ٱلزَّانِيَةُ وَٱلزَّانِى فَٱجْلِدُوا۟ كُلَّ وَٰحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا مِا۟ئَةَ جَلْدَةٍ ۖ وَلَا تَأْخُذْكُم بِهِمَا رَأْفَةٌ فِى دِينِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۖ وَلْيَشْهَدْ عَذَابَهُمَا طَآئِفَةٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 2
Translations
The [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] 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 [i.e., law] of Allāh, if you should believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment.
Transliteration
Az-zaniyatu wa-az-zani fa-ajiidu kulla wahidin minhumaa mi'ata jaldah wa-la ta'khuzukum bihimaa ra'afun fi dini-Allah in kuntum tu'minuna bi-Allah wa-al-yawm al-akhir wa-al-yaashhad azaabahuma ta'ifatun min al-mu'minin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah prescribes the punishment of one hundred lashes for both the adulteress and the adulterer who commit fornication, emphasizing that believers must not allow compassion or mercy to interfere with the execution of Allah's divine law. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this punishment applies specifically to unmarried individuals; the married adulterer faces capital punishment (rajm) as established in other texts. The requirement for witnesses and public execution serves as both a deterrent and a purification of the community from sin.
Revelation Context
Surah An-Nur (Chapter 24) was revealed in Madinah and addresses various moral and social regulations for the Muslim community. This specific ayah was revealed in the context of establishing clear legal boundaries regarding sexual morality and the judicial system of the Islamic state, marking a departure from pre-Islamic practices and establishing the Quranic ethical framework.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim reports that when the married adulterer and adulteress were brought to the Prophet (peace be upon him), he ordered them to be stoned to death. Additionally, Sunan Abu Dawud and Sunan An-Nasa'i contain narrations establishing the conditions and witnesses required for such legal proceedings.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that upholding divine law requires unwavering commitment despite emotional difficulty, and that true mercy lies in implementing justice fairly and impartially to protect community morality and social order. For modern believers, it emphasizes that loyalty to Allah's commands supersedes personal feelings, and that legal consequences exist not merely for punishment but for the spiritual reformation of society.