لَّوْلَا جَآءُو عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ ۚ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا۟ بِٱلشُّهَدَآءِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰذِبُونَ 13
Translations
Why did they [who slandered] not produce for it four witnesses? And when they do not produce the witnesses, then it is they, in the sight of Allāh, who are the liars.
Transliteration
Lawla jaa'u alayhi bi-arbaati shuhada, fa-idh lam ya'tu bis-shuhada fa-ulaika inda Allahi humul-kathibun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the legal requirement of four credible witnesses for accusations of zina (fornication/adultery), and declares that those who fail to produce such witnesses are liars in the sight of Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this verse sets a stringent evidentiary standard to protect honor and prevent slander, reflecting Islam's emphasis on justice and the protection of reputation. The phrase 'inda Allahi (in Allah's sight) emphasizes that their falsehood is not merely a legal matter but a spiritual transgression.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nur (Chapter 24), which was revealed in Medina and specifically addresses the incident of the Ifk (the great slander) against Aisha, the Prophet's wife. The surah establishes comprehensive rules regarding modesty, chastity, and false accusations. This particular verse comes in the context of legal rulings following that incident, emphasizing the severe punishment for unfounded accusations of immorality.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Avoid the seven destructive sins,' and among them he mentioned false accusations (Sahih Bukhari 2766). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'Whoever accuses a believing woman of fornication, Allah will not accept his repentance until she accepts it' (Sunan An-Nasa'i).
Themes
Key Lesson
This verse teaches Muslims the gravity of making accusations without proper evidence and the stringent requirements for testimony in matters of honor. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of verifying information before spreading allegations and protecting one's own and others' dignity in an age of rapid information sharing.