The Quran: Sūra XXIV.: Nūr, or Light.: Section 2 (11-20)
The Holy Quran, tr. by Yusuf Ali, [1934]
11. Inna allatheena jaoo bial-ifki AAusbatun minkum la tahsaboohu sharran lakum bal huwa khayrun lakum likulli imri-in minhum ma iktasaba mina al-ithmi waallathee tawalla kibrahu minhum lahu AAathabun AAatheemun
11. Those who brought forward
The lie are a body
Among yourselves: think it not
To be an evil to you;
On the contrary it is good
For you: to every man
Among them (will come
The punishment) of the sin
That he earned, and to him
Who took on himself the lead
Among them, will be
A Penalty grievous.
12. Lawla ith samiAAtumoohu thanna almu/minoona waalmu/minatu bi-anfusihim khayran waqaloo hatha ifkun mubeenun
12. Why did not the Believers
Men and women—when ye
Heard of the affair,—put
The best construction on it
In their own minds
And say, "This (charge)
Is an obvious lie"?
13. Lawla jaoo AAalayhi bi-arbaAAati shuhadaa fa-ith lam ya/too bialshshuhada-i faola-ika AAinda Allahi humu alkathiboona
13. Why did they not bring
Four witnesses to prove it?
When they have not brought
The witnesses, such men,
In the sight of God,
(Stand forth) themselves as liars!
14. Walawla fadlu Allahi AAalaykum warahmatuhu fee alddunya waal-akhirati lamassakum fee ma afadtum feehi AAathabun AAatheemun
14. Were it not for the grace
And mercy of God on you,
In this world and the Hereafter,
A grievous penalty would have
Seized you in that ye rushed
Glibly into this affair.
15. Ith talaqqawnahu bi-alsinatikum wataqooloona bi-afwahikum ma laysa lakum bihi AAilmun watahsaboonahu hayyinan wahuwa AAinda Allahi AAatheemun
15. Behold, ye received it
On your tongues,
And said out of your mouths
Things of which ye had
No knowledge; and ye thought
It to be a light matter,
While it was most serious
In the sight of God.
16. Walawla ith samiAAtumoohu qultum ma yakoonu lana an natakallama bihatha subhanaka hatha buhtanun AAatheemun
16. And why did ye not,
When ye heard it, say?—
"It is not right of us
To speak of this:
Glory to God! this is
A most serious slander!"
17. YaAAithukumu Allahu an taAAoodoo limithlihi abadan in kuntum mu/mineena
17. God doth admonish you,
That ye may never repeat
Such (conduct), if ye
Are (true) Believers.
18. Wayubayyinu Allahu lakumu al-ayati waAllahu AAaleemun hakeemun
18. And God makes the Signs
Plain to you: for God
Is full of knowledge and wisdom.
19. Inna allatheena yuhibboona an tasheeAAa alfahishatu fee allatheena amanoo lahum AAathabun aleemun fee alddunya waal-akhirati waAllahu yaAAlamu waantum la taAAlamoona
19. Those who love (to see)
Scandal published broadcast
Among the Believers, will have
A grievous Penalty in this life
And in the Hereafter: God
Knows, and ye know not.
20. Walawla fadlu Allahi AAalaykum warahmatuhu waanna Allaha raoofun raheemun
20. Were it not for the grace
And mercy of God on you,
And that God is
Full of kindness and mercy,
(Ye would be ruined indeed).