۞ لَّا يُحِبُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْجَهْرَ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا 148
Translations
Allāh does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allāh Hearing and Knowing.
Transliteration
Lā yuḥibbu -llāhu -l-jahru bi-s-sūʾi mina -l-qawli illā man ẓulima wa-kāna -llāhu samīʿan ʿalīmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah does not love the public proclamation of evil speech and insults, except for those who have been wronged—they are permitted to openly declare their injustice. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as permitting the wronged person to publicly expose their oppressor's unjust treatment without violating the prohibition against foul speech, as their grievance serves a legitimate purpose. The ayah concludes by emphasizing that Allah is All-Hearing and All-Knowing of both hidden intentions and manifest words, suggesting that sincerity and justice in one's complaint are paramount.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the broader Medinan context of Surah An-Nisa, which addresses social conduct, women's rights, and community ethics. While no specific asbab al-nuzul (revelation occasion) is definitively established by classical scholars, the ayah fits within the surah's theme of regulating speech and behavior to maintain social harmony, while acknowledging legitimate grievances against oppression.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The supplication of the wronged person is answered by Allah, even if he is a disbeliever' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Prophet prohibited backbiting (gheebah) extensively, but made exceptions for those who have been wronged in seeking justice (Sahih Muslim and others).
Themes
Key Lesson
While Muslims are generally forbidden from publicly speaking ill of others, Islam recognizes the dignity of the wronged and permits them to openly declare and seek remedy for injustice—a balance between maintaining social decorum and protecting human rights. This teaches us that proper intention and justified cause elevate a person's complaints from mere backbiting to legitimate testimony against oppression.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ عُدْوَٰنًا وَظُلْمًا فَسَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِ نَارًا ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًا
And whoever does that in aggression and injustice - then We will drive him into a Fire. And that, for Allāh, is [always] easy.
فَقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ إِلَّا نَفْسَكَ ۚ وَحَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأْسًا وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلًا
So fight, [O Muḥammad], in the cause of Allāh; you are not held responsible except for yourself. And encourage the believers [to join you] that perhaps Allāh will restrain the [military] might of those who disbelieve. And Allāh is greater in might and stronger in [exemplary] punishment.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ وَيَأْمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلْبُخْلِ وَيَكْتُمُونَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا
Who are stingy and enjoin upon [other] people stinginess and conceal what Allāh has given them of His bounty - and We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment -
۞ إِنَّآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ كَمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ نُوحٍ وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَعِيسَىٰ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَـٰرُونَ وَسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ۚ وَءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ زَبُورًا
Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And We revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book [of Psalms].