This surah [Al-ahzab] came down regarding the hypocrites, the harm they caused to the Messenger of Allah (SAW), how they insulted Him and the marital relations he contracted, and other issues. It is seventy-three verses. This surah used to be equivalent to surah Al-baqara, and in it was the verse of stoning: “If an older man and an older woman adulterate, stone the two of them unequivocably, a punishment from Allah to serve as an example; and Allah is Exalted, Wise”. Abu Bakr Al-Anbari mentioned this from Ubayy ibn Ka’b. … From ‘Aishah, who said: During the time of the Messenger of Allah (SAW), surah Al-ahzab used to be equal to two hundred verses. … Zirr said: Ubayy ibn Ka’b asked me: How many do you count in surah Al-ahzab? I said: Seventy-three verses. He said: I swear by Him who Ubayy ibn Ka’b swears by, it used to be equal to surah Al-baqara or even longer, and we recited the verse of stoning in it: “If an older man and an older woman adulterate, stone the two of them unequivocably, a punishment from Allah to serve as an example; and Allah is Exalted, Wise”. Ubayy meant that this was part of everything that had been abrogated from the Qur’an. As far as what is said about that extra portion being on a sheet of paper in ‘Aishah’s house, and the animal eating it, this is a fabrication of the Atheists and Shi’a .