Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 288
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 288 discourage the disaffected. Indeed, every frustration instigated them to embark upon greater mischief and more serious disruptive designs. Thus, towards the end of this march another incident was sought to be ballooned out of proportion so as to become a s ource of serious trial for the Muslims. It became known as the Calumny, in which Aisha, the wife of the Holy Prophet, daughter of Abu Bakr, was involved. The true version of the affair may be presented in Aisha’s own words as follows. ‘It was the practice of the Holy Prophet that when he was about to set out on a journey he cast a lot to determine which of his wives should accompany him. On one such occasion, the lot put up my name and he took me with him. By that time, the discipline o f the veil had been established. In the course of the journey, I would be seated inside the litter, which was lifted on to the back of the camel, and was removed and placed upon the ground when a halt was made. During this journey, when we were nearing Med ina, the Holy Prophet directed that the march should start at night. On hearing the direction, I withdrew a certain distance in preparation for the march and when I returned, I missed my bracelet. I went back in search of it and was delayed a short while. In the meantime, those who had been appointed to lift my litter on to the back of the camel arrived and, assuming that I was inside the litter, lifted it on to the back of the camel and the march began. I was very slim at the time and my weight was very li ght, so that no one suspected that I might not be inside the litter. When I returned after recovering my bracelet, I found that the march had gone forward and no one had been left behind. I was worried, but considered that I should remain on