ABSTRACT
This sura deals with ‘the affair of the lie’ concerning ‘Ā’isha, and other matters of about the same date. Muḥammad had taken ‘Ā’isha with him on an expedition in January 627 (or a year later according to some authorities). At the last halt on the way home ‘Ā’isha got left behind, while looking for a necklace she had dropped at her toilet, and was not missed. Eventually she came back to Medina riding the camel of a handsome young man, who had walked alongside. Gossip seized hold of this incident and malicious allegations of misconduct on ‘Ā’isha's part were spread both by a few of her personal enemies, and by Muḥammad's political opponents. She withdrew to her parents’ house, until at length Muḥammad received a revelation (probably vv. 10 ff.) declaring ‘Ā’isha's innocence. At a public assembly which he called it became clear that his political opponents (the Hypocrites) had now little support in Medina.
