Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "Why, when you heard it" [Surah An-Nur: 12], meaning why, when you heard it, did not "the believing men and believing women think well of their own selves and say: This is an obvious slander" [Surah An-Nur: 12]. The reason for this is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sought counsel about it, and they spoke well and said: O Messenger of Allah, this is a lie and a falsehood. "The believing women" refers to Zaynab bint Jahsh, Barirah, the freed slave-woman of Sayyidah Aishah, and all the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); they said: This is a tremendous lie.
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / مسند النساء / 19490