وَلَوْلَآ إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ قُلْتُم مَّا يَكُونُ لَنَآ أَن نَّتَكَلَّمَ بِهَـٰذَا سُبْحَـٰنَكَ هَـٰذَا بُهْتَـٰنٌ عَظِيمٌ 16
Translations
And why, when you heard it, did you not say, "It is not for us to speak of this. Exalted are You, [O Allāh]; this is a great slander"?
Transliteration
Wa law lā idh sami'tūmūhu qultum mā yakūnu lanā an natakallama bi hādhā subḥānaka hādhā buhṭānun 'aẓīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rebukes those who heard the false accusation against 'Ā'ishah (رضي الله عنها) for not immediately rejecting it as a grave lie. The verse teaches that upon hearing a serious false claim, the believers should have immediately disassociated themselves from it and proclaimed Allah's transcendence, recognizing the accusation as a monstrous fabrication. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this establishes an obligation to defend the honor of Muslims and reject slander without delay or hesitation.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nur (Chapter 24), which was revealed in response to the grave slander (ifk) spread against 'Ā'ishah, the Prophet's wife, during the expedition to Banī al-Muṣṭaliq (5 AH). The surah addresses both the incident itself and establishes broader principles regarding chastity, modesty, and the protection of reputation in the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim record the detailed account of the slander (hadith of ifk) where the Prophet's companions gradually came to 'Ā'ishah's defense. Additionally, the hadith in Muslim, "Whoever defends the honor of his brother [in his absence], Allah will defend his face from the Fire on the Day of Judgment," relates thematically to the obligation of defending reputations.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims have a collective duty to immediately refute false accusations and slander against their brothers and sisters, recognizing that defending reputation is an Islamic obligation. This ayah teaches that silence in the face of lies amounts to participation in evil, and swift, clear rejection of falsehood is both a moral and religious necessity.
Related Ayahs
لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ مَسْكُونَةٍ فِيهَا مَتَـٰعٌ لَّكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا تَكْتُمُونَ
There is no blame upon you for entering houses not inhabited in which there is convenience for you. And Allāh knows what you reveal and what you conceal.
وَٱلْخَـٰمِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
And the fifth [oath will be] that the curse of Allāh be upon him if he should be of the liars.
وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَخْشَ ٱللَّهَ وَيَتَّقْهِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَآئِزُونَ
And whoever obeys Allāh and His Messenger and fears Allāh and is conscious of Him - it is those who are the attainers.
وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَ كُلَّ دَآبَّةٍ مِّن مَّآءٍ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰ بَطْنِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰ رِجْلَيْنِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰٓ أَرْبَعٍ ۚ يَخْلُقُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Allāh has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are those that move on their bellies, and of them are those that walk on two legs, and of them are those that walk on four. Allāh creates what He wills. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.