Light
In the name of Allah, the
Beneficent, the Merciful.
[24:1]
(Here is) a surah which We have revealed and
enjoined, and wherein We have revealed plain tokens, that haply ye may take
heed.
[24:2]
The adulterer and the adulteress, scourge ye
each one of them (with) a hundred stripes. And let not pity for the twain
withhold you from obedience to Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day.
And let a party of believers witness their punishment.
[24:3]
The adulterer shall not marry save an adulteress
or an idolatress, and the adulteress none shall marry save an adulterer or an
idolater. All that is forbidden unto believers.
[24:4]
And those who accuse honourable women but bring
not four witnesses, scourge them (with) eighty stripes and never (afterward)
accept their testimony - They indeed are evil-doers -
[24:5]
Save those who afterward repent and make amends.
(For such) lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
[24:6]
As for those who accuse their wives but have no
witnesses except themselves; let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies,
(swearing) by Allah that he is of those who speak the truth;
[24:7]
And yet a fifth, invoking the curse of Allah on
him if he is of those who lie.
[24:8]
And it shall avert the punishment from her if she
bear witness before Allah four times that the thing he saith is indeed false,
[24:9]
And a fifth (time) that the wrath of Allah be
upon her if he speaketh truth.
[24:10]
And had it not been for the grace of Allah and
His mercy unto you, and that Allah is Clement, Wise, (ye had been undone).
[24:11]
Lo! they who spread the slander are a gang among
you. Deem it not a bad thing for you; nay, it is good for you. Unto every man
of them (will be paid) that which he hath earned of the sin; and as for him
among them who had the greater share therein, his will be an awful doom.
[24:12]
Why did not the believers, men and women, when
ye heard it, think good of their own own folk, and say: It is a manifest
untruth ?
[24:13]
Why did they not produce four witnesses ? Since
they produce not witnesses, they verily are liars in the sight of Allah.
[24:14]
Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His
mercy unto you in the world and the Hereafter an awful doom had overtaken you
for that whereof ye murmured.
[24:15]
When ye welcomed it with your tongues, and
uttered with your mouths that whereof ye had no knowledge, ye counted it a
trifle. In the sight of Allah it is very great.
[24:16]
Wherefor, when ye heard it, said ye not: It is
not for us to speak of this. Glory be to Thee (O Allah)! This is awful calumny.
[24:17]
Allah admonisheth you that ye repeat not the
like thereof ever, if ye are (in truth) believers.
[24:18]
And He expoundeth unto you the revelations.
Allah is Knower, Wise.
[24:19]
Lo! those who love that slander should be spread
concerning those who believe, theirs will be a painful punishment in the world
and the Hereafter. Allah knoweth. Ye know not.
[24:20]
Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His
mercy unto you, and that Allah is Clement, Merciful, (ye had been undone).
[24:21]
O ye who believe! Follow not the footsteps of
the devil. Unto whomsoever followeth the footsteps of the devil, lo! he
commandeth filthiness and wrong. Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His
mercy unto you, not one of you would ever have grown pure. But Allah causeth
whom He will to grow. And Allah is Hearer, Knower.
[24:22]
And let not those who possess dignity and ease
among you swear not to give to the near of kin and to the needy, and to fugitives
for the cause of Allah. Let them forgive and show indulgence. Yearn ye not that
Allah may forgive you ? Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
[24:23]
Lo! as for those who traduce virtuous, believing
women (who are) careless, cursed are they in the world and the Hereafter.
Theirs will be an awful doom
[24:24]
On the day when their tongues and their hands
and their feet testify against them as to what they used to do,
[24:25]
On that day Allah will pay them their just due,
and they will know that Allah, He is the Manifest Truth.
[24:26]
Vile women are for vile men, and vile men for
vile women. Good women are for good men, and good men for good women; such are
innocent of that which people say: For them is pardon and a bountiful
provision.
[24:27]
O ye who believe! Enter not houses other than
your own without first announcing your presence and invoking peace upon the
folk thereof. That is better for you, that ye may be heedful.
[24:28]
And if ye find no-one therein, still enter not
until permission hath been given. And if it be said unto you: Go away again,
then go away, for it is purer for you. Allah knoweth what ye do.
[24:29]
(It is) no sin for you to enter uninhabited
houses wherein is comfort for you. Allah knoweth what ye proclaim and what ye
hide.
[24:30]
Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and
be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is aware of what they do.
[24:31]
And tell the believing women to lower their gaze
and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and
to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save
to their own husbands or fathers or husbands’ fathers, or their sons or their
husbands’ sons, or their brothers or their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, or
their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children
who know naught of women’s nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as
to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O
believers, in order that ye may succeed.
[24:32]
And marry such of you as are solitary and the
pious of your slaves and maid-servants. If they be poor, Allah will enrich them
of His bounty. Allah is of ample means, Aware.
[24:33]
And let those who cannot find a match keep
chaste till Allah give them independence by His grace. And such of your slaves
as seek a writing (of emancipation), write it for them if ye are aware of aught
of good in them, and bestow upon them of the wealth of Allah which He hath
bestowed upon you. Force not your slave-girls to whoredom that ye may seek
enjoyment of the life of the world, if they would preserve their chastity. And
if one force them, then (unto them), after their compulsion, lo! Allah will be
Forgiving, Merciful.
[24:34]
And verily We have sent down for you revelations
that make plain, and the example of those who passed away before you. An
admonition unto those who ward off (evil).
[24:35]
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.
The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a
glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a
blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would
almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light.
Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in
allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.
[24:36]
(This lamp is found) in houses which Allah hath
allowed to be exalted and that His name shall be remembered therein. Therein do
offer praise to Him at morn and evening.
[24:37]
Men whom neither merchandise nor sale beguileth
from remembrance of Allah and constancy in prayer and paying to the poor their
due; who fear a day when hearts and eyeballs will be overturned;
[24:38]
That Allah may reward them with the best of what
they did, and increase reward for them of His bounty. Allah giveth blessings
without stint to whom He will.
[24:39]
As for those who disbelieve, their deeds are as
a mirage in a desert. The thirsty one supposeth it to be water till he cometh
unto it and findeth it naught, and findeth, in the place thereof, Allah Who
payeth him his due; and Allah is swift at reckoning.
[24:40]
Or as darkness on a vast, abysmal sea. There
covereth him a wave, above which is a wave, above which is a cloud. Layer upon
layer of darkness. When he holdeth out his hand he scarce can see it. And he
for whom Allah hath not appointed light, for him there is no light.
[24:41]
Hast thou not seen that Allah, He it is Whom all
who are in the heavens and the earth praise, and the birds in their flight ? Of
each He knoweth verily the worship and the praise; and Allah is Aware of what
they do.
[24:42]
And unto Allah belongeth the Sovereignty of the
heavens and the earth, and unto Allah is the journeying.
[24:43]
Hast thou not seen how Allah wafteth the clouds,
then gathereth them, then maketh them layers, and thou seest the rain come
forth from between them; He sendeth down from the heaven mountains wherein is
hail, and smiteth therewith whom He will, and averteth it from whom He will.
The flashing of His lightning all but snatcheth away the sight.
[24:44]
Allah causeth the revolution of the day and the
night. Lo! herein is indeed a lesson for those who see.
[24:45]
Allah hath created every animal of water. Of
them is (a kind) that goeth upon its belly and (a kind) that goeth upon two
legs and (a kind) that goeth upon four. Allah createth what He will. Lo! Allah
is Able to do all things.
[24:46]
Verily We have sent down revelations and
explained them. Allah guideth whom He will unto a straight path.
[24:47]
And they say: We believe in Allah and the
messenger, and we obey; then after that a faction of them turn away. Such are
not believers.
[24:48]
And when they appeal unto Allah and His
messenger to judge between them, lo! a faction of them are averse;
[24:49]
But if right had been with them they would have
come unto him willingly.
[24:50]
Is there in their hearts a disease, or have they
doubts, or fear they lest Allah and His messenger should wrong them in judgment
? Nay, but such are evil-doers.
[24:51]
The saying of (all true) believers when they
appeal unto Allah and His messenger to judge between them is only that they
say: We hear and we obey. And such are the successful.
[24:52]
He who obeyeth Allah and His messenger, and
feareth Allah, and keepeth duty (unto Him): such indeed are the victorious.
[24:53]
They swear by Allah solemnly that, if thou order
them, they will go forth. Say: Swear not; known obedience (is better). Lo! Allah
is Informed of what ye do.
[24:54]
Say: Obey Allah and obey the messenger. But if
ye turn away, then (it is) for him (to do) only that wherewith he hath been
charged, and for you (to do) only that wherewith ye have been charged. If ye
obey him, ye will go aright. But the messenger hath no other charge than to
convey (the message) plainly.
[24:55]
Allah hath promised such of you as believe and
do good work that He will surely make them to succeed (the present rulers) in
the earth even as He caused those who were before them to succeed (others); and
that He will surely establish for them their religion which He hath approved
for them, and will give them in exchange safety after their fear. They serve
Me. They ascribe no thing as partner unto Me. Those who disbelieve henceforth,
they are the miscreants.
[24:56]
Establish worship and pay the poor-due and obey
the messenger, that haply ye may find mercy.
[24:57]
Think not that the disbelievers can escape in
the land. Fire will be their home - a hapless journey’s end!
[24:58]
O ye who believe! Let your slaves, and those of
you who have not come to puberty, ask leave of you at three times (before they
come into your presence): Before the prayer of dawn, and when ye lay aside your
raiment for the heat of noon, and after the prayer of night. Three times of
privacy for you. It is no sin for them or for you at other times, when some of
you go round attendant upon others (if they come into your presence without
leave). Thus Allah maketh clear the revelations for you. Allah is Knower, Wise.
[24:59]
And when the children among you come to puberty
then let them ask leave even as those before them used to ask it. Thus Allah
maketh clear His revelations for you. Allah is Knower, Wise.
[24:60]
As for women past child-bearing, who have no
hope of marriage, it is no sin for them if they discard their (outer) clothing
in such a way as not to show adornment. But to refrain is better for them.
Allah is Hearer, Knower.
[24:61]
No blame is there upon the blind nor any blame
upon the lame nor any blame upon the sick nor on yourselves if ye eat from your
houses, or the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your mothers, or the
houses of your brothers, or the houses of your sisters, or the houses of your
fathers’ brothers, or the houses of your fathers’ sisters, or the houses of
your mothers’ brothers, or the houses of your mothers’ sisters, or (from that)
whereof ye hold the keys, or (from the house) of a friend. No sin shall it be
for you whether ye eat together or apart. But when ye enter houses, salute one
another with a greeting from Allah, blessed and sweet. Thus Allah maketh clear
His revelations for you, that haply ye may understand.
[24:62]
They only are the true believers who believe in
Allah and His messenger and, when they are with him on some common errand, go
not away until they have asked leave of him. Lo! those who ask leave of thee,
those are they who believe in Allah and His messenger. So, if they ask thy
leave for some affair of theirs, give leave to whom thou wilt of them, and ask
for them forgiveness of Allah. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
[24:63]
Make not the calling of the messenger among you
as your calling one of another. Allah knoweth those of you who steal away,
hiding themselves. And let those who conspire to evade orders beware lest grief
or painful punishment befall them.
[24:64]
Lo! verily unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in
the heavens and the earth. He knoweth your condition. And (He knoweth) the Day
when they are returned unto Him so that He may inform them of what they did.
Allah is Knower of all things.