وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ ٱلزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّوا۟ بِٱللَّغْوِ مَرُّوا۟ كِرَامًا 72
Translations
And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood, and when they pass near ill speech, they pass by with dignity.
Transliteration
Wa-alladhīna lā yashhadu'z-zūra wa-idhā marrū bi'l-laghwi marrū kirāmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the qualities of the servants of the Most Merciful (mentioned in 25:63-76), specifically that they do not bear witness to falsehood (zūr) and when they encounter vain or frivolous speech and conduct, they pass by it with dignity and honor (kirāmā). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, 'not witnessing falsehood' means they neither participate in, testify to, nor engage in false testimony or corrupt speech, demonstrating their commitment to truth and their noble character by distancing themselves from sin with grace rather than arrogance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Furqan (revealed in Mecca), which emphasizes the distinction between believers and disbelievers. The broader context (25:63-76) delineates the characteristics of the true believers and servants of Allah, contrasting them with those who associate partners with Allah. This passage was revealed to comfort the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the early Muslims by defining the excellence of faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, regarding avoiding false testimony, the Prophet stated that bearing false witness is among the gravest sins (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to maintain personal integrity by refusing participation in falsehood and to respond to vulgarity and frivolous behavior with dignified silence and restraint rather than engagement or retaliation. True nobility lies in preserving one's moral standards and walking away from corruption with grace.
Related Ayahs
لَّا تَدْعُوا۟ ٱلْيَوْمَ ثُبُورًا وَٰحِدًا وَٱدْعُوا۟ ثُبُورًا كَثِيرًا
[They will be told], "Do not cry this Day for one destruction but cry for much destruction."
ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ شَرِيكٌ فِى ٱلْمُلْكِ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ تَقْدِيرًا
He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and who has not taken a son and has not had a partner in dominion and has created each thing and determined it with [precise] determination.
إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ ٱللَّهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ حَسَنَـٰتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allāh will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
۞ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَوْ نَرَىٰ رَبَّنَا ۗ لَقَدِ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَعَتَوْ عُتُوًّا كَبِيرًا
And those who do not expect the meeting with Us say, "Why were not angels sent down to us, or [why] do we [not] see our Lord?" They have certainly become arrogant within themselves and [become] insolent with great insolence.