SURAH AN-NUR (THE LIGHT)

MEDINAN PERIOD

Division: 610

1A Surah that We have revealed and divided into chapters! And We have sent down manifest Ayat within it so you may receive admonition.

2The men and women who commit adultery; whip them both for hundred times, if you believe in Allah and the Day of Akhirat [Afterlife], do not feel pity for them in the religion of Allah! And let a group from among the believers witness to their punishment.

4And those who accuse married free women of adultery and then failed to bring four witnesses thereof; whip them eighty times and do not accept their testimony ever after. And they are the transgressors.

6,7And those who accuse their wives of adultery but have no witnesses other than themselves; testimony of each of them is equal to that they testify four times that they tell the truth and the fifth time that they take Allah witness for His curse be upon them if they are liars.

8,9Should women testify four times that their men are liars and take the fifth oath to take Allah witness that His curse be upon them if their men tell the truth, their testimony removes the punishment.

5However, this excludes those who repent after slandering; confess their slandering and promise not to slander again and correct themselves. Then, Allah is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

10If not for the blessings and mercy of Allah upon you…! And surely, that is because Allah is the Most Accepting of repentance, the One Who gives chance to repent, the Best Law-Maker, the One Who precludes corruption best/makes incorruptible…

3The men who commit adultery do not marry to women who commit adultery or who associate others with Allah; and only the men who commit adultery or associate other with Allah marry to women with whom they committed adultery. And this; such a marital rule has been made haram [forbidden] to the believers.390

(102/24; An-Nur/1-2, 4, 6-9, 5, 10, 3)

Division: 611391

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11Surely, those who bring forth such a gross slander is a group from among you. –Do not consider this a bad thing for you; quite contrary, it is a favor.- Each one of them will be recompensed with what they have earned from the sin. And a great punishment will be for the one from among them who have the greatest share in the sin.

12And when you hear about it, the believing men and women, should they have considered it good for them and said, “this is a blatant slander” when they hear about this slander?

13Should those who bring forth this accusation have brought four witnesses for this? Since they failed to bring witnesses, then they are the liars in the eye of Allah.

14If not for the blessings and mercy of Allah in the world and in Akhirat [Afterlife], you would have been hit by a great punishment for what you have uttered.

15So you take this slander from the tongues of each other and spread the fake information about which you have no knowledge with your mouth and consider it insignificant. Yet, it is significant with Allah.

16And why did you not say , when you heard about it: “It does not right for us to speak about it. Subhaneke [Glory be to You]! Exonerated You are; O Allah! This is but a great slander…”!?

17If you are believers, Allah forbids you to reiterate likes of this ever after.

18And Allah makes clear to you His Ayat and Allah is the Most Knowing, the Best Law-Maker.

(102/24; An-Nur/11-18)

Division: 612

19Surely, as for those who like it when transgression, immorality spread among the believers; a painful punishment will be for them in the world and in Akhirat [Afterlife]. And Allah knows but you do not know.

20And if not for the blessings and mercy was upon you and if not Allah was the Compassionate and the Most Merciful…!

21O you who have believed! Do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan should know that he instructs transgression, immorality and all kinds of evil. And if not for the blessings and mercy of Allah

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upon you, none of you would have become pure forever. However, Allah purifies whomever He pleases. Allah is the Most Hearing, the Most Knowing.

23Surely, those who accuse free, married and unaware believing women of adultery shall be cursed in this world and in Akhirat [Afterlife]. And a great punishment will be for them.

24On that day, their tongues, hands and feet shall testify against them for their deeds.

25On that day, Allah will recompense them fully. And they will know that Allah is the Truth itself.

26Evil women are for evil men and evil men are for evil women; pure women are or pure men and pure men are for pure women/evil words and evil deeds suit evil people. And good words and good deeds suit good people. They are the ones who are away from the utterances of the slanderers. Forgiveness and a noble provision will be for them.

22And do not let those among you who are blessed with wealth and resources take oath not to give charity to their relatives, the poor, those who travel on the path of Allah; let them forgive, tolerate. Would you not like it if Allah forgives you? Allah is the One Who covers up the sins of His servants and Who does not punish them and the Most Forgiving and the Possessor of Vast Mercy.392

(102-24; An-Nur/19-21, 23-26, 22)

Division: 613

27O you who have believed! Do not enter the houses other than yours before make sure that they have noticed your presence and without greeting the household. It is better for you so you may reason and take the admonition.

28And if you find no-one, so not enter until you are permitted. And if you are told, “Go back!”, go back right away; this is more purifying for you. And Allah is the Most Knowing of what you do.

29There is no sin upon you if you enter a house within which are something valuable for you or which are inhabited. And Allah knows what you hide and what you disclose.

(102/24; An-Nur/27-29)

Division: 614

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30Tell the believing men to restrict their stare and guard their chastity. This is more purifying for them. surely, Allah possesses a deep knowledge of their deeds.

31And tell the believing women to restrict their stare and guard their chastity. Let them not to expose their jewelry –except for those which are visible-. Tell them to cover their cleavage with their veils. And tell them not to expose their adornments to those other than their husbands, fathers, fathers of their husbands, sons, sons of their husbands, brothers, sons of their brothers, sons of their sisters, women, those whom their covenants possess,393 those male attendants who lack libido (sexual desire) and children who are not yet aware of vulnerable parts of women [buttocks and genitals]. And let them not to stamp their feet to make known their hidden adornments. O believers! Repent for your faults and turn to Allah together so you may succeed!

(102/24; An-Nur/30-31)

Division: 615

32And marry the unmarried among you to the righteous among your male and female slaves. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty. Surely, Allah is the Possessor of vast Knowledge and Mercy, the Most Knowing.

33And those who have no opportunity to marry; let them guard their chastity until Allah enriches them from His bounty. And those whom your covenant possesses who wish to sign a freedom contract/covenant; sign the contract/covenant right away if you see any good in them. give upon them from the wealth Allah has bestowed upon you. And do not compel your young ones who wish to be free or to marry, to repel/transgress, free them indeed. Whoever compels them to act like that should know that Allah is the Most Forgiving of their compulsion and the Most Merciful.

34And surely, We have revealed to you manifest Ayat, examples of those who passed away before you and admonition for those who are under the guardianship of Allah.

(102/24; An-Nur/32-34)

Division: 616

35Allah is the One Who illuminates the Heavens and the Earth; the Universe, no-one else can illuminate. Example of His light; the Qur’an is like a niche in which is a lantern; that lantern is within a glass; that glass is like a pearl-like a star from an olive tree that cannot be attributed to the east nor the west; that exists all across the world. –Oil of that tree illuminates almost when it is not touched by fire.- It is light

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upon light. Allah guides whomever He pleases to His light. Allah gives examples to the mankind and Allah is the Most Knowing.

(102/24; An-Nur/35)

Division: 617

36-38In the houses, in which Allah permits Himself to be exalted and His name to be uttered, there are such men, who continuously exonerate Allah, neither commerce nor business can distract them from remembering Allah, serving Salat [Support financially and spiritually; establish and maintain institutions that enlighten the community] and giving zaqat/tax. They fear a day when hearts and eyes will be overturned so Allah may recompense them with their best deeds and increase His blessings upon them. and Allah bestows upon whomever He pleases His blessings without measure.

39,40And as for the infidels; those who consciously deny the Divinity of Allah and the fact that He is Rabb [the Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]; their deeds are like a mirage in a desolated desert that those who are thirsty think it is water, but when they reach it they find nothing. But they find Allah beside them. Then, Allah concludes his account fully. Allah is swift in accounting. Or it is like the deep darkness in a vast sea; waves cover it; and clouds are over it. Darkness upon darkness… whoever stretches his hand, he can barely see it. And whomever Allah has not given the light, there will be no light for him.

(102/24; An-Nur/36-40)

Division: 618

41Have you not seen/thought that Allah is exalted from all deficiencies by that which is in the Heavens and on the Earth, that which flies in line [birds, bees, clouds, storms]? All of them are surely aware of their exoneration and support/contribution to the nature. And Allah is the Most Knowing of their deeds.

42Dominion of the Heavens and the Earth belongs only to Allah. And Allah is the final destination.

43Have you not seen/thought that Allah drives clouds and then gathers them together and then pile them over each other? And you see He extracts rain from among them. And He descends gigantic clouds which contain hails within them and hit whomever He pleases with them, and keep whomever He pleases away from them. and the flash of the lightning almost blinds!

44Allah alternates the night and the day. Surely, there is a lesson in this for those who have common sense.

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45And Allah created all creatures from a drop of water. Some of them crawl upon their bellies and some of them walk on two feet and some of them walk on all fours. Allah creates whatever He pleases. No doubt that Allah is the Omnipotent.

46Surely, We have sent down manifest Ayat. And Allah guides whomever He pleases to the righteous path.

(102/24; An-Nur/41-46)

Division: 619

47And they say: “We have believed in Allah and His Messenger”. Then, a group from among them stays back and they are not believers.

48And when they are invited to Allah and His Messenger so He may judge among them, you see them keep away. 49But if the Truth is for their advantage, they will come as devout believers.

50So, are their hearts ill; or are they ill-minded? Or they are in doubt? Or they fear that Allah and His Messenger will treat then unjustly? Quite contrary, they are the ones who do wrong; act against their own good!

51When they are invited to Allah and His Messenger so He may judge among them, all that believers say is, “We hear and we obey”. They are the ones who will reach the salvation.

52And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, fears them in awe with respect, love and knowledge; they are the ones who are successful.

53and the infidels swore by Allah with their deepest oaths that they would fight if you commanded them to fight. Say: “Do not swear. Obedience is in the form that is compliant with the tradition/that is acceptable for all! Surely, Allah is aware of what you do”.

54Say: “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger”. If you turn away, you should know that upon him is that which he has burdened with. Of you obey the Messenger, you will find the righteous path you are being guided. And upon the Messenger is to convey the manifest message.

(102/24; An-Nur/47-54)

Division: 620

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55And Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do good deeds that He would make them inherit others as He made those before them to inherit others, and He would surely establish them the religion He has chosen for them and He would place them into safety after their fears. They worship Me, they will not associate others with Me. And whoever blasphemes; consciously denies-disbelieves My Divinity and the fact that I am Rabb [the Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]; they are the transgressors.

56And perform Salat [Support financially and spiritually; establish and maintain institutions that enlighten the community] and give zaqat/tax and obey the Messenger so you may receive mercy.

57Never think/let them think that the infidels; those who consciously deny the Divinity of Allah and the fact that He is Rabb [the Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] can cause failure on the Earth! Their final destinations is the Fire. And surely an evil destination it is!

(102/24; An-Nur/55-57)

Division: 621

58O you who have believed! Let those whom your covenant possesses394 and those among you who have not yet reached the puberty to ask your permission on three occasions: before the morning education/training, at noon when you strip off your clothing and after the night education/training. These are the three occasions when you are most vulnerable. There is no sin upon you and them other than these three occasions. They move among you and some of you are upon some others. Thus Allah makes clear to you the Ayat. Allah is the Most Knowing, the Best Law-Maker, the One Who precludes corruption best/makes incorruptible.

59And when the children descended from you reach the puberty, let them ask for your permission as their elder brothers and sisters did before them. thus Allah makes clear to you His Ayat and Allah is the Most Knowing, the Best Law-Maker, the One Who precludes corruption best/makes incorruptible.

60And there is no sin upon those older women who have no chance for marriage for them to strip off their outer garments without exposing their jewelry. And it is better for them to guard their chastity. And Allah is the Most Hearing and the Most Knowing.

61No blame upon the blind; no blame upon the lame; no blame upon the sick; and there is no blame upon you to eat from your own houses, houses of your fathers, houses of your mothers or houses of your brothers or houses of your sisters or houses of your uncles or houses of your aunts or houses you have the keys or houses of your friends. And there is no blame upon you to eat alone or together. And when you enter

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the houses, establish safety upon you as a wish of blessings and a good life from Allah. Thus Allah makes clear to you His Ayat so you may reason.

(102/24; An-Nur/58-61)

Division: 622

62Believers are the people who believe in Allah and His Messenger and who ask for the permission of the Messenger to leave while being engaged in a social matter together with him. Surely, those who ask for your permission; they are the people who believe in Allah and His Messenger. Then, when they ask for your permission for their affairs, grant your permission whomever among them as you wish, and ask Allah for His forgiveness upon them. surely, Allah is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

63Do not call the Messenger as you call each other. Allah surely knows those who slip away. Therefore, those who disobey His commands should be aware lest a painful punishment should hit them.

64Open your eyes! All that is in the Heavens and on the Earth belongs only to Allah. He surely knows that which is upon you. And on the day when they shall be returned to Him, He will inform them about what they did. And Allah is the Most Knowing of all things.

(102/24; An-Nur/62-64)

390 Due to technical and semantic reasons, we rearranged this passage differently than the Official Mushaf. For detailed information, see Tabyeen al-Qur’an.

391 The “ifq” incident was a negating propaganda and defamation movement waged by the infidels against the private life of Rasulullah [the Messenger of Allah] using the fanaticism among the local and clan members to wear out Rasulullah [the Messenger of Allah] and the believers, disintegrate the Muslim community, sow discord among Rasulullah [the Messenger o Allah] and his companions, especially Abu Bakr, set Muhajirun [Emigrants] and Ansar [Helpers] against each other. This movement proved successful and two Muslim groups became enemies fighting each other with swords. Events were prevented by the intervention of Rasulullah [the Messenger of Allah]. For detailed information, see Tabyeen al-Qur’an.

392 See Footnote No. 353.

393 See Footnote No. 303.

394 See Footnote No. 303.

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