يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا 70
Translations
O you who have believed, fear Allāh and speak words of appropriate justice.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu ittaqu Allaha wa qulu qawlan sadida
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to fear Allah and speak truthfully and uprightly in all circumstances. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that 'qawlan sadidan' (a straight/right word) encompasses both truthfulness and wisdom, avoiding falsehood, vulgarity, and harmful speech. The command follows naturally from taqwa (God-consciousness), as true piety manifests in honest and beneficial speech that upholds Islamic principles.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the end of Surah Al-Ahzab, which was revealed during the Medinan period and addresses various social and moral guidelines for the Muslim community. It comes as a general directive to all believers, emphasizing the importance of ethical speech as a cornerstone of faith, particularly in a society where false accusations and harmful speech were prevalent.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, 'The best of you are those with the best character/speech' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), highlighting how righteous speech reflects true belief.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that sincere faith in Allah must be reflected through truthful, wise, and beneficial speech in daily interactions. This ayah reminds us that our words are a direct expression of our relationship with Allah and have real consequences in this life and the next.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ وَٱخْشَوْا۟ يَوْمًا لَّا يَجْزِى وَالِدٌ عَن وَلَدِهِۦ وَلَا مَوْلُودٌ هُوَ جَازٍ عَن وَالِدِهِۦ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ ۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
O mankind, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allāh by the Deceiver [i.e., Satan].
ٱلَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَـٰقُوا۟ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ
Who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him.
۞ وَإِن كُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ وَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ كَاتِبًا فَرِهَـٰنٌ مَّقْبُوضَةٌ ۖ فَإِنْ أَمِنَ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًا فَلْيُؤَدِّ ٱلَّذِى ٱؤْتُمِنَ أَمَـٰنَتَهُۥ وَلْيَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّهُۥ ۗ وَلَا تَكْتُمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَـٰدَةَ ۚ وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُۥٓ ءَاثِمٌ قَلْبُهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ
And if you are on a journey and cannot find a scribe, then a security deposit [should be] taken. And if one of you entrusts another, then let him who is entrusted discharge his trust [faithfully] and let him fear Allāh, his Lord. And do not conceal testimony, for whoever conceals it - his heart is indeed sinful, and Allāh is Knowing of what you do.
إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّـٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ
Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs,