{ Among them are those who harm the Prophet and say that He is an ear; say: An ear of good to you; He believes in Allah and He believes the Believers, and a mercy to those of you who have believed. And there is painful punishment for those who harm the Messenger of Allah } Al-tawba 61

The word of the Most High: { Among them are those who harm the Prophet and say that He is an ear } , and the rest of the verse. This came down regarding a group of hypocrites who would harm the Messenger and say things about him that ought not to be said. Some of them said: Don’t do that; indeed we fear that He might find out what you all are saying and come down on us. But Al-Julas ibn Suwaid said: We say whatever we want, then we come to him, and He believes whatever we say, for indeed Muhammad is just an ear that hears. And So Allah Most High sent down this verse.