Surah An-Nur, Ayah 26
Quran 24:26 · The Light · Madani · Para 18 · Page 352
اَلْخَبِیْثٰتُ لِلْخَبِیْثِیْنَ وَالْخَبِیْثُوْنَ لِلْخَبِیْثٰتِ ۚ وَالطَّیِّبٰتُ لِلطَّیِّبِیْنَ وَالطَّیِّبُوْنَ لِلطَّیِّبٰتِ ۚ اُولٰٓىِٕكَ مُبَرَّءُوْنَ مِمَّا یَقُوْلُوْنَ ؕ لَهُمْ مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَّرِزْقٌ كَرِیْمٌ ۟۠
Transliteration
Alkhabeethatu lilkhabeetheena walkhabeethoonalilkhabeethati wattayyibatu littayyibeenawattayyiboona littayyibatiola-ika mubarraoona mimma yaqooloona lahummaghfiratun warizqun kareem
Saheeh International
Evil words are for evil men, and evil men are [subjected] to evil words. And good words are for good men, and good men are [an object] of good words. Those [good people] are declared innocent of what they [i.e., slanderers] say. For them is forgiveness and noble provision.
Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir
Every evil man, woman, saying and action is suited to what is evil and conforms to it, and every good thing of that is suited to what is good and conforms to it. Those good men and women are innocent of what the evil men and women say about them. For them is forgiveness from Allah through which He will forgive their sins, and for them is noble sustenance which is paradise.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)
Bad statements are for bad people and bad people for bad statements. Good statements are for good people and good people for good statements: such are innocent of (every) bad statement which they say; for them is forgiveness, and honored provision (26)
The Goodness of 'A'ishah Because She is Married to the Best of Mankind
Ibn 'Abbas said, "Evil words are for evil men, and evil men are for evil words; good words are for good men and good men are for good words. This was revealed concerning 'A'ishah and the people of the slander." This was also narrated from Mujahid, 'Ata', Sa'id bin Jubayr, Ash-Sha'bi, Al-Hasan bin Abu Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Habib bin Abi Thabit and Ad-Dahhak, and it was also the view favored by Ibn Jarir. He interpreted it to mean that evil speech is more suited to evil people, and good speech is more suited to good people. What the hypocrites attributed to 'A'ishah was more suited to them, and she was most suited to innocence and having nothing to do with them. Allah said:
أُولَٰئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ
(such (good people) are innocent of (every) bad statement which they say;)
Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "Evil women are for evil men and evil men are for evil women, and good women are for good men and good men are for good women."
This also necessarily refers back to what they said, i.e., Allah would not have made 'A'ishah the wife of His Messenger ﷺ unless she had been good, because he is the best of the best of mankind. If she had been evil, she would not have been a suitable partner either according to His Laws or His decree. Allah said:
أُولَٰئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ
(such are innocent of (every) bad statement which they say;) meaning, they are remote from what the people of slander and enmity say.
لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ
(for them is forgiveness,) means, because of the lies that were told about them,
وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
(and honored provision.) meaning, with Allah in the Gardens of Delight. This implies a promise that she will be the wife of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in Paradise.