سُوْرَةُ النُّوْرِ
Surah An-Noor (24) — Ayah 2
ٱلزَّانِيَةُ وَٱلزَّانِى فَٱجْلِدُوا۟ كُلَّ وَٰحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا مِا۟ئَةَ جَلْدَةٍ ۖ وَلَا تَأْخُذْكُم بِهِمَا رَأْفَةٌ فِى دِينِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۖ وَلْيَشْهَدْ عَذَابَهُمَا طَآئِفَةٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿2﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The fornicatress and the fornicator, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allâh, if you believe in Allâh and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness their punishment. (This punishment is for unmarried persons guilty of the above crime, but if married persons commit it (illegal sex), the punishment is to stone them to death, according to Allâh’s Law).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱلزَّانِيَةُ
al-zāniyatu
The fornicatress
وَٱلزَّانِى
wal-zānī
and the fornicator
فَٱجْلِدُوا۟
fa-ij'lidū
[then] flog
كُلَّ
kulla
each
وَٰحِدٍۢ
wāḥidin
one
مِّنْهُمَا
min'humā
of them
مِا۟ئَةَ
mi-ata
(with) hundred
جَلْدَةٍۢ ۖ
jaldatin
lash(es)
وَلَا
walā
And (let) not
تَأْخُذْكُم
takhudh'kum
withhold you
بِهِمَا
bihimā
pity for them
رَأْفَةٌۭ
rafatun
pity for them
فِى
fī
concerning
دِينِ
dīni
(the) religion of Allah
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(the) religion of Allah
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you
تُؤْمِنُونَ
tu'minūna
believe
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
in Allah
وَٱلْيَوْمِ
wal-yawmi
and the Day
ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۖ
l-ākhiri
the Last
وَلْيَشْهَدْ
walyashhad
And let witness
عَذَابَهُمَا
ʿadhābahumā
their punishment
طَآئِفَةٌۭ
ṭāifatun
a group
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
l-mu'minīna
the believers
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
2-1 The initial punishment for adultery that was temporarily prescribed in Islam has already been mentioned in Surah An-Nisa, verse 15. In it, it was said that until a permanent punishment is prescribed, those adulterous women should be confined to their homes. Then, when this verse of Surah An-Nur was revealed, the Prophet ﷺ said that, as Allah had promised, the permanent punishment for adulterous men and women has been prescribed, so learn it from me: for unmarried (not married) men and women, it is one hundred lashes each, and for married men and women, it is one hundred lashes and death by stoning. (Sahih Muslim) Then, he (the Prophet ﷺ) clarified that for married adulterers, the punishment is only rajm (stoning).
2-2 This means that do not refrain from giving the punishment out of pity, However, feeling pity naturally is not contrary to faith; it is among the special characteristics of human nature.
2-3 So that the real purpose of the punishment—that people may take heed from it—can be achieved on a wider scale. Unfortunately, nowadays, public punishment is being portrayed as against human rights. This is sheer ignorance, rebellion against the commands of Allah, and, in their own view, becoming more compassionate and well-wishing towards humans than Allah Himself. Whereas, there is no one more Kind and Merciful than Allah.
2-2 This means that do not refrain from giving the punishment out of pity, However, feeling pity naturally is not contrary to faith; it is among the special characteristics of human nature.
2-3 So that the real purpose of the punishment—that people may take heed from it—can be achieved on a wider scale. Unfortunately, nowadays, public punishment is being portrayed as against human rights. This is sheer ignorance, rebellion against the commands of Allah, and, in their own view, becoming more compassionate and well-wishing towards humans than Allah Himself. Whereas, there is no one more Kind and Merciful than Allah.
