Abdel Haleem

Surah 24. The Light (an-Nur)

64 verses Medinan

M. A. S. Abdel Haleem

1930 – · Egyptian / British · Translated to English

SOAS, University of London

Muhammad Abdel Haleem is an Egyptian-born British scholar of Islamic studies and Professor of Islamic Studies at SOAS, University of London, where he founded the Centre of Islamic Studies. His translation, The Qur'an: A New Translation (Oxford University Press, 2004), is noted for its accessible modern English prose and structural reorganisation into paragraph-based units.

Wikipedia

1 Law relating to Adultery
2 A'ishah's Slanderers
3 Slanderers of Women
4 Preventive Measures
24:31
وَقُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ یَغۡضُضۡنَ مِنۡ أَبۡصَـٰرِهِنَّ وَیَحۡفَظۡنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا یُبۡدِینَ زِینَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَاۖ وَلۡیَضۡرِبۡنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُیُوبِهِنَّۖ وَلَا یُبۡدِینَ زِینَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَاۤىِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَاۤءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَاۤىِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَاۤءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ إِخۡوَ ٰنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِیۤ إِخۡوَ ٰنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِیۤ أَخَوَ ٰتِهِنَّ أَوۡ نِسَاۤىِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَیۡمَـٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّـٰبِعِینَ غَیۡرِ أُو۟لِی ٱلۡإِرۡبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفۡلِ ٱلَّذِینَ لَمۡ یَظۡهَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰ عَوۡرَ ٰتِ ٱلنِّسَاۤءِۖ وَلَا یَضۡرِبۡنَ بِأَرۡجُلِهِنَّ لِیُعۡلَمَ مَا یُخۡفِینَ مِن زِینَتِهِنَّۚ وَتُوبُوۤا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِیعًا أَیُّهَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ ۝٣١
Abdel Haleem
And tell believing women that they should lower their glances, guard their private parts, and not display their charms beyond what [it is acceptable] to reveal; they should let their headscarves fall to cover their necklines and not reveal their charms except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their womenfolk, their slaves, such men as attend them who have no sexual desire, or children who are not yet aware of women’s nakedness; they should not stamp their feet so as to draw attention to any hidden charms. Believers, all of you, turn to God so that you may prosper
waqul lil'mu'mināti yaghḍuḍ'na min abṣārihinna wayaḥfaẓna furūjahunna walā yub'dīna zīnatahunna illā mā ẓahara min'hā walyaḍrib'na bikhumurihinna ʿalā juyūbihinna walā yub'dīna zīnatahunna illā libuʿūlatihinna aw ābāihinna aw ābāi buʿūlatihinna aw abnāihinna aw abnāi buʿūlatihinna aw ikh'wānihinna aw banī ikh'wānihinna aw banī akhawātihinna aw nisāihinna aw mā malakat aymānuhunna awi l-tābiʿīna ghayri ulī l-ir'bati mina l-rijāli awi l-ṭif'li alladhīna lam yaẓharū ʿalā ʿawrāti l-nisāi walā yaḍrib'na bi-arjulihinna liyuʿ'lama mā yukh'fīna min zīnatihinna watūbū ilā l-lahi jamīʿan ayyuha l-mu'minūna laʿallakum tuf'liḥūn
24:33
وَلۡیَسۡتَعۡفِفِ ٱلَّذِینَ لَا یَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا حَتَّىٰ یُغۡنِیَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦۗ وَٱلَّذِینَ یَبۡتَغُونَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتۡ أَیۡمَـٰنُكُمۡ فَكَاتِبُوهُمۡ إِنۡ عَلِمۡتُمۡ فِیهِمۡ خَیۡرࣰاۖ وَءَاتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِیۤ ءَاتَىٰكُمۡۚ وَلَا تُكۡرِهُوا۟ فَتَیَـٰتِكُمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡبِغَاۤءِ إِنۡ أَرَدۡنَ تَحَصُّنࣰا لِّتَبۡتَغُوا۟ عَرَضَ ٱلۡحَیَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡیَاۚ وَمَن یُكۡرِههُّنَّ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ إِكۡرَ ٰهِهِنَّ غَفُورࣱ رَّحِیمࣱ ۝٣٣
Abdel Haleem
Those who are unable to marry should keep chaste until God gives them enough out of His bounty. If any of your slaves wish to pay for their freedom, make a contract with them accordingly, if you know they have good in them, and give them some of the wealth God has given you. Do not force your slave-girls into prostitution, when they themselves wish to remain honourable, in your quest for the short-term gains of this world, although, if they are forced, God will be forgiving and merciful to them
walyastaʿfifi alladhīna lā yajidūna nikāḥan ḥattā yugh'niyahumu l-lahu min faḍlihi wa-alladhīna yabtaghūna l-kitāba mimmā malakat aymānukum fakātibūhum in ʿalim'tum fīhim khayran waātūhum min māli l-lahi alladhī ātākum walā tuk'rihū fatayātikum ʿalā l-bighāi in aradna taḥaṣṣunan litabtaghū ʿaraḍa l-ḥayati l-dun'yā waman yuk'rihhunna fa-inna l-laha min baʿdi ik'rāhihinna ghafūrun raḥīmu
5 Manifestation of Divine Light
24:35
۞ ٱللَّهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِۦ كَمِشۡكَوٰةࣲ فِیهَا مِصۡبَاحٌۖ ٱلۡمِصۡبَاحُ فِی زُجَاجَةٍۖ ٱلزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوۡكَبࣱ دُرِّیࣱّ یُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةࣲ مُّبَـٰرَكَةࣲ زَیۡتُونَةࣲ لَّا شَرۡقِیَّةࣲ وَلَا غَرۡبِیَّةࣲ یَكَادُ زَیۡتُهَا یُضِیۤءُ وَلَوۡ لَمۡ تَمۡسَسۡهُ نَارࣱۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورࣲۚ یَهۡدِی ٱللَّهُ لِنُورِهِۦ مَن یَشَاۤءُۚ وَیَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَـٰلَ لِلنَّاسِۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَیۡءٍ عَلِیمࣱ ۝٣٥
Abdel Haleem
God is the Light of the heavens and earth. His Light is like this: there is a niche, and in it a lamp, the lamp inside a glass, a glass like a glittering star, fuelled from a blessed olive tree from neither east nor west, whose oil almost gives light even when no fire touches it- light upon light- God guides whoever He will to his Light; God draws such comparisons for people; God has full knowledge of everything
al-lahu nūru l-samāwāti wal-arḍi mathalu nūrihi kamish'katin fīhā miṣ'bāḥun l-miṣ'bāḥu fī zujājatin l-zujājatu ka-annahā kawkabun durriyyun yūqadu min shajaratin mubārakatin zaytūnatin lā sharqiyyatin walā gharbiyyatin yakādu zaytuhā yuḍīu walaw lam tamsashu nārun nūrun ʿalā nūrin yahdī l-lahu linūrihi man yashāu wayaḍribu l-lahu l-amthāla lilnnāsi wal-lahu bikulli shayin ʿalīmu
6 Manifestation of Divine Power
7 Establishment of the Kingdom of Islam
8 Respect for Privacy
24:58
یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِیَسۡتَءۡذِنكُمُ ٱلَّذِینَ مَلَكَتۡ أَیۡمَـٰنُكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِینَ لَمۡ یَبۡلُغُوا۟ ٱلۡحُلُمَ مِنكُمۡ ثَلَـٰثَ مَرَّ ٰتࣲۚ مِّن قَبۡلِ صَلَوٰةِ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ وَحِینَ تَضَعُونَ ثِیَابَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظَّهِیرَةِ وَمِنۢ بَعۡدِ صَلَوٰةِ ٱلۡعِشَاۤءِۚ ثَلَـٰثُ عَوۡرَ ٰتࣲ لَّكُمۡۚ لَیۡسَ عَلَیۡكُمۡ وَلَا عَلَیۡهِمۡ جُنَاحُۢ بَعۡدَهُنَّۚ طَوَّ ٰفُونَ عَلَیۡكُم بَعۡضُكُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲۚ كَذَ ٰلِكَ یُبَیِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡءَایَـٰتِۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِیمٌ حَكِیمࣱ ۝٥٨
Abdel Haleem
Believers, your slaves and any who have not yet reached puberty should ask your permission to come in at three times of day: before the dawn prayer; when you lay your garments aside in the midday heat; and after the evening prayer. These are your three times for privacy; at other times, there is no blame on you or them if you move around each other freely. In this way God makes messages clear: God is all knowing, all wise
yāayyuhā alladhīna āmanū liyastadhinkumu alladhīna malakat aymānukum wa-alladhīna lam yablughū l-ḥuluma minkum thalātha marrātin min qabli ṣalati l-fajri waḥīna taḍaʿūna thiyābakum mina l-ẓahīrati wamin baʿdi ṣalati l-ʿishāi thalāthu ʿawrātin lakum laysa ʿalaykum walā ʿalayhim junāḥun baʿdahunna ṭawwāfūna ʿalaykum baʿḍukum ʿalā baʿḍin kadhālika yubayyinu l-lahu lakumu l-āyāti wal-lahu ʿalīmun ḥakīmu
24:61
لَّیۡسَ عَلَى ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ حَرَجࣱ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَعۡرَجِ حَرَجࣱ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلۡمَرِیضِ حَرَجࣱ وَلَا عَلَىٰۤ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَن تَأۡكُلُوا۟ مِنۢ بُیُوتِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُیُوتِ ءَابَاۤىِٕكُمۡ أَوۡ بُیُوتِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُیُوتِ إِخۡوَ ٰنِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُیُوتِ أَخَوَ ٰتِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُیُوتِ أَعۡمَـٰمِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُیُوتِ عَمَّـٰتِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُیُوتِ أَخۡوَ ٰلِكُمۡ أَوۡ بُیُوتِ خَـٰلَـٰتِكُمۡ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكۡتُم مَّفَاتِحَهُۥۤ أَوۡ صَدِیقِكُمۡۚ لَیۡسَ عَلَیۡكُمۡ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَأۡكُلُوا۟ جَمِیعًا أَوۡ أَشۡتَاتࣰاۚ فَإِذَا دَخَلۡتُم بُیُوتࣰا فَسَلِّمُوا۟ عَلَىٰۤ أَنفُسِكُمۡ تَحِیَّةࣰ مِّنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُبَـٰرَكَةࣰ طَیِّبَةࣰۚ كَذَ ٰلِكَ یُبَیِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡءَایَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ ۝٦١
Abdel Haleem
No blame will be attached to the blind, the lame, the sick.Whether you eat in your own houses, or those of your fathers, your mothers, your brothers, your sisters, your paternal uncles, your paternal aunts, your maternal uncles, your maternal aunts, houses you have the keys for, or any of your friends’ houses, you will not be blamed: you will not be blamed whether you eat in company or separately. When you enter any house, greet one another with a greeting of blessing and goodness as enjoined by God. This is how God makes His messages clear to you so that you may understand
laysa ʿalā l-aʿmā ḥarajun walā ʿalā l-aʿraji ḥarajun walā ʿalā l-marīḍi ḥarajun walā ʿalā anfusikum an takulū min buyūtikum aw buyūti ābāikum aw buyūti ummahātikum aw buyūti ikh'wānikum aw buyūti akhawātikum aw buyūti aʿmāmikum aw buyūti ʿammātikum aw buyūti akhwālikum aw buyūti khālātikum aw mā malaktum mafātiḥahu aw ṣadīqikum laysa ʿalaykum junāḥun an takulū jamīʿan aw ashtātan fa-idhā dakhaltum buyūtan fasallimū ʿalā anfusikum taḥiyyatan min ʿindi l-lahi mubārakatan ṭayyibatan kadhālika yubayyinu l-lahu lakumu l-āyāti laʿallakum taʿqilūn
9 State matters take Precedence
24:62
إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَإِذَا كَانُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ عَلَىٰۤ أَمۡرࣲ جَامِعࣲ لَّمۡ یَذۡهَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ یَسۡتَءۡذِنُوهُۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ یَسۡتَءۡذِنُونَكَ أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ ٱلَّذِینَ یُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦۚ فَإِذَا ٱسۡتَءۡذَنُوكَ لِبَعۡضِ شَأۡنِهِمۡ فَأۡذَن لِّمَن شِئۡتَ مِنۡهُمۡ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُمُ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورࣱ رَّحِیمࣱ ۝٦٢
Abdel Haleem
The true believers are those who believe in God and His Mes-senger, who, when they are gathered with him on a communal matter, do not depart until they have asked his permission- those who ask your permission [Prophet] are the ones who truly believe in God and His Messenger. When they ask your permission to attend to their private affairs, allow whoever you see fit and ask God to forgive them. God is most forgiving and merciful
innamā l-mu'minūna alladhīna āmanū bil-lahi warasūlihi wa-idhā kānū maʿahu ʿalā amrin jāmiʿin lam yadhhabū ḥattā yastadhinūhu inna alladhīna yastadhinūnaka ulāika alladhīna yu'minūna bil-lahi warasūlihi fa-idhā is'tadhanūka libaʿḍi shanihim fadhan liman shi'ta min'hum wa-is'taghfir lahumu l-laha inna l-laha ghafūrun raḥīmu
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