Sura XXIV (24)
Light
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
A Sura
which we have sent down and sanctioned! Clear signs have we sent down therein,
that you may take warning.
The
whore and the whoremonger -- scourge each of them with a hundred stripes; and
let not compassion keep you from carrying out the sentence of God, if you
believe in God and the last day: And let some
of the faithful witness their chastisement.
The
whoremonger shall not marry other than a whore or an idolatress; and the whore
shall not marry other than a whoremonger or an idolater. Such alliances are forbidden
to the faithful.
They
who defame virtuous women, and bring not four witnesses, scourge them with
fourscore stripes, and receive you not their testimony for ever, for these are
perverse persons --
Save
those who afterwards repent and life virtuously; for truly God is Lenient,
Merciful!
And
they who shall accuse their wives, and have no witnesses but themselves, the
testimony of each of them shall be a testimony by God four times repeated, that
he is indeed of them that speak the truth.
And
the fifth time that the malison of God be upon him, if he be of them that lie.
But it
shall avert the chastisement from her if she testify a testimony four times
repeated, by God, that he is of them that lie;
And a
fifth time to call down the wrath of God on her, if he have spoken the truth.
24:10 And but for the goodness and mercy of
God towards you, and that God is He who loveth to turn, Wise....!
Of a
truth, they who advanced that lie were a large number of you; but regard it not
as an evil to you. No, it is an advantage to you,. toe very man among them
shall it be done according to the offence he hath committed; and as to that
person among them who took on himself to aggravate it, a sore punishment doth
await him.
Did
not the faithful of both sexes, when you heard of this, form a favourable
judgment in their own minds, and say, "This is a manifest lie?"
Have
they brought four witnesses of the fact? If they cannot produce the witnesses,
they are the liars in the sight of God.
And
but for the goodness of God towards you, and His mercy in this world and in the
next, a severe punishment had come upon you for that which you spread abroad,
when you uttered with your tongues, and spake with your mouths that of which
you had no knowledge. You deemed it to be alight matter, but with God it was a
grave one.
And
did you say when you heard it, 'It is not for us to talk of this affair! O God!
By thy Glory, this is a gross calumny?"
God
hath warned you that you go not back to the like of this for ever, if you be
believers:
And
God maketh His signs clear to you: for God is
Knowing, Wise.
But as
for those who love that foul calumnies should go forth against those who
believe, a grievous chastisement awaits them
In
this world and in the next. And God hath knowledge, but you have not.
24:20 And but for the goodness of God
towards you and His Mercy, and that God is Kind, Merciful...!
O you
who believe! follow not the steps of Satan, for whosoever shall follow the
steps of Satan, he will enjoin on him what is base and blameworthy; and but for
the goodness of God towards you, and His mercy, no one of you had been cleansed
for ever: but God maketh whom He will to be
clean, and God Heareth, Knoweth.
And
let not persons of wealth and means among you swear that they will not give to
their kindred, to the poor, and to those who have fled their homes in the cause
of God; let them rather pardon and pass over the offence. Desire you not that
God should forgive you? And God is Gracious, Merciful!
Verily,
they who throw out charges against virtuous but careless women, who yet are
believers, shall be cursed in this world and in the world to come; and a
terrible punishment doth await them.
Their
own tongues, and hands, and feet, shall one day bear witness against them of
their own doings.
On
that day will God pay them their just due, and they shall know that God is the
clear Truth itself.
Bad
women for bad men, and bad men for bad women; but virtuous women for virtuous
men, and virtuous men for virtuous women! These shall be cleared from
calumnies; theirs shall be forgiveness and an honourable provision.
O you
who believe! enter not into other houses than your own, until you have asked
leave, and have saluted its inmates. This will be best for you: happly you will bear this in mind.
And if
you find no one therein, then enter it not till leave be given you; and if it
be said to you, "Go you back," then go you back. This will be more
blameless in you, and God knoweth what you do.
There
shall be no harm in your entering houses in which no one dwelleth, for the
supply of your needs: and God knoweth what you
do openly and what you hide.
24:30 Speak unto the believers that they
restrain their eyes and observe continence. Thus will they be more pure. God is
well aware of what they do.
And
speak to the believing women that they refrain their eyes, and observe
continence; and that they display not their ornaments, except those which are
external; and that they throw their veils over their bosoms, and display not
their ornaments, except to their husbands or their fathers, or their husbands'
fathers, or their sons, or their husbands' sons, or their brothers, or their
brothers' son, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male
domestics who have no natural force, or to children who note not women's
nakedness. And let them not strike their feet together, so as to discover their
hidden ornaments. And be you all turned to God, O you Believers! that it may be
well with you.
And
marry those among you who are single, and your good servants, and the
handmaidens. If they are poor, God of His bounty will enrich them. God is
all-bounteous, Knowing.
And
let those who cannot find a match live in continence till God of His bounty
shall enrich them. And to those of your slaves who desire a deed of
manumission, execute it for them, if you know good in them, and give them a
portion of the wealth of God which He hath given you. Force not your female
slaves into sin, in order that you may gain the casual fruitions of this world,
if they wish to preserve their modesty. Yet if any one compel them, then Verily
to them, after their compulsion, will God be Forgiving, Merciful.
And
now have we sent down to you clear signs, and an instance from among those who
flourished before you, and a caution for the God-fearing.
God is
the light of the Heavens and of the Earth. His Light is like a niche in which
is a lamp -- the lamp encased in glass -- the glass, as it were, a glistening
star. From a blessed tree it is lighted, the olive neither of the East nor of
the West, whose oil would well nigh shine out, even though fire touched it not!
It is light upon light. God guideth whom He will to His light, and God setteth
forth parables to men, for God knoweth all things.
In the
temples which God hath allowed to be reared, that His name may therein be
remember, do men praise Him morn and even.
Men
whom neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the remembrance of God, and
from the observance of prayer, and the payment of the stated alms, through fear
of the day when hearts shall throb and eyes shall roll:
That
for their most excellent works may God recompense them, and of His bounty
increase it to them more and more: for God
maketh provision for whom He pleaseth without measure.
But as
to the infidels, their works are like the vapour in a plain which the thirst
dreameth to be water, until when he cometh unto it, he findeth it not aught,
but findeth that God is with him; and He fully payeth him his account: for swift to take account is God:
24:40 Or like the darkness on the deep sea
when covered by billows riding upon billows, above which are clouds: darkness upon darkness. When a man reacheth forth
his hand, he cannot nearly see it! He to whom God shall not give light, no
light at all hath he!
Hast
thou not seen how all in the Heavens and in the Earth uttereth the praise of
God? -- the very birds as they spread their wings? Every creature knoweth its
prayer and its praise! and God knoweth what they do.
God's,
the Kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth:
and unto God the final return!
Hast
thou not seen that God driveth clouds lightly forward, then gathereth them
together, then pileth them in masses? And then thou seest the rain forthcoming
from their midst; and He causeth clouds like mountains charged with hail, to
descend from the heaven, and He maketh it to fall on whom He will, and from
whom He will He turneth it aside. -- The brightness of His lightning all but
taketh away the sight!
God
causeth the day and the night to take their turn. Verily in this is teaching
for men of insight. And God hath created every animal of water. Some go upon
the belly; some go upon two feet; some go upon four feet. God hath created what
He pleased. Aye, God hath power over all things.
Now
have we sent down distinct signs. -- And God guideth whom He will into the
right path:
For
there are who say, "We believe on God and on the Apostle, and we
obey;" yet, after this, a part of them turn back. But these are not of the
faithful.
And
when they are summoned before God and His Apostle that He may judge between
them, lo! a part of them withdraw:
But
had the truth been on their side, they would have come to Him, obedient.
What!
are they diseased of heart? Do they doubt? Are they afraid that God and His
Apostles will deal unfairly with them? Nay, themselves are the unjust doers.
24:50 The words of the believers, when
called to God and His Apostle that He may judge between them, are only to say,
"We have heard, and we obey:" these
are they with whom it shall be well.
And
whoso shall obey God, and His Apostle, and shall dread God and fear Him, these
are they that shall be the blissful.
And
they have sworn by God, with a most solemn oath, that if thou give them the
word, they will certainly march forth. Say:
swear you not: of more worth is obedience.
Verily, God is well aware of what you do.
Say: Obey God and obey the Apostle. Suppose that you
turn back, still the burden of his duty is on him only, and the burden of your
duty rests on you. If you obey Him, you shall have guidance: but plain preaching is all that devolves upon the
Apostle.
God
hath promised to those of you who believe and do the things that are right,
that He will cause them to succeed others in the land, and He gave succession
to those who were before them, and that He will establish for them that
religion which they delight in, and that after their fears He will give them
security in exchange. They shall worship Me:
nought shall they join with Me: And whoso,
after this, believe not, they will be the impious.
But
observe prayer, and pay the stated alms, and obey the Apostle, that haply you
may find mercy.
Let
not the Infidels think that they can weaken God on His own Earth: their dwelling place shall be the Fire! and right
wretched the journey!
O you
who believe! let your slaves, and those of you who have not come of age, ask
leave of you, three times a day, ere they come into your presence; -- before
the morning prayer, and when you lay aside your garments at mid-day, and after
the evening prayer. These are your three times of privacy. No blame shall
attach to you or to them, if after these times, when you go your rounds of
attendance on one another, they come in without permission. Thus doth God make
clear to you His signs: and God is Knowing,
Wise!
And
when your children come of age, let them ask leave to come into your presence,
as they who were before them asked it. Thus doth God make clear to you his
signs: and God is Knowing, Wise.
As to
women who are past childbearing, and have no hope of marriage, no blame shall
attach to them if they lay aside their outer garments, but so as not to shew
their ornaments. Yet if they abstain from this, it will be better for them: and God Heareth, Knoweth.
24:60 No crime shall it be in the blind, or
in the lame, or in the sick, to eat at your tables:
or in yoursselves, if you eat in your own houses, or in the houses of your
fathers, or of your mothers, or of your brothers, or of your sisters, or of
your uncles on the father's side, or of your aunts on the father's side, or of
your uncles on the mother's side, or of your aunts on the mother's side, or in
those of which you possess the keys, or in the house of your friend. No blame
shall attach to you whether you eat together or apart.
And
when you enter houses, salute one another with good and blessed greeting as
from God. Thus doth God make clear to you His signs, that haply you may
comprehend them.
Verily,
they only are believers who believe in God and His Apostle, and who, when they
are with him upon any affair of common interest, depart not until they have
sought his leave. Yes, they who ask leave of thee, are those who believe in God
and His Apostle. And when they ask leave of Thee on account of any affairs of
their own, then grant it to those of them whom thou wilt, and ask indulgence
for them of God: for God is Indulgent,
Merciful.
Address
not the Apostle as you address one another. God knoweth those of you who
withdraw quietly from the assemblies, screening themselves behind others. And
let those who transgress his command beware, lest some present trouble befall
them, or a grievous chastisement befall them, hereafter.
Is not
whatever is in the Heavens and the Earth God's? He knoweth your state; and one
day shall men be assembled before Him, and He will tell them of what they have
done: for God knoweth all things.