24al-NūrThe Lightسُورَةُ النور

[This is] a sūrah that We have bestowed from beyond the human realm; and We compelled [urged people to accept] it, and We conferred in it transparent āyāt so that you may be cognizant [of its implications].

As for the adulteress and the adulterer, whip each of them a hundred lashes, and let not any pity deter you from applying [such a punishment in] Allah’s dīn — if you are truly committed to Allah and the Final Day; and ensure that a gathering of committed muslims witnesses their [whip] punishment.

[Both are blameworthy, for] an adulterer does not go to bed except with an adulteress or a morally toxic female; and an adulteress is not bedded except by an adulterer or a morally toxic male — all of which has been forbidden upon committed muslims.

And concerning those who lay blame [of adultery] on chaste women, and then are unable to call upon four witnesses [to support their allegation], whip them with eighty lashes; and never, after that, accept from them any testimony — since, it is they, they who are [morally and socially] degenerate!

The exception [to this authoritative prohibition] applies to those who afterward repented and gained a do-good behavior: for, behold, Allah is ever-forgiving, ever-merciful.

And as for those [husbands] who impugn their own wives [of marital treachery], but have no witnesses except themselves, let each of these [husbands] testify four times under oath by invoking Allah’s name, saying that he emphatically states the truth [about his wife’s marital disloyalty],

And the fifth [testimony should be] that Allah’s curse be upon him if he is telling a lie.

But [as concerns the wife, all] punishment shall be averted from her when she testifies under oath by invoking Allah’s name four times that he [her husband] is definitely lying,

And the fifth [testimony of hers should be] that Allah’s wrath be upon her if he [her husband] is telling the truth,

And had it not been for Allah’s favor upon you [O husbands and wives], and His grace, and that Allah is ceaselessly pardoning and amply wise… [your human relations would have been in caustic chaos].

Verily, those who came forth with insults and libel [against the Prophet’s wife, ‘Ā’ishah] are a self-centered group [of people] from among you: [but] do not consider this [social development] to be to your terrible detriment; rather it is to your betterment. Each one of them [who malign and smear] shall obtain his share of such a sin, and the one who is the chief instigator among them [of this affair] shall receive awful affliction.

If only the committed muslims [men and women], upon hearing it [rumors and propaganda against the Prophet’s wife], would think confidently [and constructively] of themselves and say [concerning defamatory misinformation], “This is an obvious deceitful fabrication.”

Would that they [the defamation mongers] had come forth with four witnesses [to corroborate their allegation] but if they cannot produce witnesses then it is they, they who are, in Allah’s view, liars.

And had it not been for Allah’s overflowing bounties and His grace upon you in this world and in the end-world you definitely would have, because of your excesses, been subjected to an enormous form of punishment.

[In the course of this event] you scoop up and spoon out [statements] with your tongues, uttering by mouth what you have no knowledge of; and you think all this is in Allah’s view trivial, but in Allah’s view it is enormous [and crucial].

If only when you heard it [such fabrications and exaggerations about the Prophet’s wife], would that you had said, “It behooves us not to fuss over this [and pander to the rumor mongers]. Exceptionally exalted are You. This is an outlandish smear [campaign].”

Allah reprimands you not to repeat the likes of this ever again if you are fervently committed to Him —

For Allah is plainly showing you His illustrations [of authority and influence, so that you follow this as opposed to rumor and innuendo] and Allah is the knower-of-all and the wise- above-all.

Verily, those who desire for [sexual] immorality to become the superseding social norm among the committed muslims shall have a painful affliction in this world and in the final world — for Allah knows and you do not know [anywhere near what He knows].

And were it not for Allah’s privileges upon you and His grace, and that Allah is compassionate and extremely merciful… [you would have perished and been punished instantly].

O you who are [in heart and mind] committed [to Allah’s authority and control]! Do not follow in the footsteps of Satan: for he who follows in the footsteps of Satan [let it be known that] he insists on [salacious] immorality and self-evident social abomination [revulsion] — and had it not been for Allah’s favor upon you and His grace, none of you would have ever remained pure [in character and conduct]. But it is Allah who enhances the purity [of character and conduct] of whomever He wills — and Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.

Hence, [even if they have been wronged by slander], let none among you who have been afforded an abundance of bounties [and affluence] avow [and insist] that they will not give [what is needed] to [erring and deprived] relatives and to the destitute and to the refugees [who vacated their homes and homelands] for the cause of Allah [or were expelled from their homes and homelands because of their relationship with Allah], but let them [people of affluence and abundance] “forget and forgive.” Would you not long for Allah to forgive you, seeing that Allah is always-forgiving, always-merciful?

[Let it be known that] verily, those who lay incriminating blame on unsuspecting chaste women, who are committed [to Allah], will be condemned [denounced] in this world and in the last world, wherein they will be given a substantial punishment —

On a Day when their tongues and hands and feet will testify against them, stating the truth about what they did [in their worldly life].

On that Day Allah will pay them back their full measure [corresponding to their worldly deeds] and they will [finally] realize that Allah is the evident Truth and Justice.

[Instinctively] nasty women fit in with nasty men and nasty men fit in with nasty women, just as good-natured women fit in with good-natured men and good-natured men fit in with good-natured women. [Since Allah is aware that the good-natured people] are innocent of what they [the rumor mongers] are saying, [those good in nature] are due an exoneration and a most splendid sustenance.

O you who are committed [to Allah]! Do not enter homes besides your own until you gain approval from its inhabitants and after you greet them: this [advice] is [meant] for your [social] betterment and for you to be mindful [of your mutual rights and prerogatives].

And if you find no one in these [inhabited homes], do not enter them until permission is given to you; and if you are told to turn back, then you should turn back: doing so is a step upward [in character] — for whatever you do, Allah is excellently aware of it.

[But], were you to enter vacant [uninhabited] houses that may be of beneficial service to you, you bear no culpability — but [always remember that] Allah knows what you put on display and what you hide from view.

Tell the committed muslim men to deflect their vision [so as not to stare at women] and to control [keep in check] their private parts: this [behavior] is for their moral growth. Verily, Allah is very well acquainted with all that they do.

And tell the committed muslim women to deflect their vision and to control their private parts and to not show [off] their charms [in public] beyond what is unpretentiously apparent; hence, let them draw their headscarves [shawls] over their collars [to cover their necks and bosoms]. And let them not expose their seductive charms [in public] to anyone except their sexually stimulating husbands, or fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or the descendants of their brothers, or the descendants of their sisters or their womenfolk, or those who are in their honorable family guardianship, or men incapable of sexual arousal, or children who are too young to be sexually aroused by women; and let them not tread heavily [when walking] to draw [men’s] attention to their potential sensual [sexy] appeal. And [with all that] turn to Allah, all of you, for repentance, O committed muslims, so that you may become efficacious.

And see to it that singles, men and women, are fit [and appropriate] to get married. If they be poor [feeling they cannot afford to be married, let them know that] Allah will meet their need out of His abundance, for Allah is encompassing [of everyone], very informed [of their details].

As for those who are not capable of marriage [mostly because of a severe lack of financial wherewithal], they should [on moral principles] refrain [from marriage] until Allah gives them adequacy out of His bounty. And if there are those in your honorable guardianship who seek a contract agreement [into civil society’s freedom] then [go ahead] and take it up with them if you know that they will benefit [from such an agreement]; [meanwhile] give them out of whatever wealth Allah has given you. And do not force, in pursuit of a worldly revenue, your [young] women [who may be desperate] into prostitution when they want to be [morally and legally] married; and should they be coerced [into illicit sex], then, verily, after they have been compelled to engage [in prostitution, know that] Allah will be ever-forgiving, very gracious [toward them].

And, indeed, We have bestowed upon you enlightening āyāt and an exemplification of those [generations] that preceded you so that [they are] a moral lesson for those conscious [of Allah’s power and authority].

Allah is the light of the heavens and earth. The metaphor of His light is, as it were, that of a niche within which there is a lamp, the lamp is [enclosed] in glass, the glass [glowing] like a luminous star: [a lamp] fueled by a blessed tree — an olive tree that is neither of the east nor of the west, the oil whereof emits light even though it does not ignite! Light upon light! Allah guides to His light whomever He wills, and [to this end] Allah propounds the metaphors for [all] the people, since Allah [alone] has [full] knowledge about everything.

In houses [of divine reverence] that Allah allowed to be erected and within which His name is venerated — in these houses during the early and late hours of the day

Are breadwinners who are not distracted by commerce or [market] transactions, [which would otherwise divert them] from maintaining a consciousness of Allah and [from] standardizing the ṣalāh and [from] organizing the distribution of the zakāh — [breadwinners who] fear a Day when hearts and eyesights begin to spin,

[And hope that] Allah compensates them with rewards above and beyond the best of their deeds: since Allah provides for whomever He wills beyond any reckoning.

But as for the active kāfirs, their deeds are like a mirage in an open barren region that a thirsty person assumes to be water, until he approaches it and realizes it does not exist; however, he finds [out that] Allah [has always been] there [and with him], and [that] He will pay him his account in full — for Allah is prompt in His reimbursement.

Or [these deeds of such a person are] like layers of darkness upon an agitated sea with wave wafting over wave, over [all of] which there is an [obscure] cloud: darkness [and obscurity] are tiers upon tiers, [so that] if he were to extend his hand he could barely see it — for he to whom Allah provides no light, he has no light.

Can you not perceive that it is, indeed, Allah who is acclaimed [celebrated] by everyone who is in the heavens and earth as by the birds flying in formation? Each [species] knows its [expression of] veneration and exaltation, and Allah knows exceedingly well all that they do,

And to Allah is the sway over the heavens and the earth, and to Allah everything is destined.

Can you not sense that Allah drives the clouds onward, then merges them together, then stacks them up after which precipitation [drizzle] ensues from within them? And it is He who sends down from the sky [out of] charged mounts [of clouds] hailstones, aiming it at whomever He wills and averting it from whomever He so wills, [the while] the flash of its lightning has the capacity to blind the eyesight!

Allah [is the one who] interchanges night and day: verily, in that there is a cogent lesson for those who are insightful.

And Allah [is the one who] created every earthbound creature out of water; and so some of them crawl on their bellies, and some of them walk on two legs, and some roam on four [legs]. Allah creates what He resolves [to create] — for, definitely Allah has the power to prevail over anything.

We have, indeed, bestowed from on high clarifying illustrations [of Our power and authority], and Allah guides whomever He wills to a straight path forward.

And they [who are at conflict with Allah] say, “We are dedicated to Allah and His messenger [Muhammad] and we obey [them],” but then a faction of them turns around [and turns away from such obedience] after that — and those [types] are not dedicated [or committed to Allah and His messenger].

And if they were summoned to [come to] Allah and His messenger who would arbitrate among them [on matters they disagree upon], then straightaway a segment among them would turn away;

But if [a verdict of] truth and justice is [perceived to be] in their favor, they would come [to Allah and His messenger] willingly [and eagerly].

Is there sickness in their hearts, or are they confounded, or do they fear that Allah would be prejudicial to them, as [in their minds] would be His messenger? Rather, it is they, [and only] they who are inequitable [to themselves].

But in regard to the committed muslims’ declaration [of intent and purpose] when they are called unto Allah and His messenger to adjudicate among them, they would say, “We hear and we obey” — and they [with this manner] are the effective ones.

And whoever obeys Allah and His messenger and stands in awe of Allah and defends himself [when it comes to Allah’s inevitable “power for justice”] it is they who will triumph [sooner or later].

And they [who vacillate on matters of faith-commitment] will, in the most solemn of oaths, swear that if you [O Muhammad] were to order them to embark [on a military mission], they would do it. Say [O Muhammad, to them], “Do not swear. Sensible obedience [is all that is required]. Verily, Allah is the authority on what you do.”

Say [to them, O Muhammad], “Obey Allah, and obey the messenger [Muhammad].” And if they turn away [and turn back] then [know that] he [Muhammad] is responsible for his consignment [of duties] and you [who vacillate on your faith-commitment] are responsible for your load of duties; though if you obey him you will find your way. Nothing is the messenger accountable for except [delivery of] the [divine] clear communiqué.

Allah has promised those of you who have committed themselves [and their lives to Him] and do what is exact and ethical that He will assure their inheritance [of world affairs] on earth as He assured such inheritance [of world affairs] to those who came before you [in history]; and that He will most certainly cement [firmly establish] the dīn that He has approved for them; and that He will undoubtedly transpose their fear into security, [seeing that] they conform to Me and do not ascribe dominion and rule to anyone but Me. But whoever, after all this, denies My authority and divinity, it is they, they who are degenerate [and decadent].

Hence [O committed muslims], construct a tangible ṣalāh and distribute a methodical zakāh and obey the messenger so that you can [hopefully] obtain [Allah’s] mercy.

Do not consider operational kāfirs to be invincible throughout and on earth: their lodge is the Fire — and what a pitiful destiny!

O committed muslims! Prevail upon those who are in your honorable guardianship to ask your permission [to enter into your private home quarters] and prevail upon those who have not yet reached the age of adolescence [to ask for your permission] during three [particular] times [in the course of the day]: before Ṣalāh al-Fajr, and when you undress in the afternoon, and after Ṣalāh al-‘Ishā’ — the three times [during the course of the day] of sensual privacy belonging to you. Other than these times, neither you nor they incur any fault as you mingle and move around [at home]. They [those in your honorable guardianship and those who have not reached the age of puberty] are [by belonging to one household expected to be] interactive: thus you and they [in a family circle] ought to be intermingling. In this manner does Allah show you clearly His āyāt — for Allah is all-knowing, very wise.

And when younger children reach the age of sexual consciousness let them ask permission [to access your private chambers] as was done by those who preceded them [in age]. In this way does Allah clarify His āyāt for you — for Allah is all-knowing, very wise.

And [have knowledge] that women who retired [from their monthly cycle due to old age], no longer aspiring for sexual matrimony, incur no moral infraction if they were to discard their [younger age-specific] garments — provided they do not aim at a showy display of [their] charms. But [even so], to maintain an inconspicuous [unobtrusive] demeanor is better for them: and Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.

[The cozy ambiance of an Islamic social order places] no blame on whoever is blind, and no blame on whoever is lame, and no blame on the infirm [in poor health], and no blame on your own selves when you want to access food in your own homes, or the homes of your fathers, or the homes of your mothers, or the homes of your brothers, or the homes of your sisters, or the homes of your paternal uncles, or the homes of your paternal aunts, or the homes of your maternal uncles, or the homes of your maternal aunts, or [homes] that you have the keys to, or [the homes of any of] your friends — [in all these cases] no moral infraction is incurred if you eat together or separately. So if you enter [any of these] domiciles greet yourselves a blessed and good-natured greeting [proceeding] from Allah. Thus does Allah clarify His āyāt for you so that you may discipline your thoughts.

True [and tried] committed muslims are those who dedicate themselves to Allah and His messenger and were they to accompany him on a collective mission, they would not leave [him] until they [first] ask his permission. Verily, those who ask you [O Prophet] for permission to leave are truly and truthfully the ones who are [in soul and substance] committed to Allah and His Messenger. So if they ask you for permission to leave to tend to some [valid] affair of theirs, grant whomever you decide of them permission and ask Allah to forgive them — indeed, Allah is ever-forgiving, ever-merciful.

Do not regard the way you call the attention of the Messenger, who is in your company, in the same manner that you call attention to yourselves: surely, Allah knows those of you who try to pull out [of an Islamic aggregate effort] surreptitiously. Therefore, let those who are negligent of his [the Prophet’s] orders be warned that they may be struck with sedition (fitnah) or that they may be struck with painful suffering.

Mind you! Verily to Allah belongs [all of] what is in the heavens and on earth: [therefore] He certainly knows your [rangebound] condition [and circumstances]. And the Day [will come] when all of them are brought back to Him so that He can inform them of what they [really] did [when they were in their worldly lives on earth] — for Allah has full knowledge of everything.