Do not regard it an evil to you; nay,it is good for you.

Do not regard it an evil to you; nay,it is good for you. ...” By means of it, the evil intentions of some of defeated enemies and undiscerning hypocrites were uncovered and these outwardly good persons who were of a bad character, were disgraced. Possibly if this event had not occurred and they had still remained unknown, they would have attacked more severely and dangerously in the future. This event taught the Muslims a lesson that following rumourmongers will cause them lose every thing.

They must firmly resist this matter. Then, two points are mentioned in the remaining part of the verse. At first, it says: “... Unto every man of them will be paid that which he has earned of the sin; ...” It indicates that the great responsibility of those who led and found a sin would never prevent the responsibility of others, but every person is as responsible for a sin as he participates and shares in a conspiracy. For the second step, the verse continues saying: “...

and as for him among them who had the greater part therein, he shall have a grievous chastisement.” Commentators say that this person was ‘Abdullah Ibn ’Abi Maslul, who was the chief person of ’Ifk companions. Some others have also mentioned Mastah Ibn ’Ithamah and Hassan Ibn Thabit as the referent of this concept.

Anyway, the one who was more active than others and set off the flames of ’Ifk and is considered as the leader of the group will be imposed with a punishment as great as his sin is great. Then, in the next verse, the believers who were deceived in this affair and were influenced by this group are severely reprimanded through a few verses.

At first, it says: “Why did not the believers, men and women, when you heard of it, think well of themselves; and say: this is a manifest lie?” It means those why believers did not think good of other believers, who are as their own selves, when they heard hypocrites’ words about their faithful persons, and why they did not say that it was a great and manifest slander. They knew the evil and notorious background of these hypocrites.

They were certain out of various contexts that such an accusation was impossible. They were well aware of that accused person’s chastity. They knew the plots which were planned and were carried out against the Prophet (p.b.u.h.). Nevertheless, they must be reprimanded that they heard such false rumours and they remained silent, the worse was when they consciously or unconsciously spread it!