In the Name
of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
[24.1] (This
is) a chapter which We have revealed and made obligatory and in which We have revealed
clear communications that you may be mindful.
[24.2] (As
for) the fornicatress and the fornicator, flog each of them, (giving) a hundred stripes,
and let not pity for them detain you in the matter of obedience to Allah, if you believe
in Allah and the last day, and let a party of believers witness their chastisement.
[24.3] The
fornicator shall not marry any but a fornicatress or idolatress, and (as for) the
fornicatress, none shall marry her but a fornicator or an idolater; and it is forbidden to
the believers.
[24.4] And
those who accuse free women then do not bring four witnesses, flog them, (giving) eighty
stripes, and do not admit any evidence from them ever; and these it is that are the
transgressors,
[24.5]
Except those who repent after this and act aright, for surely Allah is Forgiving,
Merciful.
[24.6] And
(as for) those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves, the
evidence of one of these (should be taken) four times, bearing Allah to witness that he is
most surely of the truthful ones.
[24.7] And
the fifth (time) that the curse of Allah be on him if he is one of the liars.
[24.8] And
it shall avert the chastisement from her if she testify four times, bearing Allah to
witness that he is most surely one of the liars;
[24.9] And
the fifth (time) that the wrath of Allah be on her if he is one of the truthful.
[24.10] And
were it not for Allah's grace upon you and His mercy -- and that Allah is Oft-returning
(to mercy), Wise!
[24.11]
Surely they who concocted the lie are a party from among you. Do not regard it an evil to
you; nay, it is good for you. Every man of them shall have what he has earned of sin; and
(as for) him who took upon himself the main part thereof, he shall have a grievous
chastisement.
[24.12] 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?
[24.13] Why
did they not bring four witnesses of it? But as they have not brought witnesses they are
liars before Allah.
[24.14] And
were it not for Allah's grace upon you and His mercy in this world and the hereafter, a
grievous chastisement would certainly have touched you on account of the discourse which
you entered into.
[24.15] When
you received it with your tongues and spoke with your mouths what you had no knowledge of,
and you deemed it an easy matter while with Allah it was grievous.
[24.16] And
why did you not, when you heard it, say: It does not beseem us that we should talk of it;
glory be to Thee! this is a great calumny?
[24.17]
Allah admonishes you that you should not return to the like of it ever again if you are
believers.
[24.18] And
Allah makes clear to you the communications; and Allah is Knowing, Wise.
[24.19]
Surely (as for) those who love that scandal should circulate respecting those who believe,
they shall have a grievous chastisement in this world and the hereafter; and Allah knows,
while you do not know.
[24.20] And
were it not for Allah's grace on you and His mercy, and that Allah is Compassionate,
Merciful.
[24.21] O
you who believe! do not follow the footsteps of the Shaitan, and whoever follows the
footsteps of the Shaitan, then surely he bids the doing of indecency and evil; and were it
not for Allah's grace upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have ever been pure,
but Allah purifies whom He pleases; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.
[24.22] And
let not those of you who possess grace and abundance swear against giving to the near of
kin and the poor and those who have fled in Allah's way, and they should pardon and turn
away. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
[24.23]
Surely those who accuse chaste believing women, unaware (of the evil), are cursed in this
world and the hereafter, and they shall have a grievous chastisement.
[24.24] On
the day when their tongues and their hands and their feet shall bear witness against them
as to what they did.
[24.25] On
that day Allah will pay back to them in full their just reward, and they shall know that
Allah is the evident Truth.
[24.26] Bad
women are for bad men and bad men are for bad women. Good women are for good men and good
men are for good women.
[24.27] O
you who believe! Do not enter houses other than your own houses until you have asked
permission and saluted their inmates; this is better for you, that you may be mindful.
[24.28] But
if you do not find any one therein, then do not enter them until permission is given to
you; and if it is said to you: Go back, then go back; this is purer for you; and Allah is
Cognizant of what you do.
[24.29] It
is no sin in you that you enter uninhabited houses wherein you have your necessaries; and
Allah knows what you do openly and what you hide.
[24.30] Say
to the believing men that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts; that
is purer for them; surely Allah is Aware of what they do.
[24.31] And
say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts
and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof, and let them wear their
head-coverings over their bosoms, and not display their ornaments except to their husbands
or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their
husbands, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their
women, or those whom their right hands possess, or the male servants not having need (of
women), or the children who have not attained knowledge of what is hidden of women; and
let them not strike their feet so that what they hide of their ornaments may be known; and
turn to Allah all of you, O believers! so that you may be successful.
[24.32] And
marry those among you who are single and those who are fit among your male slaves and your
female slaves; if they are needy, Allah will make them free from want out of His grace;
and Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing.
[24.33] And
let those who do not find the means to marry keep chaste until Allah makes them free from
want out of His grace. And (as for) those who ask for a writing from among those whom your
right hands possess, give them the writing if you know any good in them, and give them of
the wealth of Allah which He has given you; and do not compel your slave girls to
prostitution, when they desire to keep chaste, in order to seek the frail good of this
world's life; and whoever compels them, then surely after their compulsion Allah is
Forgiving, Merciful.
[24.34] And
certainly We have sent to you clear communications and a description of those who have
passed away before you, and an admonition to those who guard (against evil).
[24.35]
Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth; a likeness of His light is as a niche in
which is a lamp, the lamp is in a glass, (and) the glass is as it were a brightly shining
star, lit from a blessed olive-tree, neither eastern nor western, the oil whereof almost
gives light though fire touch it not -- light upon light -- Allah guides to His light whom
He pleases, and Allah sets forth parables for men, and Allah is Cognizant of all things.
[24.36] In
houses which Allah has permitted to be exalted and that His name may be remembered in
them; there glorify Him therein in the mornings and the evenings,
[24.37] Men
whom neither merchandise nor selling diverts from the remembrance of Allah and the keeping
up of prayer and the giving of poor-rate; they fear a day in which the hearts and eyes
shall turn about;
[24.38] That
Allah may give them the best reward of what they have done, and give them more out of His
grace; and Allah gives sustenance to whom He pleases without measure.
[24.39] And
(as for) those who disbelieve, their deeds are like the mirage in a desert, which the
thirsty man deems to be water; until when he comes to it he finds it to be naught, and
there he finds Allah, so He pays back to him his reckoning in full; and Allah is quick in
reckoning;
[24.40] Or
like utter darkness in the deep sea: there covers it a wave above which is another wave,
above which is a cloud, (layers of) utter darkness one above another; when he holds out
his hand, he is almost unable to see it; and to whomsoever Allah does not give light, he
has no light.
[24.41] Do
you not see that Allah is He Whom do glorify all those who are in the heavens and the
earth, and the (very) birds with expanded wings? He knows the prayer of each one and its
glorification, and Allah is Cognizant of what they do.
[24.42] And
Allah's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and to Allah is the eventual coming.
[24.43] Do
you not see that Allah drives along the clouds, then gathers them together, then piles
them up, so that you see the rain coming forth from their midst? And He sends down of the
clouds that are (like) mountains wherein is hail, afflicting therewith whom He pleases and
turning it away from whom He pleases; the flash of His lightning almost takes away the
sight.
[24.44]
Allah turns over the night and the day; most surely there is a lesson in this for those
who have sight.
Light - Part 2
[24.45] And
Allah has created from water every living creature: so of them is that which walks upon
its belly, and of them is that which walks upon two feet, and of them is that which walks
upon four; Allah creates what He pleases; surely Allah has power over all things.
[24.46]
Certainly We have revealed clear communications, and Allah guides whom He pleases to the
right way.
[24.47] And
they say: We believe in Allah and in the apostle and we obey; then a party of them turn
back after this, and these are not believers.
[24.48] And
when they are called to Allah and His Apostle that he may judge between them, lo! a party
of them turn aside.
[24.49] And
if the truth be on their side, they come to him quickly, obedient.
[24.50] Is
there in their hearts a disease, or are they in doubt, or do they fear that Allah and His
Apostle will act wrongfully towards them? Nay! they themselves are the unjust.
[24.51] The
response of the believers, when they are invited to Allah and His Apostle that he may
judge between them, is only to say: We hear and we obey; and these it is that are the
successful.
[24.52] And
he who obeys Allah and His Apostle, and fears Allah, and is careful of (his duty to) Him,
these it is that are the achievers.
[24.53] And
they swear by Allah with the most energetic of their oaths that if you command them they
would certainly go forth. Say: Swear not; reasonable obedience (is desired); surely Allah
is aware of what you do.
[24.54] Say:
Obey Allah and obey the Apostle; but if you turn back, then on him rests that which is
imposed on him and on you rests that which is imposed on you; and if you obey him, you are
on the right way; and nothing rests on the Apostle but clear delivering (of the message).
[24.55]
Allah has promised to those of you who believe and do good that He will most certainly
make them rulers in the earth as He made rulers those before them, and that He will most
certainly establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them, and that He will
most certainly, after their fear, give them security in exchange; they shall serve Me, not
associating aught with Me; and whoever is ungrateful after this, these it is who are the
transgressors.
[24.56] And
keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and obey the Apostle, so that mercy may be shown to
you.
[24.57]
Think not that those who disbelieve shall escape in the earth, and their abode is the
fire; and certainly evil is the resort!
[24.58] O
you who believe! let those whom your right hands possess and those of you who have not
attained to puberty ask permission of you three times; before the morning prayer, and when
you put off your clothes at midday in summer, and after the prayer of the nightfall; these
are three times of privacy for you; neither is it a sin for you nor for them besides
these, some of you must go round about (waiting) upon others; thus does Allah make clear
to you the communications, and Allah is Knowing, Wise.
[24.59] And
when the children among you have attained to puberty, let them seek permission as those
before them sought permission; thus does Allah make clear to you His communications, and
Allah is knowing, Wise.
[24.60] And
(as for) women advanced in years who do not hope for a marriage, it is no sin for them if
they put off their clothes without displaying their ornaments; and if they restrain
themselves it is better for them; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.
[24.61]
There is no blame on the blind man, nor is there blame on the lame, nor is there blame on
the sick, nor on yourselves that you eat from your houses, or your fathers' houses or your
mothers' houses, or your brothers' houses, or your sisters' houses, or your paternal
uncles' houses, or your paternal aunts' houses, or your maternal uncles' houses, or your
maternal aunts' houses, or what you possess the keys of, or your friends' (houses). It is
no sin in you that you eat together or separately. So when you enter houses, greet your
people with a salutation from Allah, blessed (and) goodly; thus does Allah make clear to
you the communications that you may understand.
[24.62] Only
those are believers who believe in Allah and His Apostle, and when they are with him on a
momentous affair they go not away until they have asked his permission; surely they who
ask your permission are they who believe in Allah and His Apostle; so when they ask your
permission for some affair of theirs, give permission to whom you please of them and ask
forgiveness for them from Allah; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
[24.63] Do
not hold the Apostle's calling (you) among you to be like your calling one to the other;
Allah indeed knows those who steal away from among you, concealing themselves; therefore
let those beware who go against his order lest a trial afflict them or there befall them a
painful chastisement.
[24.64] Now
surely Allah's is whatever is in the heavens and the earth; He knows indeed that to which
you are conforming yourselves; and on the day on which they are returned to Him He will
inform them of what they did; and Allah is Cognizant of all things.
