۞ 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
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَهُم ۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
Have you not seen those who claim themselves to be pure? Rather, Allāh purifies whom He wills, and injustice is not done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed].
وَلَئِنْ أَصَـٰبَكُمْ فَضْلٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لَيَقُولَنَّ كَأَن لَّمْ تَكُنۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُۥ مَوَدَّةٌ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى كُنتُ مَعَهُمْ فَأَفُوزَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا
But if bounty comes to you from Allāh, he will surely say, as if [i.e., showing that] there had never been between you and him any affection, "Oh, I wish I had been with them so I could have attained a great attainment."
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.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَظَلَمُوا۟ لَمْ يَكُنِ ٱللَّهُ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ وَلَا لِيَهْدِيَهُمْ طَرِيقًا
Indeed, those who disbelieve and commit wrong [or injustice] - never will Allāh forgive them, nor will He guide them to a path,