In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

1. This is a chapter We have revealed and made obligatory, sending down within it clear verses, so that you may reflect.

2. The woman and the man guilty of adultery — flog each of them with a hundred lashes. Do not let compassion for them prevent you from enforcing Allah's law, if you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of believers witness their punishment.

3. An adulterous man marries only an adulterous woman or an idolatress, and an adulterous woman is married only by an adulterous man or an idolater. Such marriages are forbidden to the believers.

4. Those who accuse chaste women, but fail to produce four witnesses — flog them with eighty lashes, and never again accept their testimony. They are the ones who defiantly disobey.

5. Except for those who afterward repent, and mend their ways — Allah is truly Forgiving, Merciful.

6. As for those who accuse their own spouses, but have no witnesses except themselves, let each one testify four times by Allah, that he is telling the truth.

7. And the fifth time, invoke Allah's curse upon himself, if he is lying.

8. But punishment will be averted from her, if she testifies four times by Allah, that he is lying.

9. And the fifth time, invoke Allah's wrath upon herself, if he is telling the truth.

10. Were it not for Allah's grace and mercy upon you, and that Allah is Ever Accepting of repentance, All-Wise.

11. Certainly, those who spread the slander were a group among you. Do not think it was bad for you; rather, it was good for you. Each one of them will bear the sin they earned, and the one who took the lead in spreading it will suffer a tremendous punishment.

12. Why, when you heard it, did the believing men and women not think well of their own people, and say, "This is clearly a terrible lie"?

13. Why did they not bring four witnesses to prove it? Since they failed to bring witnesses, in Allah's sight, they are the liars.

14. Were it not for Allah's grace and mercy toward you in this world and the Hereafter, you would have surely suffered a severe punishment for what you engaged in.

15. When you passed it from tongue to tongue, saying with your mouths things you had no knowledge of, thinking it was trivial, while in Allah's sight it was extremely serious.

16. Why, when you heard it, did you not say, "It is not right for us to speak of this. Glory be to You — this is a terrible slander"?

17. Allah warns you never to repeat anything like this again, if you are truly believers.

18. Allah makes His revelations clear to you, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

19. Certainly, those who love to see indecency spread among the believers, will suffer a painful punishment in this world, and the Hereafter. Allah knows, and you do not know.

20. Were it not for Allah's grace and mercy toward you, and that Allah is Most Kind, Most Merciful.

21. O you who believe, do not follow in Satan's footsteps. Whoever follows Satan's footsteps, he surely commands indecency and wrongdoing. Were it not for Allah's grace and mercy upon you, none of you would ever become pure — but Allah purifies whomever He wills. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

22. Let not those among you who are blessed with abundance and wealth, swear to withhold help from relatives, the needy, and those who migrated in Allah's cause. Rather, let them forgive and overlook. Wouldn't you love for Allah to forgive you? Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

23. Truly, those who falsely accuse chaste, innocent, believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter, and theirs will be a tremendous punishment.

24. On the Day when their own tongues, hands, and feet will testify against them about what they used to do.

25. On that Day, Allah will pay them in full their due in truth, and they will realize that Allah alone is the Clear Truth.

26. Corrupt women are for corrupt men, and corrupt men are for corrupt women; good women are for good men, and good men are for good women. These are innocent of what others say about them. For them is forgiveness, and a generous provision.

27. O you who believe, do not enter houses other than your own, until you have asked permission, and greeted their inhabitants. That is better for you, so that you may be mindful.

28. If you find no one inside, do not enter until permission is granted. And if you are told, "Go back," then go back — that is purer for you. Allah is fully aware of all that you do.

29. There is no blame upon you for entering uninhabited houses where you have belongings. Allah knows what you reveal, and what you conceal.

30. Tell believing men to lower their gaze, and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Allah is fully aware of all they do.

31. And tell believing women to lower their gaze, and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments, except what normally appears. Let them draw their head coverings over their chests, and not display their beauty, except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their fellow women, those under their care, male attendants who have no physical desires, or children who are not yet aware of women's private aspects. Nor should they stamp their feet, to draw attention to hidden adornments. Turn to Allah in repentance, all of you believers, so that you may succeed.

32. Marry off those among you who are unmarried, and the righteous among your servants and maidservants. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.

33. Let those who cannot afford marriage, remain chaste until Allah enriches them from His bounty. And if any of your dependents seek a written agreement for their freedom, grant it to them if you recognize goodness in them, and give them from the wealth Allah has given you. Do not compel your young women into prostitution, seeking temporary worldly gain, if they desire chastity. Yet if anyone forces them, then after their compulsion, Allah is forgiving and merciful.

34. We have certainly sent down to you clear revelations, along with examples of those who passed away before you, and an admonition for those mindful of Allah.

35. Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His Light is like a niche containing a lamp; the lamp is enclosed in glass, the glass shining like a radiant star, lit from a blessed olive tree — neither of the east nor of the west — whose oil nearly glows, even without being touched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His Light whomever He wills. Allah sets forth examples for people, and Allah has perfect knowledge of all things.

36. In houses which Allah has permitted to be raised, and where His name is remembered. In them, He is glorified morning and evening.

37. Men whom neither trade nor sale distracts from remembering Allah, establishing prayer, and giving charity. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will tremble.

38. So that Allah may reward them according to the best of their deeds, and grant them even more from His bounty. Allah provides without measure to whomever He wills.

39. As for those who disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage in a barren desert, which the thirsty traveler mistakes for water — until, when he reaches it, he finds nothing there, but finds Allah before him, Who settles his account in full. Allah is swift in reckoning.

40. Or like layers of darkness in a deep ocean, covered by waves upon waves, topped by dark clouds — darkness upon darkness. If one stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it. Whoever Allah does not grant light, will have no light at all.

41. Do you not see that all who are in the heavens and the earth glorify Allah — and the birds with wings outspread? Each knows its own prayer and praise, and Allah is fully aware of all they do.

42. To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and to Allah is the final return.

43. Do you not see how Allah gently drives the clouds, then gathers them together, then piles them into masses? Then you see rain pouring from their midst. He sends down from the sky mountains of clouds filled with hail, striking with it whom He wills, and turning it away from whom He wills. The flash of its lightning nearly takes away sight.

44. Allah alternates the night and the day — surely in this is a lesson for those who have insight.

45. Allah created every living creature from water. Among them are those that crawl on their bellies, those that walk on two legs, and those that walk on four. Allah creates whatever He wills; truly, Allah has power over all things.

46. We have certainly sent down clear revelations, and Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.

47. They say, "We believe in Allah and the Messenger, and we obey," yet afterward, a group of them turns away. These are not believers.

48. When they are called to Allah and His Messenger, so that he may judge between them, suddenly a group of them turns away.

49. But if the truth is in their favor, they come to him willingly.

50. Is there sickness in their hearts? Or do they doubt? Or do they fear that Allah and His Messenger will deal unjustly with them? Rather, it is they who are unjust.

51. The only response of the believers, when called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them, is to say, "We hear and we obey." These are the ones who will succeed.

52. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, and reveres Allah and remains mindful of Him — these are the ones who will triumph.

53. They swear by Allah their strongest oaths, that if you commanded them, they would surely march forth. Say, "Do not swear; obedience is recognized. Allah is fully aware of all you do."

54. Say, "Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger. But if you turn away, then he is only responsible for what he is charged with, and you are responsible for what you are charged with. If you obey him, you will be rightly guided. The Messenger's duty is only to deliver the clear message."

55. Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous deeds, that He will surely grant them authority on earth, just as He granted it to those before them, and that He will firmly establish for them the religion He has chosen for them, and that He will surely replace their fear with security. They worship Me alone, associating nothing with Me. But whoever rejects faith after this — these are the rebellious.

56. Establish prayer, give charity, and obey the Messenger, so that you may receive mercy.

57. Never think that those who disbelieve can escape on earth. Their home will be the Fire — what a miserable destination!

58. Believers, let your dependents and those among you who have not yet reached puberty, ask your permission at three times: before dawn prayer, when you remove your garments at midday, and after the evening prayer. These are three times of privacy for you. Beyond these times, there is no blame on you or them, for you move freely among one another. This is how Allah makes clear His revelations to you — Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

59. And when your children reach puberty, let them seek permission, as those before them did. This is how Allah clarifies His revelations for you — Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

60. Elderly women who no longer expect marriage commit no wrong if they remove their outer garments without displaying their adornments. Yet modesty is better for them. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

61. There is no blame on the blind, nor on the lame, nor on the sick, nor on yourselves if you eat from your own homes, or the homes of your fathers, or your mothers, or your brothers, or your sisters, or your paternal uncles, or your paternal aunts, or your maternal uncles, or your maternal aunts, or from homes whose keys you possess, or from your friend's home. There is no blame on you whether you eat together or separately. But when you enter houses, greet one another with a blessed and good greeting from Allah. This is how Allah makes clear His revelations to you, so that you may understand.

62. The true believers are those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, and when they are with him for a collective matter, they do not leave without asking his permission. Those who seek your permission are the ones who truly believe in Allah and His Messenger. So when they ask your permission for some personal matter, grant permission to whomever you wish, and ask Allah's forgiveness for them. Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

63. Do not address the Messenger among yourselves as you address one another. Allah certainly knows those among you who slip away quietly. So let those who oppose his command beware, lest a trial afflict them, or a painful punishment befall them.

64. Surely, everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah. He knows well your condition. And on the Day when they return to Him, He will inform them of all they have done. Allah has full knowledge of everything.