سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 36
وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْبَصَرَ وَٱلْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْـُٔولًا ﴿36﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And follow not (O man i.e., say not, or do not or witness not) that of which you have no knowledge. Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those one will be questioned (by Allâh).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَقْفُ
taqfu
pursue
مَا
mā
what
لَيْسَ
laysa
not
لَكَ
laka
you have
بِهِۦ
bihi
of it
عِلْمٌ ۚ
ʿil'mun
any knowledge
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱلسَّمْعَ
l-samʿa
the hearing
وَٱلْبَصَرَ
wal-baṣara
and the sight
وَٱلْفُؤَادَ
wal-fuāda
and the heart
كُلُّ
kullu
all
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
ulāika
those
كَانَ
kāna
will be
عَنْهُ
ʿanhu
[about it]
مَسْـُٔولًۭا
masūlan
questioned
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
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.
36. And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Surely, the hearing, the sight, and the heart [46]—all of these will be questioned about it.
[46]
It is Necessary to Investigate Every Statement and Action; Avoid Suspicion:
A very great principle of the Shariah is that one should have a good opinion of every person until some dishonesty or wrongful act of his becomes openly apparent. The same subject has been stated at another place: ﴿اِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ اِثْمٌ﴾ [12: 49] (that is, sometimes merely speaking on the basis of suspicion is a sin), and in a sound hadith it is stated: «كفي بالمرء كذبا ان يحدث بماسمع» (that is, it is enough for a person to be considered a liar that he relates everything he hears without verifying it) [مسلم].
Therefore, every person should not say anything without investigation, nor should he harbor suspicion against anyone without reason until he has fully investigated. He should not accuse or slander anyone thoughtlessly, nor spread any rumors, nor harbor malice or enmity against anyone. Similarly, it is necessary for the court as well that until the crime of the criminal is proven, no kind of punishment should be given to him. Then, this process of investigation is not limited to these matters only, but those customs and traditions which have been passed down from ancestors also fall under this, and it is necessary to investigate whether their origin is present in the Shariah or not. The mention of the eye and ear has been made because most of our information is obtained through these sources, and the function of the heart is to reflect upon them and reach a correct conclusion. Thus, even the limbs of those who harbor suspicion, spread baseless rumors, and accept things without investigation will be questioned.
[46]
It is Necessary to Investigate Every Statement and Action; Avoid Suspicion:
A very great principle of the Shariah is that one should have a good opinion of every person until some dishonesty or wrongful act of his becomes openly apparent. The same subject has been stated at another place: ﴿اِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ اِثْمٌ﴾ [12: 49] (that is, sometimes merely speaking on the basis of suspicion is a sin), and in a sound hadith it is stated: «كفي بالمرء كذبا ان يحدث بماسمع» (that is, it is enough for a person to be considered a liar that he relates everything he hears without verifying it) [مسلم].
Therefore, every person should not say anything without investigation, nor should he harbor suspicion against anyone without reason until he has fully investigated. He should not accuse or slander anyone thoughtlessly, nor spread any rumors, nor harbor malice or enmity against anyone. Similarly, it is necessary for the court as well that until the crime of the criminal is proven, no kind of punishment should be given to him. Then, this process of investigation is not limited to these matters only, but those customs and traditions which have been passed down from ancestors also fall under this, and it is necessary to investigate whether their origin is present in the Shariah or not. The mention of the eye and ear has been made because most of our information is obtained through these sources, and the function of the heart is to reflect upon them and reach a correct conclusion. Thus, even the limbs of those who harbor suspicion, spread baseless rumors, and accept things without investigation will be questioned.
