# Sura  24 - Light

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.*

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> SURA XXIV (24) - LIGHT           (Medina - 64 Verses)             (CV - 443)  
>  
>        In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
>  
>        A Sura which we have sent down and sanctioned!  Clear signs have we sent
> down therein, that ye may take warning.
>  
>        The whore and the whoremonger - scourge each of them with a hundred
> stripes; and let not compassion keep you from carrying out the sentence of
> God, if ye believe in God and the last day:  And let some of the faithful
> witness their chastisement.
>  
>        The whoremonger shall not marry other than a whore or an idolatress; and
> the whore shall not marry other than a whoremonger or an idolater.  Such
> alliances are forbidden to the faithful.
>  
>        They who defame virtuous women, and bring not four witnesses, scourge
> them with fourscore stripes, and receive ye not their testimony for ever, for
> these are perverse persons -
>  
>        Save those who afterwards repent and live virtuously; for truly God is
> Lenient, Merciful!
>  
>        And they who shall accuse their wives, and have no witnesses but
> themselves, the testimony of each of them shall be a testimony by God four
> times repeated, that he is indeed of them that speak the truth.
>  
>        And the fifth time that the malison of God be upon him, if he be of them
> that lie.
>  
>        But it shall avert the chastisement from her if she testify a testimony
> four times repeated, by God, that he is of them that lie;
>  
>        And a fifth time to call down the wrath of God on her, if he have spoken
> the truth.
>  
> 24:10  And but for the goodness and mercy of God towards you, and that God is
> He who loveth to turn, Wise....!
>  
>        Of a truth, they who advanced that lie were a large number of you; but
> regard it not as an evil to you.  No, it is an advantage to you,.  toe very man
> among them shall it be done according to the offence he hath committed; and as
> to that person among them who took on himself to aggravate it, a sore
> punishment doth await him.
>  
>        Did not the faithful of both sexes, when ye heard of this, form a
> favourable judgment in their own minds, and say, "This is a manifest lie?"
>  
>        Have they brought four witnesses of the fact?  If they cannot produce
> the witnesses, they are the liars in the sight of God.
>  
>        And but for the goodness of God towards you, and His mercy in this world
> and in the next, a severe punishment had come upon you for that which ye spread
> abroad, when ye uttered with your tongues, and spake with your mouths that of
> which ye had no knowledge.  Ye deemed it to be alight matter, but with God it
> was a grave one.
>  
>        And did ye say when ye heard it, 'It is not for us to talk of this
> affair!   O God!  By thy Glory, this is a gross calumny?"
>  
>        God hath warned you that ye go not back to the like of this for ever, if
> ye be believers:
>  
>        And God maketh His signs clear to you:  for God is Knowing, Wise.
>  
>        But as for those who love that foul calumnies should go forth against
> those who believe, a grievous chastisement awaits them
>  
>        In this world and in the next.  And God hath knowledge, but ye have not.
>  
> 24:20  And but for the goodness of God towards you and His Mercy, and that God
> is Kind, Merciful...!
>  
>        O ye who believe! follow not the steps of Satan, for whosoever shall
> follow the steps of Satan, he will enjoin on him what is base and blameworthy;
> and but for the goodness of God towards you, and His mercy, no one of you had
> been cleansed for ever:  but God maketh whom He will to be clean, and God
> Heareth, Knoweth.
>  
>        And let not persons of wealth and means among you swear that they will
> not give to their kindred, to the poor, and to those who have fled their homes
> in the cause of God; let them rather pardon and pass over the offence.  Desire
> ye not that God should forgive you?  And God is Gracious, Merciful!
>  
>        Verily, they who throw out charges against virtuous but careless women,
> who yet are believers, shall be cursed in this world and in the world to come;
> and a terrible punishment doth await them.
>  
>        Their own tongues, and hands, and feet, shall one day bear witness
> against them of their own doings.
>  
>        On that day will God pay them their just due, and they shall know that
> God is the clear Truth itself.
>  
>        Bad women for bad men, and bad men for bad women; but virtuous women for
> virtuous men, and virtuous men for virtuous women!  These shall be cleared from
> calumnies; theirs shall be forgiveness and an honourable provision.
>  
>        O ye who believe!  enter not into other houses than your own, until ye
> have asked leave, and have saluted its inmates.  This will be best for you:
> happly ye will bear this in mind.
>  
>         And if ye find no one therein, then enter it not till leave be given
> you; and if it be said to you, "Go ye back," then go ye back.  This will be
> more blameless in you, and God knoweth what ye do.
>  
>        There shall be no harm in your entering houses in which no one dwelleth,
> for the supply of your needs:  and God knoweth what ye do openly and what ye
> hide.
>  
> 24:30  Speak unto the believers that they restrain their eyes and observe
> continence.  Thus will they be more pure.  God is well aware of what they do.
>  
>        And speak to the believing women that they refrain their eyes, and
> observe continence; and that they display not their ornaments, except those
> which are external; and that they throw their veils over their bosoms, and
> display not their ornaments, except to their husbands or their fathers, or
> their husbands' fathers, or their sons, or their husbands' sons, or their
> brothers, or their brothers' son, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or
> their slaves, or male domestics who have no natural force, or to children who
> note not women's nakedness.  And let them not strike their feet together, so as
> to discover their hidden ornaments.  And be ye all turned to God, O ye
> Believers!  that it may be well with you.
>  
>        And marry those among you who are single, and your good servants, and
> the handmaidens.  If they are poor, God of His bounty will enrich them.  God is
> all-bounteous, Knowing.
>  
>        And let those who cannot find a match live in continence till God of His
> bounty shall enrich them.  And to those of your slaves who desire a deed of
> manumission, execute it for them, if ye know good in them, and give them a
> portion of the wealth of God which He hath given you.  Force not your female
> slaves into sin, in order that ye may gain the casual fruitions of this world,
> if they wish to preserve their modesty.  Yet if any one compel them, then
> Verily to them, after their compulsion, will God be Forgiving, Merciful.
>  
>        And now have we sent down to you clear signs, and an instance from among
> those who flourished before you, and a caution for the God-fearing.
>  
>        God is the light of the Heavens and of the Earth.  His Light is like a
> niche in which is a lamp - the lamp encased in glass - the glass, as it were, a
> glistening star.  From a blessed tree it is lighted, the olive neither of the
> East nor of the West, whose oil would well nigh shine out, even though fire
> touched it not!  It is light upon light.  God guideth whom He will to His
> light, and God setteth forth parables to men, for God knoweth all things.
>  
>        In the temples which God hath allowed to be reared, that His name may
> therein be remember, do men praise Him morn and even.
>  
>        Men whom neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the remembrance of
> God, and from the observance of prayer, and the payment of the stated alms,
> through fear of the day when hearts shall throb and eyes shall roll:
>  
>        That for their most excellent works may God recompense them, and of His
> bounty increase it to them more and more:  for God maketh provision for whom He
> pleaseth without measure.
>  
>        But as to the infidels, their works are like the vapour in a plain which
> the thirst dreameth to be water, until when he cometh unto it, he findeth it
> not aught, but findeth that God is with him; and He fully payeth him his
> account:  for swift to take account is God:
>  
> 24:40  Or like the darkness on the deep sea when covered by billows riding
> upon billows, above which are clouds:  darkness upon darkness.  When a man
> reacheth forth his hand, he cannot nearly see it!  He to whom God shall not
> give light, no light at all hath he!
>  
>        Hast thou not seen how all in the Heavens and in the Earth uttereth the
> praise of God? - the very birds as they spread their wings?  Every creature
> knoweth its prayer and its praise! and God knoweth what they do.
>  
>        God's, the Kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth:  and unto God the
> final return!
>  
>        Hast thou not seen that God driveth clouds lightly forward, then
> gathereth them together, then pileth them in masses?  And then thou seest the
> rain forthcoming from their midst; and He causeth clouds like mountains charged
> with hail, to descend from the heaven, and He maketh it to fall on whom He
> will, and from whom He will He turneth it aside.  - The brightness of His
> lightning all but taketh away the sight!
>  
>        God causeth the day and the night to take their turn.  Verily in this is
> teaching for men of insight.  And God hath created every animal of water.  Some
> go upon the belly; some go upon two feet; some go upon four feet.  God hath
> created what He pleased.  Aye, God hath power over all things.
>  
>        Now have we sent down distinct signs. - And God guideth whom He will
> into the right path:
>  
>        For there are who say, "We believe on God and on the Apostle, and we
> obey;" yet, after this, a part of them turn back.  But these are not of the
> faithful.
>  
>        And when they are summoned before God and His Apostle that He may judge
> between them, lo! a part of them withdraw:
>  
>        But had the truth been on their side, they would have come to Him,
> obedient.
>  
>        What! are they diseased of heart?  Do they doubt?  Are they afraid that
> God and His Apostles will deal unfairly with them?  Nay, themselves are the
> unjust doers.
>  
> 24:50  The words of the believers, when called to God and His Apostle that He
> may judge between them, are only to say, "We have heard, and we obey:" these
> are they with whom it shall be well.
>  
>        And whoso shall obey God, and His Apostle, and shall dread God and fear
> Him, these are they that shall be the blissful.
>  
>        And they have sworn by God, with a most solemn oath, that if thou give
> them the word, they will certainly march forth.  Say:  swear ye not:  of more
> worth is obedience.  Verily, God is well aware of what ye do.
>  
>        Say:  Obey God and obey the Apostle.  Suppose that ye turn back, still
> the burden of his duty is on him only, and the burden of your duty rests on
> you.  If ye obey Him, ye shall have guidance:  but plain preaching is all that
> devolves upon the Apostle.
>  
>        God hath promised to those of you who believe and do the things that are
> right, that He will cause them to succeed others in the land, and He gave
> succession to those who were before them, and that He will establish for them
> that religion which they delight in, and that after their fears He will give
> them security in exchange.  They shall worship Me:  nought shall they join with
> Me:  And whoso, after this, believe not, they will be the impious.
>  
>        But observe prayer, and pay the stated alms, and obey the Apostle, that
> haply ye may find mercy.
>  
>        Let not the Infidels think that they can weaken God on His own Earth:
> their dwelling place shall be the Fire! and right wretched the journey!
>  
>        O ye who believe! let your slaves, and those of you who have not come of
> age, ask leave of you, three times a day, ere they come into your presence; -
> before the morning prayer, and when ye lay aside your garments at mid-day, and
> after the evening prayer.  These are your three times of privacy.  No blame
> shall attach to you or to them, if after these times, when ye go your rounds of
> attendance on one another, they come in without permission.  Thus doth God make
> clear to you His signs:  and God is Knowing, Wise!
>  
>        And when your children come of age, let them ask leave to come into your
> presence, as they who were before them asked it.  Thus doth God make clear to
> you his signs:  and God is Knowing, Wise.
>  
>        As to women who are past childbearing, and have no hope of marriage, no
> blame shall attach to them if they lay aside their outer garments, but so as
> not to shew their ornaments.  Yet if they abstain from this, it will be better
> for them:  and God Heareth, Knoweth.
> 
>  
> 24:60  No crime shall it be in the blind, or in the lame, or in the sick, to
> eat at your tables:  or in yoursselves, if ye eat in your own houses, or in the
> houses of your fathers, or of your mothers, or of your brothers, or of your
> sisters, or of your uncles on the father's side, or of your aunts on the
> father's side, or of your uncles on the mother's side, or of your aunts on the
> mother's side, or in those of which ye possess the keys, or in the house of
> your friend.  No blame shall attach to you whether ye eat together or apart.
>  
>        And when ye enter houses, salute one another with good and blessed
> greeting as from God.  Thus doth God make clear to you His signs, that haply ye
> may comprehend them.
>  
>        Verily, they only are believers who believe in God and His Apostle, and
> who, when they are with him upon any affair of common interest, depart not
> until they have sought his leave.  Yes, they who ask leave of thee, are those
> who believe in God and His Apostle.  And when they ask leave of Thee on account
> of any affairs of their own, then grant it to those of them whom thou wilt, and
> ask indulgence for them of God:  for God is Indulgent, Merciful.
>  
>        Address not the Apostle as ye address one another.  God knoweth those of
> you who withdraw quietly from the assemblies, screening themselves behind
> others.  And let those who transgress his command beware, lest some present
> trouble befall them, or a grievous chastisement befall them, hereafter.
>  
>        Is not whatever is in the Heavens and the Earth God's?  He knoweth your
> state; and one day shall men be assembled before Him, and He will tell them of
> what they have done:  for God knoweth all things.
>
> — *Sura  24 - Light*