11. Inna allatheena jaoo bial-ifki AAusbatun minkum la tahsaboohu sharran lakum bal huwa khayrun lakum likulli imri-in minhum ma iktasaba mina al-ithmi waallathee tawalla kibrahu minhum lahu AAathabun AAatheemun
11. Those who brought forward the lie are a body among yourselves: think it not to be an evil to you; On the contrary it is good for you: to every man among them (will come the punishment) of the sin that he earned, and to him who took on himself the lead among them, will be a penalty grievous.
12. Lawla ith samiAAtumoohu thanna almu/minoona waalmu/minatu bi-anfusihim khayran waqaloo hatha ifkun mubeenun
12. Why did not the believers--men and women--when ye heard of the affair,--put the best construction on it in their own minds and say, "This (charge) is an obvious lie"?
13. Lawla jaoo AAalayhi bi-arbaAAati shuhadaa fa-ith lam ya/too bialshshuhada-i faola-ika AAinda Allahi humu alkathiboona
13. Why did they not bring four witnesses to prove it? When they have not brought the witnesses, such men, in the sight of Allah, (stand forth) themselves as liars!
14. Walawla fadlu Allahi AAalaykum warahmatuhu fee alddunya waal-akhirati lamassakum fee ma afadtum feehi AAathabun AAatheemun
14. Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, in this world and the Hereafter, a grievous penalty would have seized you in that ye rushed glibly into this affair.
15. Ith talaqqawnahu bi-alsinatikum wataqooloona bi-afwahikum ma laysa lakum bihi AAilmun watahsaboonahu hayyinan wahuwa AAinda Allahi AAatheemun
15. Behold, ye received it on your tongues, and said out of your mouths things of which ye had no knowledge; and ye thought it to be a light matter, while it was most serious in the sight of Allah.
16. Walawla ith samiAAtumoohu qultum ma yakoonu lana an natakallama bihatha subhanaka hatha buhtanun AAatheemun
16. And why did ye not, when ye heard it, say?--"It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to Allah. this is a most serious slander!"
17. YaAAithukumu Allahu an taAAoodoo limithlihi abadan in kuntum mu/mineena
17. Allah doth admonish you, that ye may never repeat such (conduct), if ye are (true) Believers.
18. Wayubayyinu Allahu lakumu al-ayati waAllahu AAaleemun hakeemun
18. And Allah makes the Signs plain to you: for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.
19. Inna allatheena yuhibboona an tasheeAAa alfahishatu fee allatheena amanoo lahum AAathabun aleemun fee alddunya waal-akhirati waAllahu yaAAlamu waantum la taAAlamoona
19. Those who love (to see) scandal published broadcast among the Believers, will have a grievous Penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: Allah knows, and ye know not.
20. Walawla fadlu Allahi AAalaykum warahmatuhu waanna Allaha raoofun raheemun
20. Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, and that Allah is full of kindness and mercy, (ye would be ruined indeed).