Quran Universe
4:148

۞لَّا يُحِبُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡجَهۡرَ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا

La yuhibbu Allahu aljahra bialssooi mina alqawli illa man thulima wakana Allahu sameeAAan AAaleeman

Allah does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allah Hearing and Knowing.

Word by word
  1. ۞لَّا(Does) not
  2. يُحِبُّlove
  3. ٱللَّهُAllah
  4. ٱلۡجَهۡرَthe public mention
  5. بِٱلسُّوٓءِof [the] evil
  6. مِنَ[of]
  7. ٱلۡقَوۡلِ[the] words
  8. إِلَّاexcept
  9. مَن(by the one) who
  10. ظُلِمَۚhas been wronged
  11. وَكَانَAnd is
  12. ٱللَّهُAllah
  13. سَمِيعًاAll-Hearing
  14. عَلِيمًاAll-Knowing
An-Nisa · 4:148Madinah

Allah does not love loud ugly words, except from the wronged.

Speaking out when you have been hurt

When harsh words are allowed
evil said in publicAllah dislikes it
except
the wrongedmay speak of the wrong
Even then
anything goesthey started it
within limitsno lies backpatience is better

Ibn Abbas explained that Allah allows the wronged person to call on Him against the one who wronged them, though patience is better. Al-Hasan advised praying, help me against him and take my right from him. Another scholar said: if someone lies about you, you may not lie about them.

Your colleague took credit for your project in front of the whole team. You are furious and the reply is already typed. It is full of insults and a few exaggerations. The verse lets you name the wrong. It does not let you become a wrongdoer in return.

Once someone wrongs me, I can say whatever I like about them.

I may speak of the wrong done to me, but I do not cross into wronging back.

Try this

If someone has hurt you, make this dua: O Allah, help me and give me my right.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Allah does not like that the evil should be uttered in public except by him who has been wronged. And Allah is Ever All-Hearer, All-Knower (148)Whether you disclose a good deed or conceal it, or pardon an evil, verily, Allah is Ever Pardoning, All-Powerful (149)

The Permission to Utter Evil in Public, For One Who Was Wronged

Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn 'Abbas commented on the Ayah,

لَّا يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ الْجَهْرَ بِالسُّوءِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ

(Allah does not like that the evil should be uttered in public) "Allah does not like that any one should invoke Him against anyone else, unless one was wronged. In this case, Allah allows one to invoke Him against whoever wronged him. Hence Allah's statement,

إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ

(except by him who has been wronged.) Yet, it is better for one if he observes patience." Al-Hasan Al-Basri commented, "One should not invoke Allah (for curses) against whoever wronged him. Rather, he should supplicate, 'O Allah! Help me against him and take my right from him.'" In another narration, Al-Hasan said, "Allah has allowed one to invoke Him against whoever wronged him without transgressing the limits."

'Abdul-Karim bin Malik Al-Jazari said about this Ayah; "When a man curses you, you could curse him in retaliation. But if he lies about you, you may not lie about him.

وَلَمَنِ انتَصَرَ بَعْدَ ظُلْمِهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَا عَلَيْهِم مِّن سَبِيلٍ

(And indeed whosoever takes revenge after he has suffered wrong, for such there is no way (of blame) against them.)"

Abu Dawud recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

الـمُسْتَبَّانِ مَا قَالَا، فَعَلَى الْبَادِئ مِنْهُمَا مَا لَمْ يَعْتَدِ الْمَظْلُومُ

(Whatever words are uttered by those who curse each other, then he who started it will carry the burden thereof, unless the one who was wronged transgresses the limit.) Allah said,

إِن تُبْدُوا خَيْرًا أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ أَوْ تَعْفُوا عَن سُوءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا قَدِيرًا

(Whether you disclose a good deed, or conceal it, or pardon an evil; verily, Allah is Ever Pardoning, All-Powerful.) Meaning when you, mankind, admit to a good favor done to you, or conceal it, and forgive those who wrong you, then this will bring you closer to Allah and increase your reward with Him.

Among Allah's attributes is that He forgives and pardons His servants, although He is able to punish them. Hence Allah's statement,

فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا قَدِيرًا

(Verily, Allah is Ever Pardoning, All-Powerful.) It was reported that some of the angels who carry Allah's Throne praise Him saying, "All praise is due to You for Your forbearing even though You have perfect knowledge (in all evil committed)." Some of them supplicate, "All praise is due to You for Your forgiving even though You have perfect ability (to punish)." An authentic Hadith states,

مَا نَقَصَ مَالٌ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ، وَلَا زَادَ اللهُ عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلَّا عِزًّا، وَمَنْ تَوَاضَعَ للهِ رَفَعَهُ اللهُ

(No charity shall ever decrease wealth, and Allah will only increase the honor of a servant who pardons, and he who is humble for Allah's sake, then Allah will elevate his grade.)