surah 24 the light

(In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful)

 

This is a Surah We descended as necessary

and Revealed herein the verses of Clear Proof

that you might remember Allah in your relations.

A woman and man should not engage in impious relations with one another,

or face the punishment of Allah,

and do not feel sorry for them for this is the law of God,

if you should Believe in God and the Undeniable Day.

And, the Believers will be witnesses to the punishment in the End.

And, the impious people will only marry one another, or a polytheist,

and marriage to these types of people are forbidden to the Believers.

And, those who judge people falsely, and then do not produce witnesses

to the same, they will suffer the punishment as well,

and do not listen to their testimony anymore.

And, they, in reality, are the ones who are perversely rebellious.

Except for those who then repent to Allah, and change their lives for the better,

for without a doubt, God is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

And, those who unjustly accuse their spouses,

and have no witness but themselves,

then the testimony of the aggrieved party should be taken before

four witnesses swearing to God that he or she is telling the truth.

And, the fifth witness is the curse of Allah if he or she should be among

those who are untruthful.

However, if the other spouse then gives her testimony before four witnesses

swearing to God that in fact he is indeed lying, there will be no punishment.

And, the fifth witness will be the wrath of Allah if he was being truthful.

And, if not for the Blessings of God and His Mercy,

mankind would be among the Lost, but Allah is ever accepting

of repentance and is the Most Knowledgeable of all we do in life.

And, those who come forward with unjust lies are among you.

It will only make you stronger in Faith, not less so.

And, for every person is the punishment he deserves for his own sins,

and whoever commits the greater portion of sins –

for him is an immense punishment in Hellfire.

Why then, when you heard the truth, didn’t the Believing people

think kindly of themselves and say, “This is obviously lies.”

Why didn’t they produce the four witnesses?

And, when the four witnesses are not produced, then the unjust accusers

are in God’s sight, the liars.

And, if it weren’t for God’s blessings upon you,

and His Mercy…

you would taste of the punishment in the Hereafter.

When you speak the untruth with your tongues,

and say with your mouth about things of which you have no knowledge,

thinking it not important when it is,

this in God’s sight is an enormous misdeed.

And, why when you heard the untruth, didn’t you say,

“It really isn’t for us to talk about this.  This is really slander.

Exalted are you, O Allah, for calling this to mind.”

And, God warns you about returning to this kind of behavior ever again,

if you should truly be Believers.

And, God makes Clear to mankind of His Holy Laws,

and God is the Most Wise, and All Knowing.

And, really, those who hope that immorality should be spread

among the Believers will have an immense punishment in this life,

as well as the Hereafter.

And, Allah Knows all that you do not.

And, if it weren’t for God’s blessings upon you,

and His Mercy…

but, Allah is the Most Kind and Most Merciful.

All you who Believe, do not follow Satan’s Path.

And, whoever follows the footsteps of Satan  -

really, he commands evil and immorality.

And, if it weren’t for God’s blessings upon you,

and His Mercy, not one of you would be cleansed of sin, ever,

but Allah purifies whom He Wills of sin,

and God Hears and Knows all things.

And, those of Faith and wealth among you should promise to help their relatives,

the needy, and those who work in God’s causes,

and let them be pardoning and forgiving of each other.

Wouldn’t you like God to forgive you of your sins?

And, Allah is the Most Forgiving, and Most Merciful.

But, those who falsely accuse modest, naïve, or Believing women

are cursed in this world, as well as the Hereafter;

and they will have an immense punishment

on Resurrection Day when their tongues, hands and feet will

be witnesses to themselves of what they used to do in life.

And, on that Day, God will fully return to them what their deeds have earned,

and they will know that Allah is the Manifest Truth.

Evil words are for evil people; and evil people are likewise subjected to evil words.

And, good and kind words are for good people; and,

good people are the object of kind words.

Good people are innocent of what the slanderers say against them.

For them is forgiveness, and gracious reward.

All you who Believe, don’t enter into peoples’ homes

until you are welcome and greet the homeowners.

That is best for you; maybe you will take this to heart.

And, if you don’t find anyone home, do not enter it until permission has

been granted to do so.  And, if it is said to you, “Go back”,

then do so; it is the best thing to do. 

And, God is All Knowing of what you do in life.

There is no guilt upon you if you enter a home that is not occupied

if some of your belongings are there, or if you are

traveling and the exigency of the situation demands it,

And, God knows what you let others know, and what you try to hide.

Tell the Believing men to limit their vision to what is proper,

and lawful, and guard against immodesty.  That is more pious of them.

And, undoubtedly, Allah is Well Acquainted with all they do.

Tell the Believing women to limit their vision to what is proper and lawful,

and guard against immodesty and not expose their assets,

except that which is necessarily or accidentally exposed.   

And, to not expose their beauty immodestly except to their

closest family members, attendants,

or children who are too young to have any intentions.

And, don’t let them demand attention for what they conceal of their beauty.

And, turn to Allah in repentance, all you Believers,

so that you may be successful in life, and in the Hereafter.

And, marry the available Believing men and women.

If they should be poor, God will give them of His Bounty,

and God is all inclusive and All Knowing.

But, those who cannot find anyone to marry should abstain until

God blesses them from His Bounty.

And, those whom you care for who seek a marriage contract,

if you know there is goodness within them, give them from the Bounty of Allah,

that He has provided to you.

And, do not force women into sex for hire situations,

if they desire piety, seeking the temporary enjoyment of worldly life.

And, if someone should force them to do so, then after the oppression

Allah is Most Forgiving and Merciful.

And, We most assuredly descended down to you specific verses

and examples of those who have lived before you,

as warning for those who fear God.

God is the Light of the Heavens and the earth.

The example of His Light is like a little corner within which rests a lamp;

a lamp within a glass hurricane, glowing like a pearly lit star

lit from a sacred olive tree, neither living in the east or west,

whose oil would glow even if untouched by flame.

Light upon Light.

God Guides to His Light whom He Wills to.

And, God provides examples for people to follow,

and God is All Knowing of all matters.

Such glowing Light is found in the homes of those where Allah

has commanded to be ascended to Faith,

and that His Holy name be mentioned therein with sincerity;

exalting Him therein at dawn, afternoon, and evening.

The Believers are people who neither business nor money distracts them

from the remembrance of Allah, and perform regular prayers,

and the giving of due charity to those in need.

They fear the Last Day when the hearts and eyes will race about in fear –

hoping that Allah will reward them for the Righteous good deeds they did in life,

and give to them of His Bounty.

And, Allah gives sustenance to whom He Wills without measure.

However, those who DisBelieved

 – their deeds will be like a mirage in a deep desert,

like a thirsty one who thinks he has found the water therein until,

when he finally reaches it, he discovers it is nothing but

finds God before him, and He will make just recompense;

and, God is swift in taking the final accounting of deeds.

Or, they are like the Darkness within an a sea abyss covered by waves,

waves upon waves,

overhead are clouds, dark ones, some upon others.

When one sinks his hand therein, he cannot hardly see the abyss bottom,

and he to whom God has not granted the Light – for him there is no Light.

Don’t you see that God is exalted and given praise to by everything

in the Heavens and the earth, and by the birds spread in flight?

Each creature has his own means of prayer and worship of Him,

and Allah is Knowing of all that they do in remembrance of Him.

And, to God belongs the command of the Heavens and the earth,

and to Allah is the Final Destination.

Do you not Know that Allah compels the clouds in the sky?

Then He brings them altogether into an accumulation of clouds,

and you can see the rain descend from it.

And, He also descends down hail, and He causes it with whom He Wills.

And, the flash of the lightning strike almost blinds you.

God alternates the night with the day.

And, undeniably, in that is a message for those who have insight.

God created every living creature from water.

And, of them are those that waddle on their bellies,

and of them are those that stand and walk on two legs,

and of them are those that walk on four legs.

And, God creates what He Wills.

And, without a doubt, God is over all things the Most Competent.

We most assuredly sent down specific verses for mankind.

And, God Guides whom He Wills to the Right Path.

But, some say, “We Believe in God and His Messenger and follow you,”

and then turn away from Him thereafter.

And, they are not Believers.

And, when they call upon God and His Messenger to make Judgment,

some of them turn away in defiance.

But, if they are the upright ones, they come to Him with swift obedience.

Is there some defect in their hearts that causes them to stray?

Or, have they some doubt?

Or, do they fear that God and His Holy Messenger will somehow be unjust?

When in reality, it is they who are being unjust.

The only words from the Believers when they are called to God and His Messenger

is “We hear and follow you Lord.”

And, they are given the great triumph of Paradise.

And, whoever follows God and His Messenger,

and is every mindful and conscious of Him,

it is they who will attain the Gardens of Paradise.

And, some give to God their promise that if you asked them to,

they would go forth saying, “It is not necessary to give an oral promise,

for it is already known by God. 

And, without a doubt, Allah is Well Acquainted with all that you do in life.

Say, “Follow God and His Messenger, but if you turn away from Him –

then upon him is that what he earned in deeds in life,

and upon you is what you have earned in life.

And if you follow Him, you will be Rightly Guided.

And, there is no burden of sin upon the Messenger, his duty

was to provide good tidings and Clear warning to mankind.”

And, God has promised to the Believers among you,

who have done Righteous good deeds,

He will grant them succession upon the earth, as He for those before them,

and He will establish their Faith that He favors for them.

And, He will substitute a feeling of security for them, from their fear,

for they worship God alone, and do not associate anything with Him.

But, whoever DisBelieves after God has granted him enlightenment -

then they are the perversely rebellious.

And, establish regular prayer to Him, and give due charity to the needy,

and follow the Messenger’s example – that you might receive God’s Mercy.

Never believe that the DisBelievers will cause failure to God upon the earth.

Their eternal refuge will be Hellfire –

and how horrible a destination it is.

All you who Believe, let those people who are your caregivers,

or who are still children,

 ask your permission before entering upon you, three times during the day:

before dawn prayer, when you set aside your clothing at noon,

and after the night prayer.

These are three times of prayer and privacy for you.

There is no guilt upon them if, upon occasion, they circulate among some of you,

or among others. 

But, God does make clear his Holy Laws;

and Allah is the All Knowing, the Most Wise.

And, when the children among you reach the age of maturity,

let them ask your permission as those before them have done.

Thus, God does make clear His Verses to you;

and Allah is the All Knowing, the Most Wise.

And, people of post child bearing age, who may not wish to remarry,

there is no guilt upon them if they do not don an outer prayer garment,

as long as there is no outlandish displaying of their beauty and adornment.

But, to have some degree of modesty is better for a person.

And, God is All Knowing and All Hearing.

There is no constraint upon the blind, disabled, or ill,

nor upon yourselves, when you eat at your own houses, or a relative’s house,

whose keys you possess, or from your friend’s home.

There is nothing wrong whether you eat separately, or together.

But, when you enter someone’s home, give greetings of peace upon each other-

a greeting from Allah – blessed and sincere.

Thus, does God make Clear His Holy Laws that you might be Guided.

The Believers are those who Believe in God and His Messenger.

And, when the Believers are gathered together before the Messenger,

do not leave until you ask permission to do so.

And, really, those who ask your permission, O Muhammad,

are the gracious ones who Believe in God and His Messenger.

And, when they ask something of their affairs of you, O Prophet,

give permission to whom you will of them,

and ask forgiveness of them from Allah.

And, without a doubt, God is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

Do not beckon the Messenger, as you would other people from among you.

And, God already Knows those of you who slip away from the crowd unnoticed,

concealed by other people.

So, let those people be cautioned who dissent from the Messenger’s authority,

less a fitnah befall them, or a painful punishment in Hellfire.

Without a doubt, to Allah belongs all that is in the Heavens and the earth.

And, He always Knows where you are standing upon the earth,

and, He alone Knows of the time of the Final Day,

when we all be returned to Him,

and He will tell them of what they have done.

And, God is All Knowing of all matters.