Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 15299

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates: Whenever the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) travelled, he would take one of his noble wives with him, and he would cast lots among them. Once he took Sayyidah Aishah bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her) with him on a journey. She had a particular howdah; people would lift that howdah and place it on the camel. Once the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions made camp in the last part of the night. Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) went out to relieve herself and went far off, and no one knew about her. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) woke up, the people set off. Those who used to lift the howdah came and lifted it, thinking that Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was inside it. When they had gone, Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) came and found that the people had set off, so she sat down in that same place. A man from the Ansar named Safwan bin al-Mu'attal woke up; he was not one to go near women. His camel was with him. When he saw Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), he mounted her on his camel; he had seen Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) before the command of hijab was revealed. He walked, leading his camel, until he came to the people and to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The people began talking about Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) and talked a great deal. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) received news of this, it weighed heavily on him, to the extent that he kept himself apart from Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her). He consulted Sayyiduna Zayd bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) and others about Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), and he submitted: "O Messenger of Allah! Leave her be; Allah Almighty will reveal some ruling about it to you." Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Women are many." One night Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was walking along with some women when Umm Mistah slipped and said: "May Mistah be ruined!" Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "You have said something bad; you are saying this about a man from among the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)." Umm Mistah said: "You do not know what people are saying." Then Umm Mistah told Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) the whole situation, and Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) fell down unconscious. After this, these verses were revealed in the Qur'an, in Surah al-Nur: "Indeed, those who came with the false accusation are a group among you." The passage continues up to: "And the one among them who took the greater part of it, for him is a great punishment." (Then further on Allah Almighty says:) "And let not those of virtue among you swear." The passage continues up to: "Allah Almighty is Forgiving, Merciful." Before this, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) used to give money to Mistah, treat him well and maintain ties of kinship with him, and he was the one who had talked the most against Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her). So Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) swore that he would no longer give him anything. Then this verse was revealed about it: "Do you not love that Allah Almighty should forgive you?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) to go to Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) and give her the glad tidings. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) came and told Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) about what Allah Almighty had revealed. Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "I will neither praise you nor praise your master."
Al-Tabarani recorded it; its chain contains a narrator, Isma'il bin Yahya bin Salamah bin Kuhayl, who is matruk (abandoned).