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
أَمْ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُلْكِ فَإِذًا لَّا يُؤْتُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ نَقِيرًا
Or have they a share of dominion? Then [if that were so], they would not give the people [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ شِقَاقَ بَيْنِهِمَا فَٱبْعَثُوا۟ حَكَمًا مِّنْ أَهْلِهِۦ وَحَكَمًا مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن يُرِيدَآ إِصْلَـٰحًا يُوَفِّقِ ٱللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا خَبِيرًا
And if you fear dissension between the two, send an arbitrator from his people and an arbitrator from her people. If they both desire reconciliation, Allāh will cause it between them. Indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing and Aware.
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا
And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَتَبَيَّنُوا۟ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ لِمَنْ أَلْقَىٰٓ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمَ لَسْتَ مُؤْمِنًا تَبْتَغُونَ عَرَضَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةٌ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلُ فَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
O you who have believed, when you go forth [to fight] in the cause of Allāh, investigate; and do not say to one who gives you [a greeting of] peace, "You are not a believer," aspiring for the goods of worldly life; for with Allāh are many acquisitions. You [yourselves] were like that before; then Allāh conferred His favor [i.e., guidance] upon you, so investigate. Indeed Allāh is ever, of what you do, Aware.