Surah An-Nur 24:5
سُورَةُ النُّورِ · Medinan · Verse 5 of 64
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
Translation
except for those who repent later and make amends––God is most forgiving and merciful.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse (Surah An-Nur, 24:5) follows the severe decree for those who accuse chaste women (muhsanat) of illegal sexual intercourse without producing four witnesses. It announces a profound exception, a door to mercy and restoration, from Allah Himself. It addresses those who have committed this grave sin of false accusation.
An Exception of Mercy
The ayah begins with إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ (Except those who repent). This single word, "except," opens a pathway to redemption, highlighting Allah's immense compassion even after a severe transgression has been outlined. The act of repentance (tawba) here means genuinely regretting the false accusation, abandoning it, and resolving not to return to such a sin, as al-Muyassar and Ibn Ashur explain.
"After That"
The phrase مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ (from after that) is crucial. It signifies that this repentance occurs *after* the initial legal and social consequences of the false accusation, the eighty lashes, the rejection of their testimony, and being branded as transgressors (fasiq) – have been established. Scholars like Ibn Ashur point out that the physical punishment of lashing, if already carried out, is not reversed by repentance, as legal punishments (hudud) typically are not lifted this way. Instead, the exception primarily addresses the lasting social and spiritual consequences: the person's testimony can be accepted again, and they are no longer considered a fasiq in the sight of Allah. While there was scholarly debate on the exact scope, the prevailing understanding is that true repentance can restore a person's standing, allowing their future testimony to be accepted and lifting the label of a transgressor.
True Reform
The verse adds a vital condition: وَأَصْلَحُوا۟ (and reformed). This means repentance isn't just a verbal declaration; it must be followed by tangible good deeds and a rectification of one's conduct, actively abandoning what was forbidden and striving for righteousness. As Ibn Ashur notes, it's about making oneself upright and improving one's state. True regret is demonstrated through a visible change for the better.
Forgiving, Merciful
The verse concludes with فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ (Indeed, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful). These Divine Names encapsulate the essence of this exception. Allah, in His boundless forgiveness, accepts the sincere repentance of those who turn back to Him, and in His mercy, He restores their dignity and cleanses them of their sin. Al-Razi reminds us that this acceptance of repentance is not a divine obligation but a pure act of grace and benevolence, reflecting Allah's inherent attributes of forgiveness and mercy. It is a profound invitation to hope and a reminder that His door to repentance is always open for those who truly seek it.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah An-Nur 24:5 is discussed in 6 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah An-Nur 24:5 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.