سُوْرَةُ الْحُجُراتِ
Surah Al-Hujuraat (49) — Ayah 6
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن جَآءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌۢ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟ أَن تُصِيبُوا۟ قَوْمًۢا بِجَهَـٰلَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَـٰدِمِينَ ﴿6﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! If a Fâsiq (liar - evil person) comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you who believe
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
O you who believe
ءَامَنُوٓا۟
āmanū
O you who believe
إِن
in
If
جَآءَكُمْ
jāakum
comes to you
فَاسِقٌۢ
fāsiqun
a wicked person
بِنَبَإٍۢ
binaba-in
with information
فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟
fatabayyanū
investigate
أَن
an
lest
تُصِيبُوا۟
tuṣībū
you harm
قَوْمًۢا
qawman
a people
بِجَهَـٰلَةٍۢ
bijahālatin
in ignorance
فَتُصْبِحُوا۟
fatuṣ'biḥū
then you become
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
مَا
mā
what
فَعَلْتُمْ
faʿaltum
you have done
نَـٰدِمِينَ
nādimīna
regretful
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.
O you who believe! If a wicked person brings you any news, verify it, lest you harm a people [7] out of ignorance and then become regretful for what you have done.
[7]
The Need to Verify News is When the Character of the Informant is Not Fully Known:
Some commentators write that when the tribe of Banu Mustaliq became Muslim, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent Walid bin Uqbah ؓ to collect zakat from them. There was already enmity between the tribe of Walid bin Uqbah and Banu Mustaliq. When Walid bin Uqbah went to them, for some reason he became afraid and returned, telling him that they refused to give zakat. In fact, he said, they even wanted to kill me. Some people suggested that an attack should be launched against them to subdue them, but you ﷺ were hesitant in this matter. Meanwhile, the chief of Banu Mustaliq, Harith bin Dirar (the father of Umm al-Mu'mineen Sayyidah Juwayriyyah), happened to come to you ﷺ. He said that Walid bin Uqbah ؓ never even came to us, so how could the question of killing him arise? We are Muslims and are ready to give zakat. In this context, this verse was revealed. We have hesitation in accepting this narration as correct, because the word "fasiq" appears in the verse, so was Walid bin Uqbah a fasiq (which, even in the mildest language, can only be translated as an unreliable person)? And if that was the case, how could you have sent him as a collector of zakat? Therefore, it is better not to establish a connection between this verse and this incident. Moreover, even without this incident, the meaning of this verse is clearly understood. Most disputes and fights begin with false news and baseless rumors. And those who spread false news, or publicize it without verification, are fasiq. True believers cannot do such things. Therefore, the news of a person whose truthfulness and integrity are fully trusted can be accepted. But those who are unknown and for whom there are no means to trust, their news should not be accepted without verification. If this is not done, sometimes a person falls into such tribulations that later he has to regret, and there is much loss—both his own and that of others.
[7]
The Need to Verify News is When the Character of the Informant is Not Fully Known:
Some commentators write that when the tribe of Banu Mustaliq became Muslim, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent Walid bin Uqbah ؓ to collect zakat from them. There was already enmity between the tribe of Walid bin Uqbah and Banu Mustaliq. When Walid bin Uqbah went to them, for some reason he became afraid and returned, telling him that they refused to give zakat. In fact, he said, they even wanted to kill me. Some people suggested that an attack should be launched against them to subdue them, but you ﷺ were hesitant in this matter. Meanwhile, the chief of Banu Mustaliq, Harith bin Dirar (the father of Umm al-Mu'mineen Sayyidah Juwayriyyah), happened to come to you ﷺ. He said that Walid bin Uqbah ؓ never even came to us, so how could the question of killing him arise? We are Muslims and are ready to give zakat. In this context, this verse was revealed. We have hesitation in accepting this narration as correct, because the word "fasiq" appears in the verse, so was Walid bin Uqbah a fasiq (which, even in the mildest language, can only be translated as an unreliable person)? And if that was the case, how could you have sent him as a collector of zakat? Therefore, it is better not to establish a connection between this verse and this incident. Moreover, even without this incident, the meaning of this verse is clearly understood. Most disputes and fights begin with false news and baseless rumors. And those who spread false news, or publicize it without verification, are fasiq. True believers cannot do such things. Therefore, the news of a person whose truthfulness and integrity are fully trusted can be accepted. But those who are unknown and for whom there are no means to trust, their news should not be accepted without verification. If this is not done, sometimes a person falls into such tribulations that later he has to regret, and there is much loss—both his own and that of others.
