“The Day their tongues, hands, and feet will testify against them concerning what they used to do. (24) On that Day Allah will pay them in full their due recompense, and they will know that Allah is the Manifest Truth. (25) Vile women are for vile men, and vile men are for vile women; good women are for good men, and good men are for good women. Those are declared innocent of what they say. For them is forgiveness and a noble provision.” (26)

Regarding His saying, exalted is He, “The Day their tongues will testify”: Hamzah and al-Kisa’i recited it with a masculine verb, since the verb precedes its subject, while the others recited it with a feminine verb. “Against them, their tongues”—this will occur before their mouths are sealed—“and their hands and feet.” It is related that the mouths will be sealed (1), whereupon the hands and feet will speak of what they did in this world. It has also been said that this means that the tongues of some of them will testify against others, along with their hands and feet, “concerning what they used to do.”

“On that Day Allah will pay them in full their due recompense”: that is, the recompense they are rightfully due. It has also been said that it means their just reckoning. “And they will know that Allah is the Manifest Truth”: He will make clear to them the reality of what He had promised them in this world. Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: This is because Abdullah ibn Ubayy used to doubt the religion; thus, on the Day of Resurrection, he will know that Allah is the Manifest Truth. ⦗38/a⦘

His saying, exalted is He, “Vile women are for vile men”: Most exegetes said that this refers to vile statements and speech being for vile people. “And vile men” refers to vile people, “are for vile women”—that is, vile statements [and speech] (2). “And good women” refers to good statements, “are for good men,” meaning good people; and “good men,” meaning good people, “are for good women,” meaning good statements. The meaning is that vile speech befits none but vile people, and good speech befits none but good people. Thus, vile statements do not befit Aishah, for she was pure—may Allah be pleased with her. Rather, good words of fine praise [and whatever befits her] (3) are ascribed to her.

Al-Zajjaj said: Its meaning is that only vile men and women utter vile statements, and only good men and women utter good statements. This is a condemnation of those who falsely accused Aishah and praise for those who exonerated her by affirming her purity.

Ibn Zayd said: Its meaning is that vile women are for vile men, and vile men are for vile women [such as Abdullah ibn Ubayy and those who doubt the religion] (4); while good women are for good men, and good men are for good women. He means Aishah: Allah made her pure for His pure Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him.