After ‘Aisha rode the dromedary, Safwan took hold of the camel’s halter and went ahead
quickly in search of the army. Safwan overtook the army when it had again rested. Nobody
noticed the incident, for such mishaps were not unusual in the caravans trekking the vast
emptiness of the Arabian wilderness. To wayfaring Arabs, it was just a familiar misfortune
and their code of honor, even in the days of pagan past, never tolerated the disgrace of
their daughters. The Arabs, both pagans as well as after embracing Islam, were chivalrous
enough to lay down their lives defending the honor of their women rather than to support
any disgrace.
A poet of pre-Islamic days expresses the Arab sentiment of chastity and virtuousness in a
couplet, which depicts a lovely picture of Arab womanhood. “If my glance meets the looks
of a neighboring maiden, I cast my eyes low until her abode takes her in”.
The companions held the Prophet (r) in the same esteem and reverence as one has for
one’s father while the wives of the Prophet (r) all served as ‘Mothers of the Faithful’ to
every Muslim. In fact, never had any people loved anyone so dearly than how the compa-
nions cherished the Prophet (r). Safwan b. al-Mu’attal was, as they say, a man of sterling
qualities---noble, true-souled and God-fearing who had the reputation of being least inter-
ested in women.
In short, nobody paid any attention to the incident and the matter would have been for-
gotten had not ‘Abdullah b. Ubbay walked into the picture. On coming back to Madinah,
‘Abdullah b. Ubayy thought it an ideal opportunity for their plans to succeed to capitalize on
the adversity. He had found out, as he would though, something that he could bank upon to
humiliate the Prophet (r) and his household and thus weaken Muslims’ sentiments of love
and admiration for him and his family. His treacherous disposition was ample enough to
assure him that his shameless attack on the Prophet’s honor would create sufficient misgiv-
ings to destroy even the mutual trust among the Muslims. And true enough, the crafty
conspirator, had thus convinced a few circumspect Muslims who were accustomed to jump-
ing into conclusions without verification.
'Aisha had no idea of the defamation against her. As it normally happens in such cases, she
came to know of it very late, and when she did, she was bewildered. Plunged into sorrow,
her anguish had kept her sobbing until tears overflowed her eyes.
The scandal was even more distressing to the Prophet of God (r). When he found out the
architect of this intrigue, he proceeded to the mosque and ascending the pulpit he said, “O
ye believers, who would allow me to say something about the man, who I have come to
know, has caused trouble to my family? What I know of my family is naught but good and
what they say concerning a man, I have known only good about him. Whenever he enters
my house, he enters with me.” The people of Aus were filled with indignation at the grief of
the Prophet (r). They said, “We are prepared to behead the man, whether he belongs to
Aus or Khazraj, who has given tongue to this calumny.” ‘Abdullah b. Ubayy belonged to
Khazraj, and hence his tribesmen took the remark as an affront to tribal honor. Pent up