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
وَلَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتٍ مُّبَيِّنَـٰتٍ وَمَثَلًا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
And We have certainly sent down to you distinct verses and examples from those who passed on before you and an admonition for those who fear Allāh.
۞ ٱللَّهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِۦ كَمِشْكَوٰةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ ٱلْمِصْبَاحُ فِى زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ ٱلزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّىٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَـٰرَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِىٓءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ ۗ يَهْدِى ٱللَّهُ لِنُورِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَـٰلَ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Allāh is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp; the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allāh guides to His light whom He wills. And Allāh presents examples for the people, and Allāh is Knowing of all things.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ بُيُوتِكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تَسْتَأْنِسُوا۟ وَتُسَلِّمُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
O you who have believed, do not enter houses other than your own houses until you ascertain welcome and greet their inhabitants. That is best for you; perhaps you will be reminded [i.e., advised].
لَّوْلَا جَآءُو عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ ۚ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا۟ بِٱلشُّهَدَآءِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰذِبُونَ
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.