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
وَٱتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَٱنسَلَخَ مِنْهَا فَأَتْبَعَهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْغَاوِينَ
And recite to them, [O Muḥammad], the news of him to whom We gave [knowledge of] Our signs, but he detached himself from them; so Satan pursued him, and he became of the deviators.
وَٱخْتَارَ مُوسَىٰ قَوْمَهُۥ سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا لِّمِيقَـٰتِنَا ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلرَّجْفَةُ قَالَ رَبِّ لَوْ شِئْتَ أَهْلَكْتَهُم مِّن قَبْلُ وَإِيَّـٰىَ ۖ أَتُهْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّا فِتْنَتُكَ تُضِلُّ بِهَا مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَهْدِى مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَا ۖ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْغَـٰفِرِينَ
And Moses chose from his people seventy men for Our appointment. And when the earthquake seized them, he said, "My Lord, if You had willed, You could have destroyed them before and me [as well]. Would You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is not but Your trial by which You send astray whom You will and guide whom You will. You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the best of forgivers.
حَقِيقٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَن لَّآ أَقُولَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ ۚ قَدْ جِئْتُكُم بِبَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعِىَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ
[Who is] obligated not to say about Allāh except the truth. I have come to you with clear evidence from your Lord, so send with me the Children of Israel."
يُرِيدُ أَن يُخْرِجَكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِكُمْ ۖ فَمَاذَا تَأْمُرُونَ
Who wants to expel you from your land [through magic], so what do you instruct?"