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| 11. Verily, those who invented the great lie are a party from among you. Think not that this incident is an evil for you, nay, it is good for you. Every one of them shall have his share of what he has earned of the sin; and he among them who took the principal part therein shall have a grievous punishment. 12. When you heard of it, why did not the believing men and believing women think well of their own people and say, `This is a manifest lie ?' 13. Why did not those, who gave currency to this charge, bring four witnesses to prove it ? Since they have not brought the required witnesses, they are indeed liars in the sight of ALLAH. 14. Were it not for the grace of ALLAH and HIS mercy upon you, in this world and the Hereafter, a great punishment would have befallen you on account of the slander you plunged in; 15. For, you began to learn it from each other's tongue and then you uttered with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge, and you thought it to be a light matter, while in the sight of ALLAH it was a grievous thing. 16. And wherefore did you not say, when you heard of it, `It is not proper for us to talk about it. Holy art Thou, O God, this is a grievous calumny.' 17. ALLAH admonishes you that you never repeat the like thereof, if you are believers. 18. And ALLAH explains to you the commandments; and ALLAH is All-Knowing, Wise. 19. Those, who love that indecency should spread among the believers, will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And ALLAH knows and you know not. 20. And but for the grace of ALLAH and HIS mercy upon you and that ALLAH is Compassionate and Merciful, you would have been ruined. |
