اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ جَآءُوْ بِالْاِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِّنْكُمْ ؕ لَا تَحْسَبُوْهُ شَرًّا لَّكُمْ ؕ بَلْ هُوَ خَیْرٌ لَّكُمْ ؕ لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ مَّا اكْتَسَبَ مِنَ الْاِثْمِ ۚ وَ الَّذِیْ تَوَلّٰی كِبْرَهٗ مِنْهُمْ لَهٗ عَذَابٌ عَظِیْمٌ۝۱۱

Those who spread lies were a clique among you. Do not think that it was bad for you: In fact it has been good for you. Each of them will pay for the sin he has committed, and he who had greater share (of guilt) will suffer grievous punishment.

لَوْ لَاۤ اِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوْهُ ظَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنٰتُ بِاَنْفُسِهِمْ خَیْرًا ۙ وَّ قَالُوْا هٰذَاۤ اِفْكٌ مُّبِیْنٌ۝۱۲

Why did the faithful men and women not think well of their people when they heard this, and said: "This is a clear lie?"

لَوْ لَا جَآءُوْ عَلَیْهِ بِاَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ ۚ فَاِذْ لَمْ یَاْتُوْا بِالشُّهَدَآءِ فَاُولٰٓىِٕكَ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ هُمُ الْكٰذِبُوْنَ۝۱۳

Why did they not bring four witnesses (in support of their charge)? And since they did not bring the four witnesses they are themselves liars in the sight of God.

وَ لَوْ لَا فَضْلُ اللّٰهِ عَلَیْكُمْ وَ رَحْمَتُهٗ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَ الْاٰخِرَةِ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِیْ مَاۤ اَفَضْتُمْ فِیْهِ عَذَابٌ عَظِیْمٌۚۖ۝۱۴

Were it not for the grace of God and His mercy upon you in this world and the next, you would have suffered a great affliction for the false accusation.

اِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهٗ بِاَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَ تَقُوْلُوْنَ بِاَفْوَاهِكُمْ مَّا لَیْسَ لَكُمْ بِهٖ عِلْمٌ وَّ تَحْسَبُوْنَهٗ هَیِّنًا ۖۗ وَّ هُوَ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ عَظِیْمٌ۝۱۵

When you talked about it and said what you did not know, and took it lightly -- though in the sight of God it was serious --

وَ لَوْ لَاۤ اِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوْهُ قُلْتُمْ مَّا یَكُوْنُ لَنَاۤ اَنْ نَّتَكَلَّمَ بِهٰذَا ۖۗ سُبْحٰنَكَ هٰذَا بُهْتَانٌ عَظِیْمٌ۝۱۶

Why did you not say when you heard it: "It is not for us to speak of it? God preserve us, it is a great calumny!"

یَعِظُكُمُ اللّٰهُ اَنْ تَعُوْدُوْا لِمِثْلِهٖۤ اَبَدًا اِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِیْنَۚ۝۱۷

God counsels you not to do a thing like this, if you are believers.

وَ یُبَیِّنُ اللّٰهُ لَكُمُ الْاٰیٰتِ ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ عَلِیْمٌ حَكِیْمٌ۝۱۸

God explains His commands to you clearly, for God is all-knowing and all-wise.

اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ یُحِبُّوْنَ اَنْ تَشِیْعَ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِی الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِیْمٌ ۙ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَ الْاٰخِرَةِ ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ یَعْلَمُ وَ اَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ۝۱۹

There is painful punishment in this world and the next for those who like that immorality should spread among the believers, for God knows and you do not know.

وَ لَوْ لَا فَضْلُ اللّٰهِ عَلَیْكُمْ وَ رَحْمَتُهٗ وَ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ رَءُوْفٌ رَّحِیْمٌ۠۝۲۰

But for the grace of God and His mercy (much harm would have been done); yet God is compassionate and kind.