49. Al-Hujurat (The Private Apartments)

Medina Period 106 [18 verses]9H

Asad’s Version:

49:6 O YOU who have attained to faith! If any iniquitous person comes to you with a [slanderous) tale, use your discernment, 5 lest you hurt people unwittingly and afterwards be filled with remorse for what you have done. 6

(49:7) And know that God's Apostle is among you: 7 were he to comply with your inclinations in each and every case, 8 you would be bound to come to harm [as a community]. But as it is, God has caused [your) faith to be dear to you, and has given it beauty in your hearts, and has made hateful to you all denial of the truth, and all iniquity, and all rebellion [against what is good]. Such indeed are they who follow the right course (49:8) through God's bounty and favour; and God is all-knowing, truly wise.

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن جَاءكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَأٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا...

49: 6. O ye who believe!

if a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth,

C4924. All tittle-tattle or reports-especially if emanating from persons you do not know-are to be tested, and the truth ascertained. If they were believed and passed on, much harm may be done, of which you may have cause afterwards to repent heartily. Scandal or slander of all kinds is here condemned.

That about women is specially denounced: 24: 11-20; 23-26

...أَن تُصِيبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَى مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِينَ ﴿٦﴾

lest ye harm people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what ye have done.

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ فِيكُمْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ يُطِيعُكُمْ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْرِ لَعَنِتُّمْ...

49: 7. And know that among you is Allah's Messenger: were he, in many matters, to follow your (wishes), ye would certainly fall into misfortune:

C4925. The messenger of Allah, if he consults his friends and associates, should not be expected to follow their advice in all matters. The judgment and responsibility are his: he sees farther than the rest, and he is not swayed by personal feeling as others may be. (R).

...وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْإِيمَانَ وَزَيَّنَهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ...

but Allah has endeared the Faith to you, and has made it beautiful in your hearts,

C4926. Fortunate indeed was the generation among whom the Prophet of Allah walked in his daily life. His example was inspiring. Their inner Faith was dear to them; it was a thing to be proud of in their innermost hearts; and they loved discipline, obedience, and righteousness. No wonder all their other disadvantages were neutralized, and they went from strength to strength. Nothing but the Grace of Allah could have brought about such a result.

...وَكَرَّهَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْيَانَ...

and He has made hateful to you unbelief, wickedness, and rebellion:

...أُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الرَّاشِدُونَ ﴿٧﴾

such indeed are those who walk in righteousness --

فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَنِعْمَةً وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٨﴾

49: 8. A grace and favor from Allah;

and Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.