24An-NūrالنورVerse 1 of 64

The Light24. An-Nūrالنور

An-Nūr

Al Nūr

The Light

Medinan64 verses24 / 114

24

Page 350

sūratun ʾanzalnāhā wa-faraḍnāhā wa-ʾanzalnā fīhā ʾāyātin bayyinātin laʿallakum tadhakkarūna

[This is] a surah which We have sent down and prescribed, and We have sent down in it manifest signs so that you may take admonition.

— Ali Quli Qarai

az-zāniyatu wa-z-zānī fa-jlidū kulla wāḥidin minhumā miʾata jaldatin wa-lā taʾkhudhkum bihimā raʾfatun fī dīni llāhi ʾin kuntum tuʾminūna bi-llāhi wa-l-yawmi l-ʾākhiri wa-l-yashhad ʿadhābahumā ṭāʾifatun mina l-muʾminīna

As for the fornicatress and the fornicator, strike each of them a hundred lashes, and let not pity for them overcome you in Allah’s law, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day, and let their punishment be witnessed by a group of the faithful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

az-zānī lā yankiḥu ʾillā zāniyatan ʾaw mushrikatan wa-z-zāniyatu lā yankiḥuhā ʾillā zānin ʾaw mushrikun wa-ḥurrima dhālika ʿalā l-muʾminīna

The fornicator will not marry anyone but a fornicatress or an idolatress, and the fornicatress will be married by none except a fornicator or an idolater, and that is forbidden to the faithful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lladhīna yarmūna l-muḥṣanāti thumma lam yaʾtū bi-ʾarbaʿati shuhadāʾa fa-jlidūhum thamānīna jaldatan wa-lā taqbalū lahum shahādatan ʾabadan wa-ʾulāʾika humu l-fāsiqūna

As for those who accuse chaste women and do not bring four witnesses, strike them eighty lashes, and never accept any testimony from them after that, and they are transgressors,

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾillā lladhīna tābū min baʿdi dhālika wa-ʾaṣlaḥū fa-ʾinna llāha ghafūrun raḥīmun

excepting those who repent after that and reform, for Allah is indeed all-forgiving, all-merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lladhīna yarmūna ʾazwājahum wa-lam yakun lahum shuhadāʾu ʾillā ʾanfusuhum fa-shahādatu ʾaḥadihim ʾarbaʿu shahādātin bi-llāhi ʾinnahū la-mina ṣ-ṣādiqīna

As for those who accuse their wives [of adultery], but have no witnesses except themselves, the testimony of such a man shall be a fourfold testimony [sworn] by Allah that he is indeed stating the truth,

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-l-khāmisatu ʾanna laʿnata llāhi ʿalayhi ʾin kāna mina l-kādhibīna

and a fifth [oath] that Allah’s wrath shall be upon him if he were lying.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-yadraʾu ʿanhā l-ʿadhāba ʾan tashhada ʾarbaʿa shahādātin bi-llāhi ʾinnahū la-mina l-kādhibīna

The punishment shall be averted from her by her testifying with four oaths [sworn] by Allah that he is indeed lying,

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-l-khāmisata ʾanna ghaḍaba llāhi ʿalayhā ʾin kāna mina ṣ-ṣādiqīna

and a fifth [oath] that Allah’s wrath shall be upon her if he were stating the truth.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-law-lā faḍlu llāhi ʿalaykum wa-raḥmatuhū wa-ʾanna llāha tawwābun ḥakīmun

Were it not for Allah’s grace and His mercy upon you, and that Allah is all-clement, all-wise....

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 351

ʾinna lladhīna jāʾū bi-l-ʾifki ʿuṣbatun minkum lā taḥsabūhu sharran lakum bal huwa khayrun lakum li-kulli mriʾin minhum mā ktasaba mina l-ʾithmi wa-lladhī tawallā kibrahū minhum lahū ʿadhābun ʿaẓīmun

Indeed those who initiated the calumny are a group from among yourselves. Do not suppose it is bad thing for you. No, it is for your good. Each man among them bears [the onus for] his share in the sin, and as for him who assumed its major burden from among them, there is a great punishment for him.

— Ali Quli Qarai

law-lā ʾidh samiʿtumūhu ẓanna l-muʾminūna wa-l-muʾminātu bi-ʾanfusihim khayran wa-qālū hādhā ʾifkun mubīnun

When you [first] heard about it, why did not the faithful, men and women, think well of their folks, and say, ‘This is an obvious calumny’?

— Ali Quli Qarai

law-lā jāʾū ʿalayhi bi-ʾarbaʿati shuhadāʾa fa-ʾidh lam yaʾtū bi-sh-shuhadāʾi fa-ʾulāʾika ʿinda llāhi humu l-kādhibūna

Why did they not bring four witnesses to it? So when they could not bring the witnesses, they are liars in Allah’s sight.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-law-lā faḍlu llāhi ʿalaykum wa-raḥmatuhū fī d-dunyā wa-l-ʾākhirati la-massakum fī mā ʾafaḍtum fīhi ʿadhābun ʿaẓīmun

Were it not for Allah’s grace and His mercy upon you in this world and the Hereafter, there would have befallen you a great punishment for what you ventured into,

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾidh talaqqawnahū bi-ʾalsinatikum wa-taqūlūna bi-ʾafwāhikum mā laysa lakum bihī ʿilmun wa-taḥsabūnahū hayyinan wa-huwa ʿinda llāhi ʿaẓīmun

when you were receiving it on your tongues, and were mouthing something of which you had no knowledge, supposing it to be a light matter, while it was a grave [matter] with Allah.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-law-lā ʾidh samiʿtumūhu qultum mā yakūnu lanā ʾan natakallama bi-hādhā subḥānaka hādhā buhtānun ʿaẓīmun

And why did you not, when you heard it, say, ‘It is not for us to say such a thing. [O Allah!] You are immaculate! This is a monstrous calumny!’

— Ali Quli Qarai

yaʿiẓukumu llāhu ʾan taʿūdū li-mithlihī ʾabadan ʾin kuntum muʾminīna

Allah advises you lest you should ever repeat the like of it, should you be faithful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-yubayyinu llāhu lakumu l-ʾāyāti wa-llāhu ʿalīmun ḥakīmun

Allah clarifies the signs for you, and Allah is all-knowing, all-wise.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinna lladhīna yuḥibbūna ʾan tashīʿa l-fāḥishatu fī lladhīna ʾāmanū lahum ʿadhābun ʾalīmun fī d-dunyā wa-l-ʾākhirati wa-llāhu yaʿlamu wa-ʾantum lā taʿlamūna

Indeed those who want indecency to spread among the faithful—there is a painful punishment for them in the world and the Hereafter, and Allah knows and you do not know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-law-lā faḍlu llāhi ʿalaykum wa-raḥmatuhū wa-ʾanna llāha raʾūfun raḥīmun

Were it not for Allah’s grace and His mercy upon you, and that Allah is all-kind, all-merciful…

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 352

yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū lā tattabiʿū khuṭuwāti sh-shayṭāni wa-man yattabiʿ khuṭuwāti sh-shayṭāni fa-ʾinnahū yaʾmuru bi-l-faḥshāʾi wa-l-munkari wa-law-lā faḍlu llāhi ʿalaykum wa-raḥmatuhū mā zakā minkum min ʾaḥadin ʾabadan wa-lākinna llāha yuzakkī man yashāʾu wa-llāhu samīʿun ʿalīmun

O you who have faith! Do not follow in Satan’s steps. Whoever follows in Satan’s steps [should know that] he indeed prompts [you to commit] indecent and wrongful acts. Were it not for Allah’s grace and His mercy upon you, not one of you would ever become pure. But Allah purifies whomever He wishes, and Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lā yaʾtali ʾulū l-faḍli minkum wa-s-saʿati ʾan yuʾtū ʾulī l-qurbā wa-l-masākīna wa-l-muhājirīna fī sabīli llāhi wa-l-yaʿfū wa-l-yaṣfaḥū ʾa-lā tuḥibbūna ʾan yaghfira llāhu lakum wa-llāhu ghafūrun raḥīmun

The well-off and the opulent among you should not vow that they will not give [any longer] to the relatives and the needy, and to those who have migrated in the way of Allah, and let them excuse and forbear. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinna lladhīna yarmūna l-muḥṣanāti l-ghāfilāti l-muʾmināti luʿinū fī d-dunyā wa-l-ʾākhirati wa-lahum ʿadhābun ʿaẓīmun

Indeed those who accuse chaste and unwary faithful women shall be cursed in this world and the Hereafter, and there shall be a great punishment for them

— Ali Quli Qarai

yawma tashhadū ʿalayhim ʾalsinatuhum wa-ʾaydīhim wa-ʾarjuluhum bi-mā kānū yaʿmalūna

on the day when witness shall be given against them by their tongues, their hands, and their feet concerning what they used to do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yawmaʾidhin yuwaffīhimu llāhu dīnahumu l-ḥaqqa wa-yaʿlamūna ʾanna llāha huwa l-ḥaqqu l-mubīnu

On that day, Allah will pay them in full their due recompense, and they shall know that Allah is the Manifest Reality.

— Ali Quli Qarai

al-khabīthātu li-l-khabīthīna wa-l-khabīthūna li-l-khabīthāti wa-ṭ-ṭayyibātu li-ṭ-ṭayyibīna wa-ṭ-ṭayyibūna li-ṭ-ṭayyibāti ʾulāʾika mubarraʾūna mimmā yaqūlūna lahum maghfiratun wa-rizqun karīmun

Vicious women are for vicious men, and vicious men for vicious women. Good women are for good men, and good men for good women. These are absolved of what they say [about them]. For them is forgiveness and a noble provision.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū lā tadkhulū buyūtan ghayra buyūtikum ḥattā tastaʾnisū wa-tusallimū ʿalā ʾahlihā dhālikum khayrun lakum laʿallakum tadhakkarūna

O you who have faith! Do not enter houses other than your own until you have announced [your arrival] and greeted their occupants. That is better for you. Maybe you will take admonition.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 353

fa-ʾin lam tajidū fīhā ʾaḥadan fa-lā tadkhulūhā ḥattā yuʾdhana lakum wa-ʾin qīla lakumu rjiʿū fa-rjiʿū huwa ʾazkā lakum wa-llāhu bi-mā taʿmalūna ʿalīmun

But if you do not find anyone in them, do not enter them until you are given permission. And if you are told: ‘Turn back,’ then do turn back. That is more decent for you. Allah knows best what you do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

laysa ʿalaykum junāḥun ʾan tadkhulū buyūtan ghayra maskūnatin fīhā matāʿun lakum wa-llāhu yaʿlamu mā tubdūna wa-mā taktumūna

There will be no sin upon you in entering [without announcing] uninhabited houses wherein you have goods belonging to you. Allah knows whatever you disclose and whatever you conceal.

— Ali Quli Qarai

qul li-l-muʾminīna yaghuḍḍū min ʾabṣārihim wa-yaḥfaẓū furūjahum dhālika ʾazkā lahum ʾinna llāha khabīrun bi-mā yaṣnaʿūna

Tell the faithful men to cast down their looks and to guard their private parts. That is more decent for them. Allah is indeed well aware of what they do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-qul li-l-muʾmināti yaghḍuḍna min ʾabṣārihinna wa-yaḥfaẓna furūjahunna wa-lā yubdīna zīnatahunna ʾillā mā ẓahara minhā wa-l-yaḍribna bi-khumurihinna ʿalā juyūbihinna wa-lā yubdīna zīnatahunna ʾillā li-buʿūlatihinna ʾaw ʾābāʾihinna ʾaw ʾābāʾi buʿūlatihinna ʾaw ʾabnāʾihinna ʾaw ʾabnāʾi buʿūlatihinna ʾaw ʾikhwānihinna ʾaw banī ʾikhwānihinna ʾaw banī ʾakhawātihinna ʾaw nisāʾihinna ʾaw mā malakat ʾaymānuhunna ʾawi t-tābiʿīna ghayri ʾulī l-ʾirbati mina r-rijāli ʾawi ṭ-ṭifli lladhīna lam yaẓharū ʿalā ʿawrāti n-nisāʾi wa-lā yaḍribna bi-ʾarjulihinna li-yuʿlama mā yukhfīna min zīnatihinna wa-tūbū ʾilā llāhi jamīʿan ʾayyuha l-muʾminūna laʿallakum tufliḥūna

And tell the faithful women to cast down their looks and to guard their private parts, and not to display their charms, beyond what is [acceptably] visible, and let them draw their scarfs over their bosoms, and not display their charms except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or their slave girls, or male dependants lacking [sexual] desire, or children who are not yet conscious of female sexuality. And let them not thump their feet to make known their hidden ornaments. Rally to Allah in repentance, O faithful, so that you may be felicitous.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 354

wa-ʾankiḥū l-ʾayāmā minkum wa-ṣ-ṣāliḥīna min ʿibādikum wa-ʾimāʾikum ʾin yakūnū fuqarāʾa yughnihimu llāhu min faḍlihī wa-llāhu wāsiʿun ʿalīmun

Marry off those who are single among you, and the upright among your male and female slaves. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them out of His grace, and Allah is all-bounteous, all-knowing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-l-yastaʿfifi lladhīna lā yajidūna nikāḥan ḥattā yughniyahumu llāhu min faḍlihī wa-lladhīna yabtaghūna l-kitāba mimmā malakat ʾaymānukum fa-kātibūhum ʾin ʿalimtum fīhim khayran wa-ʾātūhum min māli llāhi lladhī ʾātākum wa-lā tukrihū fatayātikum ʿalā l-bighāʾi ʾin ʾaradna taḥaṣṣunan li-tabtaghū ʿaraḍa l-ḥayāti d-dunyā wa-man yukrihhunna fa-ʾinna llāha min baʿdi ʾikrāhihinna ghafūrun raḥīmun

Those who cannot afford marriage should be continent until Allah enriches them out of His grace. As for those who seek an emancipation deal from among your slaves, make such a deal with them if you know any good in them, and give them out of the wealth of Allah which He has given you. Do not compel your female slaves to prostitution when they desire to be chaste, seeking the transitory wares of the life of this world. Should anyone compel them, Allah will be forgiving and merciful to them following their compulsion.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-la-qad ʾanzalnā ʾilaykum ʾāyātin mubayyinātin wa-mathalan mina lladhīna khalaw min qablikum wa-mawʿiẓatan li-l-muttaqīna

Certainly We have sent down to you manifest signs and a description of those who passed before you, and an advice for the Godwary.

— Ali Quli Qarai

allāhu nūru s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi mathalu nūrihī ka-mishkātin fīhā miṣbāḥun-i l-miṣbāḥu fī zujājatin-i z-zujājatu ka-ʾannahā kawkabun durriyyun yūqadu min shajaratin mubārakatin zaytūnatin lā sharqiyyatin wa-lā gharbiyyatin yakādu zaytuhā yuḍīʾu wa-law- lam tamsashu nārun nūrun ʿalā nūrin yahdī llāhu li-nūrihī man yashāʾu wa-yaḍribu llāhu l-ʾamthāla li-n-nāsi wa-llāhu bi-kulli shayʾin ʿalīmun

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is a niche wherein is a lamp—the lamp is in a glass, the glass as it were a glittering star—lit from a blessed olive tree, neither eastern nor western, whose oil almost lights up, though fire should not touch it. Light upon light. Allah guides to His Light whomever He wishes. Allah draws parables for mankind, and Allah has knowledge of all things.

— Ali Quli Qarai

fī buyūtin ʾadhina llāhu ʾan turfaʿa wa-yudhkara fīhā smuhū yusabbiḥu lahū fīhā bi-l-ghuduwwi wa-l-ʾāṣāli

In houses Allah has allowed to be raised and wherein His Name is celebrated; He is glorified therein, morning and evening,

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 355

rijālun lā tulhīhim tijāratun wa-lā bayʿun ʿan dhikri llāhi wa-ʾiqāmi ṣ-ṣalāti wa-ʾītāʾi z-zakāti yakhāfūna yawman tataqallabu fīhi l-qulūbu wa-l-ʾabṣāru

by men whom neither trade nor bargaining distracts from the remembrance of Allah and the maintenance of prayer and the giving of zakat. They are fearful of a day wherein the hearts and the sights will be transformed,

— Ali Quli Qarai

li-yajziyahumu llāhu ʾaḥsana mā ʿamilū wa-yazīdahum min faḍlihī wa-llāhu yarzuqu man yashāʾu bi-ghayri ḥisābin

so that Allah may reward them by the best of what they have done, and enhance them out of His grace, and Allah provides for whomever He wishes without any reckoning.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-lladhīna kafarū ʾaʿmāluhum ka-sarābin bi-qīʿatin yaḥsabuhu ẓ-ẓamʾānu māʾan ḥattā ʾidhā jāʾahū lam yajidhu shayʾan wa-wajada llāha ʿindahū fa-waffāhu ḥisābahū wa-llāhu sarīʿu l-ḥisābi

As for the faithless, their works are like a mirage in a plain, which the thirsty man supposes to be water. When he comes to it, he finds it to be nothing; but there he finds Allah, who will pay him his full account, and Allah is swift at reckoning.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾaw ka-ẓulumātin fī baḥrin lujjiyyin yaghshāhu mawjun min fawqihī mawjun min fawqihī saḥābun ẓulumātun baʿḍuhā fawqa baʿḍin ʾidhā ʾakhraja yadahū lam yakad yarāhā wa-man lam yajʿali llāhu lahū nūran fa-mā lahū min nūrin

Or like the manifold darkness in a deep sea, covered by billow upon billow, overcast by clouds; manifold [layers of] darkness, one on top of another: when he brings out his hand, he can hardly see it. One whom Allah has not granted any light has no light.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-lam tara ʾanna llāha yusabbiḥu lahū man fī s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-ṭ-ṭayru ṣāffātin kullun qad ʿalima ṣalātahū wa-tasbīḥahū wa-llāhu ʿalīmun bi-mā yafʿalūna

Have you not regarded that Allah is glorified by everyone in the heavens and the earth, and the birds spreading their wings. Each knows his prayer and glorification, and Allah knows best what they do.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-li-llāhi mulku s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-ʾilā llāhi l-maṣīru

To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and toward Allah is the destination.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-lam tara ʾanna llāha yuzjī saḥāban thumma yuʾallifu baynahū thumma yajʿaluhū rukāman fa-tarā l-wadqa yakhruju min khilālihī wa-yunazzilu mina s-samāʾi min jibālin fīhā min baradin fa-yuṣību bihī man yashāʾu wa-yaṣrifuhū ʿan man yashāʾu yakādu sanā barqihī yadhhabu bi-l-ʾabṣāri

Have you not regarded that Allah drives the clouds, then He composes them, then He piles them up, whereat you see the rain issuing from its midst? And He sends down hail from the sky, out of the mountains that are in it, and He strikes with it whomever He wishes, and turns it away from whomever He wishes. The brilliance of its lightening almost takes away the sight.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 356

yuqallibu llāhu l-layla wa-n-nahāra ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʿibratan li-ʾulī l-ʾabṣāri

Allah alternates the night and the day. There is indeed a lesson in that for those who have insight.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-llāhu khalaqa kulla dābbatin min māʾin fa-minhum man yamshī ʿalā baṭnihī wa-minhum man yamshī ʿalā rijlayni wa-minhum man yamshī ʿalā ʾarbaʿin yakhluqu llāhu mā yashāʾu ʾinna llāha ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīrun

Allah created every animal from water. Among them are some that creep upon their bellies, and among them are some that walk on two feet, and among them are some that walk on four. Allah creates whatever He wishes. Indeed Allah has power over all things.

— Ali Quli Qarai

la-qad ʾanzalnā ʾāyātin mubayyinātin wa-llāhu yahdī man yashāʾu ʾilā ṣirāṭin mustaqīmin

Certainly We have sent down illuminating signs, and Allah guides whomever He wishes to a straight path.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-yaqūlūna ʾāmannā bi-llāhi wa-bi-r-rasūli wa-ʾaṭaʿnā thumma yatawallā farīqun minhum min baʿdi dhālika wa-mā ʾulāʾika bi-l-muʾminīna

They say, ‘We have faith in Allah and His Apostle, and we obey.’ Then, after that, a part of them refuse to comply, and they do not have faith.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾidhā duʿū ʾilā llāhi wa-rasūlihī li-yaḥkuma baynahum ʾidhā farīqun minhum muʿriḍūna

When they are summoned to Allah and His Apostle that He may judge between them, behold, a part of them turn aside.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾin yakun lahumu l-ḥaqqu yaʾtū ʾilayhi mudhʿinīna

But if justice be on their side, they come compliantly to him.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-fī qulūbihim maraḍun ʾami rtābū ʾam yakhāfūna ʾan yaḥīfa llāhu ʿalayhim wa-rasūluhū bal ʾulāʾika humu ẓ-ẓālimūna

Is there a sickness in their hearts? Do they have doubts, or fear that Allah and His Apostle will be unjust to them? Indeed, it is they who are the wrongdoers.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾinnamā kāna qawla l-muʾminīna ʾidhā duʿū ʾilā llāhi wa-rasūlihī li-yaḥkuma baynahum ʾan yaqūlū samiʿnā wa-ʾaṭaʿnā wa-ʾulāʾika humu l-mufliḥūna

All the response of the faithful, when they are summoned to Allah and His Apostle that He may judge between them, is to say, ‘We hear and obey.’ It is they who are the felicitous.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-man yuṭiʿi llāha wa-rasūlahū wa-yakhsha llāha wa-yattaqhi fa-ʾulāʾika humu l-fāʾizūna

Whoever obeys Allah and His Apostle, and fears Allah and is wary of Him—it is they who will be the triumphant.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾaqsamū bi-llāhi jahda ʾaymānihim la-ʾin ʾamartahum la-yakhrujunna qul lā tuqsimū ṭāʿatun maʿrūfatun ʾinna llāha khabīrun bi-mā taʿmalūna

They swear by Allah with solemn oaths that if you order them they will surely march out. Say, ‘Do not swear! Honourable obedience [is all that is expected of you]. Allah is indeed well aware of what you do.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 357

qul ʾaṭīʿū llāha wa-ʾaṭīʿū r-rasūla fa-ʾin tawallaw fa-ʾinnamā ʿalayhi mā ḥummila wa-ʿalaykum mā ḥummiltum wa-ʾin tuṭīʿūhu tahtadū wa-mā ʿalā r-rasūli ʾillā l-balāghu l-mubīnu

Say, ‘Obey Allah, and obey the Apostle.’ But if you turn your backs, [you should know that] he is only responsible for his burden and you are responsible for your own burden, and if you obey him, you will be guided, and the Apostle’s duty is only to communicate in clear terms.

— Ali Quli Qarai

waʿada llāhu lladhīna ʾāmanū minkum wa-ʿamilū ṣ-ṣāliḥāti la-yastakhlifannahum fī l-ʾarḍi ka-mā stakhlafa lladhīna min qablihim wa-la-yumakkinanna lahum dīnahumu lladhī rtaḍā lahum wa-la-yubaddilannahum min baʿdi khawfihim ʾamnan yaʿbudūnanī lā yushrikūna bī shayʾan wa-man kafara baʿda dhālika fa-ʾulāʾika humu l-fāsiqūna

Allah has promised those of you who have faith and do righteous deeds that He will surely make them successors in the earth, just as He made those who were before them successors, and He will surely establish for them their religion which He has approved for them, and that He will surely change their state to security after their fear, while they worship Me, not ascribing any partners to Me. Whoever is ungrateful after that—it is they who are the transgressors.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-ʾaqīmū ṣ-ṣalāta wa-ʾātū z-zakāta wa-ʾaṭīʿū r-rasūla laʿallakum turḥamūna

Maintain the prayer and give the zakat, and obey the Apostle so that you may receive [Allah’s] mercy.

— Ali Quli Qarai

lā taḥsabanna lladhīna kafarū muʿjizīna fī l-ʾarḍi wa-maʾwāhumu n-nāru wa-la-biʾsa l-maṣīru

Do not suppose that those who are faithless can frustrate [Allah] on the earth. Their refuge shall be the Fire, and it is surely an evil destination.

— Ali Quli Qarai

yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū li-yastaʾdhinkumu lladhīna malakat ʾaymānukum wa-lladhīna lam yablughū l-ḥuluma minkum thalātha marrātin min qabli ṣalāti l-fajri wa-ḥīna taḍaʿūna thiyābakum mina ẓ-ẓahīrati wa-min baʿdi ṣalāti l-ʿishāʾi thalāthu ʿawrātin lakum laysa ʿalaykum wa-lā ʿalayhim junāḥun baʿdahunna ṭawwāfūna ʿalaykum baʿḍukum ʿalā baʿḍin ka-dhālika yubayyinu llāhu lakumu l-ʾāyāti wa-llāhu ʿalīmun ḥakīmun

O you who have faith! Your slaves and any of you who have not yet reached puberty should seek your permission three times: before the dawn prayer, and when you put off your garments at noon, and after the night prayer. These are three times of privacy for you. Apart from these, it is not sinful of you or them to frequent one another [freely]. Thus does Allah clarify the signs for you, and Allah is all-knowing, all-wise.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 358

wa-ʾidhā balagha l-ʾaṭfālu minkumu l-ḥuluma fa-l-yastaʾdhinū ka-mā staʾdhana lladhīna min qablihim ka-dhālika yubayyinu llāhu lakum ʾāyātihī wa-llāhu ʿalīmun ḥakīmun

When your children reach puberty, let them ask permission [at all times] just as those [who grew up] before them asked permission. Thus does Allah clarify His signs for you, and Allah is all-knowing, all-wise.

— Ali Quli Qarai

wa-l-qawāʿidu mina n-nisāʾi llātī lā yarjūna nikāḥan fa-laysa ʿalayhinna junāḥun ʾan yaḍaʿna thiyābahunna ghayra mutabarrijātin bi-zīnatin wa-ʾan yastaʿfifna khayrun lahunna wa-llāhu samīʿun ʿalīmun

As for women advanced in years who do not expect to marry, there will be no sin upon them if they put off their cloaks, without displaying their adornment. But it is better for them to be modest, and Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.

— Ali Quli Qarai

laysa ʿalā l-ʾaʿmā ḥarajun wa-lā ʿalā l-ʾaʿraji ḥarajun wa-lā ʿalā l-marīḍi ḥarajun wa-lā ʿalā ʾanfusikum ʾan taʾkulū min buyūtikum ʾaw buyūti ʾābāʾikum ʾaw buyūti ʾummahātikum ʾaw buyūti ʾikhwānikum ʾaw buyūti ʾakhawātikum ʾaw buyūti ʾaʿmāmikum ʾaw buyūti ʿammātikum ʾaw buyūti ʾakhwālikum ʾaw buyūti khālātikum ʾaw mā malaktum mafātiḥahū ʾaw ṣadīqikum laysa ʿalaykum junāḥun ʾan taʾkulū jamīʿan ʾaw ʾashtātan fa-ʾidhā dakhaltum buyūtan fa-sallimū ʿalā ʾanfusikum taḥiyyatan min ʿindi llāhi mubārakatan ṭayyibatan ka-dhālika yubayyinu llāhu lakumu l-ʾāyāti laʿallakum taʿqilūna

There is no blame upon the blind, nor any blame upon the lame, nor any blame upon the sick, nor upon yourselves if you eat from your own houses, or your fathers’ houses, or your mothers’ houses, or your brothers’ houses, or your sisters’ houses, or the houses of your paternal uncles, or the houses of your paternal aunts, or the houses of your maternal uncles, or the houses of your maternal aunts, or those whose keys are in your possession, or those of your friends. There will be no blame on you whether you eat together or separately. So when you enter houses, greet yourselves with a salutation from Allah, blessed and good. Thus does Allah clarify His signs for you so that you may exercise your reason.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Page 359

ʾinnamā l-muʾminūna lladhīna ʾāmanū bi-llāhi wa-rasūlihī wa-ʾidhā kānū maʿahū ʿalā ʾamrin jāmiʿin lam yadhhabū ḥattā yastaʾdhinūhu ʾinna lladhīna yastaʾdhinūnaka ʾulāʾika lladhīna yuʾminūna bi-llāhi wa-rasūlihī fa-ʾidhā staʾdhanūka li-baʿḍi shaʾnihim fa-ʾdhan li-man shiʾta minhum wa-staghfir lahumu llāha ʾinna llāha ghafūrun raḥīmun

Indeed the faithful are those who have faith in Allah and His Apostle, and when they are with him in a collective affair, they do not leave until they have sought his permission. Indeed those who seek your permission are those who have faith in Allah and His Apostle. So when they seek your permission for some of theirs [private] work, give permission to whomever of them you wish and plead with Allah to forgive them. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

lā tajʿalū duʿāʾa r-rasūli baynakum ka-duʿāʾi baʿḍikum baʿḍan qad yaʿlamu llāhu lladhīna yatasallalūna minkum liwādhan fa-l-yaḥdhari lladhīna yukhālifūna ʿan ʾamrihī ʾan tuṣībahum fitnatun ʾaw yuṣībahum ʿadhābun ʾalīmun

Do not consider the Apostle’s summons amongst you to be like your summoning one another. Allah certainly knows those of you who slip away shielding one another. Those who disobey his orders should beware lest an affliction should visit them or a painful punishment should befall them.

— Ali Quli Qarai

ʾa-lā ʾinna li-llāhi mā fī s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi qad yaʿlamu mā ʾantum ʿalayhi wa-yawma yurjaʿūna ʾilayhi fa-yunabbiʾuhum bi-mā ʿamilū wa-llāhu bi-kulli shayʾin ʿalīmun

Behold! To Allah indeed belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. He certainly knows your present state. The day they are brought back to Him He will inform them about what they have done, and Allah has knowledge of all things.

— Ali Quli Qarai