About the Surah

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

       This is a chapter of the Quran which We have sent down and ordained (the Commands in it) and We have sent in this Our clear Revelations so that you may remember them (and follow them).

       The fornicatress and fornicator, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. You should not show any pity to both of them while acting in accordance with the religion of Allah, if you believe in Allah and the last Day. And let a group of believers witness their punishment. (Note here (i) fornication means when an unmarried person has sex with somebody (ii) adultery means when a married person has sex with somebody).

       (Adultery and fornication are, indeed, very evil activities). The adulterer – fornicator does not marry except an adulteress – fornicatress or a mushrikah (idolater woman), and the adulteress – fornicatress does not marry except an adulterer – fornicator or a mushrik (i.e. idolater). Such marriages are forbidden for the believers.

       And those who accuse chaste women, and don’t produce four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes. And don’t accept their testimony forever. And they are disobedient people.

       Except those who repent thereafter and reform themselves (by doing good deeds). So, indeed, Allah is Very Forgiving, Most Merciful.

       And those who accuse their wives, but they have no witnesses except themselves. Then the testimony of one of them is equivalent to four if he testifies four times by Allah stating that he is one of those who speak the truth.

       And his fifth testimony should be (stating) Curse of Allah be on him if he is one of those who tell a lie (against her).

       And she shall prevent the punishment (of stoning to death) for her, if she testifies four times by Allah that her husband is telling a lie.

       And her fifth testimony should be that the Wrath of Allah be upon her if her husband speaks the truth. (In this way both husband and wife are saved from the worldly punish-ment. However that woman will become forbidden for that man).

       And had it not been the Grace of Allah and His Mercy on you, (Allah would not have made such laws and the liar would have received the punishment from Allah immediately). And that Allah accepts repentance, the All-Wise.

       Indeed, those who coined a lie [against Aisha , the wife of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] is a group among you. Don’t consider it a bad thing for you. In fact, it is good for you. Every person among them will have sin according to his actions. The one who played the bigger role among them (i.e. Abdullah bin Obayy), he will have great torment.

       Why did the believers, men and women, when they heard the slander, not think good of their own people and said: “This (accusation) is an obvious slander (i.e. lie)?”

       Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since the slanderers have not produced witnesses, hence they are liars in the sight of Allah.

       And had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy to you in this world and in the Hereafter, a great torment would have been inflicted upon you for what you were propagating,

       When you were propagating with your tongues, and expressing it with your mouths about which you had no knowledge. You considered it a light matter, while in the sight of Allah it was a very great thing (i.e. a major sin).

       And why did you not say when you heard it: “It is not befitting for us that we speak like this. Glorified are You (O Allah!). This is a big accusation.”

       Allah advises you not to repeat like this again ever, if you are believers.

       And Allah makes the Verses clear to you and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

       And Allah makes the Verses clear to you and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

       And had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy on you (Allah would have punished you). And, indeed, Allah is full of Kindness, Most Merciful.

       O you who believe! Don’t follow the footsteps of Satan. And whosoever follows the footsteps of  Satan, then, indeed, Satan orders you to engage in obscene activities and what is forbidden (in Islam). And had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy on you, none of you would ever have been purified (from sins). But Allah purifies whom He wills, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

       And those among you, who have grace and wealth, should not swear to stop giving (financial support) to their relatives, the needy and those who emigrated for Allah’s Cause. And they should pardon and forgive others. Don’t you like that Allah forgive you (your mistakes)? And Allah is Very-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

       Indeed, those who accuse chaste, simple minded and believing women – are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter, and for them will be a great torment.

       On that Day their tongues, their hands and their legs (i.e. feet) will bear witness against them about what they used to do.

       On that Day Allah will give them their full reward with justice and they will know that Allah is the Obvious Truth.

       Bad women are (suitable) for bad men and bad men are for bad women. Good women are for good men and good men are for good women. Such good people are absolutely innocent regarding any accusation made against them. There is forgiveness for them and good provision (i.e. Paradise).

       O you who believe! Don’t enter houses other than your own, without seeking the permission and greeting their residents. That is better for you, so that you may learn a lesson from it.

       And if you find no one there, so don’t enter without permission. And if you are asked to go back, do go back since it is purer for you. And Allah is All-Knower of what you do.

       There is no sin on you that you enter (without taking permission) the houses not used for living while you have some interest in them. And Allah knows what you reveal and what you conceal.

       Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (or sights) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual activities). That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what they do.

       And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (for looking at prohibited things) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show their adornments except which is apparent, and draw a veil all over their bodies and not to show their adornments except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers, or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their sisters in Islam, (since disbelieving women are like males to them), or the (female) slaves which have been put under your control according to Islamic law, or old male servants who are without sexual desires, or small children who have yet no idea of feminine private parts. And they should not stamp their feet (on the ground) to reveal what is hidden of their adornment. And, O believers! All of you should ask Allah to forgive you so that you may be successful!

       And arrange marriage for those who are single (men or women) and also pious male slaves and female slaves. Even if they are poor, Allah will make them self-sufficient with His Bounty. And Allah is All-Sufficient (for His creatures’ needs) All Knowing.

       And those who are not financially able to marry, should keep themselves chaste (by fasting as often as they can) till Allah makes them self-sufficient with His Bounty. And if any of your slaves request for a written contract to set him free by some payment, do make such contracts if you see some good in them. And give them something from the wealth which Allah has given you. And don’t force your maids to prostitution, to gain some enjoyment of this worldly life, if they desire chastity. And whoever is forced (to prostitution), then Allah is Very Forgiving and Most Merciful to those women who were forced.

       And, indeed, We have sent down to you clear revelations and examples of those who have passed before you and it is an advice for the pious people.

       Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His Light is as if there was a niche and in it is a lamp, the lamp is in a glass, the glass is like a shining star. That lamp is lit from the oil of a blessed olive tree. That tree is neither eastern nor western (i.e. it is exposed to  sunlight throughout the day) whose oil would almost glow (by itself), though no fire touched it. Light upon light (hence, Allah’s revelations are very clear and each one is more beneficial than the other). Allah guides to His Light (i.e.guidance) whom He wills. Allah gives examples for the (guidance of) the people and Allah is All-Knower of everything.

       (Here the characteristics of the guided people are described). Those houses (Masajid) regarding which Allah has commanded to be respected and in them His Name is remembered, they glorify Allah (in their prayers) in the mornings and in the evenings in them.

       Men whom neither trade nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah, or from performing Salat, or from paying the poor-due. (They are so humble that) they fear the Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (due to horror). (Also Surah Ghafir:18)

       So that Allah may give them the best reward for the good deeds they performed, and increase their reward even more out of His Bounty. And Allah provides without limit to whom He wills.

       And the deeds of the dis-believers are like a mirage in a desert. It appears like water to a thirsty person. When he reaches there, he finds nothing. He however finds Allah with him who paid him in full (i.e. he dies with thirst). (Hence, the deeds of the disbelievers are like mirage which will not do any good to them). And Allah is Swift in taking account.

       Or (the state of a disbeliever) is like the darkness in a deep sea. It is covered by waves one over another and the sea is overcast by dark clouds. Hence, there is darkness one over another. When he stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it. And he, for whom Allah has appointed no light (i.e. guidance), will not get light (or guidance). 

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Do you not observe that whoever is in the heavens and in the earth and the flying birds with spread-out wings glorify Allah? Each one of them knows his prayer and glorification. (Even then the disbelievers don’t believe in the Oneness of Allah). And Allah is All-knower of what they do.

       And the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah and (all of them) will return to Allah.

       Don’t you see that Allah makes the clouds travel, then joins them together, and then puts their layers one upon another, and then you see the rain comes down from between them. There are mountains (of hails) in the sky and He sends down hail from them. He strikes with hail whom He wills and saves whom He wills. The brightness of the lightning (produced by the clouds) is such that it may blind the eyesight.

       Allah alternates the night and the day (automatically). There is, indeed, a lesson in this for those who have keen observation.

       And Allah has created every (living) creature from water. Some of them move on their bellies, and some walk on two legs and others walk on four legs. Allah creates what He wills. Indeed, Allah is Able to do all things.

       We have, indeed, sent down very clear revelations. And Allah guides to a Straight Path whom He wills. (Also Surah Al-An'am:38)

       And they (the hypocrites) say: “We have believed in Allah and in the messenger (Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] and follow his command (sincerely), but then a (notorious) group among them turns away afterwards. And they are not believers at all.

       And when they are called to Allah and His messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) to judge between them, then a group of them (refuses to show up there and) turns away.

       But if the truth is on their side, they come to him with full submission.

       Is there a disease in their hearts? Or do they doubt or fear lest Allah and His messenger would deal unjustly with them? In fact, they themselves are the wrong-doers.

       Indeed, when the believers are called to Allah and His messenger to judge between them, they say: “We hear and we obey.” And such are the successful ones.

       And whosoever obeys Allah and His messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), fears Allah and keeps his duty to Allah, so such are the successful ones.

       They swear by Allah their strongest oaths, stating: “If you order them, they would promptly leave their homes (to participate in Jihad).” Say: “Don’t swear. The extent of your obedience is known. Indeed, Allah is Well-acquainted with what you do.”

       Say: “Obey Allah and obey the messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), but if you turn away, then the messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is respon-sible for only what he is assigned to do and you are responsible for what is placed on you (i.e. accountability of your deeds). Hence, if you obey the messenger, then only you are rightly guided. The messenger’s duty is only to convey (the message) clearly. (Also Surah Ar-Rad:40)

       Allah has promised those who believe and do good deeds, that He will make them the ruler in the land, as He did make rulers before them, and that He will firmly establish them to practice their religion freely which He has chosen for them. And He will change their fear and harassment into peace and security provided that they worship Me (Alone) and do not associate any partners in worship with Me. And whoever disbelieves after this, they are disobedient (to Allah).

       And perform Salat regularly, pay the poor-due and obey the messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) (consistently) so that you may receive mercy (from Allah).

       Don’t consider that the dis-believers can escape (from Our punishment) in the earth. And they shall reside in Hell-Fire which is a terrible destination.

       O you who believe! Your slaves and slave-girls and those who have not come to the age of puberty should ask your permission (for visiting you in your room) on three occasions: before Fajr Salat and during the mid-day rest, when you remove some of your clothes, and after Isha Salat. These three times are of privacy for you. Apart from these, there is no sin on you nor on them since you mutually visit each other as a routine at other occasions. Thus Allah describes His revelations in detail to you. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

       And when the children come to puberty, they should ask permission (for visitation) like those who are older to them. Thus Allah describes His revelations in detail to you. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

       And old ladies who don’t have wish (and hope) for marriage, it is no sin on them if they remove their (outer) clothing provided that they don’t mean to show their adornment. But if they refrain (from removing their outer clothing), it is better for them. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

       There is no restriction on the blind, nor on the lame, nor on the sick person, nor on yourselves, if you eat from your 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 father’s brothers, or the houses of your father’s sisters, or the houses of your mother’s brothers or the houses of your mother’s sisters or from the houses of which you hold keys, or (from the houses of) your friends. There is no sin on you if you eat together or separately. However, when you enter a house, then greet one another with a greeting from Allah [i.e. Assalamu Alaikum (peace be upon you)] a blessed and a good greeting. Thus Allah describes His revelations in detail to you so that you may understand.

       The true believers are only those who believe in Allah and His messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and they stay in the company of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) on the occasions when gathering is needed (for consultation etc), and they don’t leave the meeting without the permission of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). Hence, those who ask for your permission on such occasions are the true believers in Allah and His messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). So, if they ask your permission for some of their affairs, give permission to them whom you will, and ask Allah for their forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is Very-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

       Don’t make the calling of the messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) as your calling one another [i.e. don’t address the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) as you address each other]. And Allah knows those among you who slip away secretly. Hence, those who oppose any of the messenger’s  commands, should be scared lest a trial befalls on them or a painful torment is inflicted on them.

       Bear in mind, all that is in the heavens and the earth, indeed, belongs to Allah. He knows what condition you are in now, and the Day when they will be brought back to Him then He will inform them about what they did. And Allah is Knower of everything.