SURAH AN-NUR

[This is] a sūrah which We have sent down and made [that within it] obligatory and revealed therein verses of clear evidence that you might remember.

The [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse⁹⁷² - lash each one of them with a hundred lashes,⁹⁷³ and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion [i.e., law] of Allāh,⁹⁷⁴ if you should believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment.

The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator⁹⁷⁵ or a polytheist, and that [i.e., marriage to such persons] has been made unlawful to the believers.

And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient,

Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

And those who accuse their wives [of adultery] and have no witnesses except themselves - then the witness of one of them⁹⁷⁶ [shall be] four testimonies [swearing] by Allāh that indeed, he is of the truthful.

And the fifth [oath will be] that the curse of Allāh be upon him if he should be of the liars.

But it will prevent punishment from her if she gives four testimonies [swearing] by Allāh that indeed, he is of the liars.

And the fifth [oath will be] that the wrath of Allāh be upon her if he was of the truthful.

And if not for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy...⁹⁷⁷ and because Allāh is Accepting of Repentance and Wise.

Indeed, those who came with falsehood⁹⁷⁸ are a group among you. Do not think it bad for you; rather, it is good for you. For every person among them is what [punishment] he has earned from the sin, and he who took upon himself the greater portion thereof⁹⁷⁹ - for him is a great punishment [i.e., Hellfire].

Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of themselves [i.e., one another] and say, "This is an obvious falsehood"?

Why did they [who slandered] not produce for it four witnesses? And when they do not produce the witnesses, then it is they, in the sight of Allāh, who are the liars.

And if it had not been for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy in this world and the Hereafter, you would have been touched for that [lie] in which you were involved by a great punishment

When you received it with your tongues⁹⁸⁰ and said with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge and thought it was insignificant while it was, in the sight of Allāh, tremendous.

And why, when you heard it, did you not say, "It is not for us to speak of this. Exalted are You, [O Allāh]; this is a great slander"?

Allāh warns you against returning to the likes of this [conduct], ever, if you should be believers.

And Allāh makes clear to you the verses [i.e., His rulings], and Allāh is Knowing and Wise.

Indeed, those who like that immorality⁹⁸¹ should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allāh knows⁹⁸² and you do not know.

And if it had not been for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy...⁹⁸³ and because Allāh is Kind and Merciful.

O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And if not for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but Allāh purifies whom He wills, and Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.

And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allāh, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allāh should forgive you? And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

Indeed, those who [falsely] accuse chaste, unaware and believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter; and they will have a great punishment

On a Day when their tongues, their hands and their feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.

That Day, Allāh will pay them in full their true [i.e., deserved] recompense, and they will know that it is Allāh who is the manifest Truth [i.e., perfect in justice].

Evil words are for evil men, and evil men are [subjected] to evil words. And good words are for good men, and good men are [an object] of good words.⁹⁸⁴ Those [good people] are declared innocent of what they [i.e., slanderers] say. For them is forgiveness and noble provision.

O you who have believed, do not enter houses other than your own houses until you ascertain welcome and greet⁹⁸⁵ their inhabitants. That is best for you; perhaps you will be reminded [i.e., advised].

And if you do not find anyone therein, do not enter them until permission has been given you. And if it is said to you, "Go back,"⁹⁸⁶ then go back; it is purer for you. And Allāh is Knowing of what you do.

There is no blame upon you for entering houses not inhabited in which there is convenience⁹⁸⁷ for you. And Allāh knows what you reveal and what you conceal.

Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision⁹⁸⁸ and guard their private parts.⁹⁸⁹ That is purer for them. Indeed, Allāh is [fully] Aware of what they do.

And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision⁹⁹⁰ and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment⁹⁹¹ except that which [necessarily] appears thereof⁹⁹² and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment [i.e., beauty] except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess [i.e., slaves], or those male attendants having no physical desire,⁹⁹³ or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allāh in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.

And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allāh will enrich them from His bounty, and Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.

But let them who find not [the means for] marriage abstain [from sexual relations] until Allāh enriches them from His bounty. And those who seek a contract [for eventual emancipation] from among whom your right hands possess⁹⁹⁴ - then make a contract with them if you know there is within them goodness and give them from the wealth of Allāh which He has given you. And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire chastity, to seek [thereby] the temporary interests of worldly life. And if someone should compel them, then indeed, Allāh is [to them], after their compulsion, Forgiving and Merciful.

And We have certainly sent down to you distinct verses⁹⁹⁵ and examples from those who passed on before you and an admonition for those who fear Allāh.

Allāh is the Light⁹⁹⁶ of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light⁹⁹⁷ is like a niche within which is a lamp;⁹⁹⁸ the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allāh guides to His light whom He wills. And Allāh presents examples for the people, and Allāh is Knowing of all things.

[Such niches are] in houses [i.e., mosques] which Allāh has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned [i.e., praised] therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings⁹⁹⁹

[Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allāh and performance of prayer and giving of zakāh. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about -

That Allāh may reward them [according to] the best of what they did and increase them from His bounty. And Allāh gives provision to whom He wills without account [i.e., limit].

But those who disbelieved - their deeds are like a mirage in a lowland which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing but finds Allāh before him, and He will pay him in full his due; and Allāh is swift in account.

Or [they are] like darknesses within an unfathomable sea which is covered by waves, upon which are waves, over which are clouds - darknesses, some of them upon others. When one puts out his hand [therein], he can hardly see it. And he to whom Allāh has not granted light - for him there is no light.

Do you not see that Allāh is exalted by whomever is within the heavens and the earth and [by] the birds with wings spread [in flight]? Each [of them] has known his [means of] prayer and exalting [Him], and Allāh is Knowing of what they do.

And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and to Allāh is the destination.

Do you not see that Allāh drives clouds? Then He brings them together; then He makes them into a mass, and you see the rain emerge from within it. And He sends down from the sky, mountains [of clouds] within which is hail, and He strikes with it whom He wills and averts it from whom He wills. The flash of its lightning almost takes away the eyesight.

Allāh alternates the night and the day. Indeed in that is a lesson for those who have vision.

Allāh has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are those that move on their bellies, and of them are those that walk on two legs, and of them are those that walk on four. Allāh creates what He wills. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.

We have certainly sent down distinct verses. And Allāh guides whom He wills to a straight path.

But they [i.e., the hypocrites] say, "We have believed in Allāh and in the Messenger, and we obey"; then a party of them turns away after that. And those are not believers.

And when they are called to [the words of] Allāh and His Messenger to judge between them, at once a party of them turns aside [in refusal].

But if the right is theirs, they come to him in prompt obedience.

Is there disease in their hearts? Or have they doubted? Or do they fear that Allāh will be unjust to them, or His Messenger? Rather, it is they who are the wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust].