An-Nisaa 4:148

"Allāh does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allāh Hearing and Knowing."

The Permission to Utter Evil in Public, For One Who Was Wronged

`Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn `Abbas commented on the Ayah,

لاَّ يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ الْجَهْرَ بِالسُّوءِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ

(Allah does not like that the evil should be uttered in public) "Allah does not like that any one should invoke Him against anyone else, unless one was wronged. In this case, Allah allows one to invoke Him against whoever wronged him. Hence Allah's statement,

إَلاَّ مَن ظَلَمَ

(except by him who has been wronged.) Yet, it is better for one if he observes patience." Al-Hasan Al-Basri commented, "One should not invoke Allah (for curses) against whoever wronged him. Rather, he should supplicate, `O Allah! Help me against him and take my right from him."' In another narration, Al-Hasan said, "Allah has allowed one to invoke Him against whoever wronged him without transgressing the limits." `Abdul-Karim bin Malik Al-Jazari said about this Ayah; "When a man curses you, you could curse him in retaliation. But if he lies about you, you may not lie about him.

وَلَمَنِ انتَصَرَ بَعْدَ ظُلْمِهِ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ مَا عَلَيْهِمْ مِّن سَبِيلٍ

(And indeed whosoever takes revenge after he has suffered wrong, for such there is no way (of blame) against them. )" Abu Dawud recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«المُسْتَبَّانِ مَا قَالَا، فَعَلَى الْبَادِئ مِنْهُمَا مَا لَمْ يَعْتَدِ الْمَظْلُوم»

(Whatever words are uttered by those who curse each other, then he who started it will carry the burden thereof, unless the one who was wronged transgresses the limit.) Allah said,

إِن تُبْدُواْ خَيْراً أَوْ تُخْفُوهْ أَوْ تَعْفُواْ عَن سُوءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوّاً قَدِيراً

(Whether you disclose a good deed, or conceal it, or pardon an evil; verily, Allah is Ever Pardoning, All-Powerful.) Meaning when you, mankind, admit to a good favor done to you, or conceal it, and forgive those who wrong you, then this will bring you closer to Allah and increase your reward with Him. Among Allah's attributes is that He forgives and pardons His servants, although He is able to punish them. Hence Allah's statement,

فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوّاً قَدِيراً

(Verily, Allah is Ever Pardoning, All-Powerful.) It was reported that some of the angels who carry Allah's Throne praise Him saying, "All praise is due to You for Your forbearing even though You have perfect knowledge (in all evil committed)." Some of them supplicate, "All praise is due to You for Your forgiving even though You have perfect ability (to punish)." An authentic Hadith states,

«مَا نَقَصَ مَالٌ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ، وَلَا زَادَ اللهُ عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلَّا عِزًّا، وَمَنْ تَوَاضَعَ للهِ رَفَعَهُ الله»

(No charity shall ever decrease wealth, and Allah will only increase the honor of a servant who pardons, and he who is humble for Allah's sake, then Allah will elevate his grade.)

Всевышний сообщил о том, что Ему не нравится, когда люди злословят во всеуслышание. Ему ненавистно такое поведение, и Он наказывает их за это. Под злословием подразумеваются все скверные слова, которые могут огорчить и опечалить человека. Это могут быть брань, клевета, оскорбления и тому подобные запрещенные высказывания, которые ненавистны Аллаху. Из смысла этого аята следует, что Аллаху нравятся прекрасные слова, такие как слова поминания Его или мягкие и добрые обращения. Но если с человеком поступили несправедливо, то ему разрешается проклинать своего обидчика, жаловаться на него и говорить об этом во всеуслышание при условии, что он не будет наговаривать на него, наносить ему оскорбления, превосходящие совершенную против него несправедливость, и обижать тех, кто не причинял ему зла. Поступать так разрешается, однако будет гораздо лучше, если человек простит своего обидчика и не станет мстить за совершенную против него несправедливость. Всевышний сказал: «Воздаянием за зло является равноценное зло. Но если кто простит и установит мир, то его награда будет за Аллахом. Воистину, Он не любит беззаконников» (42:40). Поскольку в этом аяте были упомянуты одновременно дурные, прекрасные и дозволенные речи, Всевышний Аллах напомнил о том, что Он - Слышащий. Он слышит людские речи; пусть же рабы остерегаются говорить то, что может навлечь на них Его гнев и повлечь за собой наказание. Аллах вдохновил рабов на произнесение прекрасных слов и напомнил о том, что Ему известно об их намерениях, которые являются основой их речей и высказываний.

The purpose in previous verses was to point out to some ugly traits of the hypocrites, though their punishment of being in Hell with disbelievers was also mentioned as a corollary to another subject.

From this stage onwards, the purpose is to state their punishment clearly. Since the inherent effect of such impending punishment generates a sense of fear in a good-natured person which usually becomes the reason for early repentance, therefore, exemption from punishment has been promised to those who repent alongwith the incentive of good reward for them.

The Meaning of sincerity

The statement: وَأَخْلَصُوا دِينَهُمْ (Make their Faith pure for Allah) in verse 146 shows that a deed in order to be acceptable with Allah has to be free of hypocrisy and exclusively for His sake and pleasure, for Muslim jurists have enunciated the meaning of Mukhlis (translated with the weaker equivalent 'sincere' ) as follows:

اَلَّذِی یَعمَلُ للہ لَا یُحِبُّ اَن یُّحمَدَہُ النَّاسُ عَلَیہِ

A sincere person is one who acts for Allah alone and does not like that people praise him for it. (Mazhari)

Other English translations

Tafsīr · classical commentary

The Permission to Utter Evil in Public, For One Who Was Wronged