سُوْرَةُ النُّوْرِ

Surah An-Noor (24) — Ayah 13

The Light · Medinan · Juz 18 · Page 351

لَّوْلَا جَآءُو عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ ۚ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا۟ بِٱلشُّهَدَآءِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰذِبُونَ ﴿13﴾
Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they (the slanderers) have not produced witnesses! Then with Allâh they are the liars.
لَّوْلَا lawlā Why (did) not
جَآءُو jāū they bring
عَلَيْهِ ʿalayhi for it
بِأَرْبَعَةِ bi-arbaʿati four
شُهَدَآءَ ۚ shuhadāa witnesses
فَإِذْ fa-idh Then when
لَمْ lam not
يَأْتُوا۟ yatū they brought
بِٱلشُّهَدَآءِ bil-shuhadāi the witnesses
فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ fa-ulāika then those
عِندَ ʿinda near Allah
ٱللَّهِ l-lahi near Allah
هُمُ humu they
ٱلْكَـٰذِبُونَ l-kādhibūna (are) the liars

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 13){ لَوْ لَا جَآءُوْ عَلَيْهِ بِاَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ … :} Regarding those who slandered Umm al-Mu'mineen Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), it is stated that why did they not bring four witnesses for this claim? So when they did not bring witnesses, then they are, in the sight of Allah, complete liars. Ibn Ashur has explained its exegesis as follows: "The meaning is that whoever gives any information without seeing it himself, it is necessary for him to refer to someone who has witnessed it, and those witnesses must be in such a number that in such a case, certainty of truth is achieved by that number. (For adultery, this number is at least four.) Now, those who accused Umm al-Mu'mineen, none of them saw (the act), nor did they present such a number of witnesses by which the crime of adultery could be proven against anyone, rather, they accused her merely on assumption and suspicion. Therefore, in the sight of Allah, they are the liars." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِيَّاكُمْ وَالظَّنَّ فَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ أَكْذَبُ الْحَدِيْثِ ] [ بخاري، الأدب، باب : « یأیھا الذین آمنوا اجتنبوا…» : ۶۰۶۶ ] "Beware of (evil) suspicion, for (evil) suspicion is the most false of speech." The emphasis of {’’ فَاُولٰٓىِٕكَ ‘‘} with {’’ هُمْ ‘‘} and the use of alif-lam on the word khabar in {’’ الْكٰذِبُوْنَ ‘‘} creates exclusivity in the statement, which implies exaggeration in their being liars. As if they are so completely liars that there is no one else who is a liar in comparison to them. "Liars in the sight of Allah" means to state their being truly liars, because Allah's knowledge can never be contrary to reality. As for the issue that if a person cannot present four witnesses to prove adultery, it is possible that he is telling the truth, but the Shari'ah ruling will be according to the apparent, and he will be declared a liar and the punishment of qadhf will be implemented on him, so this is not the meaning of this verse (although this is correct according to other evidences)." [ التحریر والتنویر ]

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

13. Why did they not produce four witnesses to it? And since they did not bring the witnesses, then in the sight of Allah, they are indeed liars.

[17]
The Legal Aspect of the Incident of Ifk:

This is the legal aspect of the incident: such testimonies that indicate adultery could never have been available, because all the circumstantial evidence was against it. The reality was that the woman who was left behind was not an ordinary woman, but the mother of all Muslims, and the one who came behind was also a devout Muslim who truly regarded her as his mother. The mother observed hijab from him, and they did not converse with each other at that time nor throughout the journey. And this journey was taking place in broad daylight, from morning until noon. The woman was riding on a camel, and the man was silently walking ahead. Until he rejoined the Muslim army. In such circumstances, there could only be two motives for suspicion. One, that the person harboring suspicion is himself corrupt and wicked, who in such circumstances would think or do such things himself, and thus assumes everyone else is like him. And second, that he takes such an opportunity to spread such nonsense out of enmity. Both of these traits were found among the hypocrites.