Muhammad Habib Shakir: Why did not the believing men and the believing women, when you heard it, think well of their own people, and say: This is an evident falsehood?
Abdullah Yusuf Ali: Why did not the believers - men and women - when ye heard of the affair,- put the best construction on it in their own minds and say, "This (charge) is an obvious lie"?
M.Pickthall: Why did not the believers, men and women, when ye heard it, think good of their own own folk, and say: It is a manifest untruth?
Amatul Rahmân Omer: When you heard of this (accusation) why did not the believing men and believing women have a better opinion in respect of their own people and say, `This (charge) is an obvious lie?´
Maulana Mohammad Ali: Surely they who concocted the lie are a party from among you. Deem it not an evil to you. Nay, it is good for you. For every man of them is what he has earned of sin; and as for him among them who took upon himself the main part thereof, he shall have a grievous punishment.
