Light (Al-Noor)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
۞ This is a chapter which We have sent down and decreed its commands, and in which We have sent down clear verses, in order that you may ponder. 1 The fornicatress and the fornicator -- scourge each one of them a hundred stripes, and in the matter of God's religion let no tenderness for them seize you if you believe in God and the Last Day; and let a party of the believers witness their chastisement. 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 And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient, 4 Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous deeds, (for such) verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. 5 One who accuses his wife and has no witnesses except himself shall swear four times by God that his charge is true, 6 And the fifth time, that the curse of Allah be upon him if he is a liar. 7 The woman's punishment can be averted if she swears four times by God as testimony that her husband is a liar, 8 And the fifth that Allah's wrath be upon her if he is of the truthtellers. 9 AND WERE it not for God's favour upon you, [O man,] and His grace, and that God is a wise acceptor of repentance...! 10