The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 331
Date of Revelation The Surah, as stated above, is of Medinite origin. The incident relating to 'A'ishah to which special reference has been made in this Surah took place in 5 A. H. after the Holy Prophet's return from the expedition against Banu Mustaliq, which took place in the month of Sha'bān of that year. So it can be safely stated that the Sūrah was revealed towards the end of the fifth year of the Hijrah. Summary of the Subject Matter The Surah deals with certain special subjects and has laid particular stress on the problems which constitute the foundation on which the whole social and moral structure stands and which cannot be defied without doing mortal injury to the moral well-being of a people. As sexual immorality is calculated to break the discipline and organization of a community and as the evil associated with it is likely to affect severely its morals, great emphasis has been laid in the Surah on the avoidance of suspicion in matters of sex. First of all the Sūrah deals with the subject of suspicion that a husband may come to entertain about the moral conduct of his wife which more often than not casts a severe strain on the whole family relations. It proceeds to lay down special regulations and injunctions to be observed in dealing with a situation that might arise between spouses. Then we are warned not to become panicky on account of a few individuals straying away from the path of moral rectitude as individual cases of moral lapse may cause the whole community to become alert and careful; and thus may prove conducive to good results. The subject is further developed and slander-mongering receives a severe reprimand, irresponsible talk about sexual immorality is strongly discouraged, and only such statements as fall within the purview of legal evidence are allowed to be made about the moral conduct of a person. Because, if, on the basis of mere suspicion or the testimony of witnesses of doubtful integrity, haphazard aspersions are permitted to be cast on one another's chastity, sexual immorality is likely to become widespread in the community and young people are prone to run away with the notion that there is no harm in indulging freely in sex. The believers are then strongly enjoined to guard and preserve good morals and manners because all those actions that weaken the morals of a people are evil in their very nature and origin and it is very essential for Muslims to develop watchfulness and extreme awareness about the protection and preservation of national morals. If this vigilance is allowed to relax, deterioration in national morals is sure to ensue. But whereas it is true that sexual immorality, if permitted to spread unchecked, brings about the degradation and disintegration of a whole community, individuals suspected 2245