وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ 20
Translations
And if it had not been for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy... and because Allāh is Kind and Merciful.
Transliteration
Wa law lā faḍlu -llāhi `alaykum wa raḥmatuhū wa anna -llāha ra'ūfun raḥīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that were it not for Allah's favor and mercy upon the believers, they would face severe punishment for the slander and false accusations spread regarding 'Aisha (the incident of the Ifk). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this verse highlights Allah's divine protection and clemency toward the Muslim community despite their human weaknesses, and reassures believers of Allah's gentle (Ra'uf) and merciful (Rahim) nature in dealing with His servants.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nur's discussion of the Ifk incident (the great slander against 'Aisha, the Prophet's wife), which occurred in Medina during the 5th year of Hijra. The surah addresses this grave trial and the social chaos it caused, ultimately vindicating 'Aisha and establishing important legal principles regarding testimony and slander.
Related Hadiths
The incident of Ifk is extensively detailed in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, particularly in the narrations of 'Aisha herself. A related hadith in Sahih Muslim emphasizes that the Prophet said kind words to 'Aisha after her vindication, reflecting Allah's mercy and the Prophet's gentleness (Rauf) toward his family.
Themes
Key Lesson
This verse teaches believers that Allah's grace and mercy shield the Muslim community from the full consequences of human lapses in judgment and speech, encouraging us to trust in Allah's protection while being cautious about spreading rumors and accusations. It also reminds us that Allah's approach to justice is tempered with gentleness and compassion, inviting us to emulate these divine qualities in our dealings with others.