4. [an-Nisa, Medina 92]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَإِذَا
جَاءهُمْ أَمْرٌ
مِّنَ الأَمْنِ
أَوِ الْخَوْفِ
أَذَاعُواْ
بِهِ...
4: 83. When there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they divulge it.
... وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَى أُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ ...
If they had only referred it to the Messenger, or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have tested it from them (direct).
... وَلَوْلاَ فَضْلُ اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لاَتَّبَعْتُمُ الشَّيْطَانَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً ﴿٨٣﴾
Were it not for the Grace and Mercy of Allah unto you, all but a few of you would have fallen into the clutches of Satan.
C602. In times of war or public panic, thoughtless repetition of gossip is rightly restrained by all effective States. If false, such news may cause needless alarm: if true, it may frighten the, timid and cause some misgiving even to the bravest, because the counterpart of it -the preparations made to meet the danger- is not known.
Thoughtless news, true or false, may also encourage the enemy. The proper course is quietly to hand all news direct to those who are in a position to investigate it. They can then sift it and take suitable measures to checkmate the enemy.
Not to do so, but to deal with news either thoughtlessly or maliciously is to fall directly into the snares of evil.
4: 83
Asad And if any [secret] matter pertaining to peace or war comes within their ken, they [ note 98] spread it abroad – whereas, if they would but refer it unto the Apostle and unto others from among the believers [note 99] who have been who have been entrusted with authority, such of them as are engaged in obtaining intelligence [note 100] would indeed know [what to do with] it. And but for God’s bounty towards you, and His grace, all but few of you would certainly have followed Satan.
Pickthall And if any tidings, whether of safety or fear, come unto them, they noise it abroad, whereas if they had referred it to the messenger and such of them as are in authority, those among them who are able to think out the matter would have known it. If it had not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy ye would have followed Satan, save a few (of you).
Wa iza_ ja_'ahum amrum minal amni awil khaufi aza_'u_ bih(i), wa lau raddu_hu ilar rasu_li wa ila_ ulil amri minhum la'alimahul lazina yastambitu_nahu_ minhum, wa lau la_ fadlulla_hi 'alaikum wa rahmatuhu_ lattaba'tumusy syaita_na illa_ qalila_(n).
[[ Asad’s note 98 - …The above reference to peace or war – lit., “security or danger (khawf)” – is connected, firstly, with the basic principles of statecraft mentioned in verse 59 of this surah and, secondly, with the discourse on fighting in God’s cause beginning with verse 71.]]
Note 99 – Lit., “from among them”.
Note 100 – Lit., “those form among them who elicit [the truth]”, i.e., the special organs of the state entrusted with gathering and evaluating political and military intelligence. ]]
[[ Ali’s note - 602 In times of war or public panic, thoughtless repetition of gossip is rightly restrained by all effective States. If false, such news may cause needless alarm: if true, it may frighten the timid and cause some misgiving even to the bravest, because the counterpart of it-the preparations made to meet the danger-is not known. Thoughtless news, true or false, may also encourage the enemy. The proper course is quietly to hand all news direct to those who are in a position to investigate it. They can then sift it and take suitable measures to checkmate the enemy. Not to do so, but to deal with news either thoughtlessly or maliciously is to fall directly into the snares of evil. (4.83)]]