سُوْرَةُ النُّوْرِ
Surah An-Noor (24) — Ayah 13
لَّوْلَا جَآءُو عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ ۚ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا۟ بِٱلشُّهَدَآءِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰذِبُونَ ﴿13﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they (the slanderers) have not produced witnesses! Then with Allâh they are the liars.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
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 — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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 ]
