24:1  (This is) a Sūrat which We have sent down and enjoined, and wherein We have revealed irrefutable Signs so that you may take heed.

24:2  The adulterer and the adulteress, whip each one of them a hundred stripes. Don’t let pity impede you from the matter of obedience to Allâh if you believe in Allâh and the Last Day. And then let a party of the monotheistic believers witness their punishment.

24:3  The adulterer won't be allowed to marry any except an adulteress or a polytheistic woman, and (as for) the adulteress, none will be allowed to marry her except an adulterer or a polytheistic. Such (marriage) is forbidden to the monotheistic believers.

24:4  Those who accuse chaste women (of adultery) and cannot bring four witnesses, whip them with eighty stripes. And never accept from them any testimony ever after- Those are the ones who indulge in personal disobedience extensively without repentance.

24:5  Except for those who afterward repent and make amends. Indeed, Allâh afterward is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

24:6  As for those who accuse their wives (of adultery) but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies, (swearing) by Allâh that he is of those who speak the truth.

24:7  The fifth (testimony should be) that the curse of Allâh will be upon him in case he is one of those who lie (against her).

24:8  However, in order for her to be prevented from punishment, she should testify by Allâh four times that he is telling lie (against her).

24:9  The fifth (testimony should be) that the wrath of Allâh will descend upon her in case he speaks the truth.

24:10  Had it not been for the Bounty of Allâh and His Mercy toward you, (you would have fallen away from the Faith). Indeed, Allâh is Oft-Returning unto Mercy, the All-Wise.

24:11  Indeed! Those who brought forth the calumny (against Ā’ishah bint Abī Bakr) are a gang among you. Don’t consider it as an evil thing for you, rather it is good (lesson) for you. Every one of them will have what he has earned of the iniquity. And (as for) him who took upon himself the greater part of it will be subjected to a tremendous punishment.

24:12  Why didn’t the Monotheistic Believers, men and women, when you heard the calumny, think well of their own people, and say: "This (accusation) is an apparent mendacity?”

24:13  Why didn’t they (who made false and damaging statements about Ā’ishah) produce four witnesses? Since they were not able to bring witnesses, then they are liars in the sight of Allâh.

24:14  Had it not been for the Bounty of Allâh and His Mercy towards you in this worldly life and the Hereafter, an extremely severe punishment would have touched you for that (defamatory statement) in which you were involved.

24:15  You received it with your tongues, and spoke with your mouths that whereof you had no knowledge, and assumed that it was a frivolous thing while it was extremely serious thing in the sight of Allâh.

24:16  Why did you not when you heard it, say "It is not good to talk about it? All Glory Be to Allâh, this is a great mendacity.”

24:17  Allâh advises you not to return to the like of it ever again if you are living a life of Genuine Faith.

24:18  Allâh makes (His) Signs apparent to you: for Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

24:19  Indeed, those who would like to see indecency spreading among those who adhere to Faith will be subjected to a painful chastisement in this worldly life, as well as in the Hereafter. And Allâh has full knowledge of what you cannot encompass.

24:20  Had it not been for the Bounty of Allâh and His Mercy toward you, (you would have fallen away from the Faith). Indeed, Allâh is full of compassion, the Most Merciful.

24:21  O’ you who live by Faith, don’t follow the footsteps of the devil. And whoever follows the footsteps of the devil (need to know that) the devil commands indecency and whatever is bad. Had it not been for the Bounty of Allâh and His Mercy towards you, none of you would ever have been purified. But Allâh purifies whom He wills. And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knowing.

24:22  Don’t let those of you who possess bounty and abundance swear against giving to their kinsmen and the poor, as well as to those who emigrated for the cause of Allâh. So let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allâh should forgive you? And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

24:23  Surely, those who (falsely) accuse the chaste, unsuspecting, monotheistic women (of adultery) are cursed in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. Theirs will be an extremely severe punishment:

24:24  On the day when their tongues, hands and feet will testify against them concerning that which they used to do.

24:25  On that day Allâh will pay them their due in full, and they will come to know that Allâh is the Perceptible Truth.

24:26  Sinful women are for sinful men, and sinful men are for sinful women. Good women are for good men, and good men are for good women. Those (good people) are innocent of what people allege. For them there will be forgiveness and an abundant sustenance.

24:27  O’ you who live by Faith, don’t enter houses other than yours, until you have asked permission and saluted their inhabitants. This is better for you so that you may take this into consideration.

24:28  But if you don't find anyone therein, still don't enter until permission has been given. If you were told to go back, then you must do so. That is purer for you. And Allâh is All-Knowing of whatever they do.

24:29  You would not be at fault if you entered uninhabited houses wherein is comfort for you. And Allâh has full knowledge of whatever you disclose and whatever you conceal.

24:30  Tell those men who live a life of Genuine Faith to lower their gaze and guard their chastity that is purer for them. Indeed, Allâh has full knowledge of whatever they do.

24:31  And say to those women who live a life of Genuine Faith: that they should lower their gaze and guard their chastity: that they should not unleash their adornment except what appears thereof: that should draw their veils over their bosoms and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands, or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or the sons of their brothers, or the sons of their sisters, or their women, or their women slaves, or old male servants who lack vigor, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. Let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. Turn to Allâh in repentance, all of you, O’ monotheistic believers, so that you may attain salvation.

24:32  Motivate those of you who are single to get married, as well as those who are righteous among your male and female slaves. If they were poor, Allâh would enrich them of His Bounty. And Allâh is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.

24:33  But let those who don’t find the financial means for marriage guard their chastity, until Allâh makes them wealthier of His Bounty. Those of your slaves who seek emancipation, contract with them accordingly if you know any good in them, and give them of the wealth of Allâh which He has given you. Don’t oblige your slave-girls to prostitution when they seek chastity, so that you may obtain some temporary benefits of this worldly life. If someone obliges them (to prostitution), then Allâh is to them, after their compulsion, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

24:34  And verily We have sent down for you irrefutable Signs, stories of those who passed away before you and an admonition for the Pious.

24:35  Allâh is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His light is as a niche wherein a lamp, the lamp is in a glass, the glass is as it were a dazzling star. (It is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive that is neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glitter even if no fire has touched it. Light upon light. And Allâh guides to His Light whom He wills. Allâh strikes parables for the people. And Allâh has full knowledge of all things.

24:36  (The light of Allâh shines through) in houses- (mosques)-, which Allâh has allowed to be raised and that His Name to be commemorated therein. In them, His Name is glorified there mornings and evenings.

24:37  (Those who glorify Allâh are) men whom neither trade nor sale can divert from celebrating the praise of Allâh, establishing the regular Prayer and paying Zakāt. They are in awe of a day when all hearts and eyes be turned about,

24:38  (Hoping) that Allâh will reward them with the best of what they did and give them more out of His grace. And Allâh provides without measure for whom He wills.

24:39  As for those who persistently refuse to Yield to the Truth, all their deeds are like a mirage in a lowland. The thirsty one supposes to be water until he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing, instead, he finds Allâh before Him. So He pays him in full his due. And Allâh is Swift in taking account.

24:40  Or (their deeds are) like the darkness in a vast deep sea which is engulfed with waves topped by waves, topped by dark clouds, darkness upon darkness. If it happens that a man stretches out his hand, he will hardly see it! To the one whom Allâh has not given light, for him there is no light.

24:41  Do you not see that whatsoever is in the heavens and on the earth, and the birds in flight with wings spread, celebrates the praise of Allâh and declares His glory? Each one knows its way of prayer and glorification. And Allâh has full knowledge of whatsoever they do.

24:42  Unto Allâh belongs the (absolute) sovereignty of the heavens and of the earth. And to Allâh is the final return.

24:43  Do you not see that Allâh drives the clouds, then gathers them together, then makes them layers, and then you see the rain coming out of them? He sends down out of the sky mountains (of clouds), wherein is hail, and He strikes with it whom He wills and averts it from whom He wills. The flash of its Lightning almost snatches away the sight.

24:44  Allâh makes the night and the day to revolve. And most certainly in that there is a lesson for those who have insight.

24:45  Allâh has created every (living) creature from water. So of them is that which crawls upon its belly, of them is that which walks on two legs, of them is that which walks on four legs. Indeed, Allâh is Most Capable of doing whatsoever He desires.

24:46  Verily, We have sent down to you irrefutable Signs. And Allâh guides whom He wills to a straight path.

24:47  And they- (Hypocrites)- say: "We believe in Allâh and the Messenger, and we obey." Then a party of them turns away soon after this. These don’t live a life of Genuine Faith.

24:48  And when they are called to Allâh and His Messenger to judge between them, behold, a party among them are reluctant to go.

24:49  However, when right is theirs, they come to him promptly obedient.

24:50  Is there a disease in their hearts? Or do they suspect or fear that Allâh or His Messenger would act unjustly with them? Nay, but it is they who have voluntarily and consciously abandoned Faith in favour of their own whims.

24:51  The only saying of those who live a life of Genuine Faith is that they say: "We have heard and we do obey,” these are ones who will ultimately achieve a blissful life.

24:52  And whoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger, worships Him with reverence and awe, and act piously towards Him, these are the ones who will ultimately gain salvation.

24:53  And they -(the Hypocrites)- solemnly swear by Allâh with their strongest oaths that if it happens that you command them (to fight in the cause of Allâh), they will definitely go forth. Say: "Stop swearing (falsely in the name of Allâh). (Such) obedience (of yours) is known by all! Indeed, Allâh has full knowledge of whatever you do.”

24:54  Say: "(Comply with what) Allâh (has commanded), and (yield to what has revealed to) the Messenger.” But if you turn away, upon him only rests what he has been charged with, and upon you only rests what you have been charged with. However, if you yield to him, you will be on the right path. The sole duty of the Messenger is to convey (the Message) clearly.

24:55  Allâh has promised those who live by Faith and strive to do righteous acts that He will definitely make them successors in the land as He did with those before them, entrench for them their faith which He has chosen for them, and replace their present state of fear with security. They worship Me (in the way I want them to worship Me), not associating anything (in worship) with Me. So, whoever is tempted to live in spiritual darkness after this (promise), such indeed are the ones who indulge in personal disobedience extensively without repentance.

24:56  Establish the regular Prayer, pay Zakāt and obey the Messenger so that you may be delivered from the consequences of your sins.

24:57  Don’t ever think that those who live in spiritual darkness can frustrate (Our Power) on the earth. Their final refuge is the Fire- what a dreadful refuge!

24:58  O’ you who live by the Faith, let those whom your right hands possess and those of you who have not yet reached puberty ask for your permission (before coming into your private room) on three occasions: Before the Morning Prayer, 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 on you or on them (if they come in without permission), apart from these occasions that you go about one to the other. This is how Allâh makes for you the Messages easy to perceive. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

24:59  When the children among you reach puberty, then let them (also) seek permission as those before them did. This is how Allâh makes for you His Messages easy to be perceived. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

24:60  And as for menopausal women, who don't expect to marry, they will not be in fault if they discard their (outer) garments without unleashing their ornaments. But if they refrain from this, it will be better for them. And Allâh is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

24:61  There is no blame on the blind, nor any blame on the lame, nor any blame on the sick, that you eat at your own houses, or the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your mothers, or the houses of your brothers, or the houses of your sisters, or the houses of your paternal uncles, or the houses of your paternal aunts, or the houses of your maternal uncles, or the houses of your maternal aunts, or (houses) whereof you possess the keys, or the houses of your friends. It is no sin on you that you eat together or separately. So, when you enter any of these houses, greet one another with a blessed, pure and good salutation appointed by Allâh. This is how Allâh makes for you the Messages perceivable so that you may achieve a higher level of consciousness.

24:62  The true monotheistic believers are only those who believe in Allâh and His Messenger, and when they are with him on a collective cause, they don’t leave until they have obtained his permission. And most certainly those who ask for your permission are the ones who truly believe in Allâh and His Messenger. So, if they ask you for permission for some of their, give permission to whomever of them you desire, and ask Allâh for their forgiveness. Indeed, Allâh is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.

24:63  Don’t consider the summons of the Messenger among yourselves as the summons of one of you to another. Allâh has full knowledge of those of you who surreptitiously sneak away, taking cover behind one another. So let those who go against his order be aware lest a bitter trial befall them or a painful chastisement afflict them.

24:64  And most certainly, unto Allâh belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and on the earth. He has full knowledge of where you do stand. (He knows well) the day when they will be brought back to Him. So He will inform them of whatever they used to do. And Allâh is All-Knowing of all things.