Quran Universe
24:26

ٱلۡخَبِيثَٰتُ لِلۡخَبِيثِينَ وَٱلۡخَبِيثُونَ لِلۡخَبِيثَٰتِۖ وَٱلطَّيِّبَٰتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ وَٱلطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَٰتِۚ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَۖ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٞ وَرِزۡقٞ كَرِيمٞ

Alkhabeethatu lilkhabeetheena waalkhabeethoona lilkhabeethati waalttayyibatu lilttayyibeena waalttayyiboona lilttayyibati olaika mubarraoona mimma yaqooloona lahum maghfiratun warizqun kareemun

Evil words are for evil men, and evil men are [subjected] to evil words. And good words are for good men, and good men are [an object] of good words. Those [good people] are declared innocent of what the slanderers say. For them is forgiveness and noble provision.

Word by word
  1. ٱلۡخَبِيثَٰتُEvil women
  2. لِلۡخَبِيثِينَ(are) for evil men
  3. وَٱلۡخَبِيثُونَand evil men
  4. لِلۡخَبِيثَٰتِۖ(are) for evil women
  5. وَٱلطَّيِّبَٰتُAnd good women
  6. لِلطَّيِّبِينَ(are) for good men
  7. وَٱلطَّيِّبُونَand good men
  8. لِلطَّيِّبَٰتِۚ(are) for good women
  9. أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَThose
  10. مُبَرَّءُونَ(are) innocent
  11. مِمَّاof what
  12. يَقُولُونَۖthey say
  13. لَهُمFor them
  14. مَّغۡفِرَةٞ(is) forgiveness
  15. وَرِزۡقٞand a provision
  16. كَرِيمٞnoble
An-Nur · 24:26Madinah

Evil words suit evil people. Aishah was free of them.

What the slander says about those who spoke it

Ibn Abbas's reading
evil wordsfit evil people
good wordsfit good people
so
Aishahinnocent of what they said
forgivenessand noble provision
Who the lie describes
the person accusedthe story is about her
the people telling itit suits them, not her

Ibn Abbas said this was revealed about Aishah and the people of the slander. Ibn Jarir explained that evil speech is more suited to evil people. What the hypocrites said fit them, not her. Ibn Kathir adds it implies a promise that she will be the Prophet's ﷺ wife in Paradise.

When someone tells you something ugly about another person, notice what it reveals. Often it says more about the speaker than the subject. Words carry the scent of where they come from. And the words you choose about others say who you are.

When someone is accused of something ugly, it says something about them.

Ugly words usually describe the one who says them; good people are kept clear of them.

Try this

Listen to your own words about others for one day. Ask what they say about you.

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

Bad statements are for bad people and bad people for bad statements. Good statements are for good people and good people for good statements: such are innocent of (every) bad statement which they say; for them is forgiveness, and honored provision (26)

The Goodness of 'A'ishah Because She is Married to the Best of Mankind

Ibn 'Abbas said, "Evil words are for evil men, and evil men are for evil words; good words are for good men and good men are for good words. This was revealed concerning 'A'ishah and the people of the slander." This was also narrated from Mujahid, 'Ata', Sa'id bin Jubayr, Ash-Sha'bi, Al-Hasan bin Abu Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Habib bin Abi Thabit and Ad-Dahhak, and it was also the view favored by Ibn Jarir. He interpreted it to mean that evil speech is more suited to evil people, and good speech is more suited to good people. What the hypocrites attributed to 'A'ishah was more suited to them, and she was most suited to innocence and having nothing to do with them. Allah said:

أُولَٰئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ

(such (good people) are innocent of (every) bad statement which they say;)

Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "Evil women are for evil men and evil men are for evil women, and good women are for good men and good men are for good women."

This also necessarily refers back to what they said, i.e., Allah would not have made 'A'ishah the wife of His Messenger ﷺ unless she had been good, because he is the best of the best of mankind. If she had been evil, she would not have been a suitable partner either according to His Laws or His decree. Allah said:

أُولَٰئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ

(such are innocent of (every) bad statement which they say;) meaning, they are remote from what the people of slander and enmity say.

لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ

(for them is forgiveness,) means, because of the lies that were told about them,

وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ

(and honored provision.) meaning, with Allah in the Gardens of Delight. This implies a promise that she will be the wife of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in Paradise.