Chapter 24

24.41

surah 24 - verse 41

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Hast thou not seen how that whatsoever is in the heavens and in the earth extols God, and the birds spreading their wings? Each -- He knows its prayer and its extolling; and God knows the things they do.
Maududi	Do you not observe that all those who are in the heavens and the earth, and the birds with outspread wings, glorify Allah? Each one knows the mode of its prayer and glorification, and Allah has full knowledge of all they do.
Pickthall	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.
Sahih	Do you not see that Allah 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 Allah is Knowing of what they do.
Yusuf Ali	Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praises all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise. And Allah knows well all that they do.

24.42

surah 24 - verse 42

translator's name	verse
Arberry	To God belongs the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and to Him is the homecoming.
Maududi	The kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah alone, and all shall have to return to Him.
Pickthall	And unto Allah belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and unto Allah is the journeying.
Sahih	And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and to Allah is the destination.
Yusuf Ali	Yea, to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; and to Allah is the final goal (of all).

24.43

surah 24 - verse 43

translator's name	verse
Arberry	'hast thou not seen how God drives the clouds, then composes them, then converts them into a mass, then thou seest the rain issuing out of the midst of them? And He sends down out of heaven mountains, wherein is hail, so that He smites whom He will with it, and turns it aside from whom He will; wellnigh the gleam of His lightning snatches away the sight.
Maududi	Do you not observe that Allah makes the cloud move gently then joins its pieces together: then gathers it into a mass of thick cloud: then you see that rain-drops fall down from its midst: and He sends down hail out of the high up mountains in the heaven: then He smites with it whom He wills and turns it away from whom He pleases: then a flash of lightning from it dazzles the eyes.
Pickthall	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.
Sahih	Do you not see that Allah 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 lightening almost takes away the eyesight.
Yusuf Ali	Seest thou not that Allah makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a heap? - then wilt thou see rain issue forth from their midst. And He sends down from the sky mountain masses (of clouds) wherein is hail: He strikes therewith whom He pleases and He turns it away from whom He pleases, the vivid flash of His lightning well-nigh blinds the sight.

24.44

surah 24 - verse 44

translator's name	verse
Arberry	God turns about the day and the night; surely in that is a lesson for those who have eyes.
Maududi	He alternates the day and the night: there is indeed a lesson in it for those who have observing eyes.
Pickthall	Allah causeth the revolution of the day and the night. Lo! herein is indeed a lesson for those who see.
Sahih	Allah alternates the night and the day. Indeed in that is a lesson for those who have vision.
Yusuf Ali	It is Allah Who alternates the Night and the Day: verily in these things is an instructive example for those who have vision!

24.45

surah 24 - verse 45

translator's name	verse
Arberry	God has created every beast of water, and some of them go upon their bellies, and some of them go upon two feet, and some of them go upon four; God creates whatever He will; God is powerful over everything.
Maududi	And Allah created every creature from a sort of water: of them some one crawls upon its belly: another walks on two legs and still another on four; Allah creates whatever He wills for He has power over everything
Pickthall	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.
Sahih	Allah 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. Allah creates what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.
Yusuf Ali	And Allah has created every animal from water: of them there are some that creep on their bellies; some that walk on two legs; and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills for verily Allah has power over all things.

24.46

surah 24 - verse 46

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Now We have sent down signs making all clear; God guides whomsoever He will to a straight path.
Maududi	We have sent down Revelations that make the reality quite plain; however, Allah guides to the straight path whomsoever He pleases.
Pickthall	Verily We have sent down revelations and explained them. Allah guideth whom He will unto a straight path.
Sahih	We have certainly sent down distinct verses. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.
Yusuf Ali	We have indeed sent down signs that make things manifest: and Allah guides whom He wills to a way that is straight.

24.47

surah 24 - verse 47

translator's name	verse
Arberry	They say, 'We believe in God and the Messenger, and we obey.' Then after that a party of them turn away; those -- they are not believers.
Maududi	These people say "We have believed in Allah and the Messenger and we have submitted"; but soon after this, some of them turn away (from obedience): such people are not true Believers.
Pickthall	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.
Sahih	But the hypocrites say, "We have believed in Allah and in the Messenger, and we obey"; then a party of them turns away after that. And those are not believers.
Yusuf Ali	They say, "We believe in Allah and in the messenger, and we obey": but even after that, some of them turn away: they are not (really) Believers.

24.48

surah 24 - verse 48

translator's name	verse
Arberry	When they are called to God and His Messenger that he may judge between them, lo, a party of them are swerving aside;
Maududi	When they are called to Allah and His Messenger so that the Messenger may judge between them, a party of them turns away.
Pickthall	And when they appeal unto Allah and His messenger to judge between them, lo! a faction of them are averse;
Sahih	And when they are called to [the words of] Allah and His Messenger to judge between them, at once a party of them turns aside [in refusal].
Yusuf Ali	When they are summoned to Allah and His messenger, in order that He may judge between them, behold some of them decline (to come).

24.49

surah 24 - verse 49

translator's name	verse
Arberry	but if they are in the right, they will come to him submissively.
Maududi	However, if the truth be on their side, they come towards the Messenger in all obedience.
Pickthall	But if right had been with them they would have come unto him willingly.
Sahih	But if the right is theirs, they come to him in prompt obedience.
Yusuf Ali	But if the right is on their side, they come to him with all submission.

24.50

surah 24 - verse 50

translator's name	verse
Arberry	What, is there sickness in their hearts, or are they in doubt, or do they fear that God may be unjust towards them and His Messenger? Nay, but those -- they are the evildoers.
Maududi	Are their hearts afflicted with the disease (of hypocrisy)? Or, are they in doubt? Or, do they fear that Allah and His Messenger will be unjust to them? In fact, they themselves are unjust.
Pickthall	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.
Sahih	Is there disease in their hearts? Or have they doubted? Or do they fear that Allah will be unjust to them, or His Messenger? Rather, it is they who are the wrongdoers.
Yusuf Ali	Is it that there is a disease in their hearts? or do they doubt, or are they in fear, that Allah and His Messenger will deal unjustly with them? Nay, it is they themselves who do wrong.

24.51

surah 24 - verse 51

translator's name	verse
Arberry	All that the believers say, when they are called to God and His Messenger, that he may judge between them, is that they say, 'We hear, and we obey'; those -- they are the prosperers.
Maududi	As regards the Believers, when they are called towards Allah and His Messenger so that the Messenger may judge between them, they say, "We have heard and obeyed"; such are the people who attain true success,
Pickthall	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.
Sahih	The only statement of the [true] believers when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say, "We hear and we obey." And those are the successful.
Yusuf Ali	The answer of the Believers, when summoned to Allah and His Messenger, in order that He may judge between them, is no other than this: they say, "We hear and we obey": it is such as these that will attain felicity.

24.52

surah 24 - verse 52

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Whoso obeys God and His Messenger, and fears God and has awe of Him, those -- they are the triumphant.
Maududi	and only those attain true success who obey Allah and His Messenger and fear Allah and refrain from His disobedience.
Pickthall	He who obeyeth Allah and His messenger, and feareth Allah, and keepeth duty (unto Him): such indeed are the victorious.
Sahih	And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger and fears Allah and is conscious of Him - it is those who are the attainers.
Yusuf Ali	It is such as obey Allah and His Messenger, and fear Allah and do right, that will win (in the end),

24.53

surah 24 - verse 53

translator's name	verse
Arberry	They have sworn by God the most earnest oaths, if thou commandest them they will go forth. Say: 'Do not swear; honourable obedience is sufficient. Surely God is aware of the things you do.'
Maududi	They (the hypocrites) solemnly swear by Allah and say, "If you order us, we will leave our homes." Say to them, "Do not swear oaths for your `obedience' is well known; Allah is fully aware of what you are doing. "
Pickthall	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.
Sahih	And they swear by Allah their strongest oaths that if you ordered them, they would go forth [in Allah 's cause]. Say, "Do not swear. [Such] obedience is known. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with that which you do."
Yusuf Ali	They swear their strongest oaths by Allah that, if only thou wouldst command them, they would leave (their homes). Say: "Swear ye not; Obedience is (more) reasonable; verily, Allah is well acquainted with all that ye do."

24.54

surah 24 - verse 54

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Say: 'Obey God, and obey the Messenger; then, if you turn away, only upon him rests what is laid on him, and upon you rests what is laid on you. If you obey him, you will be guided. It is only for the Messenger to deliver the manifest Message.'
Maududi	Say, "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, you should note it well that the Messenger is responsible for the duty entrusted to him and you are responsible for the duty entrusted to you. If you obey him, you will be rightly guided, for the responsibility of the Messenger is only to convey the Message clearly to you.
Pickthall	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.
Sahih	Say, "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away - then upon him is only that [duty] with which he has been charged, and upon you is that with which you have been charged. And if you obey him, you will be [rightly] guided. And there is not upon the Messenger except the [responsibility for] clear notification."
Yusuf Ali	Say: "Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger: but if ye turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him and ye for that placed on you. If ye obey him, ye shall be on right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to preach the clear (Message).

24.55

surah 24 - verse 55

translator's name	verse
Arberry	God has promised those of you who believe and do righteous deeds that He will surely make you successors in the land, even as He made those who were before them successors, and that He will surely establish their religion for them that He has approved. for them, and will give them in exchange, after their fear, security: 'They shall serve Me, not associating with Me anything.' Whoso disbelieves after that, those - they are the ungodly.
Maududi	Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do righteous deeds, that He will make them successors in the land just as He made those who passed away before them, and that He will establish their religion, which He has approved for them, on strong foundations and will change their (present) state of fear into peace and security. Let them worship Me and associate none with Me; and the one who disbelieves after this," shall be of those who are perverse transgressors.
Pickthall	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.
Sahih	Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient.
Yusuf Ali	Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion - the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: 'They will worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me. 'If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked.

24.56

surah 24 - verse 56

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Perform the prayer, and pay the alms, and obey the Messenger -- haply so you will find mercy.
Maududi	Therefore, establish Salat, pay the Zakat dues and obey the Messenger; it is expected that you will be shown mercy.
Pickthall	Establish worship and pay the poor-due and obey the messenger, that haply ye may find mercy.
Sahih	And establish prayer and give zakah and obey the Messenger - that you may receive mercy.
Yusuf Ali	So establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and obey the Messenger; that ye may receive mercy.

24.57

surah 24 - verse 57

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Think not the unbelievers able to frustrate God in the earth; their refuge is the Fire -- an evil homecoming.
Maududi	Do not think about those who have disbelieved that they will be able to frustrate Allah in the land; their abode is Hell and it is a very evil abode.
Pickthall	Think not that the disbelievers can escape in the land. Fire will be their home - a hapless journey's end!
Sahih	Never think that the disbelievers are causing failure [to Allah] upon the earth. Their refuge will be the Fire - and how wretched the destination.
Yusuf Ali	Never think thou that the Unbelievers are going to frustrate (Allah's Plan) on earth: their abode is the Fire,- and it is indeed an evil refuge!

24.58

surah 24 - verse 58

translator's name	verse
Arberry	O believers, let those your right hands own and those of you who have not reached puberty ask leave of you three times -- before the prayer of dawn, and when you put off your garments at the noon, and after the evening prayer -- three times of nakedness for you. There is no fault in you or them, apart from these, that you go about one to the other. So God makes clear to you the signs; and God is All-knowing, All-wise.
Maududi	O Believers, your slaves and those of your children, who have not yet become sex conscious, must ask your permission before coming in to see you on three occasions: before the Fajr Prayer and at noon when you put off your clothes and after the `Isha' Prayer. These are your three times of privacy. There is no sin for you or for them if they come without permission at other times than these, for you have to visit: ne another over and over again. In this way Allah makes His Comm andments clear to you for He is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Pickthall	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.
Sahih	O you who have believed, let those whom your right hands possess and those who have not [yet] reached puberty among you ask permission of you [before entering] at three times: before the dawn prayer and when you put aside your clothing [for rest] at noon and after the night prayer. [These are] three times of privacy for you. There is no blame upon you nor upon them beyond these [periods], for they continually circulate among you - some of you, among others. Thus does Allah make clear to you the verses; and Allah is Knowing and Wise.
Yusuf Ali	O ye who believe! let those whom your right hands possess, and the (children) among you who have not come of age ask your permission (before they come to your presence), on three occasions: before morning prayer; the while ye doff your clothes for the noonday heat; and after the late-night prayer: these are your three times of undress: outside those times it is not wrong for you or for them to move about attending to each other: Thus does Allah make clear the Signs to you: for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.

24.59

surah 24 - verse 59

translator's name	verse
Arberry	When your children reach puberty, let them ask leave, as those before them asked leave. So God makes clear to you His signs; and God is All-knowing, All-wise.
Maududi	And when your children have grown sex conscious, they should receive your permission for this just as their elders get permission. In this way Allah makes His Revelations plain to you for He is All-Knowing, AllWise.
Pickthall	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.
Sahih	And when the children among you reach puberty, let them ask permission [at all times] as those before them have done. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses; and Allah is Knowing and Wise.
Yusuf Ali	But when the children among you come of age, let them (also) ask for permission, as do those senior to them (in age): Thus does Allah make clear His Signs to you: for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.

24.60

surah 24 - verse 60

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Such women as are past child- bearing and have no hope of marriage -- there is no fault in them that they put off their clothes, so be it that they flaunt no ornament; but to abstain is better for them; and God is All-hearing, All-knowing.
Maududi	There is no sin for such elderly women as are past the age of marriage, if they lay aside their outer graments provided that they do not mean to display their adornment. Nevertheless, if they behave modestly, it would be better for them: for Allah hears everything and knows everything.
Pickthall	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.
Sahih	And women of post-menstrual age who have no desire for marriage - there is no blame upon them for putting aside their outer garments [but] not displaying adornment. But to modestly refrain [from that] is better for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.
Yusuf Ali	Such elderly women as are past the prospect of marriage,- there is no blame on them if they lay aside their (outer) garments, provided they make not a wanton display of their beauty: but it is best for them to be modest: and Allah is One Who sees and knows all things.