—and up to His words:

“Had it not been for Allah’s bounty upon you and His mercy, in this world and the Hereafter, a tremendous punishment would have touched you for the matter into which you plunged.” ⦗Q 24:14⦘ (14)

“When you were receiving it on your tongues, uttering with your mouths what you had no knowledge of, thinking it a trivial matter while in the sight of Allah it is momentous.” ⦗Q 24:15⦘ (15)

“And why, when you heard it, did you not say, ‘It is not for us to speak of this! Exalted are You; this is a monstrous slander.’” ⦗Q 24:16⦘

The Exalted has also said:

“Do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge.” ⦗Q 17:36⦘

This is a prohibition against speaking without knowledge, and it is universal, covering every type of report. It likewise extends to what a person may assert or even inwardly hold on the basis of evidences, signs, or indications other than transmitted reports: he is not allowed to speak without knowledge. Hence, he must not negate anything except with knowledge, nor affirm anything except with knowledge. For this reason, the overwhelming majority of scholars hold that