Bakr Radhiallaho anho some
other Sahabah also had withdrawn their helping hand from certain
persons who had indulged in the gossip. Aishah Radhiallaho anha
says that Mistah had actively participated in this, in spite of being a
relative of Abu Bakr. Mistah was dependent on the financial support
of Abu Bakr Radhiallaho anho and, when the innocence of Aishah
Radhiallaho anha was established, Abu Bakr swore not to help
Mistah. Thereupon the Ayat was revealed: