Surah 24 (An-Nûr), Verses 1-26 (Y6)

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.

Summary

Today’s selection is from Surah 24, An-Nûr or The Light, verses 1-26. This selection deal with the punishments for both men and women found guilty of fornication (or sex outside of marriage). It also hands down punishments for men who falsely accuse women of fornication and women who falsely accuse a man of fornication as well as what to do with accusations of adultery. An instance of these rules is highlighted when a false accusation was brought against one of the Prophet’s wives, ‘Aisha, who was ultimately cleared. Lastly, the believers are exhorted not to follow Satan or take part in false accusations and calumny or slander.

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Verses

Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.

This is a Sûrah which We have revealed and made its legislation obligatory; in it we have revealed clear verses, so that you may take heed.[1] As for female and male guilty of illegal sexual intercourse (or fornication), flog each of them one hundred lashes and do not take pity in enforcing the law ordained by Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day, and let a party of the believers witness their punishment.[2] 24:[1-2]

The male found guilty of fornication shall not marry any but a female found guilty of forniation, and none may marry a female found guilty of fornication except a male found guilty of fornication: such marriages are forbidden to the believers.[3] Those who accuse a chaste woman of fornication and do not produce four witnesses to support their allegation, shall be flogged with eighty lashes and their testimony shall not be accepted ever after, for they are the ones who are wicked transgressors[4] – except those who repent thereafter and mend their conduct; for Allah is surely Forgiving, Merciful.[5] 24:[3-5]

Those men who accuse their own wives but have no witness except themselves, each one of them shall be made to swear four times by Allah that his charge is true,[6] and the fifth time calls for the curse of Allah upon himself, if he is lying.[7] As for the wife, the punishment shall be averted from her if she swears four times by Allah that her husband’s charge is false[8] and the fifth time calls for the wrath of Allah upon herself, if his charge is true.[9] If it were not for Allah’s grace and mercy upon you, you would have no method of handling these situations. Allah is the Acceptor of Repentance, All-Wise.[10] 24:[6-10]

Surely, those who concocted the slander (against ‘Aisha – a wife of the Prophet) are from a clique among you. Do not regard this incident as only an evil, for it also contains a good lesson for you. Whoever took any part in this sin, has earned his share accordingly, and the one who took on himself the leading part, shall have a terrible punishment.[11] Why did not the believing men and believing women, when they heard of this slander, think well of their own people, and say: “This is clearly a false accusation!”[12] Why did they not produce four witnesses? If they cannot produce the required witnesses, they are the liars in the sight of Allah.[13] Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah towards you in this world and the Hereafter, you would have been severely punished for your involvement in this scandal;[14] when you passed on with your tongues and uttered with your mouths that about which you had no knowledge. You took it lightly while it was a very serious offence in the sight of Allah.[15] Why did you not, when you heard about it, say: “It is not befitting for us to talk about it, Glory be to You, O Allah! This is a monstrous slander!”[16] Allah admonishes you never to repeat a mistake like this, if you are true believers.[17] Allah has made His revelations clear to you, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.[18] Those who love to spread such slanders among the believers will have a painful punishment in this life and in the Hereafter. Allah knows and you do not know.[19] Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah towards you, this scandal would have produced very bad results for you. Allah is indeed very Kind, most Merciful.[20] 24:[11-20]

O believers! Do not follow the footsteps of Shaitân because anyone who follows the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan) is seduced by him to commit acts of indecency and wickedness. If there had not been the grace and mercy of Allah upon you, none of you would have ever been purified from that sin, for it is Allah Alone Who purifies whom He pleases, and Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.[21] Let not those among you who are endowed with grace and amplitude of means swear to withhold their help from their relatives, the indigent and those who migrated for the cause of Allah – rather let them forgive and overlook – do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.[22] Those who accuse chaste and believing women who are, in good faith, unaware of what is plotted against them, are cursed in this life, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous punishment.[23] Such people should not forget that Day when their own tongues, their own hands and their own feet will testify against their misdeeds.[24] On that Day, Allah will give them the full reward they deserve, then they will realize that it is Allah Who is the Manifest Truth (perfect in justice).[25] Impure women are for impure men, and impure men are for impure women; pure women are for pure men, and pure men are for pure women. They are free from the slanderer’s accusations; for them there shall be forgiveness and honorable provision from Allah. [26] 24:[21-26]

Ameen.

This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.

Thank you and be well.