Tafsir of An-Nur 24:16

Further Discipline This is further discipline, in addition to the command to think well of people, i.e., if something unbefitting is mentioned about good people, then one should think well of them, and not feel towards them anything but good. Then if a person has any unsuitable thoughts about them, insinuated into his mind and imagination by Shaytan, he should not speak about that, for the Prophet said:

إن الله تعالى تجاوز ﻻمتي عما حدثت به أنفسها ما لم تقل أو تعمل

Allah will excuse my Ummah for anything that occurs to their minds, so long as they do not speak about it or act upon it. This was reported in the Two Sahihs. Allah's saying:

ولوﻻ إذ سمعتموه قلتم ما يكون لنا أن نتكلم بهذا

And why did you not, when you heard it, say: "It is not right for us to speak of this''. meaning, we should not talk about it or mention it to anyone.

سبحانك هذا بهتان عظيم

Glory be to You (O Allah)! This is a great lie. means, glory be to Allah that such a thing should be said about the wife of His Prophet and close Friend. Then Allah says,