Ali Quli Qarai, The Qur’ān with a Phrase-by-Phrase English Translation (2005)
strike them eighty lashes,
and never accept any testimony from them after that,
and they are transgressors,
5 excepting those who repent after that
and reform,
for Allah is indeed all-forgiving, all-merciful.
6 As for those who accuse their wives,
but have no witnesses except themselves,
then the testimony of one of them
shall be a fourfold testimony [sworn] by Allah
that he is indeed stating the truth,
7 and a fifth [oath] that Allah’s wrath shall be upon him
if he were lying.
8 The punishment shall be averted from her
by her testifying with four oaths [sworn] by Allah
that he is indeed lying,
9 and a fifth [oath] that Allah’s wrath shall be upon her
if he were stating the truth.
10 Were it not for Allah’s grace and His mercy upon you,
and that Allah is all-clement, all-wise.…1
11 Indeed those who initiated the calumny
are a band from among yourselves.
Do not suppose it is bad for you.
Rather it is for your good.
Each man among them bears [the onus for]
his share in the sin,
and as for him who assumed its major burden
from among them
