(24:1) This is a surah We have revealed, and which We have made obligatory; and in it We have revealed clear instructions so that you may take heed.

(24:2) Those who commit unlawful sexual intercourse – whether female or male – flog each one of them with a hundred lashes. And let not tenderness for them detain you from what pertains to Allah's religion, if you do truly believe in Allah and the Last Day; and let a party of believers witness their punishment.

(24:3) Let the fornicator not marry any except a fornicatress or an idolatress and let the fornicatress not marry any except a fornicator or an idolater. That is forbidden to the believers.

(24:4) Those who accuse chaste, honourable women (of unchastity) but do not produce four witnesses, flog them with eighty lashes, and do not admit their testimony ever after. They are indeed transgressors,

(24:5) except those of them that repent thereafter and mend their behaviour. For surely Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever Compassionate.

(24:6) As for those who accuse their wives [of unchastity], and have no witnesses except themselves: the testimony of such a one is that he testify, swearing by Allah four times, that he is truthful (in his accusation),

(24:7) and a fifth time, that the curse of Allah be on him if he be lying (in his accusation).

(24:8) And the punishment shall be averted from the woman if she were to testify, swearing by Allah four times that the man was lying,

(24:9) and a fifth time that the wrath of Allah be on her if the man be truthful (in his accusation).

(24:10) Were it not for Allah's Bounty and His Mercy unto you and that Allah is much prone to accept repentance and is Wise, (you would have landed yourselves into great difficulty on the question of the unsubstantiated accusation of your wives). 

(24:11) Surely those who invented this calumny are a band from among you. Do not deem this incident an evil for you; nay, it is good for you. Every one of them has accumulated sin in proportion to his share in this guilt; and he who has the greater part of it shall suffer a mighty chastisement.

(24:12) When you heard of it, why did the believing men and women not think well of themselves and say: 'This is a manifest calumny.'

(24:13) Why did they not bring four witnesses in support of their accusation? Now that they have brought no witnesses, it is indeed they who are the liars in the sight of Allah.

(24:14) Were it not for Allah's Bounty and His Mercy unto you in the world and in the Hereafter a grievous chastisement would have seized you on account of what you indulged in.

(24:15) (Just think, how wrong you were when one tongue receive it from another and you uttered with your mouths something you knew nothing about. You deemed it to be a trifle while it was grave in the sight of Allah.

(24:16) And why, no sooner than you had heard it, did you not say: 'It becomes us not even to utter such a thing. Holy are you (O Allah). This is a mighty calumny.'

(24:17) Allah admonishes you: If you are true believers, never repeat the like of what you did.

(24:18) Allah clearly expounds to you His instructions. Allah is All-Knowing, Most Wise.

(24:19) Verily, those who love that indecency should spread among the believers deserve a painful chastisement in the world and in the Hereafter. Allah knows, but you do not know.

(24:20) Were it nor for Allah's Bounty and His Mercy unto you, and that Allah is Most Forgiving and Wise (the evil that had been spread among you would have led to terrible consequences). 

(24:21) Believers! Do not follow in Satan's footsteps (let him remember that) Satan bids people to indecency and evil. Were it not for Allah's Bounty and His Mercy unto you, not one of you would have ever attained purity. But Allah enables whomsoever He wills to attain purity. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

(24:22) Let those among you who are bounteous and resourceful not swear to withhold giving to the kindred, to the needy, and to those who have forsaken their homes in the cause of Allah. Rather let them forgive and forbear. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? Allah is Ever Forgiving, Merciful.

(24:23) Those that accuse chaste, unwary, believing women (of unchastity), have been cursed in the world and the Hereafter, and a mighty chastisement awaits them.

(24:24) (Let them not be heedless of) the Day when their own tongues, their hands, and their feet shall all bear witness against them in regard to what they have been doing.

(24:25) On that Day Allah will justly requite them, and they will come to know that Allah – and He alone – is the truth, the One who makes the truth manifest.

(24:26) Corrupt women are for corrupt men, and corrupt men for corrupt women. Good women are for good men, and good men for good women. They are innocent of the calumnies people utter. There shall be forgiveness for them and a generous provision.

(24:27) Believers! Enter not houses other than your own houses until you have ascertained the approval of the inmates of those houses and have greeted them with peace. This is better for you. It is expected that you will observe this. 

(24:28) Then if you find no one in them, do not enter until you have been given permission (to enter). And if you are told to go back, then do go back. This is a purer way for you. Allah knows all what you do.

(24:29) However, it is not blameworthy for you if you enter houses that are uninhabited but where in is of use to you. Allah is well aware of what you disclose and what you conceal.

(24:30) (O Prophet!) Enjoin believing men to restrain their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is well aware of all what they do.

(24:31) And enjoin believing women to restrain their gaze and guard their private parts and additionally not to reveal their adornment except that which is revealed of itself; let them draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment to any save to their husbands, or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or of their own sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or the sons of their brothers, or the son of their sisters, or the women with whom they associate, or those that are in their bondage, or the male attendants in their service free of sexual desire, or children that are yet unaware of the private parts of women. Nor should they stamp their feet on the ground in such manner that their hidden ornament becomes revealed. Believers, turn together, all of you, to Allah in repentance that you may attain true success. 

(24:32) Marry those of you that are single, (whether men or women) and those of your male and female slaves that are righteous. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them out of His Bounty. Allah is infinite in His resources and All-Knowing.

(24:33) Let those who cannot afford to marry keep themselves chaste until Allah enriches them out of His Bounty. And such of your slaves that desire a deed of manumission in lieu of payment, execute such a deed with them if you see any good in them, and give them out of the wealth that Allah has given you. And do not compel you slave-girls to prostitution merely for the sake of the benefits of worldly life, the while they desire to remain chaste. And if anyone compels them to prostitution, Allah will be Most Pardoning, Much Merciful (to them) after they are subjected to such compulsion.

(24:34) Verily We have sent down for you revelations which clearly expound true guidance, and examples of those who passed away before you, and an admonition for those who fear (Allah).

(24:35) Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. His light (in the universe) may be likened to a niche wherein is a lamp; the lamp is in the crystal; which shines in star like brilliance. It is lit from (the oil) of a blessed olive tree that is neither eastern nor western. Its oil well nigh glows forth (of itself) though no fire touches it: light upon light. Allah guides to His Light whom He wills. Allah sets forth parables to make people understand. Allah knows everything.

(24:36) (Those who are directed to this Light) are found in the houses which Allah has enjoined to be raised and wherein. His names are remembered; in them people glorify Him in the morning and in the evening, 

(24:37) people whom neither commerce nor striving after profit diverts them from remembering Allah, from establishing Prayer, and from paying Zakah; people who dread the Day on which all hearts will be overturned and eyes will be petrified;

(24:38) (people who do all this so) that Allah may reward them in accordance with the best of their deeds; indeed He will bestow upon them more amply out of His Bounty, for Allah grants to whomsoever He will beyond all measure.

(24:39) But for those who deny the truth, their deeds are like a mirage in the desert which the thirsty supposes to be water until he comes to it only to find that it was nothing; instead he found Allah with him and then Allah settled his account in full. Allah is swift in settling the account.

(24:40) Or their deeds may be likened to darkness upon an abysmal sea, covered by a billow, above which is a billow, above which are clouds, creating darkness piled one upon another; when he puts forth his hand, he is scarcely able to see it. He to whom Allah assigns no light, he will have no light.

(24:41) Do you not see that all that is in the heavens and the earth, even the birds that go about spreading their wings in flight, extol His glory? Each knows the way of its prayer and of its extolling Allah's glory. Allah is well aware of whatever they do.

(24:42) Allah's is the dominion of the heavens and the earth and to Him are all destined to return.

(24:43) Do you not see that it is Allah who gently drives the clouds, then He joins them together and then turns them into a thick mass and thereafter you see rain-drops fall down from its midst. And then He sends down hail from the heaven – thanks to the lofty mountains – and causes it to smite whom He wills and averts it from whom He wills. The flash of His lightning almost takes away the sight. 

(24:44) It is Allah Who causes the night and the day to alternate. Surely there is a lesson in it for those that have sight.

(24:45) Allah has created every animal from water. Of them some move on their bellies, some move on tow legs, and some on four. Allah creates whatever He wills. Surely Allah has power over everything.

(24:46) Verily, We have sent down revelations that clearly explain the truth. Allah guides whomsoever He wills to a Straight -Way

(24:47) They say: 'We believe in Allah and the Messenger, and we obey', but thereafter a faction of them turns away (from obedience). These indeed are not believers.

(24:48) When they are called to Allah and His Messenger that he (i.e. the Messenger) may judge (the disputes) between them, a faction of them turns away.

(24:49) However if the right is on their side they come to him (Professing) their submissiveness.

(24:50) Do their hearts suffer from the disease (of hypocrisy)? Or have they fallen prey to doubts? Or do they fear that Allah will wrong them, and His Messenger will wrong them? Nay, the truth is that they themselves are wrong-doers.

(24:51) When those that believe are called to Allah and His Messenger in order that he (the Messenger) may judge their disputes between them, nothing becomes them but to say: 'We hear and we obey.' Such shall attain true success.

(24:52) Those who obey Allah and His Messenger, and fear Him and avoid disobeying Him: such, indeed, shall triumph.

(24:53) (The hypocrites) solemnly swear by Allah; 'If you order us, we shall surely go forth (to fight in the cause of Allah).' Tell them: 'Do not swear. The state of your obedience is known. Allah is well aware of all what you do.' 

(24:54) Say: 'Obey Allah and obey the Messenger. But if you turn away, then (know well) that the Messenger is responsible for what he has been charged with and you are responsible for what you have been charged with. But if you obey him, you will be guided to the Right-Way. The Messenger has no other responsibility but to clearly convey (the command).'

(24:55) Allah has promised those of you who believe and do righteous deeds that He will surely empower them as vicegerents in the land even as He empowered those that preceded them, and that He will firmly establish their religion which He has been pleased to choose for them, and He will replace the state of fear that they are in with security. Let them ser Me and associate none with Me in My Divinity. Whoso disbelieves after that, such indeed are the ungodly.

(24:56) Establish Prayer and pay Zakah and obey the Messenger so that mercy may be shown to you.

(24:57) Do not even imagine that those who disbelieve can frustrate (Allah's authority) in the land. Their abode is the Fire; what an evil abode!

(24:58) Believers! At three times let those whom you possess and those of your children who have not yet reached puberty, ask leave of you before entering your quarters: before the Morning Prayer, and when you take off your clothes at noon, and after the Night Prayer. These are the three times of privacy for you. If they come to you at other times then there is no sin for them nor for you, for you have to visit one another frequently. Thus, does Allah clearly explain His directives to you. Allah is All-Knowing, Wise. 

(24:59) And when your children attain puberty then let them ask leave to come to you like their elders used to ask leave. Thus does Allah clearly explain to you His Signs? He is All-Knowing, Wise.

(24:60) The women who are past their youth (and can no longer bear children) and do not look forward to marriage, will incur no sin if they cast off their outer garments without displaying their adornment. But if they remain modest, that is still better for them. Allah 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 nor on yourselves that you eat in your own houses, or your fathers' houses, or your mothers' houses, or your brother's houses, or the houses of your sisters or the houses of your father's brothers, or the houses of your father's sisters, or in the houses of your mother's brothers, or in the houses of your mother's sisters or in the houses of whose keys you possess, or the house of a friend. There is no blame if you eat together or separately. But when you enter such houses, greet each other with a salutation appointed by Allah, a salutation that is blessed and good. Thus, does Allah expound His Signs to you in order that you will act with understanding? 

(24:62) The true believers are only those who have faith in Allah and in His Messenger and who, whenever they are with him on some common errand, they do not go away until they have asked leave of him. Verily, those who ask leave of you; it is they who truly believe in Allah and His Messenger. So, if they ask your leave in connection with some of their affairs, give leave to those whom you will, and ask Allah for forgiveness on their behalf. Surely, Allah is Much-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.

(24:63) (Muslims!) do not make the calling of the Messenger among you as your calling one another. Allah knows well those of you who surreptitiously steal away, taking shelter behind one another. Let those who go against the order (of the Messenger) beware lest a trial or severe punishment afflict them.

(24:64) Lo! Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah. He knows well the state you are in. And the Day when they will be returned to Him, He will tell them all what they did. Allah knows everything.