سُوْرَةُ الْحُجُراتِ
Surah Al-Hujuraat (49) — Ayah 11
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَآءٌ مِّن نِّسَآءٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُنَّ ۖ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا۟ بِٱلْأَلْقَـٰبِ ۖ بِئْسَ ٱلِٱسْمُ ٱلْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ ٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ﴿11﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former. Nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former. Nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it to insult one’s brother after having Faith [i.e. to call your Muslim brother (a faithful believer) as: "O sinner", or "O wicked"]. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zâlimûn (wrong-doers, etc.).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you who believe
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
O you who believe
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
O you who believe
لَا
lā
(Let) not
يَسْخَرْ
yaskhar
ridicule
قَوْمٌۭ
qawmun
a people
مِّن
min
[of]
قَوْمٍ
qawmin
(another) people
عَسَىٰٓ
ʿasā
perhaps
أَن
an
that
يَكُونُوا۟
yakūnū
they may be
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
better
مِّنْهُمْ
min'hum
than them
وَلَا
walā
and (let) not
نِسَآءٌۭ
nisāon
women
مِّن
min
[of]
نِّسَآءٍ
nisāin
(other) women
عَسَىٰٓ
ʿasā
perhaps
أَن
an
that
يَكُنَّ
yakunna
they may be
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
better
مِّنْهُنَّ ۖ
min'hunna
than them
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَلْمِزُوٓا۟
talmizū
insult
أَنفُسَكُمْ
anfusakum
yourselves
وَلَا
walā
and (do) not
تَنَابَزُوا۟
tanābazū
call each other
بِٱلْأَلْقَـٰبِ ۖ
bil-alqābi
by nicknames
بِئْسَ
bi'sa
Wretched is
ٱلِٱسْمُ
l-s'mu
the name
ٱلْفُسُوقُ
l-fusūqu
(of) disobedience
بَعْدَ
baʿda
after
ٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ ۚ
l-īmāni
the faith
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
لَّمْ
lam
(does) not
يَتُبْ
yatub
repent
فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
fa-ulāika
then those
هُمُ
humu
they
ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
l-ẓālimūna
(are) the wrongdoers
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.
11. O you who believe! Let not one group mock [14] another group; it may be that they are better than them. Nor let women mock other women; it may be that they are better than them. And do not defame [16] one another, nor call each other by offensive nicknames [17]. How evil is it to be called by a sinful name after having faith [18]. And whoever does not repent from these things, then they are the wrongdoers.
[14]
Avoiding Mockery:
In this verse, such social etiquettes are being taught which generally become the cause of quarrels and disputes. There can be only two reasons for mocking: one is religious or ideological difference, and the other is considering the addressed person inferior and contemptible. Whatever the case may be, since mocking can lead to quarrels and disputes, therefore, even the initial causes of such conflicts have been prohibited.
[15] Allah Almighty has said that men should not mock other men, nor should women mock other women. It is not said that a man should not mock a woman or a woman should not mock a man. From this, it is evident that in Islam, the concept of a mixed society or free intermingling of men and women is non-existent.
[16]
Avoiding Sarcasm and Taunting:
﴿لَمَزَ﴾ means to find fault in someone's action or behavior. For example, making snide remarks, mimicking someone, making gestures, or targeting someone with blame or sarcastic comments—all these are included in the meaning of this word. Since such actions spoil social relations, they have been declared unlawful.
[17]
The Meaning and Types of Nicknames:
There are two types of nicknames: one which is liked, and this has two forms. One is that a person adopts a pleasant nickname for himself, and the other is that someone else gives him such a nickname. For example, the nickname of our master Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ was "Siddiq," or the nickname of our master Umar was "Farooq." The second type is those which are blameworthy, and such nicknames are usually given by rivals, opponents, or enemies, and are given only to humiliate or provoke the person. In this verse, calling someone by such nicknames has been prohibited. Its second meaning is that, as an insult or mockery, someone is called "Fasiq" (sinner) or "Jew," or is attributed to a crime which he has already abandoned, such as calling someone an adulterer, thief, or robber after he has accepted faith and repented. All such things become causes of discord and conflict. That is why they have been prohibited, and doing such acts is a major sin. Thus, our master Abu Dharr Ghifari ؓ says that I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: "Whoever calls a Muslim 'Fasiq' or 'Kafir,' and in reality he is not a disbeliever or sinner, then the one who said it will himself become a sinner or disbeliever." [بخاری۔ کتاب الادب۔ باب ما ینہی من السباب واللعن]
Prohibition of Giving or Calling by Bad Names:
And sometimes a person is given such a nickname in which there is neither any humiliation nor does he himself consider it bad, rather it is only for identification. For example, in the time of the Prophet, a companion was called "Dhul-Yadain" because of his long hands. Similarly, there is no harm in saying "Abdullah the Tall" or "Hakim the Blind," etc. [بخاری۔ کتاب الادب۔ باب مایجوز من ذکر الناس]
[18] That is, all the above-mentioned acts are acts of wickedness. It does not befit a believer that after accepting faith, he continues to do such things. And if someone becomes famous and well-known for such things, then this is a very bad thing indeed.
[14]
Avoiding Mockery:
In this verse, such social etiquettes are being taught which generally become the cause of quarrels and disputes. There can be only two reasons for mocking: one is religious or ideological difference, and the other is considering the addressed person inferior and contemptible. Whatever the case may be, since mocking can lead to quarrels and disputes, therefore, even the initial causes of such conflicts have been prohibited.
[15] Allah Almighty has said that men should not mock other men, nor should women mock other women. It is not said that a man should not mock a woman or a woman should not mock a man. From this, it is evident that in Islam, the concept of a mixed society or free intermingling of men and women is non-existent.
[16]
Avoiding Sarcasm and Taunting:
﴿لَمَزَ﴾ means to find fault in someone's action or behavior. For example, making snide remarks, mimicking someone, making gestures, or targeting someone with blame or sarcastic comments—all these are included in the meaning of this word. Since such actions spoil social relations, they have been declared unlawful.
[17]
The Meaning and Types of Nicknames:
There are two types of nicknames: one which is liked, and this has two forms. One is that a person adopts a pleasant nickname for himself, and the other is that someone else gives him such a nickname. For example, the nickname of our master Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ was "Siddiq," or the nickname of our master Umar was "Farooq." The second type is those which are blameworthy, and such nicknames are usually given by rivals, opponents, or enemies, and are given only to humiliate or provoke the person. In this verse, calling someone by such nicknames has been prohibited. Its second meaning is that, as an insult or mockery, someone is called "Fasiq" (sinner) or "Jew," or is attributed to a crime which he has already abandoned, such as calling someone an adulterer, thief, or robber after he has accepted faith and repented. All such things become causes of discord and conflict. That is why they have been prohibited, and doing such acts is a major sin. Thus, our master Abu Dharr Ghifari ؓ says that I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: "Whoever calls a Muslim 'Fasiq' or 'Kafir,' and in reality he is not a disbeliever or sinner, then the one who said it will himself become a sinner or disbeliever." [بخاری۔ کتاب الادب۔ باب ما ینہی من السباب واللعن]
Prohibition of Giving or Calling by Bad Names:
And sometimes a person is given such a nickname in which there is neither any humiliation nor does he himself consider it bad, rather it is only for identification. For example, in the time of the Prophet, a companion was called "Dhul-Yadain" because of his long hands. Similarly, there is no harm in saying "Abdullah the Tall" or "Hakim the Blind," etc. [بخاری۔ کتاب الادب۔ باب مایجوز من ذکر الناس]
[18] That is, all the above-mentioned acts are acts of wickedness. It does not befit a believer that after accepting faith, he continues to do such things. And if someone becomes famous and well-known for such things, then this is a very bad thing indeed.
