Surah An-Noor

يَٰٓأَيُّهَاٱلَّذِينَءَامَنُوا۟لَاتَتَّبِعُوا۟خُطُوَٰتِٱلشَّيْطَٰنِوَمَنيَتَّبِعْخُطُوَٰتِٱلشَّيْطَٰنِفَإِنَّهُۥيَأْمُرُبِٱلْفَحْشَآءِوَٱلْمُنكَرِوَلَوْلَافَضْلُٱللَّهِعَلَيْكُمْوَرَحْمَتُهُۥمَازَكَىٰمِنكُممِّنْأَحَدٍأَبَدًۭاوَلَٰكِنَّٱللَّهَيُزَكِّىمَنيَشَآءُوَٱللَّهُسَمِيعٌعَلِيمٌۭ

O You who have attained to faith! Follow not Satan’s footsteps: for he who follows Satan’s foot­steps [will find that], behold, he enjoins but deeds of abomination and all that runs counter to reason. And were it not for God’s favour upon you and His grace, not one of you would ever have remained pure. For [thus it is:] God who causes whomever He wills to grow in purity: for God is all-hearing, all-­knowing.

وَلَايَأْتَلِأُو۟لُوا۟ٱلْفَضْلِمِنكُمْوَٱلسَّعَةِأَنيُؤْتُوٓا۟أُو۟لِىٱلْقُرْبَىٰوَٱلْمَسَٰكِينَوَٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَفِىسَبِيلِٱللَّهِوَلْيَعْفُوا۟وَلْيَصْفَحُوٓا۟أَلَاتُحِبُّونَأَنيَغْفِرَٱللَّهُلَكُمْوَٱللَّهُغَفُورٌۭرَّحِيمٌ

Hence, [even if they have been wronged by slander,] let not those of you who have been graced with God’s favour and ease of life ever become remiss in helping [the erring ones among] their near of kin, and the needy, and those who have forsaken the domain of evil for the sake of God, but let them pardon and forbear. [For,] do you not desire that God should forgive you your sins, seeing that God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace?

إِنَّٱلَّذِينَيَرْمُونَٱلْمُحْصَنَٰتِٱلْغَٰفِلَٰتِٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِلُعِنُوا۟فِىٱلدُّنْيَاوَٱلْءَاخِرَةِوَلَهُمْعَذَابٌعَظِيمٌۭ

[But,] verily, those who [falsely, and without repentance,] accuse chaste women who may have been unthinkingly careless but have remained true to their faith, shall be rejected [from God’s grace] in this world as well as in the life to come: and awesome suffering awaits them

يَوْمَتَشْهَدُعَلَيْهِمْأَلْسِنَتُهُمْوَأَيْدِيهِمْوَأَرْجُلُهُمبِمَاكَانُوا۟يَعْمَلُونَ

on the Day when their own tongues and hands and feet will bear witness against them by [recalling] all that they did!

يَوْمَئِذٍۢيُوَفِّيهِمُٱللَّهُدِينَهُمُٱلْحَقَّوَيَعْلَمُونَأَنَّٱللَّهَهُوَٱلْحَقُّٱلْمُبِينُ

On that day God will pay them in full their just due, and they will come to know that God alone is the Ultimate Truth, manifest, and manifesting [the true nature of all that has ever been done].

ٱلْخَبِيثَٰتُلِلْخَبِيثِينَوَٱلْخَبِيثُونَلِلْخَبِيثَٰتِوَٱلطَّيِّبَٰتُلِلطَّيِّبِينَوَٱلطَّيِّبُونَلِلطَّيِّبَٰتِأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَمُبَرَّءُونَمِمَّايَقُولُونَلَهُممَّغْفِرَةٌۭوَرِزْقٌۭكَرِيمٌۭ

[In the nature of things,] corrupt women are for corrupt men, and corrupt men, for corrupt women - just as good women are for good men, and good men, for good women. [Since God is aware that] these are innocent of all that evil tongues may impute to them, forgiveness of sins shall be theirs, and a most excellent sustenance!

يَٰٓأَيُّهَاٱلَّذِينَءَامَنُوا۟لَاتَدْخُلُوا۟بُيُوتًاغَيْرَبُيُوتِكُمْحَتَّىٰتَسْتَأْنِسُوا۟وَتُسَلِّمُوا۟عَلَىٰٓأَهْلِهَاذَٰلِكُمْخَيْرٌۭلَّكُمْلَعَلَّكُمْتَذَكَّرُونَ

O YOU who have attained to faith! Do not enter houses other than your own unless you have obtained permission and greeted their inmates. This is [enjoined upon you] for your own good, so that you might bear [your mutual rights] in mind.

فَإِنلَّمْتَجِدُوا۟فِيهَآأَحَدًۭافَلَاتَدْخُلُوهَاحَتَّىٰيُؤْذَنَلَكُمْوَإِنقِيلَلَكُمُٱرْجِعُوا۟فَٱرْجِعُوا۟هُوَأَزْكَىٰلَكُمْوَٱللَّهُبِمَاتَعْمَلُونَعَلِيمٌۭ

Hence, [even] if you find no one within [the house], do not enter it until you are given leave; and if you are told, “Turn back,” then turn back. This will be most conducive to your purity; and God has full knowledge of all that you do.

لَّيْسَعَلَيْكُمْجُنَاحٌأَنتَدْخُلُوا۟بُيُوتًاغَيْرَمَسْكُونَةٍۢفِيهَامَتَٰعٌۭلَّكُمْوَٱللَّهُيَعْلَمُمَاتُبْدُونَوَمَاتَكْتُمُونَ

[On the other hand,] you will incur no sin if you [freely] enter houses not intended for living in but serving a purpose useful to you: but [always remember that] God knows all that you do openly, and all that you would conceal.

قُللِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَيَغُضُّوا۟مِنْأَبْصَٰرِهِمْوَيَحْفَظُوا۟فُرُوجَهُمْذَٰلِكَأَزْكَىٰلَهُمْإِنَّٱللَّهَخَبِيرٌۢبِمَايَصْنَعُونَ

Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity: this will be most con­ducive to their purity – [and,] verily, God is aware of all that they do.

وَقُللِّلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِيَغْضُضْنَمِنْأَبْصَٰرِهِنَّوَيَحْفَظْنَفُرُوجَهُنَّوَلَايُبْدِينَزِينَتَهُنَّإِلَّامَاظَهَرَمِنْهَاوَلْيَضْرِبْنَبِخُمُرِهِنَّعَلَىٰجُيُوبِهِنَّوَلَايُبْدِينَزِينَتَهُنَّإِلَّالِبُعُولَتِهِنَّأَوْءَابَآئِهِنَّأَوْءَابَآءِبُعُولَتِهِنَّأَوْأَبْنَآئِهِنَّأَوْأَبْنَآءِبُعُولَتِهِنَّأَوْإِخْوَٰنِهِنَّأَوْبَنِىٓإِخْوَٰنِهِنَّأَوْبَنِىٓأَخَوَٰتِهِنَّأَوْنِسَآئِهِنَّأَوْمَامَلَكَتْأَيْمَٰنُهُنَّأَوِٱلتَّٰبِعِينَغَيْرِأُو۟لِىٱلْإِرْبَةِمِنَٱلرِّجَالِأَوِٱلطِّفْلِٱلَّذِينَلَمْيَظْهَرُوا۟عَلَىٰعَوْرَٰتِٱلنِّسَآءِوَلَايَضْرِبْنَبِأَرْجُلِهِنَّلِيُعْلَمَمَايُخْفِينَمِنزِينَتِهِنَّوَتُوبُوٓا۟إِلَىٱللَّهِجَمِيعًاأَيُّهَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَلَعَلَّكُمْتُفْلِحُونَ

And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity, and not to display their charms [in public] beyond what may [decently] be apparent thereof; hence, let them draw their head-coverings over their bosoms. And let them not display [more of] their charms to any but their husbands, or their fathers, or their husbands’ fathers, or their sons, or their husbands’ Sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their womenfolk, or those whom they rightfully possess, or such male attendants as are beyond all sexual desire, or children that are as yet unaware of women’s nakedness; and let them not swing their legs [in walking] so as to draw attention to their hidden charms And [always], O you believers - all of you - turn unto God in repentance, so that you might attain to a happy state!

وَأَنكِحُوا۟ٱلْأَيَٰمَىٰمِنكُمْوَٱلصَّٰلِحِينَمِنْعِبَادِكُمْوَإِمَآئِكُمْإِنيَكُونُوا۟فُقَرَآءَيُغْنِهِمُٱللَّهُمِنفَضْلِهِۦوَٱللَّهُوَٰسِعٌعَلِيمٌۭ

AND [you ought to] marry the single from among you as well as such of your male and female slaves as are fit [for marriage]. If they [whom you intend to marry] are poor, [let this not deter you;] God will grant them sufficiency out of His bounty - for God is infinite [in His mercy], all-knowing.

وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِٱلَّذِينَلَايَجِدُونَنِكَاحًاحَتَّىٰيُغْنِيَهُمُٱللَّهُمِنفَضْلِهِۦوَٱلَّذِينَيَبْتَغُونَٱلْكِتَٰبَمِمَّامَلَكَتْأَيْمَٰنُكُمْفَكَاتِبُوهُمْإِنْعَلِمْتُمْفِيهِمْخَيْرًۭاوَءَاتُوهُممِّنمَّالِٱللَّهِٱلَّذِىٓءَاتَىٰكُمْوَلَاتُكْرِهُوا۟فَتَيَٰتِكُمْعَلَىٱلْبِغَآءِإِنْأَرَدْنَتَحَصُّنًۭالِّتَبْتَغُوا۟عَرَضَٱلْحَيَوٰةِٱلدُّنْيَاوَمَنيُكْرِههُّنَّفَإِنَّٱللَّهَمِنۢبَعْدِإِكْرَٰهِهِنَّغَفُورٌۭرَّحِيمٌۭ

And as for those who are unable to marry, let them live in continence until God grants them sufficiency out of His bounty, And if any of those whom you rightfully possess desire [to obtain] a deed of freedom, write it out for them if you are aware of any good in them: and give them [their share of the wealth of God which He has given you. And do not, in order to gain some of the fleeting pleasures of this worldly life, coerce your [slave] maidens into whoredom if they happen to be desirous of marriage; and if anyone should coerce them, then, verily, after they have been compelled [to submit in their helplessness], God will be much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace!

وَلَقَدْأَنزَلْنَآإِلَيْكُمْءَايَٰتٍۢمُّبَيِّنَٰتٍۢوَمَثَلًۭامِّنَٱلَّذِينَخَلَوْا۟مِنقَبْلِكُمْوَمَوْعِظَةًۭلِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

AND, INDEED, from on high have We bestowed upon you messages clearly showing the truth, and [many] a lesson from [the stories of] those who have passed away before you, and [many] an admonition to the God-conscious.

ٱللَّهُنُورُٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِوَٱلْأَرْضِمَثَلُنُورِهِۦكَمِشْكَوٰةٍۢفِيهَامِصْبَاحٌٱلْمِصْبَاحُفِىزُجَاجَةٍٱلزُّجَاجَةُكَأَنَّهَاكَوْكَبٌۭدُرِّىٌّۭيُوقَدُمِنشَجَرَةٍۢمُّبَٰرَكَةٍۢزَيْتُونَةٍۢلَّاشَرْقِيَّةٍۢوَلَاغَرْبِيَّةٍۢيَكَادُزَيْتُهَايُضِىٓءُوَلَوْلَمْتَمْسَسْهُنَارٌۭنُّورٌعَلَىٰنُورٍۢيَهْدِىٱللَّهُلِنُورِهِۦمَنيَشَآءُوَيَضْرِبُٱللَّهُٱلْأَمْثَٰلَلِلنَّاسِوَٱللَّهُبِكُلِّشَىْءٍعَلِيمٌۭ

God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His light is, as it were, that of a niche containing a lamp; the lamp is [enclosed] in glass, the glass [shining] like a radiant star: [a lamp] lit from a blessed tree - an olive-tree that is neither of the east nor of the west the oil whereof [is so bright that it] would well-nigh give light [of itself] even though fire had not touched it: light upon light! God guides unto His light him that wills [to be guided]; and [to this end] God propounds parables unto men, since God [alone] has full knowledge of all things.

فِىبُيُوتٍأَذِنَٱللَّهُأَنتُرْفَعَوَيُذْكَرَفِيهَاٱسْمُهُۥيُسَبِّحُلَهُۥفِيهَابِٱلْغُدُوِّوَٱلْءَاصَالِ

IN THE HOUSES [of worship] which God has allowed to be raised so that His name be remembered in them, there [are such as] extol His limitless glory at morn and evening –

رِجَالٌۭلَّاتُلْهِيهِمْتِجَٰرَةٌۭوَلَابَيْعٌعَنذِكْرِٱللَّهِوَإِقَامِٱلصَّلَوٰةِوَإِيتَآءِٱلزَّكَوٰةِيَخَافُونَيَوْمًۭاتَتَقَلَّبُفِيهِٱلْقُلُوبُوَٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ

people whom neither [worldly] commerce nor striving after gain can divert from the remembrance of God, and from con­stancy in prayer, and from charity: [people] who are filled with fear [at the thought] of the Day On which all hearts and eyes will be convulsed,

لِيَجْزِيَهُمُٱللَّهُأَحْسَنَمَاعَمِلُوا۟وَيَزِيدَهُممِّنفَضْلِهِۦوَٱللَّهُيَرْزُقُمَنيَشَآءُبِغَيْرِحِسَابٍۢ

[and who only hope] that God may reward them in accordance with the best that they ever did, and give them, out of His bounty, more [than they deserve]: for, God grants sustenance unto whom He wills, beyond all reckon­ing.

وَٱلَّذِينَكَفَرُوٓا۟أَعْمَٰلُهُمْكَسَرَابٍۭبِقِيعَةٍۢيَحْسَبُهُٱلظَّمْـَٔانُمَآءًحَتَّىٰٓإِذَاجَآءَهُۥلَمْيَجِدْهُشَيْـًۭٔاوَوَجَدَٱللَّهَعِندَهُۥفَوَفَّىٰهُحِسَابَهُۥوَٱللَّهُسَرِيعُٱلْحِسَابِ

But as for those who are bent on denying the truth, their [good] deeds are like a mirage in the desert, which the thirsty supposes to be water – until, when he approaches it, he finds that it was nothing: instead, he finds [that] God [has always been present] with him, and [that] He will pay him his account in full - for God is swift in reckoning!

أَوْكَظُلُمَٰتٍۢفِىبَحْرٍۢلُّجِّىٍّۢيَغْشَىٰهُمَوْجٌۭمِّنفَوْقِهِۦمَوْجٌۭمِّنفَوْقِهِۦسَحَابٌۭظُلُمَٰتٌۢبَعْضُهَافَوْقَبَعْضٍإِذَآأَخْرَجَيَدَهُۥلَمْيَكَدْيَرَىٰهَاوَمَنلَّمْيَجْعَلِٱللَّهُلَهُۥنُورًۭافَمَالَهُۥمِننُّورٍ

Or [else, their deeds are] like the depths of darkness upon an abysmal sea, made yet more dark by wave billowing over wave, with [black] clouds above it all: depths of darkness, layer upon layer, [so that] when one holds up his hand, he can hardly see it: for he to whom God gives no light, no light whatever has he!