Light (Al-Noor)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ [This is] a surah which We have sent down and made [that within it] obligatory and revealed therein verses of clear evidence that you might remember. 1 The [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse - lash each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion of Allah, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment. 2 The adulterer marries not but an adulteress or a Mushrikah and the adulteress none marries her except an adulterer or a Muskrik [and that means that the man who agrees to marry (have a sexual relation with) a Mushrikah (female polytheist, pagan or idolatress) or a prostitute, then surely he is either an adulterer, or a Mushrik (polytheist, pagan or idolater, etc.) And the woman who agrees to marry (have a sexual relation with) a Mushrik (polytheist, pagan or idolater) or an adulterer, then she is either a prostitute or a Mushrikah (female polytheist, pagan, or idolatress, etc.)]. Such a thing is forbidden to the believers (of Islamic Monotheism). 3 Those who defame chaste women and do not bring four witnesses should be punished with eighty lashes, and their testimony should not be accepted afterwards, for they are profligates, 4 Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. 5 As for those who accuse their wives but have no witnesses except themselves; let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies, (swearing) by Allah that he is of those who speak the truth; 6 and the fifth time, that God's curse may be upon him if he is telling a lie. 7 It shall avert from her the chastisement if she testify by God four times that he is of the liars, 8 and the fifth time she invokes Allah's wrath upon herself, if he be true (in his charge). 9 (This would not have been possible) if the grace and benevolence of God were not upon you; but God is compassionate and wise. 10