وَمَن يَكْسِبْ خَطِيٓـَٔةً أَوْ إِثْمًا ثُمَّ يَرْمِ بِهِۦ بَرِيٓـًٔا فَقَدِ ٱحْتَمَلَ بُهْتَـٰنًا وَإِثْمًا مُّبِينًا 112
Translations
But whoever earns an offense or a sin and then blames it on an innocent [person] has taken upon himself a slander and manifest sin.
Transliteration
Wa man yaksib khatee'atan aw ithman thumma yarmi bihi baree'an faqad ihtamala buhtanan wa ithman mubeenan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the grave sin of falsely accusing an innocent person of a crime or wrongdoing they did not commit. According to classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir, whoever commits a sin or transgression and then attributes it to an innocent person bears both the burden of false accusation (buhtān) and clear sin, as they compound their original transgression with the heinous act of slander against the blameless. This ayah establishes that framing the innocent is among the most serious violations of justice in Islamic law.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the context of Surah An-Nisa's discussion of rights, justice, and moral conduct in Medinan society. It follows verses addressing orphans' rights and fair treatment, reflecting the surah's broader emphasis on protecting the vulnerable and establishing equitable social norms. The specific prohibition likely addresses a prevalent social vice in early Muslim communities.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Avoid the seven destructive sins,' among which he mentioned false accusation. (Sahih Bukhari 2766). Additionally, the Prophet ﷺ stated: 'Whoever accuses a Muslim of disbelief, it returns to one of them,' emphasizing the severe consequences of false accusations. (Sunan Abu Dawud 4687)
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must vigilantly guard against falsely accusing others, as such slander compounds sin upon sin and violates fundamental Islamic principles of justice and character. In an age of misinformation and hasty judgment, this ayah reminds believers to verify claims before spreading them and to uphold the dignity and innocence of others.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَرِثُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ كَرْهًا ۖ وَلَا تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ لِتَذْهَبُوا۟ بِبَعْضِ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَـٰحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ ۚ وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِن كَرِهْتُمُوهُنَّ فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَيَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا
O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear immorality [i.e., adultery]. And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allāh makes therein much good.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ ۖ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَـٰعِفْهَا وَيُؤْتِ مِن لَّدُنْهُ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Indeed, Allāh does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom's weight; while if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward.
إِن تَجْتَنِبُوا۟ كَبَآئِرَ مَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَنُدْخِلْكُم مُّدْخَلًا كَرِيمًا
If you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins and admit you to a noble entrance [into Paradise].
وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ رَفِيقًا
And whoever obeys Allāh and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allāh has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.