—of His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

He would never have believed the allegation at all; yet, because the talk grew incessant, the knocking on every door unrelenting, and the rumors multiplying, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, found himself hesitating over the matter. After nearly a month had passed, ʿĀʾishah—may Allah be pleased with her—left the house with her maternal aunt, Umm Miṣṭaḥ bint Abāthah, to relieve themselves. In those days they had no latrines inside their homes; when someone needed to answer the call of nature, he would go out to the open countryside, look for a secluded, low-lying spot, and attend to his need there.

Thus ʿĀʾishah went out with her aunt. Umm Miṣṭaḥ stumbled and exclaimed, “Taʿis Miṣṭaḥ—may Miṣṭaḥ perish!” Hearing her repeat, “May Miṣṭaḥ perish,” ʿĀʾishah was amazed: how could she curse a man from the Emigrants who had fought at Badr? She asked, “Why do you say such a thing?”—for taʿisa means to lose and be ruined. Her aunt replied, “Do you not know about such-and-such?” and she related the story of al-ifk (the slander), adding that Miṣṭaḥ had been among those who accepted that fabrication. ʿĀʾishah’s illness only worsened; she wept night and day, her tears unceasing, finding no joy in life.

While matters stood thus and the hypocrisy of the hypocrites reached its height, Allah revealed concerning her these noble verses: “Indeed, those who came with the slander are but a faction among you” (Q 24:11)—meaning, a group from among you—“Do not regard it as evil for you; rather, it is good for you.” Glory be to Allah! Are we really not to see this slander and accusation of indecency as something evil? Indeed, we are not; it is good for you, for through it sins were purified, ranks were elevated, and the honor of the Messenger was defended upon him