An-Nour (ٱلنُّور)

 

Surah An-Nour is the 24th Surah or chapter in the Quran which can be found in the 18th Juz, comprising of 64 verses divided in 9 Rukus. An-Nour means the Light. Surah Al-Nour was revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) after the hijrah period in Medina; hence, it's classified as Madni Surah. Surah Nour provides guidelines for Muslims related to issues in family life, modesty, marriage, and social conduct. One of the primary reasons for the revelation of its verses from 11 to 20 was to protect the chastity of Hazrat Ayesha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) which was questioned by some people among the believers accused and slandered her causing distress to Muhammad (ﷺ) and Ayesha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), being her witness, declared her pure and modest in these 9 ayahs and announced severe consequences and punishment for spreading falsehood. 

٢٤ - ٱلنُّور

24 - An-Nour

سُوْرَۃٌ اَنْزَلْنٰہَا وَفَرَضْنٰہَا وَاَنْزَلْنَا فِيْہَاۗ اٰيٰتٍؚبَيِّنٰتٍ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُوْنَ۝۱
Sooratun anzalnaha wafaradnaha waanzalna feeha ayatin bayyinatin laAAallakum tathakkaroona

English

Ahmed Ali

WE HAVE REVEALED this Surah and made it obligatory as We have sent down clear injunctions in it that you may be warned.

1

اَلزَّانِيَۃُ وَالزَّانِيْ فَاجْلِدُوْا كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْہُمَا مِائَۃَ جَلْدَۃٍ۝۰۠ وَّلَا تَاْخُذْكُمْ بِہِمَا رَاْفَۃٌ فِيْ دِيْنِ اللہِ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِاللہِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ۝۰ۚ وَلْيَشْہَدْ عَذَابَہُمَا طَاۗىِٕفَۃٌ مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ۝۲
Alzzaniyatu waalzzanee faijlidoo kulla wahidin minhuma miata jaldatin wala takhuthkum bihima rafatun fee deeni Allahi in kuntum tuminoona biAllahi waalyawmi alakhiri walyashhad AAathabahuma taifatun mina almumineena

English

Ahmed Ali

The adulteress and adulterer should be flogged a hundred lashes each, and no pity for them should deter you from the law of God, if you believe in God and the Last Day; and the punishment should be witnessed by a body of believers.

2

اَلزَّانِيْ لَا يَنْكِحُ اِلَّا زَانِيَۃً اَوْ مُشْرِكَۃً۝۰ۡوَّ الزَّانِيَۃُ لَا يَنْكِحُہَاۗ اِلَّا زَانٍ اَوْ مُشْرِكٌ۝۰ۚ وَحُرِّمَ ذٰلِكَ عَلَي الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ۝۳
Alzzanee la yankihu illa zaniyatan aw mushrikatan waalzzaniyatu la yankihuha illa zanin aw mushrikun wahurrima thalika AAala almumineena

English

Ahmed Ali

The adulterer can marry no one but an adulteress or his partner (in the act), and the adulteress cannot marry any but an adulterer or her partner (in the act). This is forbidden the believers,

3

وَالَّذِيْنَ يَرْمُوْنَ الْمُحْصَنٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَاْتُوْا بِاَرْبَعَۃِ شُہَدَاۗءَ فَاجْلِدُوْہُمْ ثَمٰنِيْنَ جَلْدَۃً وَّلَا تَــقْبَلُوْا لَہُمْ شَہَادَۃً اَبَدًا۝۰ۚ وَاُولٰۗىِٕكَ ہُمُ الْفٰسِقُوْنَ۝۴ۙ
Waallatheena yarmoona almuhsanati thumma lam yatoo biarbaAAati shuhadaa faijlidoohum thamaneena jaldatan wala taqbaloo lahum shahadatan abadan waolaika humu alfasiqoona

English

Ahmed Ali

Those who defame chaste women and do not bring four witnesses should be punished with eighty lashes, and their testimony should not be accepted afterwards, for they are profligates,

4

اِلَّا الَّذِيْنَ تَابُوْا مِنْۢ بَعْدِ ذٰلِكَ وَاَصْلَحُوْا۝۰ۚ فَاِنَّ اللہَ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِيْمٌ۝۵
Illa allatheena taboo min baAAdi thalika waaslahoo fainna Allaha ghafoorun raheemun

English

Ahmed Ali

Except those who repent after this and reform; and God is surely forgiving and kind.

5

وَالَّذِيْنَ يَرْمُوْنَ اَزْوَاجَہُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّہُمْ شُہَدَاۗءُ اِلَّاۗ اَنْفُسُہُمْ فَشَہَادَۃُ اَحَدِہِمْ اَرْبَعُ شَہٰدٰتٍؚبِاؘ۝۰ۙ اِنَّہٗ لَمِنَ الصّٰدِقِيْنَ۝۶
Waallatheena yarmoona azwajahum walam yakun lahum shuhadao illa anfusuhum fashahadatu ahadihim arbaAAu shahadatin biAllahi innahu lamina alssadiqeena

English

Ahmed Ali

Those who accuse their wives and do not have any witnesses except themselves, should swear four times in the name of God, the testimony of each such person being that he is speaking the truth,

6

وَالْخَامِسَۃُ اَنَّ لَعْنَتَ اللہِ عَلَيْہِ اِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْكٰذِبِيْنَ۝۷
Waalkhamisatu anna laAAnata Allahi AAalayhi in kana mina alkathibeena

English

Ahmed Ali

And (swear) a fifth time that if he tell a lie the curse of God be on him.

7

وَيَدْرَؤُا عَنْہَا الْعَذَابَ اَنْ تَشْہَدَ اَرْبَعَ شَہٰدٰتٍؚبِاؘ۝۰ۙ اِنَّہٗ لَمِنَ الْكٰذِبِيْنَ۝۸ۙ
Wayadrao AAanha alAAathaba an tashhada arbaAAa shahadatin biAllahi innahu lamina alkathibeena

English

Ahmed Ali

The woman's punishment can be averted if she swears four times by God as testimony that her husband is a liar,

8

وَالْخَامِسَۃَ اَنَّ غَضَبَ اللہِ عَلَيْہَاۗ اِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الصّٰدِقِيْنَ۝۹
Waalkhamisata anna ghadaba Allahi AAalayha in kana mina alssadiqeena

English

Ahmed Ali

Her fifth oath being that the curse of God be on her if her husband should be speaking the truth.

9

وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللہِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُہٗ وَاَنَّ اللہَ تَوَّابٌ حَكِيْمٌ۝۱۰ۧ
Walawla fadlu Allahi AAalaykum warahmatuhu waanna Allaha tawwabun hakeemun

English

Ahmed Ali

(This would not have been possible) if the grace and benevolence of God were not upon you; but God is compassionate and wise.

10

 

Theme and Subject Matter of Surah An-Nour (ٱلنُّور)

The Surah starts with a direct and severe message for the people who commit zina (adulteration). Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) orders the believers to punish anyone who is adultery with a hundred lashes without having any sympathy for them and also to make it witnessed by a number of believers and protect themselves from such major sins. It is ordained by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) that both the adulterers can only marry each other and no one else. This is a very clear and strict message that should be implemented even in today's world. 

Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) commands that anyone who falsely accuses a pious woman without proof or any witness should receive a severe punishment of 80 lashes. If someone brings an accusation, they must also bring four witnesses to prove it. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) warns of a severe punishment for those who spread lies and promote immorality among Muslims. The Surah gives clear instructions to all the believing men and women to protect their modesty, including lowering their gaze, wearing modest clothing, and asking permission before entering someone's home. 

Sural An-Nour's main theme is to improve the morality in a society instructing the believers to uphold justice, avoid scandals, and support the believers. The Surah verses 11 to 19 were revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) when his beloved wife was slandered by a group of men. It caused distress for both Ayesha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and Prophet (ﷺ). 

There was no way Ayesha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) could prove her innocence, but her trust in Allah was her ultimate power. Allah sent Jibrael (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) with these verses of Surah An-Nour where Lord of the Worlds stood as a witness to prove her innocence, declaring the accusation on Hazrat Ayesha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) as false and a lie which was fabricated by a group among the believers. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) then highlights the seriousness of slanders and false accusations and severe punishment for the slanders. 

Surah An-Nour explains the differences between a mahram and a non-mahram for women and outlines the rights of slave women. In this Surah, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) focuses on the importance of His guidance and power over creations, encouraging society to keep high moral standards and support for the righteous people. 

Virtues and Benefits of Surah An-Nour (ٱلنُّور)

Surah An-Nour is an important part of the Quran. It teaches about hijab, modesty, and interactions between men and women. It encourages the need to protect the dignity of a believer and avoid any slander. The Surah teaches us that if someone is accused of wrongdoing, four witnesses must be brought forward. This ensures that moral and ethical conduct is maintained in a society with high standards. A way to hold someone accountable, and that is to bring four witnesses with them. This helps in maintaining moral and ethical conduct in a society and ensures that no one levies false charges against a woman.  

The Surah provides some legal rulings for serious matters of slander and false accusation, with the punishment of 80 lashes for slander and 100 lashes for adultery. These severe consequences state the seriousness of such actions and discourage people from engaging in such activity, helping to maintain a respectful and honest society. Surah An-Nour offers guidance on maintaining a healthy married life and safeguarding our chastity, promoting a family environment based on proper conduct, discipline, and mutual respect. It encourages us to be mindful of our actions and intentions to support one another rather than mock and slander, contributing as a positive force within our community. This will help us build a society where trust, compassion, and moral integrity are valued.