Surah An-Nur 24:13
ﱯ ﱰ ﱱ ﱲ ﱳ ﱴ ﱵ ﱶ ﱷ ﱸ ﱹ ﱺ ﱻ ﱼ ﱽ
Why did they [who slandered] not produce for it four witnesses? And when they do not produce the witnesses, then it is they, in the sight of Allah, who are the liars.
Tafsir of An-Nur 24:13
Tafsir
Ruh al-Ma'ani
Verse range: 24:13
13 (Why did they not produce for it four witnesses?) This is either a continuation of the previous statement inciting [the believers] to hold them accountable, or it is intended to rebuke the listeners for failing to compel those who delve into falsehood to produce proof. That is: "Why did the slanderers not bring four witnesses who testify to the truth of what they said?"
(And since they have not brought the witnesses) — the four. Although the apparent meaning would have been "and since they have not brought them," the text shifted to the form found in the glorious arrangement for the sake of greater confirmation.
(Then those) — this is a reference to the slanderers. The inclusion of the [demonstrative particle] signifying distance is to signal the depth of their status in corruption. That is: "Those corrupt ones."
(In the sight of Allah) — meaning in His judgment and law.
(Are the liars) — meaning those who are ruled by the Law to be liars; that is, their report does not correspond to reality according to the Law. It has also been said that the meaning is: "Those, in the knowledge of Allah Almighty, are the liars whose report did not correspond to reality in the essence of the matter." This is because the verse is concerning the specific case of Aisha—may Allah be pleased with her—and the report of the people of the slander regarding her did not correspond to reality in the essence of the matter in the knowledge of the Almighty and Majestic.
This has been challenged by the argument that the specificity of the cause does not negate the generality of the ruling, especially since the evident constraint of the [locative] circumstance resists that interpretation. To categorize it alongside the words of the Almighty: "Now Allah has lightened [the burden] for you, and He knows that among you is weakness," would be contrary to the apparent meaning. In any case, the restriction is for the purpose of hyperbole, or it is a new statement initiated from His side—the Almighty and Majestic—confirming that this [act] is a fabrication.