Sura-24 [ An Nur madina 102]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version

وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ شُهَدَاء إِلَّا أَنفُسُهُمْ...

24:6. And for those who launch a charge against their spouses, and have (in support) no evidence but their own --

C2960. The case of married persons is different from that of outsiders. If one of them accuses the other of unchastity, the accusation partly reflects on the accuser as well.

Moreover, the link which unites married people, even where differences supervene, is sure to act as a steadying influence against the concoction of false charges of unchastity particularly where divorce is allowed (as in Islam) for reasons other than unchastity.

Suppose a husband catches a wife in adultery. In the nature of things four witnesses - or even one outside witness - would be impossible. Yet after such an experience it is against human nature that he can live a normal married life. The matter is then left to the honour of the two spouses.

If the husband can solemnly swear four times to the fact, and in addition invoke a curse on himself if he lies, that is prima facie evidence of the wife's guilt. But if the wife swears similarly four times and similarly invokes a curse on herself, she is in law acquitted of the guilt. If she does not take this step, the charge is held proved and the punishment follows.

In either case the marriage is dissolved, as it is against human nature that the parties can live together happily after such an incident.

...فَشَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَرْبَعُ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ ﴿٦﴾

their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by Allah that they are solemnly telling the truth;

وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ﴿٧﴾

24:7. And the fifth (oath) (should be) that they solemnly invoke the curse of Allah on themselves if they tell a lie.

وَيَدْرَأُ عَنْهَا الْعَذَابَ أَنْ تَشْهَدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ...

24:8. But it would avert the punishment from the wife, if she bears witness four times (with an oath) by Allah,

...إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ ﴿٨﴾

that (her husband) is telling a lie;

Other versions:

24: 6

Yusuf Ali 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;

Pickthall 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;

Transliteration Wal lazina yarmu_na azwa_jahum wa lam yakul lahum suhada_ u il la_ a usuhum fasaha_datu ahadihim arbau saha_da_tim bil la_hi in nahu_ laminas sa_diqin

24: 7

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

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

Transliteration Wal ha_misatu an na lanatal la_hi alaihi in ka_na minal ka_zibin

24: 8

Yusuf Ali 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;

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

Transliteration Wa yadra u anhal aza_ba an tashada arba'a saha_da_tim bil la_hi in nahu_ laminal ka_zibin