Al-Noor
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
(This is) a Sûrah (chapter of the Qur'ân) which We have sent down
and which We have enjoined, (ordained its legal laws) and in it We have
revealed manifest Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations
lawful and unlawful things, and set boundries of Islâmic Religion), that you
may remember (1) The woman and the man guilty of illegal sexual intercourse, flog
each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity withhold you in their case,
in a punishment prescribed by Allâh, if you believe in Allâh and the Last Day.
And let a party of the believers witness their punishment. (This punishment is
for unmarried persons guilty of the above crime but if married persons commit
it, the punishment is to stone them to death, according to Allâh's Law)[] (2) The adulterer marries
not but an adulteress or a Mushrikah and the adulteress none marries her except
an adulterer or a Muskrik [and that means that the man who agrees to marry
(have a sexual relation with) a Mushrikah (female polytheist, pagan or
idolatress) or a prostitute, then surely he is either an adulterer, or a
Mushrik (polytheist, pagan or idolater) And the woman who agrees to marry (have
a sexual relation with) a Mushrik (polytheist, pagan or idolater) or an adulterer,
then she is either a prostitute or a Mushrikah (female polytheist, pagan, or
idolatress)]. Such a thing is forbidden to the believers (of Islâmic
Monotheism). (3) And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four
witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever, They indeed are the Fâsiqûn (liars, rebellious,
disobedient to Allâh). (4) Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous
deeds, (for such) verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (5) And for those who
accuse their wives, but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony
of one of them be four testimonies (i.e. testifies four times) by Allâh that he
is one of those who speak the truth. (6) And the fifth (testimony should be)
the invoking of the Curse of Allâh on him if he be of those who tell a lie
(against her). (7) But it shall avert the punishment (of stoning to death) from
her, if she bears witness four times by Allâh, that he (her husband) is telling
a lie. (8) And the fifth (testimony) should be that the Wrath of Allâh be
upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth. (9) And had it not been
for the Grace of Allâh and His Mercy on you (He would have hastened the
punishment upon you)! And that Allâh is the One Who
for gives and accepts repentance, the All-Wise. (10)Verily! those who brought forth the slander (against 'Aishah
radhiallahu'anhu the wife of the Prophet SAW) are a group among you. Consider
it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you. Unto every man among them
will be paid that which he had earned of the sin, and as for him among them who
had the greater share therein, his will be a great torment. (11) Why then, did not the
believers, men and women, when you heard it (the slander) think good of their
own people and say: "This (charge) is an obvious lie[]?"
(12) Why did they not
produce four witnesses? Since they (the slanderers) have not produced
witnesses! Then with Allâh they are the liars. (13) Had it not been for
the Grace of Allâh and His Mercy unto you in this world and in the Hereafter, a
great torment would have touched you for that whereof you had spoken. (14) When you were
propagating it with your tongues, and uttering with your mouths that whereof you
had no knowledge, you counted it a little thing, while with Allâh it was very
great. (15) And why did you not, when you heard it, say "It is not
right for us to speak of this. Glory is to You (O
Allâh) this is a great lie." (16) Allâh forbids you from it and warns you not
to repeat the like of it forever, if you are believers. (17) And Allâh makes the
Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) plain to you, and Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (18) Verily, those who
like that (the crime of) illegal sexual intercourse should be propagated among
those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the
Hereafter. And Allâh knows and you know not. (19) And had it not been
for the Grace of Allâh and His Mercy on you, (Allâh would have hastened the
punishment upon you). And that Allâh is full of kindness, Most Merciful. (20)O you who believe!
Follow not the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan). And whosoever follows the
footsteps of Shaitân (Satan), then, verily he commands Al-Fahshâ' [i.e. to
commit indecency (illegal sexual intercourse)], and Al-Munkar [disbelief and
polytheism (i.e. to do evil and wicked deeds; and to speak or to do what is
forbidden in Islâm)]. And had it not been for the Grace of Allâh and His Mercy
on you, not one of you would ever have been pure from sins. But Allâh purifies
(guides to Islâm) whom He wills, and Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower. (21) And let not those
among you who are blessed with graces and wealth swear not to give (any sort of
help) to their kinsmen, Al-Masâkîn (the poor), and those who left their homes
for Allâh's Cause. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allâh
should forgive you? And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (22) Verily, those who
accuse chaste women, who never even think of anything touching their chastity
and are good believers,— are cursed in this life and
in the Hereafter, and for them will be a great torment,— (23) On the Day when their
tongues, their hands, and their legs (or feet) will bear witness against them
as to what they used to do. (24) On that Day Allâh will pay them the
recompense of their deeds in full, and they will know that Allâh, He is the
Manifest Truth. (25) Bad statements are for bad people (or bad women for bad men) and
bad people for bad statements (or bad men for bad women). Good statements are
for good people (or good women for good men) and good people for good
statements (or good men for good women), such (good people) are innocent of
(every) bad statement which they say, for them is Forgiveness, and Rizqun Karîm
(generous provision i.e.Paradise). (26) O you who believe! Enter not houses other
than your own, until you have asked permission and greeted those in them, that is better for you, in order that you may remember. (27)And if you find no one
therein, still, enter not until permission has been given. And if you are asked
to go back, go back, for it is purer for you, and Allâh is All-Knower of what
you do. (28) There is no sin on you that you enter (without taking permission)
houses uninhabited (i.e. not possessed by anybody), (when) you have any
interest in them. And Allâh has knowledge of what you reveal and what you
conceal. (29) Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at
forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts).
That is purer for them. Verily, Allâh is All-Aware of what they do. (30) And tell the
believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and
protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off
their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for
necessity to see the way or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron,
etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks
and bosoms,) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or
their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's
sons, or their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or
their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islâm), or the (female) slaves whom
their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small
children who have no sense of the feminine sex. And let them not stamp their
feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg
Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful[]
(31)And marry those among
you who are single (i.e. a man who has no wife and the woman who has no
husband) and (also marry) the Sâlihûn (pious, fit and capable ones) of your
(male) slaves and maid-servants (female slaves). If they be poor, Allâh will
enrich them out of His Bounty. And Allâh is All-Sufficent for His creatures'
needs, All-Knowing (about the state of the people). (32) And let those who find
not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allâh
enriches them of His Bounty. And such of your slaves as seek a writing (of
emancipation), give them such writing, if you find that there is good and
honesty in them. And give them something (yourselves) out of the wealth of
Allâh which He has bestowed upon you. And force not your maids to prostitution,
if they desire chastity, in order that you may make a gain in the (perishable)
goods of this worldly life. But if anyone compels them (to prostitution), then
after such compulsion, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (to those women,
i.e. He will forgive them because they have been forced to do this evil act
unwillingly). (33) And indeed We have sent down for you Ayât (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) that make things plain, and the
example of those who passed away before you, and an admonition for those who
are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious and righteous persons - see V.2:2). (34) Allâh is the Light of
the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as (if there were) a
niche and within it a lamp, the lamp is in glass, the glass as it were a
brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east (i.e.
neither it gets sun-rays only in the morning) nor of the west (i.e. nor it gets
sun-rays only in the afternoon, but it is exposed to the sun all day long),
whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself), though no fire touched it. Light
upon Light! Allâh guides to His Light whom He wills. And Allâh sets forth
parables for mankind, and Allâh is All-Knower of everything. (35) In houses (mosques),
which Allâh has ordered to be raised (to be cleaned, and to be honoured), in
them His Name is remembered [i.e. Adhan, Iqamah, Salat (prayers), invocations,
recitation of the Quran, etc.]. Therein glorify Him (Allah) in the mornings and
in the afternoons or the evenings,[] (36)Men whom neither trade
nor sale (business) diverts them from the Remembrance of Allâh (with heart and
tongue), nor from performing As¬Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), nor from giving the
Zakât. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (out of the
horror of the torment of the Day of Resurrection). (37) That Allâh may reward
them according to the best of their deeds, and add even more for them out of
His Grace. And Allâh provides without measure to whom He wills[]
(38) As for those who
disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert. The thirsty one thinks
it to be water, until he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing, but he
finds Allâh with him, Who will pay him his due (Hell). And Allâh is Swift in
taking account.[] (39) Or [the state of a disbeliever] is like the darkness in a
vast deep sea, overwhelmed with waves topped by waves, topped by dark clouds,
(layers of) darkness upon darkness: if a man stretches out his hand, he can
hardly see it! And he for whom Allâh has not appointed light, for him there is
no light. (40) See you not (O Muhammad SAW) that Allâh, He it is Whom glorify whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, and
the birds with wings out-spread (in their flight)? Of each one He (Allâh) knows
indeed his Salât (prayer) and his glorification, [or everyone knows his Salât
(prayer) and his glorification], and Allâh is All-Aware of what they do. (41) And to Allâh belongs
the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and to Allâh is the return (of
all). (42) See you not that Allâh drives the clouds gently, then joins them
together, then makes them into a heap of layers, and you see the rain comes
forth from between them. And He sends down from the sky hail (like) mountains,
(or there are in the heaven mountains of hail from where He sends down hail),
and strike therewith whom He wills, and averts it from whom He wills. The vivid
flash of its (clouds) lightning nearly blinds the sight. [Tafsir At-Tabarî]. (43)Allâh causes the night
and the day to succeed each other (i.e. if the day is gone, the night comes,
and if the night is gone, the day comes, and so on). Truly, in these things is
indeed a lesson for those who have insight. (44) Allâh has created
every moving (living) creature from water. Of them there are some that creep on
their bellies, some that walk on two legs, and some that walk on four. Allâh
creates what He wills. Verily! Allâh is Able to do all things. (45) We have indeed sent
down (in this Qur'ân) manifest Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs,
revelations, lawful and unlawful things, and the set boundries of Islâmic
religion, etc. that make things clear showing the Right Path of Allâh). And
Allâh guides whom He wills to a Straight Path (i.e. to Allâh's religion of
Islâmic Monotheism). (46) They (hypocrites) say: "We have believed in Allâh
and in the Messenger (Muhammad SAW), and we obey," then a party of them
turn away thereafter, such are not believers. (47) And when they are
called to Allâh (i.e. His Words, the Qur'ân) and His Messenger (SAW), to judge
between them, lo! a party of them refuse (to come) and
turn away. (48) But if the truth is on their sides, they come to him willingly
with submission. (49) Is there a disease in their hearts? Or do they doubt or fear
lest Allâh and His Messenger (SAW) should wrong them in judgement. Nay, it is
they themselves who are the Zâlimûn (polytheists, hypocrites and wrong-doers).
(50) The only saying of
the faithful believers, when they are called to Allâh (His Words, the Qur'ân)
and His Messenger (SAW), to judge between them, is that they say: "We hear
and we obey." And such are the successful (who will live forever in