لَّوْلَآ إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ ظَنَّ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ خَيْرًا وَقَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَآ إِفْكٌ مُّبِينٌ 12
Translations
Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of themselves [i.e., one another] and say, "This is an obvious falsehood"?
Transliteration
Lawla idh sami'tumuuh, dhanna al-mu'minun wa-al-mu'minat bi-anfusihim khayran wa-qalu ha-dha ifkun mubin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah criticizes the believers who heard the slanderous accusation against 'Aisha (the incident of al-ifk) for not immediately defending her honor and reputation. The verse suggests that true believers should have assumed the best of their sister in faith and rejected the false claim outright as an obvious lie. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah establishes the principle of husn al-dhann (thinking well of others) and the obligation to defend the innocent against baseless accusations.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the 5th year of Hijra regarding the slander campaign (hadith al-ifk) against 'Aisha bint Abu Bakr, the Prophet's wife. When a group spread false accusations, many believers initially hesitated or remained silent, and this ayah rebukes that response, establishing standards for how the Muslim community should respond to accusations against the virtuous.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain detailed accounts of hadith al-ifk, where 'Aisha herself narrates the incident and her vindication through revelation (24:11-26). The hadith demonstrates the Prophet's patience during this trial and emphasizes the grave sin of spreading false accusations.
Themes
Key Lesson
When we hear accusations against others, especially the virtuous, we have a moral and Islamic obligation to think well of them, seek evidence, and defend their honor rather than participate in spreading rumors. This ayah teaches that silence in the face of slander is complicity, and believers must actively counter false narratives with wisdom and integrity.