O YOU who have attained to faith! No men shall deride [other] men: it may well be that those [whom they deride] are better than themselves; and no women [shall deride other] women: it may well be that those [whom they deride] are better than themselves. And neither shall you defame one another, nor insult one another by [opprobrious] epithets: evil is all imputation of iniquity after [one has attained to] faith; and they who [become guilty thereof and] do not repent - it is they, they who are evildoers! 11 Believers, abstain from most suspicion, some suspicion is a sin. Neither spy nor backbite one another; would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Surely, you would loathe it. Fear Allah, without doubt Allah turns (in mercy) and He is the Merciful. 12 O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. one of the Muttaqun (pious - see V. 2:2). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. 13 ۞ The bedouins say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts. And if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." 14 [Know that true] believers are only those who have attained to faith in God and His Apostle and have left all doubt behind, and who strive hard in God's cause with their possessions and their lives: it is they, they who are true to their word! 15 Say, "Do you presume to teach God your religion when God knows everything in the heavens and earth? God has knowledge of all things." 16 They make it a favour unto thee that they have surrendered. Say thou: deem not your surrender a favour unto me; nay! Allah hath conferred a favour unto you inasmuch as He hath guided you to belief, if ye are sincere. 17 Surely Allah knows the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; and Allah sees what you do. 18