Note [édition originale] : As to the party among you who have published the falsehood concerning
Ayesha, &c.] For the understanding of this passage, it is necessary to relate the
following story.
Mohammed having undertaken an expedition against the tribe of
Mostalak,
in the sixth year of the
Hejra, took his wife
Ayesha with him, to accompany
him. In their return, when they were not far from
Medina, the army removing
by night,
Ayesha, on the road, alighted from her camel, and stepped aside on a
private occasion: but, on her return, perceiving she had dropped her necklace,
which was of onyxes of
Dhafâr, she went back to look for it; and in the
meantime her attendants, taking it for granted, that she was got into her
pavilion (or little tent surrounded with curtains, wherein women are carried
in the east) set it again on the camel, and led it away. When she came back
to the road, and saw her camel was gone, she sat down there, expecting that
when she was missed some would be sent back to fetch her; and in a little time
she fell asleep. Early in the morning,
Safwân Ebn al Moattel, who had stayed
behind to rest himself, coming by, and perceiving somebody asleep, went to see
who it was and knew her to be
Ayesha; upon which he waked her, by twice
pronouncing with a low voice these words,
We are God’
s, and unto him must we
return. Then
Ayesha immediately covered herself with her veil; and
Safwân set
her on his own camel, and led her after the army, which they overtook by noon,
as they were resting.
This accident had like to have ruined
Ayesha, whose reputation was
publickly called in question, as if she had been guilty of adultery with
Safwân; and
Mohammed himself knew not what to think, when he reflected on the
circumstances of the affair, which were improved by some malicious people very
much to
Ayesha’s dishonour; and notwithstanding his wife’s protestations of
her innocence, he could not get rid of his perplexity, nor stop the mouths of
the censorious, till about a month after, when this passage was revealed,
declaring the accusation to be unjust
1.
-
1
Al Bokhari, in Sonna, Al Beidawi, Jallalo’ddin, &c. V. Abu’lf. vit. Moh. p. 82,
&c. & Gagnier, Vie de Mahomet, lib. 4. c. 7.