وَلَوْلَآ إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ قُلْتُم مَّا يَكُونُ لَنَآ أَن نَّتَكَلَّمَ بِهَـٰذَا سُبْحَـٰنَكَ هَـٰذَا بُهْتَـٰنٌ عَظِيمٌ 16
Translations
And why, when you heard it, did you not say, "It is not for us to speak of this. Exalted are You, [O Allāh]; this is a great slander"?
Transliteration
Wa law lā idh sami'tūmūhu qultum mā yakūnu lanā an natakallama bi hādhā subḥānaka hādhā buhṭānun 'aẓīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rebukes those who heard the false accusation against 'Ā'ishah (رضي الله عنها) for not immediately rejecting it as a grave lie. The verse teaches that upon hearing a serious false claim, the believers should have immediately disassociated themselves from it and proclaimed Allah's transcendence, recognizing the accusation as a monstrous fabrication. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this establishes an obligation to defend the honor of Muslims and reject slander without delay or hesitation.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nur (Chapter 24), which was revealed in response to the grave slander (ifk) spread against 'Ā'ishah, the Prophet's wife, during the expedition to Banī al-Muṣṭaliq (5 AH). The surah addresses both the incident itself and establishes broader principles regarding chastity, modesty, and the protection of reputation in the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim record the detailed account of the slander (hadith of ifk) where the Prophet's companions gradually came to 'Ā'ishah's defense. Additionally, the hadith in Muslim, "Whoever defends the honor of his brother [in his absence], Allah will defend his face from the Fire on the Day of Judgment," relates thematically to the obligation of defending reputations.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims have a collective duty to immediately refute false accusations and slander against their brothers and sisters, recognizing that defending reputation is an Islamic obligation. This ayah teaches that silence in the face of lies amounts to participation in evil, and swift, clear rejection of falsehood is both a moral and religious necessity.
Related Ayahs
ٱلْخَبِيثَـٰتُ لِلْخَبِيثِينَ وَٱلْخَبِيثُونَ لِلْخَبِيثَـٰتِ ۖ وَٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ وَٱلطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ ۖ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
Evil words are for evil men, and evil men are [subjected] to evil words. And good words are for good men, and good men are [an object] of good words. Those [good people] are declared innocent of what they [i.e., slanderers] say. For them is forgiveness and noble provision.
وَلَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتٍ مُّبَيِّنَـٰتٍ وَمَثَلًا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
And We have certainly sent down to you distinct verses and examples from those who passed on before you and an admonition for those who fear Allāh.
وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَ كُلَّ دَآبَّةٍ مِّن مَّآءٍ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰ بَطْنِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰ رِجْلَيْنِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰٓ أَرْبَعٍ ۚ يَخْلُقُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Allāh has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are those that move on their bellies, and of them are those that walk on two legs, and of them are those that walk on four. Allāh creates what He wills. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.