Surah Al-A'raf — Verse 28

Word Meanings:

• Fahishah (فاحشة): An abominable act, a grave sin, or an indecency that is clearly repugnant to sound human nature and divine guidance. In the context of the verse, it refers to acts like polytheism (shirk), performing Tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah) while naked, and other such immoral practices.
• Wajadna (وجدنا): We found, meaning we inherited or discovered this practice from our forefathers.
• Ta'lamun (تعلمون): You know, meaning knowledge based on certainty and evidence.

Tafsir (Explanation):

When the disbelievers committed an abominable act—such as worshipping idols, exposing their private parts during the circumambulation of the Sacred House, or other shameful deeds—they did not merely do it out of ignorance. Rather, they sought to justify their sin with two false excuses. First, they claimed: "We found our forefathers doing this," as if ancestral practice were a valid proof of truth. Second, they went even further and audaciously claimed: "And Allah has commanded us to do it," attributing to their Lord a command that is utterly inconsistent with His perfect wisdom and mercy.

Allah, the Exalted, commanded His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to refute this vile lie with a decisive and clear response: "Say: Indeed, Allah does not command immorality." This is a logical and theological impossibility, for Allah's nature is inherently good, and His commands are always aligned with purity, justice, and righteousness. How could the One who created the soul and knows its purest state command it to degrade itself with sin? His revelation consistently prohibits indecency, both in what is apparent and what is hidden.

Then comes the powerful rhetorical rebuke: "Do you say about Allah what you do not know?" This is a stern admonition that strikes at the very root of their falsehood. It exposes their ignorance and their reckless audacity in attributing to Allah something without any knowledge or evidence. It is a question that leaves no room for escape—it is both a denial of their claim and a prohibition against fabricating lies about Allah.

A Call to Reflection and Faith:

Dear reader, ponder deeply upon this verse and let it illuminate your heart. How often do we, like those people, justify our wrongdoings by saying "this is what our society does" or "this is our tradition"? And how often do we go further and convince ourselves that Allah approves of our sins? This verse is a timeless reminder that no custom, no ancestral practice, and no cultural norm can ever override the clear command of Allah. His religion is built on purity, and His law is a mercy to humanity.

The beauty of Islam is that it frees you from blind imitation. It invites you to use your intellect, to seek knowledge, and to worship Allah with clarity and certainty. When you submit to Allah's guidance, you are not following the footsteps of fallible ancestors—you are following the path of the Prophets, the path of truth, and the path that leads to eternal success. Let this verse be a shield for you against every false justification, and a light that guides you to speak about Allah only with knowledge and certainty. Indeed, Allah is the Most Merciful, and He loves for His servants to know Him as He truly is—the One who commands only what is good and beautiful.