قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّىَ ٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَٱلْإِثْمَ وَٱلْبَغْىَ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَأَن تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا وَأَن تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ 33
Translations
Say, "My Lord has only forbidden immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allāh that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allāh that which you do not know."
Transliteration
Qul innama harrama rabbi al-fawahisha ma dhahara minha wa ma batana wa al-ithma wa al-baghy bi-ghayri al-haqq wa an tushrikoo bi-Allah ma lam yunazzil bihi sultan wa an taqoolu ala Allah ma la ta'lamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah's Messenger is commanded to declare that the Lord has forbidden indecencies—both open and concealed—along with sin, transgression without justice, associating partners with Allah without proof, and making claims about Allah without knowledge. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this ayah comprehensively encompasses the major categories of prohibited acts by addressing both outward immoral conduct and hidden sins, demonstrating Allah's all-encompassing prohibition of what corrupts the soul and society. Al-Qurtubi notes that these prohibitions represent fundamental principles of Islamic ethics, protecting human dignity, monotheism, and intellectual integrity.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in a Meccan surah addressing pagan Arabs who were engaging in various forms of immorality and associating partners with Allah. It reflects the early Islamic period's direct confrontation with pre-Islamic practices ('jahiliyyah') and establishes the foundational ethical framework of Islamic law.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), reflecting the concern with concealed character. Additionally, 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Muslim 45) connects to the broader ethical framework established in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Islamic morality encompasses both visible actions and hidden intentions, requiring believers to maintain integrity in all aspects of life while rejecting false claims and innovations in religion. For modern readers, it emphasizes that ethical behavior extends beyond social conformity to the depths of one's conscience, and that speaking about religious matters demands knowledge and sincerity.
Related Ayahs
قَدِ ٱفْتَرَيْنَا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا إِنْ عُدْنَا فِى مِلَّتِكُم بَعْدَ إِذْ نَجَّىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ مِنْهَا ۚ وَمَا يَكُونُ لَنَآ أَن نَّعُودَ فِيهَآ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا ۚ وَسِعَ رَبُّنَا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا ۚ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا ٱفْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْفَـٰتِحِينَ
We would have invented against Allāh a lie if we returned to your religion after Allāh had saved us from it. And it is not for us to return to it except that Allāh, our Lord, should will. Our Lord has encompassed all things in knowledge. Upon Allāh we have relied. Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth, and You are the best of those who give decision."
وَإِن كَانَ طَآئِفَةٌ مِّنكُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلَّذِىٓ أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِۦ وَطَآئِفَةٌ لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ فَٱصْبِرُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَحْكُمَ ٱللَّهُ بَيْنَنَا ۚ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْحَـٰكِمِينَ
And if there should be a group among you who has believed in that with which I have been sent and a group that has not believed, then be patient until Allāh judges between us. And He is the best of judges."
يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allāh that perhaps they will remember.
سَآءَ مَثَلًا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَأَنفُسَهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَظْلِمُونَ
How evil an example [is that of] the people who denied Our signs and used to wrong themselves.