Surah An-Nur 24:61
سُورَةُ النُّورِ · Medinan · Verse 61 of 64
لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ حَرَجٌۭ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْأَعْرَجِ حَرَجٌۭ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرِيضِ حَرَجٌۭ وَلَا عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَن تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنۢ بُيُوتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ ءَابَآئِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ إِخْوَٰنِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَخَوَٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَعْمَٰمِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ عَمَّٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَخْوَٰلِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ خَٰلَٰتِكُمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكْتُم مَّفَاتِحَهُۥٓ أَوْ صَدِيقِكُمْ ۚ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَأْكُلُوا۟ جَمِيعًا أَوْ أَشْتَاتًۭا ۚ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُم بُيُوتًۭا فَسَلِّمُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ تَحِيَّةًۭ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُبَٰرَكَةًۭ طَيِّبَةًۭ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Translation
No blame will be attached to the blind, the lame, the sick.Whether you eat in your own houses, or those of your fathers, your mothers, your brothers, your sisters, your paternal uncles, your paternal aunts, your maternal uncles, your maternal aunts, houses you have the keys for, or any of your friends’ houses, you will not be blamed: you will not be blamed whether you eat in company or separately. When you enter any house, greet one another with a greeting of blessing and goodness as enjoined by God. This is how God makes His messages clear to you so that you may understand.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse opens a profound window into Allah's boundless mercy and His detailed guidance for our social lives, easing burdens and nurturing community bonds. It begins by lifting restrictions and then clarifies permissions, concluding with a beautiful instruction on greetings.
Easing Burdens
The verse starts by proclaiming, `لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ حَرَجٌۭ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْأَعْرَجِ حَرَجٌۭ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرِيضِ حَرَجٌۭ` (there is no hardship on the blind, nor on the lame, nor on the sick). The word `حَرَجٌ` (haraj) means difficulty, constraint, or sin. By repeating this negation for each category, the Quran emphasizes a complete and individual removal of any burden. Scholars like al-Razi and Ibn Ashur explain this in several ways: it lifts any perceived sin for those with disabilities who might be unable to participate in certain duties like jihad, or for not joining others for meals due to potential awkwardness or inconvenience. For instance, the blind might accidentally take a better portion, or the sick might carry an odor. This divine declaration reassured both those with ailments and those around them, removing any internal or external pressures concerning their participation or interaction in social contexts, especially around food.
The Broad Permission to Share Meals
The revelation then extends this ease to all believers: `وَلَا عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَن تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنۢ بُيُوتِكُمْ` (nor on yourselves to eat from your houses). The choice of `أنفسكم` (your souls, yourselves) instead of just "you" (عليكم) subtly reinforces the idea of self-acceptance and belonging. As al-Zamakhshari notes, it signifies that these permissions are for "you and those in your situation." Eating from "your houses" might seem obvious, but scholars like Ibn Ashur clarify it addresses special situations, such as eating alone when family is absent, or eating without a formal invitation in one's own space, removing any sense of impropriety.
The verse then lists nine specific categories of relatives' homes (parents, siblings, paternal and maternal aunts and uncles) from which one can eat. What's notably unsaid is "your children's houses." Scholars like al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi explain that children are considered an extension of oneself and one's household, making their homes implicitly included and even more deserving of this permission.
Crucially, the verse includes `أَوْ مَا مَلَكْتُم مَّفَاتِحَهُۥٓ` (or what you possess its keys). This refers to those entrusted with managing property or stores, like a caretaker or a guardian. The phrase `ملكتم مفاتحه` (possessing its keys) signifies having custody and responsibility, implying an owner's trust. This grants them permission to eat from what they guard, within reasonable limits, based on the customary implicit consent of the owner.
Finally, `أَوْ صَدِيقِكُمْ` (or your friend) stands out. The singular `صديق` (friend) is used here to represent friends in general, highlighting the deep respect and trust Islam places on friendship. Scholars like al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi emphasize the great sanctity of friendship, placing it almost on par with immediate family, where formality is dropped, and mutual ease is expected. This permission reflects the strong bonds of community and shared generosity.
The verse clarifies further, `لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَأْكُلُوا۟ جَمِيعًا أَوْ أَشْتَاتًۭا` (There is no blame on you whether you eat together or separately). The repetition of the phrase "no blame" or "no hardship" here, as Ibn Ashur notes, emphasizes the freedom from social pressure regarding how one eats. This was revealed for people who used to feel constrained to eat only if others joined them or only with guests, removing such burdens.
The Blessed Greeting
The verse concludes with an important etiquette: `فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُم بُيُوتًۭا فَسَلِّمُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ تَحِيَّةًۭ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُبَٰرَكَةًۭ طَيِّبَةًۭ` (So when you enter houses, greet yourselves – a greeting from Allah, blessed and good). The phrase `على أنفسكم` (upon yourselves) is a beautiful linguistic choice, interpreted by scholars like Ibn Ashur as "some of you greeting others" or "greeting your fellow Muslims." It underscores the unity of the Muslim community, implying that greeting a believer is like greeting a part of oneself. This instruction ensures that even with the relaxed rules about eating, the essential etiquette of respectful entry and greeting is maintained.
The greeting itself is `تَحِيَّةً مِّنْ عِنْدِ ٱللَّهِ` (a greeting from Allah), marking it as divinely ordained, not just a social custom. It is described as `مُبَٰرَكَةً` (blessed), meaning it brings abundant goodness and reward, and `طَيِّبَةً` (good and pure), implying it is pleasing, wholesome, and creates a positive atmosphere. This divine wisdom ensures that every interaction begins with a wish for peace and well-being, fostering love and connection within the community.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah An-Nur 24:61 is discussed in 15 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
- Homes (Buyut) (key verse)
- Blessing (Barakah) (key verse)
- Humility (Tawadu) (key verse)
- Peace (Salam) (key verse)
- Prophetic Household (Bayt al-Nubuwwah)
- Fatherhood (Ubuwwah)
- Brotherhood (Ukhuwwah)
- Eating (Akl)
- Rights (Huquq)
- The Self (Nafs)
- Happiness (Sa'adah)
- Weakness (Da'f)
- Pure Provisions (Tayyibat)
- Illness (Marad)
- Intellect (Aql)
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah An-Nur 24:61 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.