Chapter 24

Surah An Noor (The Light)

24.1

surah 24 - verse 1

translator's name verse
Arberry A sura that We have sent down and appointed; and We have sent down in it signs, clear signs, that haply you will remember.
Maududi This is a Surah which We have sent down and We have made it mandatory, and We have sent down clear Commandments in it so that you may learn lessons.
Pickthall (Here is) a surah which We have revealed and enjoined, and wherein We have revealed plain tokens, that haply ye may take heed.
Sahih [This is] a surah which We have sent down and made [that within it] obligatory and revealed therein verses of clear evidence that you might remember.
Yusuf Ali A sura which We have sent down and which We have ordained in it have We sent down Clear Signs, in order that ye may receive admonition.

24.2

surah 24 - verse 2

translator's name verse
Arberry The fornicatress and the fornicator -- scourge each one of them a hundred stripes, and in the matter of God's religion let no tenderness for them seize you if you believe in God and the Last Day; and let a party of the believers witness their chastisement.
Maududi The woman and the man guilty of fornication, flog each one of them with a hundred stripes - and let not any pity for them restrain you in regard to a matter prescribed by Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day, and let, some of the believers witness the punishment inflicted on them.
Pickthall 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.
Sahih The [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse - lash each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion of Allah, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment.
Yusuf Ali The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment.

24.3

surah 24 - verse 3

translator's name verse
Arberry The fornicator shall marry none but a fornicatress or an idolatress, and the fornicatress -- none shall marry her but a fornicator or an idolator; that is forbidden to the believers.
Maududi A man guilty of adultery (or fornication) shall not marry any but the woman guilty of the same or a mushrik woman, and none shall marry a woman guilty of adultery (or fornication) but the man guilty of the same or a mushrik man: such marriages are forbidden to true believers.
Pickthall 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.
Sahih The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator or a polytheist, and that has been made unlawful to the believers.
Yusuf Ali Let no man guilty of adultery or fornication marry and but a woman similarly guilty, or an Unbeliever: nor let any but such a man or an Unbeliever marry such a woman: to the Believers such a thing is forbidden.

24.4

surah 24 - verse 4

translator's name verse
Arberry And those who cast it up on women in wedlock, and then bring not four witnesses, scourge them with eighty stripes, and do not accept any testimony of theirs ever; those -- they are the ungodly,
Maududi As for those persons who charge chaste women with false accusations but do not produce four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes and never accept their evidence afterwards, for they themselves are transgressors,
Pickthall 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 -
Sahih 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,
Yusuf Ali And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations),- flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors;-

24.5

surah 24 - verse 5

translator's name verse
Arberry save such as repent thereafter and make amends; surely God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.
Maududi except those who repent and reform themselves; Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Pickthall Save those who afterward repent and make amends. (For such) lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Sahih Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Yusuf Ali Unless they repent thereafter and mend (their conduct); for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

24.6

surah 24 - verse 6

translator's name verse
Arberry And those who cast it up on their wives having no witnesses except themselves, the testimony of one of them shall be to testify by God four times that he is of the truthful,
Maududi As for those who accuse their own wives but have no witness except themselves, the evidence of one of them is that he shall swear four times by Allah and declare that he is true (in his charge).
Pickthall 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;
Sahih And those who accuse their wives [of adultery] and have no witnesses except themselves - then the witness of one of them [shall be] four testimonies [swearing] by Allah that indeed, he is of the truthful.
Yusuf Ali And for those who launch a charge against their spouses, and have (in support) no evidence but their own,- their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by Allah that they are solemnly telling the truth;

24.7

surah 24 - verse 7

translator's name verse
Arberry and a fifth time, that the curse of God shall be upon him, if he should be of the liars.
Maududi Then the fifth time he shall declare that Allah's curse be upon him if he be false (in his charge).
Pickthall And yet a fifth, invoking the curse of Allah on him if he is of those who lie.
Sahih And the fifth [oath will be] that the curse of Allah be upon him if he should be among the liars.
Yusuf Ali And the fifth (oath) (should be) that they solemnly invoke the curse of Allah on themselves if they tell a lie.

24.8

surah 24 - verse 8

translator's name verse
Arberry It shall avert from her the chastisement if she testify by God four times that he is of the liars,
Maududi (As for the woman), it shall avert the punishment from her if she swears four times by Allah that the man is false (in his charge)
Pickthall And it shall avert the punishment from her if she bear witness before Allah four times that the thing he saith is indeed false,
Sahih But it will prevent punishment from her if she gives four testimonies [swearing] by Allah that indeed, he is of the liars.
Yusuf Ali But it would avert the punishment from the wife, if she bears witness four times (with an oath) By Allah, that (her husband) is telling a lie;

24.9

surah 24 - verse 9

translator's name verse
Arberry and a fifth time, that the wrath of God shall be upon her, if he should be of the truthful.
Maududi and the fifth time she invokes Allah's wrath upon herself, if he be true (in his charge).
Pickthall And a fifth (time) that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he speaketh truth.
Sahih And the fifth [oath will be] that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he was of the truthful.
Yusuf Ali And the fifth (oath) should be that she solemnly invokes the wrath of Allah on herself if (her accuser) is telling the truth.

24.10

surah 24 - verse 10

translator's name verse
Arberry But for God's bounty to you and His mercy and that God turns, and is All-wise --
Maududi If Allah had not shown you His grace and mercy and if Allah had not been most Forgiving and All-Wise, (you would have been in a great fix because of accusing your wives).
Pickthall 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).
Sahih And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy... and because Allah is Accepting of repentance and Wise.
Yusuf Ali If it were not for Allah's grace and mercy on you, and that Allah is Oft-Returning, full of Wisdom,- (Ye would be ruined indeed).

24.11

surah 24 - verse 11

translator's name verse
Arberry Those who came with the slander are a band of you; do not reckon it evil for you; rather it is good for you. Every man of them shall have the sin that he has earned charged to him; and whosoever of them took upon himself the greater part of it, him there awaits a mighty chastisement.
Maududi Those who have invented the slander, are some of your own people. You should not, however, regard this matter as evil for it has good in it for you. Whoso took any part in this, he earned his share of the sin accordingly, and the one, who had the greatest share of responsibility in it, shall have a terrible punishment.
Pickthall 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.
Sahih Indeed, those who came with falsehood 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 thereof - for him is a great punishment.
Yusuf Ali Those who brought forward the lie are a body among yourselves: think it not to be an evil to you; On the contrary it is good for you: to every man among them (will come the punishment) of the sin that he earned, and to him who took on himself the lead among them, will be a penalty grievous.

24.12

surah 24 - verse 12

translator's name verse
Arberry Why, when you heard it, did the believing men and women not of their own account think good thoughts, and say, 'This is a manifest calumny'?
Maududi When you heard of it, why didn't the Believing men and the Believing women have a good opinion of themselves, and why did they not say, "This is a manifest slander?"
Pickthall 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?
Sahih Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of one another and say, "This is an obvious falsehood"?
Yusuf Ali Why did not the believers - men and women - when ye heard of the affair,- put the best construction on it in their own minds and say, "This (charge) is an obvious lie"?

24.13

surah 24 - verse 13

translator's name verse
Arberry Why did they not bring four witnesses against it? But since they did not bring the witnesses, in God's sight they are the liars.
Maududi Why did the slanderers not bring four witnesses (to prove their charge)? Now that they have not brought witnesses, they themselves are liars in the sight of Allah.
Pickthall Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they produce not witnesses, they verily are liars in the sight of Allah.
Sahih 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 Allah, who are the liars.
Yusuf Ali Why did they not bring four witnesses to prove it? When they have not brought the witnesses, such men, in the sight of Allah, (stand forth) themselves as liars!

24.14

surah 24 - verse 14

translator's name verse
Arberry But for God's bounty to you and His mercy in the present world and the world to come there would have visited you for your mutterings a mighty chastisement.
Maududi Were it not for Allah's grace and mercy towards you in this world and in the Hereafter, a painful scourge would have visited you because of the things in which you were involved.
Pickthall 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.
Sahih And if it had not been for the favor of Allah 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
Yusuf Ali Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, in this world and the Hereafter, a grievous penalty would have seized you in that ye rushed glibly into this affair.

24.15

surah 24 - verse 15

translator's name verse
Arberry When you received it on your tongues, and were speaking with your mouths that whereof you had no knowledge, and reckoned it a light thing, and with God it was a mighty thing --
Maududi (Just think how erroneous you were,) when you passed this lie on from one tongue to the other and uttered with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge. You took it as a trifling matter whereas it was a grave offence in the sight of Allah.
Pickthall 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.
Sahih When you received it with your tongues and said with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge and thought it was insignificant while it was, in the sight of Allah, tremendous.
Yusuf Ali Behold, ye received it on your tongues, and said out of your mouths things of which ye had no knowledge; and ye thought it to be a light matter, while it was most serious in the sight of Allah.

24.16

surah 24 - verse 16

translator's name verse
Arberry And why, when you heard it, did you not say, 'It is not for us to speak about this; glory be to Thee! This is a mighty calumny'?
Maududi Why did you not, as soon as you heard of it, say, "It is not proper for us to utter such a thing? Glory be to Allah! This is a great slander."
Pickthall 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.
Sahih And why, when you heard it, did you not say, "It is not for us to speak of this. Exalted are You, [O Allah]; this is a great slander"?
Yusuf Ali And why did ye not, when ye heard it, say? - "It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to Allah! this is a most serious slander!"

24.17

surah 24 - verse 17

translator's name verse
Arberry God admonishes you, that you shall never repeat the like of it again; if you are believers.
Maududi Allah admonishes you that in future you should never repeat a thing like this, if you are true Believers.
Pickthall Allah admonisheth you that ye repeat not the like thereof ever, if ye are (in truth) believers.
Sahih Allah warns you against returning to the likes of this [conduct], ever, if you should be believers.
Yusuf Ali Allah doth admonish you, that ye may never repeat such (conduct), if ye are (true) Believers.

24.18

surah 24 - verse 18

translator's name verse
Arberry God makes clear to you the signs; and God is All-knowing, All-wise.
Maududi Allah makes His Revelations clear to you, and He is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Pickthall And He expoundeth unto you the revelations. Allah is Knower, Wise.
Sahih And Allah makes clear to you the verses, and Allah is Knowing and Wise.
Yusuf Ali And Allah makes the Signs plain to you: for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.

24.19

surah 24 - verse 19

translator's name verse
Arberry Those who love that indecency should be spread abroad concerning them that believe -- there awaits them a painful chastisement in the present world and the world to come; and God knows, and you know not.
Maududi As for those, who like that indecency should spread among the Believers, they deserve a painful punishment in this world and in the Hereafter, for Allah knows and you do not know (its consequences).
Pickthall 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.
Sahih Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you do not know.
Yusuf Ali Those who love (to see) scandal published broadcast among the Believers, will have a grievous Penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: Allah knows, and ye know not.

24.20

surah 24 - verse 20

translator's name verse
Arberry But for God's bounty to you and His mercy and that God is All-gentle, All-compassionate --
Maududi If Allah had not shown His grace and mercy to you, (this scandal would have produced very evil results): Allah is indeed very Kind and Merciful.
Pickthall Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy unto you, and that Allah is Clement, Merciful, (ye had been undone).
Sahih And if it had not been for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy... and because Allah is Kind and Merciful.
Yusuf Ali Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, and that Allah is full of kindness and mercy, (ye would be ruined indeed).