Those who have invented the slander,8 are some of your own people.9 You should not, however, regard this matter as evil for it has good in it for you.10 Whoso took any part in this, he earned his share of the sin accordingly, and the one, who had the greatest share of responsibility in it,11 shall have a terrible punishment. When you heard of it, why didn't the Believing men and the Believing women have a good opinion of themselves,12 and why did they not say, "This is a manifest slander?"13 Why did the slanderers not bring four witnesses (to prove their charge)? Now that they have not brought witnesses, they themselves are liars in the sight of Allah.14 Were it not for Allah's grace and mercy towards you in this world and in the Hereafter, a painful scourge would have visited you because of the things in which you were involved. (Just think how erroneous you were,) when you passed this lie on from one tongue to the other and uttered with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge. You took it as a trifling matter whereas it was a grave offense in the sight of Allah. Why did you not, as soon as you heard of it, say, "It is not proper for us to utter such a thing ? Glory be to Allah! This is a great slander." Allah admonishes you that in future you should never repeat a thing like this, if you are true Believers. Allah makes His Revelations clear to you, and He is All-Knowing, All-Wise.15 As for those, who like that indecency should spread among the Believers, they deserve a painful punishment in this world and in the Hereafter,16 for Allah knows and you do not know (its consequences).17 If Allah had not shown His grace and mercy to you, (this scandal would have produced very evil results): Allah is indeed very Kind and Merciful.