Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of The Glorious Koran. An Explanatory Translation (1930)

SÛRAH XXIV

An-Nûr, “Light” takes its name from vv. 35–40, descriptive of the Light of God as it should shine in the homes of believers, the greater part of the Sûrah being legislation for the purifying of home life. All its verses were revealed at Al-Madînah. Tradition says that vv. 11–20 relate to the slanderers of Ayeshah in connection with an incident which occurred in the fifth year of the Hijrah when the Prophet was returning from the campaign against the Banî’l-Muṣṭaliq, Ayeshah, having been left behind on a march, and found and brought back by a young soldier who let her mount his camel and himself led the camel. A weaker tradition places the revelation of vv. 1–10 as late as the ninth year of the Hijrah.

The period of revelation is the fifth and sixth years of the Hijrah.

Light

1. (Here is) a Sûrah which We have revealed and enjoined, and wherein We have revealed plain tokens, that haply ye may take heed.

2. The adulterer and the adulteress, scourge ye each one of them (with) a hundred stripes. And let not pity for the twain withhold you from obedience to Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a party of believers witness their punishment.

3. The adulterer shall not marry save an adulteress or an idolatress, and the adulteress none shall marry save an adulterer or an idolater. All that is forbidden unto believers.

4. And those who accuse honourable women but bring