Table of Contents
Introduction
Surah An-Nūr (النور), “The Light,” is the 24th chapter of the Qur’an and contains 64 verses. It is generally classified as Medinan, reflecting the period in which the Islamic community was developing its social and legal structures.
The text addresses central themes such as public morality, social discipline, the protection of personal honor, and regulations concerning modesty and family life. The theological heart of the surah is the celebrated “Verse of Light” (24:35), which presents GOD as the Light of the heavens and the earth—an image that resonates deeply with symbolic meaning also found in Jewish and Christian traditions.
Taken as a whole, the surah brings together legal instruction and spiritual contemplation, showing how divine light is manifested both in law and in conscience.
Structure
24:1–10 – Legislation against slander and rules of testimony
24:11–20 – The incident of the slander (al-ifk) and moral admonition
24:21–26 – Purity, conduct, and the distinction between good and evil
24:27–34 – Rules of domestic life and social modesty
24:35 – The Verse of Light
24:36–46 – Signs of divine presence and cosmic order
24:47–57 – Obedience, hypocrisy, and communal authority
24:58–64 – Norms of private conduct and theological conclusion
Full Text
| Verse | Arabic | Transliteration | English | ASH Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24:1 | سُورَةٌ أَنزَلْنَاهَا وَفَرَضْنَاهَا وَأَنزَلْنَا فِيهَا آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ | Sūratun anzalnāhā wa faraḍnāhā wa anzalnā fīhā āyātin bayyinātin la‘allakum tadhakkarūn | A surah which We have sent down and made obligatory, and revealed therein clear verses that you might remember. | Stabilisce l’autorità normativa della rivelazione. |
| 24:2 | الزَّانِيَةُ وَالزَّانِي فَاجْلِدُوا كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا مِائَةَ جَلْدَةٍ وَلَا تَأْخُذْكُم بِهِمَا رَأْفَةٌ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَلْيَشْهَدْ عَذَابَهُمَا طَائِفَةٌ مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ | Az-zāniyatu waz-zānī fajlidū kulla wāḥidin minhumā mi’ata jaldah wa lā ta’khudhkum bihimā ra’fatun fī dīni Allāh in kuntum tu’minūna billāhi wal-yawmi al-ākhir walyashhad ‘adhābahumā ṭā’ifatun mina al-mu’minīn | The woman or man found guilty of sexual intercourse – lash each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion of GOD, if you believe in GOD and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment. | Enfasi sulla giustizia pubblica e deterrenza comunitaria. |
| 24:3 | الزَّانِي لَا يَنكِحُ إِلَّا زَانِيَةً أَوْ مُشْرِكَةً وَالزَّانِيَةُ لَا يَنكِحُهَا إِلَّا زَانٍ أَوْ مُشْرِكٌ وَحُرِّمَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ | Az-zānī lā yankihu illā zāniyatan aw mushrikah wa az-zāniyatu lā yankihuhā illā zānin aw mushrik wa ḥurrima dhālika ‘alā al-mu’minīn | The fornicator does not marry except a fornicator or a polytheist, and the fornicatress – none marries her except a fornicator or a polytheist. And that has been made unlawful to the believers. | Ordine morale esteso anche alle relazioni sociali. |
| 24:4 | وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ فَاجْلِدُوهُمْ ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً وَلَا تَقْبَلُوا لَهُمْ شَهَادَةً أَبَدًا وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ | Walladhīna yarmūna al-muḥṣanāti thumma lam ya’tū bi-arba‘ati shuhadā’a fajlidūhum thamānīna jaldah wa lā taqbalū lahum shahādatan abadan wa ulā’ika hum al-fāsiqūn | And those who accuse chaste women and 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. | Protezione rigorosa dell’onore e contro la calunnia. |
| 24:5 | إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا مِن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ | Illā alladhīna tābū min ba‘di dhālika wa aṣlaḥū fa-inna Allāha ghafūrun raḥīm | Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed, GOD is Forgiving and Merciful. | Apertura alla misericordia divina dopo la giustizia. |
| Verse | Arabic | Transliteration | English | ASH Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24:6 | وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلَّا أَنفُسُهُمْ فَشَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَرْبَعُ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ | Walladhīna yarmūna azwājahum wa lam yakun lahum shuhadā’u illā anfusuhum fa-shahādatu aḥadihim arba‘u shahādātin billāhi innahu lamina aṣ-ṣādiqīn | And those who accuse their wives but have no witnesses except themselves—then the testimony of one of them shall be four testimonies by GOD that indeed he is of the truthful. | Procedura speciale per accuse coniugali (li‘ān). |
| 24:7 | وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ | Wal-khāmisatu anna la‘nata Allāhi ‘alayhi in kāna mina al-kādhibīn | And the fifth that the curse of GOD be upon him if he is of the liars. | Invocazione del giudizio divino sulla verità. |
| 24:8 | وَيَدْرَأُ عَنْهَا الْعَذَابَ أَن تَشْهَدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ | Wa yadra’u ‘anhā al-‘adhāba an tashhada arba‘a shahādātin billāhi innahu lamina al-kādhibīn | But it will prevent punishment from her if she bears four testimonies by GOD that indeed he is of the liars. | Equilibrio giuridico tra accusa e difesa. |
| 24:9 | وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ | Wal-khāmisata anna ghaḍaba Allāhi ‘alayhā in kāna mina aṣ-ṣādiqīn | And the fifth that the wrath of GOD be upon her if he is of the truthful. | Reciprocità nella responsabilità morale. |
| 24:10 | وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ حَكِيمٌ | Wa lawlā faḍlu Allāhi ‘alaykum wa raḥmatuhu wa anna Allāha tawwābun ḥakīm | And if not for the favor of GOD upon you and His mercy, and because GOD is Accepting of repentance and Wise. | Chiusura con enfasi su misericordia e sapienza divina. |
| Verse | Arabic | Transliteration | English | ASH Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24:11 | إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالْإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِّنكُمْ لَا تَحْسَبُوهُ شَرًّا لَّكُم بَلْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِّنْهُم مَّا اكْتَسَبَ مِنَ الْإِثْمِ وَالَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ كِبْرَهُ مِنْهُمْ لَهُ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ | Inna alladhīna jā’ū bil-ifki ‘uṣbatun minkum lā taḥsabūhu sharran lakum bal huwa khayrun lakum likulli imri’in minhum mā iktasaba mina al-ithm wa alladhī tawallā kibrahu minhum lahu ‘adhābun ‘aẓīm | Indeed, those who came with the falsehood are a group among you. Do not think it bad for you; rather, it is good for you. For every person among them is what he has earned of the sin, and he who took upon himself the greater portion thereof—for him is a great punishment. | La crisi diventa occasione di chiarimento morale. |
| 24:12 | لَوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ ظَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ خَيْرًا وَقَالُوا هَٰذَا إِفْكٌ مُّبِينٌ | Lawlā idh sami‘tumūhu ẓanna al-mu’minūna wal-mu’minātu bi-anfusihim khayran wa qālū hādhā ifkun mubīn | Why, when you heard it, did the believing men and believing women not think good of themselves and say, “This is an obvious falsehood”? | Presunzione di innocenza nella comunità. |
| 24:13 | لَوْلَا جَاءُوا عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِالشُّهَدَاءِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ عِندَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْكَاذِبُونَ | Lawlā jā’ū ‘alayhi bi-arba‘ati shuhadā’a fa-idh lam ya’tū bish-shuhadā’i fa-ulā’ika ‘inda Allāhi hum al-kādhibūn | Why did they not produce for it four witnesses? And when they do not produce the witnesses, then it is they, in the sight of GOD, who are the liars. | Riaffermazione della prova legale rigorosa. |
| 24:14 | وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِي مَا أَفَضْتُمْ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ | Wa lawlā faḍlu Allāhi ‘alaykum wa raḥmatuhu fī ad-dunyā wal-ākhirah la-massakum fī mā afaḍtum fīhi ‘adhābun ‘aẓīm | And if it had not been for the favor of GOD upon you and His mercy in this world and the Hereafter, you would have been touched for that in which you were involved by a great punishment. | Centralità della misericordia divina. |
| 24:15 | إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُم مَّا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّنًا وَهُوَ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ | Idh talaqqawnahu bi-alsinatikum wa taqūlūna bi-afwāhikum mā laysa lakum bihi ‘ilm wa taḥsabūnahu hayyinan wa huwa ‘inda Allāhi ‘aẓīm | When you received it with your tongues and spoke with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge and thought it insignificant while it was, in the sight of GOD, tremendous. | Gravità etica della parola e della diffusione. |
| Verse | Arabic | Transliteration | English | ASH Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24:16 | وَلَوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ قُلْتُم مَّا يَكُونُ لَنَا أَن نَّتَكَلَّمَ بِهَٰذَا سُبْحَانَكَ هَٰذَا بُهْتَانٌ عَظِيمٌ | Wa lawlā idh sami‘tumūhu qultum mā yakūnu lanā an natakallama bihādhā subḥānaka hādhā buhtānun ‘aẓīm | And why, when you heard it, did you not say, “It is not for us to speak of this. Exalted are You; this is a great slander”? | Modello di risposta etica al pettegolezzo. |
| 24:17 | يَعِظُكُمُ اللَّهُ أَن تَعُودُوا لِمِثْلِهِ أَبَدًا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ | Ya‘iẓukum Allāhu an ta‘ūdū limithlihi abadan in kuntum mu’minīn | GOD admonishes you never to return to the like of this, if you should be believers. | Ammonimento morale permanente. |
| 24:18 | وَيُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ | Wa yubayyinu Allāhu lakumu al-āyāt wallāhu ‘alīmun ḥakīm | And GOD makes clear to you the verses, and GOD is Knowing and Wise. | Rivelazione come chiarificazione continua. |
| 24:19 | إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَن تَشِيعَ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ | Inna alladhīna yuḥibbūna an tashī‘a al-fāḥishatu fī alladhīna āmanū lahum ‘adhābun alīmun fī ad-dunyā wal-ākhirah wallāhu ya‘lamu wa antum lā ta‘lamūn | Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And GOD knows and you do not know. | Condanna della diffusione del male nella comunità. |
| 24:20 | وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ | Wa lawlā faḍlu Allāhi ‘alaykum wa raḥmatuhu wa anna Allāha ra’ūfun raḥīm | And if not for the favor of GOD upon you and His mercy, and because GOD is Kind and Merciful. | Chiusura con enfasi sulla compassione divina. |
| Verse | Arabic | Transliteration | English | ASH Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24:21 | يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَمَن يَتَّبِعْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ مَا زَكَىٰ مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًا وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يُزَكِّي مَن يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ | Yā ayyuhā alladhīna āmanū lā tattabi‘ū khuṭuwāti ash-shayṭān wa man yattabi‘ khuṭuwāti ash-shayṭān fa-innahu ya’muru bil-faḥshā’i wal-munkar wa lawlā faḍlu Allāhi ‘alaykum wa raḥmatuhu mā zakā minkum min aḥadin abadan wa lākinna Allāha yuzakkī man yashā’ wallāhu samī‘un ‘alīm | O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan—indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And if not for the favor of GOD upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but GOD purifies whom He wills, and GOD is Hearing and Knowing. | Purezza morale come dono divino, non solo sforzo umano. |
| 24:22 | وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُولُوا الْفَضْلِ مِنكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ أَن يُؤْتُوا أُولِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ | Wa lā ya’tali ulū al-faḍli minkum was-sa‘ati an yu’tū ulī al-qurbā wal-masākīn wal-muhājirīna fī sabīli Allāh wal-ya‘fū wal-yaṣfaḥū alā tuḥibbūna an yaghfira Allāhu lakum wallāhu ghafūrun raḥīm | And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give to relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of GOD, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that GOD should forgive you? And GOD is Forgiving and Merciful. | Perdono umano in relazione al perdono divino. |
| 24:23 | إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ الْغَافِلَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ لُعِنُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ | Inna alladhīna yarmūna al-muḥṣanāti al-ghāfilāti al-mu’mināti lu‘inū fī ad-dunyā wal-ākhirah wa lahum ‘adhābun ‘aẓīm | Indeed, those who accuse chaste, unaware and believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter, and they will have a great punishment. | Gravità estrema della calunnia contro innocenti. |
| 24:24 | يَوْمَ تَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ وَأَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ | Yawma tashhadu ‘alayhim alsinatuhum wa aydīhim wa arjuluhum bimā kānū ya‘malūn | On a Day when their tongues, their hands, and their feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do. | Testimonianza corporea nel giudizio escatologico. |
| 24:25 | يَوْمَئِذٍ يُوَفِّيهِمُ اللَّهُ دِينَهُمُ الْحَقَّ وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ الْمُبِينُ | Yawma’idhin yuwaffīhimu Allāhu dīnahumu al-ḥaqqa wa ya‘lamūna anna Allāha huwa al-ḥaqqu al-mubīn | That Day, GOD will pay them in full their true recompense, and they will know that GOD is the Manifest Truth. | Rivelazione finale della verità divina. |
| Verse | Arabic | Transliteration | English | ASH Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24:26 | الْخَبِيثَاتُ لِلْخَبِيثِينَ وَالْخَبِيثُونَ لِلْخَبِيثَاتِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ وَالطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَاتِ أُولَٰئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ | Al-khabīthātu lil-khabīthīn wal-khabīthūna lil-khabīthāt wa aṭ-ṭayyibātu liṭ-ṭayyibīn wa aṭ-ṭayyibūna liṭ-ṭayyibāt ulā’ika mubarra’ūna mimmā yaqūlūna lahum maghfiratun wa rizqun karīm | Impure women are for impure men, and impure men are for impure women; and pure women are for pure men, and pure men are for pure women. Those are declared innocent of what they say. For them is forgiveness and a noble provision. | Distinzione morale tra purezza e corruzione. |
| 24:27 | يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ بُيُوتِكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تَسْتَأْنِسُوا وَتُسَلِّمُوا عَلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ | Yā ayyuhā alladhīna āmanū lā tadkhulū buyūtan ghayra buyūtikum ḥattā تستأنسوا wa tusallimū ‘alā ahlihā dhālikum khayrun lakum la‘allakum tadhakkarūn | O you who have believed, do not enter houses other than your own houses until you ascertain welcome and greet their inhabitants. That is best for you; perhaps you will be reminded. | Rispetto della privacy e della dignità domestica. |
| 24:28 | فَإِن لَّمْ تَجِدُوا فِيهَا أَحَدًا فَلَا تَدْخُلُوهَا حَتَّىٰ يُؤْذَنَ لَكُمْ وَإِن قِيلَ لَكُمُ ارْجِعُوا فَارْجِعُوا هُوَ أَزْكَىٰ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ | Fa-in lam tajidū fīhā aḥadan fa-lā tadkhulūhā ḥattā yu’dhana lakum wa in qīla lakumu irji‘ū farji‘ū huwa azkā lakum wallāhu bimā ta‘malūna ‘alīm | And if you do not find anyone in them, do not enter them until permission has been given you. And if it is said to you, “Go back,” then go back; it is purer for you. And GOD is Knowing of what you do. | Disciplina sociale fondata sul rispetto reciproco. |
| 24:29 | لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ مَسْكُونَةٍ فِيهَا مَتَاعٌ لَّكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا تَكْتُمُونَ | Laysa ‘alaykum junāḥun an tadkhulū buyūtan ghayra maskūnatin fīhā matā‘un lakum wallāhu ya‘lamu mā tubdūna wa mā taktumūn | There is no blame upon you for entering houses not inhabited in which there is convenience for you. And GOD knows what you reveal and what you conceal. | Equilibrio tra necessità pratica e principio etico. |
| 24:30 | قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ | Qul lil-mu’minīna yaghuddū min abṣārihim wa yaḥfaẓū furūjahum dhālika azkā lahum inna Allāha khabīrun bimā yaṣna‘ūn | Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts; that is purer for them. Indeed, GOD is Acquainted with what they do. | Controllo dello sguardo come fondamento etico. |