SURAH NOOR

The Light

(Madnie, Surah # 24, Verses 64)

OBLIGATORY GUIDANCE

24:1 This is a chapter which We have revealed to you and made obligatory for you to follow its guidance. We have revealed clear verses in it so that perhaps you may take heed.

PUNISHMENT OF UNMARRIED PEOPLE WHO COMMIT ZINA

 24:2 The woman and the man guilty of illegal sexual intercourse, lash each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness their punishment. 

WHO CAN MARRY ADULTERER

24:3 The adulterer (male) marries not but an adulteress or a Mushrikah (female) and the adulteress( female) none marries her except an adulterer or a Muskrik (male). Such a thing is forbidden to the believers.

ACCUSED OF ZINA (MARRIED WOMEN)

24:4 Those who accuse married women of committing adultery - but are not able to prove their accusation by producing four witnesses - must be flogged eighty lashes. and reject their testimony forever, they indeed are the Fasiqun (liars)

24:5 Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous deeds, (for such) verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

MARRIED PEOPLE WHO DOES ZINA WITHOUT WITNESSES

24:6 Those who accuse their spouses of committing adultery but have no witness except themselves, should testify four times saying, "Allah is my witness that I am telling the truth".

24:7 They should say on the fifth time, "Let Allah's curse be upon me if I am a liar".

24:8 The spouse will be averted from the punishment if she challenges his testimony by saying four times, "Allah is my witness that he is a liar".

24:9 On the fifth time she should say, "Let the curse of Allah be upon me if what he says is true."

24:10 And had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy on you. And that Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, the All-Wise.

ACCUSATION OF AISHAH (WIFE OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD)

24:11  Verily! Those who brought forth the slander (against 'Aishah radhiallahu'anhu the wife of the Prophet SAW) are a group among you. Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you. Unto every man among them will be paid that which he had earned of the sin, and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be a great torment.

24:12 Why then, did not the believers, men and women, when you heard it (the slander) think good of their own people and say: "This (charge) is an obvious lie?"

24:13 Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they (the slanderers) have not produced witnesses! Then with Allah they are the liars.

24:14 Were it not for the favors and mercy of Allah upon you, in this world and in the life to come, a great torment would strike you for your involvement in this false report.

24:15 Your tongues moved and your mouths spoke of something of which you had no knowledge. you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great.

24:16 And why did you not, when you heard it, say? "It is not right for us to speak of this. Glory be to You (O Allah) this is a great lie."

24:17 Allah forbids you from it and warns you not to repeat the like of it forever, if you are believers.

24:18 And Allah makes the Ayat clear to you, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

24:19 Verily, those who like that illegal sexual intercourse should be propagated among those who believe they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you know not.

24:20 And had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy on you, (Allah would have hastened the punishment upon you). And that Allah is full of kindness, Most Merciful.

24:21 O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Shaitan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Shaitan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but Allah purifies whom He wills, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

24:22 And let not those among you who are blessed with grace and wealth swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kinsmen (believers who accused Aisha), Al-Masakin (the poor), and those who left their homes for Allah's Cause. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not want Allah to forgive you? Allah is All-forgiving and All-merciful.

FALSE ACCUSATIONS

24:23 Indeed, those who [falsely] accuse chaste, unaware and believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter; and they will have a great punishment

BODY PARTS WILL WITNESS AGAINST US

24:24 On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their legs or feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.

24:25 That Day, Allah will pay them in full their deserved recompense, and they will know that it is Allah who is the perfect in justice.

24:26 Indecent women are for indecent men, and indecent men are for indecent women. Decent women are for decent men and decent men are for decent women. Decent people are innocent of what people allege. They will receive mercy and honorable sustenance.

PERMISSION TO ENTER OTHER HOUSES

24:27 O you who believe! Enter not houses other than your own, until you have asked permission and greeted those in them, that is better for you, in order that you may remember.

24:28 If you do not find anyone therein, do not enter until you are given permission. And if you are asked to go back, go back, for it is decent for you, and Allah is All-Knower of what you do.

24:29 There is no fault in you that you enter houses uninhabited (hotels,schools, stores etc.)   in which there is convenience  for you. Allah knows what you reveal and what you hide.

LOWER THE GAZE FOR MEN

24:30 Tell the believing men to lower their gaze , and protect their private parts. That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do.

LOWER THE GAZE FOR WOMEN & DO NOT STAMP YOUR FEET

24:31 And tell the believing women to lower their gaze , and protect their private parts and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils all over bosoms and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women, or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.

ALLAH ORDERS TO GET MARRY

24:32  And marry those among you who are single, the righteous servant and  female servant. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them out of His Bounty. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knowing (about the state of the people).

24:33 And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allah enriches them of His Bounty. And such of your slaves as seek a writing, give them such writing, if you know that they are good and trustworthy. And give them something yourselves out of the wealth of Allah which He has bestowed upon you. And force not your maids to prostitution, if they desire chastity, in order that you may make a gain in the goods of this worldly life. But if anyone compels them (to prostitution), then after such compulsion, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. 

24:34 And indeed We have sent down for you Ayat that make things simple, and the example of those who passed away before you, and an advice for those who are Al-Muttaqun

ALLAH GUIDE BELIEVER THROUGH HIS LIGHT

24:35 Allah  is the light  of the heavens and the earth. A metaphor for His light is a niche in which there is a lamp placed in a glass. The glass is like a shining star which is lit from a blessed olive tree that is neither eastern nor western. Its oil almost lights up even though it has not been touched by the fire. It is light upon light. Allah guides to His light whomever He wants. Allah uses various metaphors. He has the knowledge of all things.

24:36 [Such niches are] in mosques which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings

24:37 Men whom neither trade nor sale diverts them from the Remembrance of Allah, nor from performing As­Salat, nor from giving the Zakat. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (from the horror of the torment of the Day of Resurrection).

24:38 (They worship Him) so that Allah will reward their best deeds and give them more through His favors. Allah gives sustenance to whomever He wants without account.

NO LIGHT FOR DISBELIEVER

24:39 As for those who disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert. The thirsty one thinks it to be water, until he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing, but he finds Allah with him, Who will pay him his due (Hell). And Allah is Swift in taking account.

24:40 Or  is like the darkness in a vast deep sea, overwhelmed with a great wave topped by a great wave, topped by dark clouds, darkness, one above another, if a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it! And he for whom Allah has not appointed light, for him there is no light.

HYPOCRITES (BELIEVERS) TAKE WHAT THEY LIKE AND LEAVE WHAT IS DIFFICULT

24:46 We have indeed sent down (in this Quran) manifest Ayat And Allah guides whom He wills to a Straight Path.

24:47 They (hypocrites) say: "We have believed in Allah and in the Messenger, and we obey," then a party of them turn away thereafter, such are not believers.

24:28 And when they are called to Allah and His Messenger (SAW), to judge between them, suddenly a party of them refuse and turn away.

24:29 But if the right is with them, they come to him willingly with submission.

24:50 Is there a disease in their hearts? Do they have doubts or are they afraid that Allah and His Messenger may do injustice to them? In fact, they, themselves, are unjust.

TRUE BELIEVERS

24:51 The response of the believers, when they are invited to Allah and His Messenger that he may judge between them, is only to say: We hear and we obey; and these it is that are the successful.

24:52  And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (SAW), fears Allah, and keeps his duty (to Him), such are the successful ones.

24:53 They strongly swear by Allah that they would march to fight (for the cause of God) if you were to order them to. Tell them, "You do not need to swear; fighting for the cause of Allah is a virtuous deed and Allah is Well Aware of what you do".

24:54 Say to them, "Obey Allah and His Messenger. If you turn away, the Messenger and the people will each be responsible for their own obligations. If you follow the Messenger, you will have the right guidance. The responsibility of the Messenger is only to preach."

24:55 Allah has promised to those of you who believe and do good that He will most certainly make them rulers in the earth as He made rulers those before them, and that He will most certainly establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them, and that He will most certainly, after their fear, give them peace in exchange; they shall serve Me, not associating with Me; and whoever is ungrateful after this, these it is who are the. Transgressors.

24:56 And perform As­Salat and give Zakat and obey the Messenger that you may receive mercy (from Allah).

24:57 Never think that the disbelievers are causing failure [to Allah] upon the earth. Their refuge will be the Fire - and how wretched the destination.

PERMISSION TO ENTER THE HOUSE

24:58 Believers, your slaves and the immature people must ask your permission three times a day before entering your house: before the morning prayer, at noon time and after the late evening prayer; these are most private times. After your permission has been granted, there is no harm if they come into your presence from time to time. This is how God explains His revelations to you. God is All-knowing and All-wise.

24:59 And when the children among you come to puberty, then let them (also) ask for permission, as those senior to them (in age). Thus Allah makes clear His Ayat (Commandments and legal obligations) for you. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

ELDERLY WOMEN

24:60 Elderly women who have no hope of getting married are allowed not to wear the kind of clothing that young woman must wear, as long as they do not show off their beauty. It is better for them if they maintain chastity. God is All-hearing and All-knowing.

GUEST

24:61 It is no sin for the blind, the lame, the sick ones, and yourselves to eat at your own homes, or the homes of your father, mothers, brothers, sisters, your paternal and maternal uncles, aunts, or at the homes of your friend, and the homes with which you are entrusted. It makes no difference whether you eat all together or one person at a time. When you enter a house, say the blessed greeting which Allah has instructed you to say. Thus does Allah explain to you His revelations so that perhaps you will understand.

24:62 The true believers are those who have faith in God and His Messenger and when they are dealing with the Messenger in important matters, they do not leave without his permission. (Muhammad), those who ask your permission believe in God and His Messenger. When they ask your leave to attend to their affairs, you may give permission to anyone of them you choose and ask forgiveness for them from God. God is All-forgiving and All-merciful.

24:63 Do not address the Messenger as you would call each other. God knows those who secretly walk away from you and hide themselves. Those who oppose the Messengers should beware, lest some trouble or a painful torment should befall them.

24:64 The heavens and the earth, certainly, belong to God. He surely knows all about you in this life. On the day when you return to Him, He will tell you all about whatever you have done. God has the knowledge of all things.

Online Sources: Citations

https://quran.com/1

https://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=1&verse=1

https://noblequran.com/