لا يَسمَعونَ فيها لَغوًا وَلا تَأثيمًا
They will not hear therein any vain talk or sinful speech.
EXPOSITION
Paradise is no place for vain talk, let alone sinful speech such as lies (78:35, 88:11, 19:62). It is also possible that taʾthīm is not just sinful speech, but any sinful act. Further, there should be some agreement and similarity between such a peaceful place and its inhabitants. It then follows that paradise is a place for those who have purified themselves from sinful speech and abandoned vain talk: Those who avoid vain talk (23:3); when they come upon vain talk, pass by nobly (25:72); And when they hear vain talk, they avoid it and say: ‘Our deeds belong to us, and your deeds belong to you. Peace be to you. We do not court the ignorant’ (28:55). What is meant by vain talk is unnecessary fruitless speech which does not add anything to the person except wasting one’s time.
[1] Tabari, 27/102.