Surah An Nisa Tafseer

The Permission to Utter Evil in Public, For One Who Was Wronged

Allah says;

لااَّ يُحِبُّ اللّهُ الْجَهْرَ بِالسُّوَءِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ إِلااَّ مَن ظُلِمَ وَكَانَ اللّهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا

Allah does not like that the evil should be uttered in public except by him who has been wronged. And Allah is Ever All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn Abbas commented on the Ayah,

لااَّ يُحِبُّ اللّهُ الْجَهْرَ بِالسُّوَءِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ

(Allah does not like that the evil should be uttered in public),

"Allah does not like that any one should invoke Him against anyone else, unless one was wronged. In this case, Allah allows one to invoke Him against whoever wronged him. Hence Allah's statement,

إِلاَّ مَن ظُلِمَ

(except by him who has been wronged). Yet, it is better for one if he observes patience."

Al-Hasan Al-Basri commented,

"One should not invoke Allah (for curses) against whoever wronged him. Rather, he should supplicate, `O Allah! Help me against him and take my right from him."'

In another narration, Al-Hasan said,

"Allah has allowed one to invoke Him against whoever wronged him without transgressing the limits."

Abdul-Karim bin Malik Al-Jazari said about this Ayah;

"When a man curses you, you could curse him in retaliation. But if he lies about you, you may not lie about him.

وَلَمَنِ انتَصَرَ بَعْدَ ظُلْمِهِ فَأُوْلَـيِكَ مَا عَلَيْهِمْ مِّن سَبِيلٍ

And indeed whosoever takes revenge after he has suffered wrong, for such there is no way (of blame) against them." (42:41)

Abu Dawud recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

المُسْتَبَّانِ مَا قَالَا فَعَلَى الْبَادِي مِنْهُمَا مَا لَمْ يَعْتَدِ الْمَظْلُوم

Whatever words are uttered by those who curse each other, then he who started it will carry the burden thereof, unless the one who was wronged transgresses the limit.

Allah said,

إِن تُبْدُواْ خَيْرًا أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ أَوْ تَعْفُواْ عَن سُوَءٍ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا قَدِيرًا