[This is] a surah which We have sent down and made [that within it] obligatory and revealed therein verses of clear evidence that you might remember.

The [fornicatress] woman or [fornicator] 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 Allah , if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment.
Meaning:-
Fornicatress: a woman guilty of fornication. (Meaning of Fornication: voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons or two persons not married to each other.
Fornicator: a person who has sex with someone who they are not married.
Lash: strike (someone) with a whip or stick.

The fornicator shall not marry any but a fornicatoress or a polytheist, and likewise to a fornicatoress, none shall marry her but a fornicator or a polytheist: such marriages are forbidden to the believers.
Meaning:-
Fornicator: a person who has sex with someone who they are not married.
Fornication:voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons or two persons not married to each other.
Polytheist: belief in more than one god or in many gods.

And those who accuse chaste women and then 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,
Meaning:-
Chaste: not engaging in sexual relations, virgin, or not having any sexual nature or intention,
Lash: strike (someone) with a whip or stick.
Testimony: evidence or proof provided by the existence or appearance of something.

– except those who repent thereafter and mend their conduct; for Allah is surely Forgiving, Merciful.
Meaning:-
Repent: to feel sorry, regret.
Mend: as to fix or repair or make it better.

And those who accuse their wives [of adultery] and have no witnesses except themselves – then the witness of one of them [shall be] four testimonies [swearing] by Allah that indeed, he is of the truthful.
strong>Meaning:-
Adultery: voluntary sexual activity (as sexual intercourse) between a married man and someone other than his wife or between a married woman and someone other than her husband also.
Testimonies: a declaration of truth or fact.

And the fifth (testimony) (should be) the invoking of the Curse of Allah on him if he be of those who tell a lie (against her).
Meaning:-
Testimony: evidence or proof provided by the existence or appearance of something.

But it will prevent punishment from her if she gives four testimonies [swearing] by Allah that indeed, he is of the liars.
Meaning:-
Testimonies: a declaration of truth or fact.

And the fifth [oath will be] that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he was of the truthful.
Meaning:-
Wrath: Extreme Anger.

If it were not for Allah’s grace and mercy upon you, you would have no method of handling these situations. Allah is the Acceptor of Repentance, All-Wise.

Indeed, those who came up with that ˹outrageous˺ slander are a group of you. Do not regard this incident as only an evil, for it also contains a good lesson for you. They will be punished, each according to their share of the sin. As for their mastermind, he will suffer a tremendous punishment.
Meaning:-
Outrageous: Shockingly bad or excessive.
Slander: the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation.

Why did not the believing men and believing women, when they heard of this slander, think well of their own people, and say: “This is clearly a false accusation?”
Meaning:-
Slander: the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation.

Why did they not produce four witnesses? If they cannot produce the required witnesses, they are the liars in the sight of Allah.

Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah towards you in this world and the Hereafter, you would have been severely punished for your involvement in this scandal;

when you passed on with your tongues and uttered with your mouths that about which you had no knowledge. You took it lightly while it was a very serious offence in the sight of Allah.
Utter: to say something or to make a sound with your voice

If only you had said upon hearing it, “How can we speak about such a thing! Glory be to You ˹O Lord˺! This is a heinous slander!”
Meaning:-
Heinous: very bad and shocking, extremely bad or evil, horrible, hateful.
Slander: the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation.

Allah admonishes you never to repeat a mistake like this, if you are true believers.
Meaning:-
Admonishes: warn, to caution, advise, or counsel against something.

And Allah makes clear to you the verses, and Allah is Knowing and Wise.

Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you do not know.
Meaning:-
Immorality: sinful, evil or bad character or behavior.

˹You would have suffered,˺ had it not been for Allah’s grace and mercy upon you, and had Allah not been Ever Gracious, Most Merciful.

O believers! Do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Whoever follows Satan’s footsteps, then ˹let them know that˺ he surely bids ˹all to˺ immorality and wickedness. Had it not been for Allah’s grace and mercy upon you, none of you would have ever been purified from that sin. But Allah purifies whoever He wills. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
Meaning:-
Bid: to command; order; direct.
Immorality: sinful, evil or bad character or behavior.
Wickedness: the quality of being evil or morally wrong.

And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allah , and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Meaning:-
Virtue: behavior showing high moral standards.

Surely those who accuse chaste believing women, unaware (of the evil), are cursed in this world and the hereafter. And they will suffer a tremendous punishment
Meaning:-
Accuse: To find at fault; blame.
Chaste: not engaging in sexual relations, virgin, or not having any sexual nature or intention,
Tremendous: very great in amount, scale, or intensity.

On a Day when their tongues, their hands and their feet will bear witness (testify) against (misdeeds) them as to what they used to do.

On that Day, Allah will give them the full reward they deserve, then they will realize that Allah is the perfect in justice.

Unclean women are for unclean men, and unclean men are for unclean women; and pure women are for pure men, and pure men are for pure women. They are free from the slanderer’s accusations; for them there shall be forgiveness and honorable provision from Allah.
Meaning:-
Slander: the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation.
Accusations: a charge of wrongdoing; imputation of guilt or blame.

O believers! Do not enter any house other than your own until you have asked for permission and greeted its occupants. This is best for you, so perhaps you will be mindful.
Meaning:-
Occupant: a person who resides or is present in a house
Mindful: paying close attention to, conscious or aware of something.

If you find no one at home, do not enter it until you have been given permission. And if you are asked to leave, then leave. That is purer for you. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of what you do.

There is no blame on you if you enter public places where there is something of benefit for you. And Allah knows what you reveal and what you conceal.
Meaning:-
Public places: non-residential buildings.
Conceal: to hide, to keep secret, to prevent or avoid disclosing, keep secret.

˹O Prophet!˺ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their modesty. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do.
Meaning:-
Gaze: to look steadily and intently, as with great curiosity, interest, pleasure,or wonder.
Modesty: appearance intended to avoid impropriety or decency of behavior, speech, dress.

And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their head covers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. Let them not stomp their feet, drawing attention to their hidden adornments. Turn to Allah in repentance all together, O believers, so that you may be successful.
Meaning:-
expose their adornment: hair, body shape, and underclothes.
expose their adornment: i.e., hair, arms, and legs.
stomp: to walk with a loud heavy step.
hidden adornments: something that adds attractiveness; ornament; accessory:

And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty, and for Allah has boundless resources and is All-Knowing.

Those who are unable to marry should keep chaste until Allah gives them enough out of His bounty. If any of your slaves wish to pay for their freedom, make a contract with them accordingly, if you know they have good in them, and give them some of the wealth Allah has given you. Do not force your slave-girls into prostitution for your own worldly gains, if they wish to preserve their chastity; and if anyone forces them into it, then surely after such a compulsion Allah will be forgiving and merciful to them.
Meaning:-
Chaste: virgin, not having any sexual nature or intention, abstaining from extramarital, or from all, sexual intercourse.

Indeed, We have sent down to you clear verses, along with examples of those who had gone before you, and a lesson to the God-fearing.

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is in a crystal, the crystal is like a shining star, lit from ˹the oil of˺ a blessed olive tree, ˹located˺ neither to the east nor the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light! Allah guides whoever He wills to His light. And Allah presents examples for the people. For Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things.
Meaning:-
Light: This is a metaphor for the light of guidance in the heart of the believer. (Meaning of Metaphor: is a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison.)
Olive tree: the olive tree is wholesome because it is located in a central place, so it is hit by sunrays all day-long, and, therefore, the oil is of a premium quality.

His Light is found in those houses [Mosques of worship] which Allah has sanctioned to be built for the remembrance of His name; where His praise is sung, in the mornings and in the evenings again and again,
Meaning:-
His Light is found in those houses: Lit., “and [ordained] that His name …”, etc.: implying, as the sequence shows, that the spiritual purpose of those houses of worship is fulfilled only by some, and not all, of the people who are wont to congregate in them out of habit.

by such people whom neither business nor business profit can divert from the remembrance of Allah, nor from regular Prayer, nor from the practice of regular Charity: Their (only) fear is for the Day when hearts and eyes will be transformed (in a world wholly new),-

That Allah may reward them according to the best of their deeds, and add even more for them out of His Grace: for Allah doth provide for those whom He will, without measure.
Meaning:-
Doth: is an old-fashioned third person singular form of the verb ‘do. ‘

As for the unbelievers, their deeds will disappear like a mirage in a sandy desert, which the thirsty traveler thinks to be water, but when he comes near, he finds it to be nothing, instead he finds Allah to settle his account – Allah is swift in settling accounts.
Meaning:-
Mirage: is something that you see when it is extremely hot, for example in the desert, and which appears to be quite near but is actually a long way away or does not really exist.

Or like utter darkness in the deep sea: there covers it a wave above which is another wave, above which is a cloud, (layers of) utter darkness one above another; when he holds out his hand, he is almost unable to see it; and to whomsoever Allah does not give light, he has no light.
Meaning:-
In the deep sea: there covers it a wave above which is another wave:This is another scientific fact mentioned in the Quran: the existence of underwater waves, like layers.
Light: guidance or Wisdom.

Do you not see that Allah is the One Who is praised by all those who are in the heavens and in the earth? The very birds praise Him as they wing their flight. Each one knows its prayers and how to praise Him, and Allah has full knowledge of all their actions.

To Allah ˹alone˺ belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. And to Allah is the final return.

Do you not see that Allah makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then piles them up in masses, then you see the rain coming from inside them? He also sends down hail from the clouds that look like mountains in the sky, afflicting therewith whom He wills and turning it away from whom He pleases; the flash of His lightning almost takes away sight.
Meaning:-
Afflicting: deeply distressing ; painful, torture, illness, or disaster, to cause suffering, pain.

Allah alternates the night and the day. Indeed in that is a lesson for those who have vision.

And Allah has created from water every living creature. Some of them crawl on their bellies, some walk on two legs, and some walk on four. Allah creates whatever He wills. Surely Allah is Most Capable of everything.

We have certainly sent down distinct verses. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.
Meaning:-
distinct: clear, unmistakable, distinguished as not being the same; not identical; separate (sometimes followed by from)

And the hypocrites say, “We believe in Allah and the Messenger, and we obey.” Then a group of them turns away soon after that. These are not ˹true˺ believers.
Meaning:-
Hypocrite: a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess.

And as soon as they are called to Allah and His Messenger so he may judge between them, a group of them turns away.

But if the truth is in their favour, they come to him quickly, obedient.

Is there in their hearts a disease, or are they in doubt, or do they fear that Allah and His Messenger will act wrongfully towards them? In fact, it is they who are the ˹true˺ wrongdoers.
Meaning:-
Wrongdoers: especially a sinner, or transgressor, criminal, dishonestly; an offender.

The response of the believers, when they are invited to Allah and His Messenger that he may judge between them, is only to say: We hear and we obey; and these it is that are the successful.

It is such as obey Allah and His Messenger, and fear Allah and do right, that will win (in the end),

They swear by Allah their most strongest oaths that if you ˹O Prophet˺ were to command them, they would certainly march forth ˹in Allah’s cause˺. Say, “˹You˺ do not ˹have to˺ swear; your obedience is well known!” Surely Allah is All-Aware of what you do.

Say: “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger. If you do not, the Messenger is still under obligation to fulfill his duty, as you are under obligation to fulfill yours; and if you obey him, you shall be rightly guided. The Messenger’s duty is only to deliver ˹the message˺ clearly.”

Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and will indeed change their fear into security—˹provided that˺ they worship Me, associating nothing with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that – then those are the defiantly disobedient.

So establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and obey the Messenger; that ye may receive mercy.

Never think that the disbelievers are causing failure [to Allah ] upon the earth. Their refuge will be the Fire – and how wretched the destination.
Meaning:-
Wretched: very unfortunate in condition or circumstances; miserable; pitiable.

O believers! Let your servants and those children who have not yet attained puberty ask your permission before coming in to see you on three occasions: before Fajr Salah (dawn prayer), at noon when you put off your clothes, and after the Isha Salah (night prayer). These are your three times of privacy. At other times, there is no blame on you if you, or they, go around visiting one another. Thus Allah makes His revelations (verses) clear to you, for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Meaning:-
Puberty: the period or age at which a person is first capable of sexual reproduction of offspring.

And when your children reach the age of puberty, let them seek permission ˹to come in˺, as their seniors do. This is how Allah makes His verses clear to you, for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Meaning:-
Puberty:the period or age at which a person is first capable of sexual reproduction of offspring.

As for elderly women past the age of marriage, there is no blame on them if they take off their ˹outer˺ garments, without revealing their adornments. But it is better for them if they avoid this ˹altogether˺. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
Meaning:-
Outer garment – a garment worn over other garments. overgarment. aba – a loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth; worn by Arabs. cloak – a loose outer garment.
Adornment: something that adds attractiveness; ornament; accessory.

There is no blame on the blind, nor there is blame on the lame, nor there is blame on the sick, to eat at your table. Nor shall it be an offence for you to eat in the houses of your own children, or your fathers, or your mothers, or your brothers, or your sisters, or your paternal uncles, or your paternal aunts, or your maternal uncles, or your maternal aunts, or your sincere friends, or in houses with the keys of which you are entrusted. There is no blame on you whether you eat together or apart; however, when you enter the houses, you should greet one another with the greeting of peace prescribed by Allah blessed and pure. Thus Allah makes His revelations (verses) clear to you, so that you may grow in understanding.
Meaning:-
lame: Physically disabled, especially in the foot or leg so as to limp or walk with difficulty

The ˹true˺ believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, and when they are with him on a public matter, they do not leave without his permission. Indeed, those who ask your permission ˹O Prophet˺ are the ones who ˹truly˺ believe in Allah and His Messenger. So when they ask your permission for a private matter, grant permission to whoever you wish and ask Allah’s forgiveness for them. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Do not address the Messenger as you would call each other. Allah certainly knows those of you who slip away, hiding behind others. Let those who disobey his orders beware, lest some trial befall them or a painful punishment be inflicted on them.
Meaning:-
Befall: If something bad or dangerous befalls you, it happens to you.
Inflicted: cause something unpleasant to happen.

Surely to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. He knows well what you stand for. And ˹on˺ the Day all will be returned to Him, He will inform them of what they did. For Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things.