,:, 84. Note: This translation implies that the Messenger and the persons of authority among 

them were not all capable of drawing right conclusion. Only those among them who had the 

faculty of sound judgement could have discovered the reality. We propose an alternative 

translation as follows which does not leave this flaw and indicates that each among them had 

the capability of discovering the truth ifhe had contemplated and examined the report: "When 

they conceive (rumours concerning) a matter of peace or alarm they spread it about. 

Whereas if they had referred the matter to the '1essenger and those in authority among 

them surely of them those who had critically examined the matter could know the truth."