An-Nur 24:4
The Light · Medinan · Juz 18 · Page 350
The Penalty for Slander
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَرۡمُونَ ٱلۡمُحۡصَنَٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمۡ يَأۡتُواْ بِأَرۡبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ فَٱجۡلِدُوهُمۡ ثَمَٰنِينَ جَلۡدَةࣰ وَلَا تَقۡبَلُواْ لَهُمۡ شَهَٰدَةً أَبَدࣰاۚ وَأُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡفَٰسِقُونَ ٤
And those who accuse honourable women but bring not four witnesses, scourge them (with) eighty stripes and never (afterward) accept their testimony - They indeed are evil-doers.
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
Those who accuse chaste women and do not bring four witnesses — flog them eighty lashes and never accept their testimony.
Insight
According to Elmalılı, a “muhsana” is a chaste woman of sound honour, married or not; this is the meaning intended in the verses on false accusation.
Reflect
Never accuse anyone of what you cannot prove.
This short note is based on Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s Turkish commentary and has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.
Elmalılı’s commentary
An English translation of Elmalılı’s full commentary is coming soon. Read the original Turkish ›