The Holy Quran 49:12 — Surah Al-Hujurat

Arabic text

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا۟ وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Translation

O you who have Imaan! Refrain (stay away) from excessive assumption (suspicion and assuming evil things about people without verification). Verily, some assumptions are a sin. (Good assumptions about people are however encouraged.) Never spy (on people) and never backbite each other. Does any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother, which you so detest? (Backbiting equals the sin of eating the dead flesh of one's brother.) Fear Allaah. (If you repent for these sins, then remember that) Allaah is Most Pardoning, Most Merciful.

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The prohibition of suspicion and backbiting: these things play a particular part in increasing mutual discord and division. One side becomes so suspicious of the other that it leaves no room for thinking well of it. Whatever the opponent says, it takes it as directed against itself.

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