۞ لَّا يُحِبُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْجَهْرَ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا 148
Translations
Allāh does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allāh Hearing and Knowing.
Transliteration
Lā yuḥibbu -llāhu -l-jahru bi-s-sūʾi mina -l-qawli illā man ẓulima wa-kāna -llāhu samīʿan ʿalīmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah does not love the public proclamation of evil speech and insults, except for those who have been wronged—they are permitted to openly declare their injustice. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as permitting the wronged person to publicly expose their oppressor's unjust treatment without violating the prohibition against foul speech, as their grievance serves a legitimate purpose. The ayah concludes by emphasizing that Allah is All-Hearing and All-Knowing of both hidden intentions and manifest words, suggesting that sincerity and justice in one's complaint are paramount.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the broader Medinan context of Surah An-Nisa, which addresses social conduct, women's rights, and community ethics. While no specific asbab al-nuzul (revelation occasion) is definitively established by classical scholars, the ayah fits within the surah's theme of regulating speech and behavior to maintain social harmony, while acknowledging legitimate grievances against oppression.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The supplication of the wronged person is answered by Allah, even if he is a disbeliever' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Prophet prohibited backbiting (gheebah) extensively, but made exceptions for those who have been wronged in seeking justice (Sahih Muslim and others).
Themes
Key Lesson
While Muslims are generally forbidden from publicly speaking ill of others, Islam recognizes the dignity of the wronged and permits them to openly declare and seek remedy for injustice—a balance between maintaining social decorum and protecting human rights. This teaches us that proper intention and justified cause elevate a person's complaints from mere backbiting to legitimate testimony against oppression.
Related Ayahs
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۗ وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حَدِيثًا
Allāh - there is no deity except Him. He will surely assemble you for [account on] the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. And who is more truthful than Allāh in statement.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَنكَفُوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَيُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty. But as for those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will not find for themselves besides Allāh any protector or helper.
وَٱلَّـٰتِى يَأْتِينَ ٱلْفَـٰحِشَةَ مِن نِّسَآئِكُمْ فَٱسْتَشْهِدُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةً مِّنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن شَهِدُوا۟ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلْبُيُوتِ حَتَّىٰ يَتَوَفَّىٰهُنَّ ٱلْمَوْتُ أَوْ يَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُنَّ سَبِيلًا
Those who commit immorality [i.e., unlawful sexual intercourse] of your women - bring against them four [witnesses] from among you. And if they testify, confine them [i.e., the guilty women] to houses until death takes them or Allāh ordains for them [another] way.
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوٓا۟ أَن يَكْفُرُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَيُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلَـٰلًۢا بَعِيدًا
Have you not seen those who claim to have believed in what was revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and what was revealed before you? They wish to refer legislation to ṭāghūt, while they were commanded to reject it; and Satan wishes to lead them far astray.