وَٱلَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَٰجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ شُهَدَآءُ إِلَّآ أَنفُسُهُمْ فَشَهَـٰدَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَرْبَعُ شَهَـٰدَٰتٍۭ بِٱللَّهِ ۙ إِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ 6
Translations
And those who accuse their wives [of adultery] and have no witnesses except themselves - then the witness of one of them [shall be] four testimonies [swearing] by Allāh that indeed, he is of the truthful.
Transliteration
Wa-alladhina yarmuun azwajahum wa-lam yakun lahum shuhadaa illaa anfusuhum fa-shahadatu ahhadihim arba'u shahadaat bi-Allah innahu la-min as-sadiqeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the case of a man who accuses his wife of adultery without witnesses. The punishment involves him taking four oaths before Allah, declaring his truthfulness, as explained by classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir. This severe requirement of testimony reflects the Quranic principle of protecting honor and dignity while maintaining strict evidentiary standards, as the accusation of zina (adultery) requires either four reliable witnesses or the sworn testimony procedure outlined in this ayah.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed as part of the legal framework regarding accusations of adultery (li'an - mutual oath-taking), which emerged from disputes in the early Muslim community. Surah An-Nur addresses modesty, chastity, and the legal consequences of false accusations, with this ayah specifically establishing the procedure when a husband accuses his wife without supporting witnesses.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim (1493) records the case of Hilal ibn Umayyah, who accused his wife of infidelity, leading to the implementation of li'an (mutual oath-taking). Additionally, Sahih Bukhari (4746) documents the case of Sa'd ibn Ubaydah and the revelation of this legal procedure.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that serious accusations require rigorous proof and that even in personal matters, Islam establishes strict standards to prevent slander and protect dignity; it reminds believers that Allah is the ultimate witness to all truths, and integrity in oath-taking before Him is paramount.