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their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by God that they are solemnly
telling the truth;
024.007 And the fifth (oath) (should be) that they solemnly invoke the curse of God on themselves if they tell a lie.
024.008 But it would avert the punishment from the wife, if she bears witness four times (with an oath) By God, that
(her husband) is telling a lie;
024.009 And the fifth (oath) should be that she solemnly invokes the wrath of God on herself if (her accuser) is telling
the truth.
024.010 If it were not for God's grace and mercy on you, and that God is Oft- Returning, full of Wisdom,- (Ye would
be ruined indeed).
024.011 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.
024.012 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" ?
024.013 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!
024.014 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.
024.015 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.
024.016 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!"
024.017 God doth admonish you, that ye may never repeat such (conduct), if ye are (true) Believers.
024.018 And God makes the Signs plain to you: for God is full of knowledge and wisdom.
024.019 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.
024.020 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).
024.021 O ye who believe! follow not Satan's footsteps: if any will follow the footsteps of Satan, he will (but)
command what is shameful and wrong: and were it not for the grace and mercy of God on you, not one of you would
ever have been pure: but God doth purify whom He pleases: and God is One Who hears and knows (all things).
024.022 Let not those among you who are endued with grace and amplitude of means resolve by oath against helping
their kinsmen, those in want, and those who have left their homes in God's cause: let them forgive and overlook, do
you not wish that God should forgive you? For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
024.023 Those who slander chaste women, indiscreet but believing, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter: for
them is a grievous Penalty,-
024.024 On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their feet will bear witness against them as to their actions.
024.025 On that Day God will pay them back (all) their just dues, and they will realise that God is the (very) Truth, that
makes all things manifest.
024.026 Women impure are for men impure, and men impure for women impure and women of purity are for men of
purity, and men of purity are for women of purity: these are not affected by what people say: for them there is
forgiveness, and a provision honourable.
024.027 O ye who believe! enter not houses other than your own, until ye have asked permission and saluted those in
them: that is best for you, in order that ye may heed (what is seemly).
024.028 If ye find no one in the house, enter not until permission is given to you: if ye are asked to go back, go back:
that makes for greater purity for yourselves: and God knows well all that ye do.
024.029 It is no fault on your part to enter houses not used for living in, which serve some (other) use for you: And
God has knowledge of what ye reveal and what ye conceal.
024.030 Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater