Al-Furqan: (72) And those who do not witness...

There are several issues here:

The term al-zūr can have several interpretations:

1. Bearing false witness: The meaning could be that they "do not witness false testimony" (shahādat al-zūr), where the object (shahādat) is omitted, and the possessive (al-zūr) stands in its place.
2. Attending places of falsehood: It could mean attending places where lies occur, similar to the verse: "So turn away from them until they engage in some other conversation" (Al-An'am: 68).
3. Attending any improper gathering: This includes the festivals of the polytheists and the assemblies of the wicked. Whoever associates with the people of evil, observes their actions, and attends their gatherings participates in that sin. This is because presence and observation indicate consent, and moreover, it is a cause for the gathering's existence and growth, as the attendees' admiration and desire to watch encourage the perpetrators.
4. Specific interpretations: Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that it refers to the gatherings of falsehood where they utter lies against Allah and His Messenger. Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah interpreted al-zūr as singing/music.

All these interpretations are plausible, but the most common usage of the word relates to lying/falsehood.

The soundest view is that al-laghw is everything that should be ignored and abandoned. Some interpreted it as everything that is not an act of obedience, but this is weak, as permissible things (mubāḥāt) are not counted as laghw. Therefore, the phrase "And when they pass by idle talk" (wa idhā marrū bi-l-laghw) means when they pass by the people of idle talk.

There is no doubt that the phrase "they pass by honorably" (marū kirāmā) means they honor themselves away from the state of laghw. Their honoring themselves is achieved only through:

• Turning away.
• Condemnation/Rejection.
• Refraining from assistance or support.

This includes polytheism, idle talk mentioned in the Quran, insulting the Prophet, and delving into what is improper.

The root of the word comes from the saying, "A noble she-camel (nāqah karīmah)" when she resists being milked out of pride, as if she does not care what is taken from her due to her abundance. This concept is metaphorically applied to forgiving sins. Al-Layth said: "So-and-so honored himself away from what disgraces him (takarrama 'ammā yashīnuhu) if he abstained and honored himself from it."

A parallel verse to this is: "And when they hear idle talk, they turn away from it and say, 'To us are our deeds, and to you are your deeds. Peace be upon you; we do not seek out the ignorant'" (Al-Qasas: 55).

Al-Hasan said: Sins did not make them behave foolishly. It is also said that when they heard insults and harm from the disbelievers, they turned away. Another interpretation is that when marriage is mentioned, they use euphemisms (instead of explicit words).