Three Translations of The Koran (Al-Qur'an) side by side Part 174

All that is forbidden unto believers.

S: The fornicator shall not marry any but a fornicatress or idolatress, and (as for) the fornicatress, none shall marry her but a fornicator or an idolater; and it is forbidden to the believers.

024.004 Y: And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations),- flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors;-

P: And those who accuse honourable women but bring not four witnesses, scourge them (with) eighty stripes and never (afterward) accept their testimony - They indeed are evil-doers -

S: And those who accuse free women then do not bring four witnesses, flog them, (giving) eighty stripes, and do not admit any evidence from them ever; and these it is that are the transgressors,

024.005 Y: Unless they repent thereafter and mend (their conduct); for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

P: Save those who afterward repent and make amends. (For such) lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

S: Except those who repent after this and act aright, for surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

024.006 Y: And for those who launch a charge against their spouses, and have (in support) no evidence but their own,- their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by Allah that they are solemnly telling the truth;

P: 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;

S: And (as for) those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves, the evidence of one of these (should be taken) four times, bearing Allah to witness that he is most surely of the truthful ones.

024.007 Y: And the fifth (oath) (should be) that they solemnly invoke the curse of Allah on themselves if they tell a lie.

P: And yet a fifth, invoking the curse of Allah on him if he is of those who lie.

S: And the fifth (time) that the curse of Allah be on him if he is one of the liars.

024.008 Y: But it would avert the punishment from the wife, if she bears witness four times (with an oath) By Allah, that (her husband) is telling a lie;

P: And it shall avert the punishment from her if she bear witness before Allah four times that the thing he saith is indeed false,

S: And it shall avert the chastis.e.m.e.nt from her if she testify four times, bearing Allah to witness that he is most surely one of the liars;

024.009 Y: And the fifth (oath) should be that she solemnly invokes the wrath of Allah on herself if (her accuser) is telling the truth.

P: And a fifth (time) that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he speaketh truth.

S: And the fifth (time) that the wrath of Allah be on her if he is one of the truthful.

024.010 Y: If it were not for Allah's grace and mercy on you, and that Allah is Oft-Returning, Full of Wisdom,- (Ye would be ruined indeed).

P: And had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy unto you, and that Allah is Clement, Wise, (ye had been undone).

S: And were it not for Allah's grace upon you and His mercy-- and that Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), Wise!

024.011 Y: Those who brought forward the lie are a body among yourselves: think it not to be an evil to you; On the contrary it is good for you: to every man among them (will come the punishment) of the sin that he earned, and to him who took on himself the lead among them, will be a penalty grievous.

P: Lo! they who spread the slander are a gang among you. Deem it not a bad thing for you; nay, it is good for you. Unto every man of them (will be paid) that which he hath earned of the sin; and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be an awful doom.

S: Surely they who concocted the lie are a party from among you. Do not regard it an evil to you; nay, it is good for you. Every man of them shall have what he has earned of sin; and (as for) him who took upon himself the main part thereof, he shall have a grievous chastis.e.m.e.nt.

024.012 Y: Why did not the believers - men and women - when ye heard of the affair,- put the best construction on it in their own minds and say, "This (charge) is an obvious lie"?

P: Why did not the believers, men and women, when ye heard it, think good of their own folk, and say: It is a manifest untruth?

S: Why did not the believing men and the believing women, when you heard it, think well of their own people, and say: This is an evident falsehood?

024.013 Y: Why did they not bring four witnesses to prove it? When they have not brought the witnesses, such men, in the sight of Allah, (stand forth) themselves as liars!

P: Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they produce not witnesses, they verily are liars in the sight of Allah.

S: Why did they not bring four witnesses of it? But as they have not brought witnesses they are liars before Allah.

024.014 Y: Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, in this world and the Hereafter, a grievous penalty would have seized you in that ye rushed glibly into this affair.

P: Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy unto you in the world and the Hereafter an awful doom had overtaken you for that whereof ye murmured.

S: And were it not for Allah's grace upon you and His mercy in this world and the hereafter, a grievous chastis.e.m.e.nt would certainly have touched you on account of the discourse which you entered into.

024.015 Y: Behold, ye received it on your tongues, and said out of your mouths things of which ye had no knowledge; and ye thought it to be a light matter, while it was most serious in the sight of Allah.

P: When ye welcomed it with your tongues, and uttered with your mouths that whereof ye had no knowledge, ye counted it a trifle. In the sight of Allah it is very great.

S: When you received it with your tongues and spoke with your mouths what you had no knowledge of, and you deemed it an easy matter while with Allah it was grievous.

024.016 Y: And why did ye not, when ye heard it, say? - "It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to Allah! this is a most serious slander!"

P: Wherefor, when ye heard it, said ye not: It is not for us to speak of this. Glory be to Thee (O Allah)! This is awful calumny.

S: And why did you not, when you heard it, say: It does not beseem us that we should talk of it; glory be to Thee! this is a great calumny?

024.017 Y: Allah doth admonish you, that ye may never repeat such (conduct), if ye are (true) Believers.

P: Allah admonisheth you that ye repeat not the like thereof ever, if ye are (in truth) believers.

S: Allah admonishes you that you should not return to the like of it ever again if you are believers.

024.018 Y: And Allah makes the Signs plain to you: for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.

P: And He expoundeth unto you the revelations. Allah is Knower, Wise.

S: And Allah makes clear to you the communications; and Allah is Knowing, Wise.

024.019 Y: Those who love (to see) scandal published broadcast among the Believers, will have a grievous Penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: Allah knows, and ye know not.

P: Lo! those who love that slander should be spread concerning those who believe, theirs will be a painful punishment in the world and the Hereafter. Allah knoweth. Ye know not.

S: Surely (as for) those who love that scandal should circulate respecting those who believe, they shall have a grievous chastis.e.m.e.nt in this world and the hereafter; and Allah knows, while you do not know.