وَمَن يَكْسِبْ خَطِيٓـَٔةً أَوْ إِثْمًا ثُمَّ يَرْمِ بِهِۦ بَرِيٓـًٔا فَقَدِ ٱحْتَمَلَ بُهْتَـٰنًا وَإِثْمًا مُّبِينًا 112
Translations
But whoever earns an offense or a sin and then blames it on an innocent [person] has taken upon himself a slander and manifest sin.
Transliteration
Wa man yaksib khatee'atan aw ithman thumma yarmi bihi baree'an faqad ihtamala buhtanan wa ithman mubeenan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the grave sin of falsely accusing an innocent person of a crime or wrongdoing they did not commit. According to classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir, whoever commits a sin or transgression and then attributes it to an innocent person bears both the burden of false accusation (buhtān) and clear sin, as they compound their original transgression with the heinous act of slander against the blameless. This ayah establishes that framing the innocent is among the most serious violations of justice in Islamic law.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the context of Surah An-Nisa's discussion of rights, justice, and moral conduct in Medinan society. It follows verses addressing orphans' rights and fair treatment, reflecting the surah's broader emphasis on protecting the vulnerable and establishing equitable social norms. The specific prohibition likely addresses a prevalent social vice in early Muslim communities.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Avoid the seven destructive sins,' among which he mentioned false accusation. (Sahih Bukhari 2766). Additionally, the Prophet ﷺ stated: 'Whoever accuses a Muslim of disbelief, it returns to one of them,' emphasizing the severe consequences of false accusations. (Sunan Abu Dawud 4687)
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must vigilantly guard against falsely accusing others, as such slander compounds sin upon sin and violates fundamental Islamic principles of justice and character. In an age of misinformation and hasty judgment, this ayah reminds believers to verify claims before spreading them and to uphold the dignity and innocence of others.
Related Ayahs
وَلَن تَسْتَطِيعُوٓا۟ أَن تَعْدِلُوا۟ بَيْنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتُمْ ۖ فَلَا تَمِيلُوا۟ كُلَّ ٱلْمَيْلِ فَتَذَرُوهَا كَٱلْمُعَلَّقَةِ ۚ وَإِن تُصْلِحُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
And you will never be able to be equal [in feeling] between wives, even if you should strive [to do so]. So do not incline completely [toward one] and leave another hanging. And if you amend [your affairs] and fear Allāh - then indeed, Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
۞ لَّا يُحِبُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْجَهْرَ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا
Allāh does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allāh Hearing and Knowing.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ ظُلْمًا إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِى بُطُونِهِمْ نَارًا ۖ وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيرًا
Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire. And they will be burned in a Blaze [i.e., Hellfire].
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَـٰقَهُمْ وَكُفْرِهِم بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتْلِهِمُ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌۢ ۚ بَلْ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
And [We cursed them] for their breaking of the covenant and their disbelief in the signs of Allāh and their killing of the prophets without right and their saying, "Our hearts are wrapped" [i.e., sealed against reception]. Rather, Allāh has sealed them because of their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.