يَعِظُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَن تَعُودُوا۟ لِمِثْلِهِۦٓ أَبَدًا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ 17
Translations
Allāh warns you against returning to the likes of this [conduct], ever, if you should be believers.
Transliteration
Ya'izukumu-Allah an ta'ūdū limithlihi abadā in kuntum mu'minīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah admonishes the believers to never return to such false accusations and slander as mentioned in the context of Aisha's incident (the Ifk), emphasizing that this prohibition is conditional upon true faith. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as a strong divine warning against spreading lies and accusations, particularly those targeting honor and chastity, with the understanding that a true believer would heed this prohibition as an essential aspect of their faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the passage addressing the Incident of Ifk (the slander against Aisha, the Prophet's wife), which occurred during the 5th year of Hijrah. The surah was revealed to establish guidelines for dealing with accusations of immorality and to protect the honor and dignity of believers, particularly women, by prohibiting the spread of unverified claims.
Related Hadiths
1) Sahih Bukhari (2657): The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Whoever accuses a chaste woman of immorality will have the testimony rejected on the Day of Judgment unless they repent.' 2) Sunan An-Nasa'i: The Prophet ﷺ emphasized that spreading false accusations about people's honor is among the gravest of sins.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that genuine faith requires us to guard our tongues from spreading unverified accusations and to protect others' dignity and honor; a practical lesson that demands we verify information before sharing it and refrain from participating in character assassination in our modern age of rapid information spread.
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And if it had not been for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy... and because Allāh is Kind and Merciful.
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.
يَوْمَئِذٍ يُوَفِّيهِمُ ٱللَّهُ دِينَهُمُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ ٱلْمُبِينُ
That Day, Allāh will pay them in full their true [i.e., deserved] recompense, and they will know that it is Allāh who is the manifest Truth [i.e., perfect in justice].
أَلَآ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَيَوْمَ يُرْجَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۢ
Unquestionably, to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. Already He knows that upon which you [stand] and [knows] the Day when they will be returned to Him and He will inform them of what they have done. And Allāh is Knowing of all things.