RationalWiki:Annotated Qur'an/The Light

Annotated Qur'an
Sura 24: The Light
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Qur'an 24:1 A chapter that We have revealed, and made obligatory, and revealed in it clear Verses, that you may take heed.	Qur'an 24:1 Notes Allah made the entire book obligatory, right? Also, hopefully this chapter actually has clear verses. So many ambiguous verses in this book still cause confusion among Islamic scholars proficient in Quranic Arabic.

Qur'an 24:2 The adulteress and the adulterer—whip each one of them a hundred lashes, and let no pity towards them overcome you regarding God’s Law, if you believe in God and the Last Day. And let a group of believers witness their punishment.	Qur'an 24:2 Notes That seems like a horrifically disproportionate punishment, doesn't it? They're adulterers, but they are still humans. Also, this is obligatory, so Muslims must administer this harsh punishment in front of other believers. The book said that.

Qur'an 24:3 The adulterer shall marry none but an adulteress or an idolatress; and the adulteress shall marry none but an adulterer or an idolater. That has been prohibited for the believers.	Qur'an 24:3 Notes Adultery can definitely be a bad thing, but this seems like a dehumanizing way based on a clear interpretation of these commands for Muslims.

Qur'an 24:4 Those who accuse chaste women, then cannot bring four witnesses, whip them eighty lashes, and do not ever accept their testimony. For these are the immoral.	Qur'an 24:4 Notes At the very least, Allah considered the idea of false accusations. However, what happens when more than four "witnesses" conspire among each other to ruin an innocent person's life? The liars would get off scot-free for torturing and publicly humiliating an innocent believer.

Qur'an 24:5 Except for those who repent afterwards, and reform; for God is Forgiving and Merciful.	Qur'an 24:5 Notes This could have been appended to the previous verse to make it more complete.

Qur'an 24:6 As for those who accuse their own spouses, but have no witnesses except themselves, the testimony of one of them is equivalent to four testimonies, if he swears by God that he is truthful.	Qur'an 24:6 Notes How does that make sense? People have the ability to ruin their own spouse's lives without needing to conspire with anybody else? Any man suspecting his wife of promiscuity suddenly has the means to ruin her life whether she actually did it or not.

Qur'an 24:7 And the fifth time, that God’s curse be upon him, if he is a liar.	Qur'an 24:7 Notes True believers would likely not incur God's wrath by intentionally lying, but strong suspicions of infidelity are still an issue.

Qur'an 24:8 But punishment shall be averted from her, if she swears four times by God, that he is a liar.	Qur'an 24:8 Notes Could the people of Muhammad's time not have come up with a better way of handling this particular issue?

Qur'an 24:9 And the fifth time, that God’s wrath be upon her, if he is truthful.	Qur'an 24:9 Notes Allah needs to take a chill pill and actually understand his own creations.

Qur'an 24:10 Were it not for God’s grace upon you, and His mercy, and that God is Conciliatory and Wise.	Qur'an 24:10 Notes God's wisdom is nowhere near where it should be to address this issue seriously. Allah has the means to keep this from even being an issue, after all.

Qur'an 24:11 Those who perpetrated the slander are a band of you. Do not consider it bad for you, but it is good for you. Each person among them bears his share in the sin. As for him who played the major role—for him is a terrible punishment.	Qur'an 24:11 Notes This verse is not clear. What exactly is supposed to be good here?

Qur'an 24:12 Why, when you heard about it, the believing men and women did not think well of one another, and say, “This is an obvious lie”?	Qur'an 24:12 Notes People make honest mistakes that are not obvious lies. Also, based on the way Muhammad narrated this verse, he might be talking about his own marital issues and left that detail out of the story.

Qur'an 24:13 Why did they not bring four witnesses to testify to it? If they fail to bring the witnesses, then in God’s sight, they are liars.	Qur'an 24:13 Notes Allah must truly be short-sighted for this supposedly all-knowing being who knows precisely, without a shred of doubt, how truthful or false every statement is before any of his creations ever get the chance to say anything ever.

Qur'an 24:14 Were it not for God’s favor upon you, and His mercy, in this world and the Hereafter, you would have suffered a great punishment for what you have ventured into.	Qur'an 24:14 Notes Allah promises humanity that most of them will still suffer an infinite punishment for finite crimes. Where is Allah's mercy in the hereafter?

Qur'an 24:15 When you rumored it with your tongues, and spoke with your mouths what you had no knowledge of, and you considered it trivial; but according to God, it is serious.	Qur'an 24:15 Notes Allah is the reason why anybody considers this trivial in the first place. Do people really deserve such harsh punishments for trivial issues if Allah, the being who chose this punishment, knows exactly what goes on in the mind of each and every one of his creations? Allah knows everything, does he not?

Qur'an 24:16 When you heard it, you should have said, “It is not for us to repeat this. By Your glory, this is a serious slander.”	Qur'an 24:16 Notes This rings hollow in a book that constantly dehumanizes disbelievers and promises the worst punishment for them even when Allah knew exactly how virtuous each and every living soul ever was and ever will be.

Qur'an 24:17 God cautions you never to return to the like of it, if you are believers.	Qur'an 24:17 Notes Allah was the one who predestined people to see this as a trivial thing and then actually do it. Allah doesn't need to caution or threaten anybody when he already predestined each thought and action in the beginning.

Qur'an 24:18 God explains the Verses to you. God is Knowing and Wise.	Qur'an 24:18 Notes This book does not show Allah as "Knowing and Wise" based on the very human tone of this chapter. This seriously sounds like Muhammad heard some nasty slander and accusations of adultery, choosing to reveal a message from his imaginary fiend to tell his followers to cut it out.

Qur'an 24:19 Those who love to see immorality spread among the believers—for them is a painful punishment, in this life and in the Hereafter. God knows, and you do not know.	Qur'an 24:19 Notes Muhammad calls anything he hates "immorality" and threatens people with the most horrifying punishment for things that, by his own admission, people don't even know to be immoral.

Qur'an 24:20 Were it not for God’s grace upon you, and His mercy, and that God is Clement and Merciful.	Qur'an 24:20 Notes So... does this mean that Allah won't do what he constantly promises for the disbelievers?

Qur'an 24:21 O you who believe! Do not follow Satan’s footsteps. Whoever follows Satan’s footsteps—he advocates obscenity and immorality. Were it not for God’s grace towards you, and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever. But God purifies whomever He wills. God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.	Qur'an 24:21 Notes Allah admittedly does not will to purify everyone. These "clear Verses" state rather clearly that "whomever He wills" is not every single soul created by him.

Qur'an 24:22 Those of you who have affluence and means should not refuse to give to the relatives, and the needy, and the emigrants for the sake of God. And let them pardon, and let them overlook. Do you not love for God to pardon you? God is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.	Qur'an 24:22 Notes Allah's promises to the disbelievers of infinite torture fly in the face of this "All-Forgiving, Most Merciful" façade. A truly "All-Forgiving, Most Merciful" god would not limit his forgiveness and mercy to those who grovel at his metaphorical feet.

Qur'an 24:23 Those who slander honorable, innocent, believing women are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter. They will have a terrible punishment.	Qur'an 24:23 Notes Slandering disbelievers is entirely fine, however. Allah does that all the time despite being the one who forced them to disbelieve in the first place.

Qur'an 24:24 On the Day when their tongues, and their hands, and their feet will testify against them regarding what they used to do.	Qur'an 24:24 Notes Why do they need to testify when Allah's supposedly perfect record of everything already exists.

Qur'an 24:25 On that Day, God will pay them their account in full, and they will know that God is the Evident Reality.	Qur'an 24:25 Notes Today, however, Allah is far from evident reality. This book has so many chances to provide evidence for his existence, but it just repeats the same tired claims instead.

Qur'an 24:26 Bad women are for bad men, and bad men are for bad women, and good women are for good men, and good men are for good women. Those are acquitted of what they say. There is forgiveness for them, and a generous provision.	Qur'an 24:26 Notes Forgiveness is only for them.

Qur'an 24:27 O you who believe! Do not enter homes other than your own, until you have asked permission and greeted their occupants. That is better for you, that you may be aware.	Qur'an 24:27 Notes Again, this is good advice. What is the punishment for violating this command?

Qur'an 24:28 And if you find no one in them, do not enter them until you are given permission. And if it is said to you, “Turn back,” then turn back. That is more proper for you. God is aware of what you do.	Qur'an 24:28 Notes This is actually still good morality, though it can easily be a continuation of the previous verse.

Qur'an 24:29 There is no blame on you for entering uninhabited houses, in which are belongings of yours. God knows what you reveal and what you conceal.	Qur'an 24:29 Notes Yeah, that makes some sense, but this still seems confusing and could lead to several issues.

Qur'an 24:30 Tell the believing men to restrain their looks, and to guard their privates. That is purer for them. God is cognizant of what they do.	Qur'an 24:30 Notes This is good advice. Thankfully, this goes beyond telling women to cover up.

Qur'an 24:31 And tell the believing women to restrain their looks, and to guard their privates, and not display their beauty except what is apparent thereof, and to draw their coverings over their breasts, and not expose their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, what their right hands possess, their male attendants who have no sexual desires, or children who are not yet aware of the nakedness of women. And they should not strike their feet to draw attention to their hidden beauty. And repent to God, all of you believers, so that you may succeed.

Qur'an 24:31 Notes This verse interestingly does not tell women to cover their hair explicitly, and this is the commonly cited verse regarding the command to cover hair. The Arabic word "zīnatahunna" (given as "their breasts" in this translation) is ambiguous and could refer to anything beautiful in a woman, so this could include hair. Additionally, the word "bi-khumurihinna" (given as "their coverings" in this translation) does refer to head coverings depending on the translations, though this terms covers a wide variety of head coverings and does not explicitly command women to cover their hair entirely. This chapter is supposed to be clear, as Allah "revealed in it clear Verses" according to the very first one. At the very least, he addressed the foot fetishists with the last part of that verse.

Qur'an 24:32 And wed the singles among you, and those who are fit among your servants and maids. If they are poor, God will enrich them from His bounty. God is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.	Qur'an 24:32 Notes Is this also a command? Are single people required to marry? Allah "made obligatory" the commands in this verse. People who have no compatible spouses should still be married to someone regardless? This advice... err... command which Allah "made obligatory" for people has led so many people to loveless relationships and domestic abuse.

Qur'an 24:33 And let those who do not find the means to marry abstain, until God enriches them from His bounty. If any of your servants wish to be freed, grant them their wish, if you recognize some good in them. And give them of God’s wealth which he has given you. And do not compel your girls to prostitution, seeking the materials of this life, if they desire to remain chaste. Should anyone compel them—after their compulsion, God is Forgiving and Merciful.

Qur'an 24:33 Notes This does not refer to people who have yet to find a good compatible spouse for a loving relationship. This just refers to financial means. Also, this is another of the "clear Verses" in this Quran which can be interpreted multiple ways regarding the freedom of slaves. Why are they not all free by default? Why does this religion condone slavery in any way? Why does their freedom hinge on the opinion of their slave masters?

Qur'an 24:34 We have sent down to you clarifying revelations, and examples of those who passed on before you, and advice for the righteous.	Qur'an 24:34 Notes This chapter contains a notable lack of "clarifying revelations" that could specifically clarify the requirements for modesty (for men and women, by the way) and slavery.

Qur'an 24:35 God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The allegory of His light is that of a pillar on which is a lamp. The lamp is within a glass. The glass is like a brilliant planet, fueled by a blessed tree, an olive tree, neither eastern nor western. Its oil would almost illuminate, even if no fire has touched it. Light upon Light. God guides to His light whomever He wills. God thus cites the parables for the people. God is cognizant of everything.

Qur'an 24:35 Notes This, too, needs some clarifying verses. This verse is stated to be an allegory, but even allegories should be clear.

Qur'an 24:36 In houses which God has permitted to be raised, and His name is celebrated therein. He is glorified therein, morning and evening.	Qur'an 24:36 Notes Allah once again claims credit for things in a verse about praising him.

Qur'an 24:37 By men who neither trading nor commerce distracts them from God’s remembrance, and from performing the prayers, and from giving alms. They fear a Day when hearts and sights are overturned.	Qur'an 24:37 Notes This also needs clarification.

Qur'an 24:38 God will reward them according to the best of what they did, and He will increase them from His bounty. God provides for whomever He wills without reckoning.	Qur'an 24:38 Notes Allah explicitly does not will to increase everybody from his bounty and mercy for some reason.

Qur'an 24:39 As for those who disbelieve, their works are like a mirage in a desert. The thirsty assumes it is to be water. Until, when he has reached it, he finds it to be nothing, but there he finds God, Who settles his account in full. God is swift in reckoning.	Qur'an 24:39 Notes Allah the Infinitely Insecure cares far too deeply about these humans to focus exclusively on whether he allowed them to believe. Seriously, so many chapters in this "perfected revelation" explicitly state that Allah chooses each and every believing soul before creating them.

Qur'an 24:40 Or like utter darkness in a vast ocean, covered by waves, above which are waves, above which is fog. Darkness upon darkness. If he brings out his hand, he will hardly see it. He to whom God has not granted a light has no light.	Qur'an 24:40 Notes Why Allah chooses to deprive any soul of the light and continually blames them is a mystery. Allah does not want them to believe and predestined them to a fate infinitely more agonizing and horrifying than the sweet release of death and nonexistence. No truly loving and forgiving deity does anything like this.

Qur'an 24:41 Do you not realize that God is glorified by whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and even by the birds in formation? Each knows its prayer and its manner of praise. God knows well what they do.	Qur'an 24:41 Notes What evidence points there? How can people tell that birds are glorifying Allah in any way?

Qur'an 24:42 To God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and to God is the ultimate return.	Qur'an 24:42 Notes To Allah no evidence points even remotely.

Qur'an 24:43 Have you not seen how God propels the clouds, then brings them together, then piles them into a heap, and you see rain drops emerging from its midst? How He brings down loads of hail from the sky, striking with it whomever He wills, and diverting it from whomever He wills? The flash of its lightening almost snatches the sight away.

Qur'an 24:43 Notes People see how clouds move in the sky and rain down on us, but where is the evidence that Allah is the reason why they do that? People also see hail and lightning, but the proof of any supernatural being's involvement in these natural phenomena is still nowhere to be found. Allah needs to prove that these clouds could only drift in the sky because a god moved them and that this is the same god who makes the clouds drop their rain. Allah also needs to prove that this same god is also responsible for hail and lightning.

Qur'an 24:44 God alternates the night and the day. In that is a lesson for those who have insight.	Qur'an 24:44 Notes Again, this claim has no evidence. People can see the alternation of night and day without seeing the need for a god to direct any of it.

Qur'an 24:45 God created every living creature from water. Some of them crawl on their bellies, and some walk on two feet, and others walk on four. God creates whatever He wills. God is Capable of everything.	Qur'an 24:45 Notes Biologists wonder how everything is made from water. Also, did this verse forget the beings who live... in the water and thus move around without walking or crawling?

Qur'an 24:46 We sent down enlightening revelations, and God guides whomever He wills to a straight path.	Qur'an 24:46 Notes These verses are hardly enlightening, though it perhaps only enlightens those whom Allah has predestined to believe in any case.

Qur'an 24:47 And they say, “We have believed in God and the Messenger, and we obey,” but some of them turn away afterwards. These are not believers.	Qur'an 24:47 Notes So... apostates were never believers, and the people who claim to be believers now are actually not believers if they later leave their faith?

Qur'an 24:48 And when they are called to God and His Messenger, in order to judge between them, some of them refuse.	Qur'an 24:48 Notes Some of them refuse. Is that really a surprise?

Qur'an 24:49 But if justice is on their side, they accept it willingly.	Qur'an 24:49 Notes Allah, per his perfectly clear revelations, has no idea what justice even is.

Qur'an 24:50 Is there sickness in their hearts? Or are they suspicious? Or do they fear that God may do them injustice? Or His Messenger? In fact, they themselves are the unjust.	Qur'an 24:50 Notes Allah creates thinking, feeling people only to deliberately keep them away from the light and torture them infinitely for it. That sounds like injustice. Muhammad was, according to Sahih-classed Hadith, a genocidal, slave-owning, chauvinistic warlord and cult leader. Any hadith graded Sahih are as credible as the Quran itself according to most Muslims.

Qur'an 24:51 The response of the believers, when they are called to God and His Messenger in order to judge between them, is to say, “We hear and we obey.” These are the successful.	Qur'an 24:51 Notes Translation: "Success is hearing Muhammad talk on behalf of this undemonstrated being called Allah and obeying him. Obey! Obey! Obey!"

Qur'an 24:52 Whoever obeys God and His Messenger, and fears God, and is conscious of Him—these are the winners.	Qur'an 24:52 Notes Allah again chose who among his creation would believe. Believing these claims, accepting them to heart, and obeying are not their choices but Allah's choice.

Qur'an 24:53 And they swear by God with their solemn oaths, that if you commanded them, they would mobilize. Say, “Do not swear. Obedience will be recognized. God is experienced with what you do.”	Qur'an 24:53 Notes Allah wants you to believe, obey, and love this human known as Muhammad. Obey! Obey! Obey!

Qur'an 24:54 Say, “Obey God and obey the Messenger.” But if they turn away, then he is responsible for his obligations, and you are responsible for your obligations. And if you obey him, you will be guided. It is only incumbent on the Messenger to deliver the Clarifying Message.

Qur'an 24:54 Notes Muhammad consistently, without fail, failed to deliver anything resembling a "Clarifying Message". A truly clear and perfect message would not need to waste so many verses telling listeners and readers that it is this clear if it was actually clear in anything. This book, in spite of endless assertions and threats, is only remotely clear about Allah being a tyrant to anybody whom, ironically, he wanted to forsake.

Qur'an 24:55 God has promised those of you who believe and do righteous deeds, that He will make them successors on earth, as He made those before them successors, and He will establish for them their religion—which He has approved for them—and He will substitute security in place of their fear. They worship Me, never associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that—these are the sinners.

Qur'an 24:55 Notes Empty assertions like this could use that clarification too.

Qur'an 24:56 Pray regularly, and give regular charity, and obey the Messenger, so that you may receive mercy.	Qur'an 24:56 Notes Translation: "You must obey Muhammad if you want the supposed Forgiving and Merciful dictator known as Allah to actually be forgiving and merciful to you. Those filthy skeptics simply don't deserve mercy and should face infinite punishment for daring to disobey Muhammad."

Qur'an 24:57 Never think that those who disbelieve can escape on earth. Their place is the Fire; a miserable destination.	Qur'an 24:57 Notes Never think that any deity who claims constantly to be "Forgiving and Merciful" while promising to be absolutely merciless should be considered truthful.

Qur'an 24:58 O you who believe! Permission must be requested by your servants and those of you who have not reached puberty. On three occasions: before the Dawn Prayer, and at noon when you change your clothes, and after the Evening Prayer. These are three occasions of privacy for you. At other times, it is not wrong for you or them to intermingle with one another. God thus clarifies the revelations for you. God is Knowledgeable and Wise.

Qur'an 24:58 Notes The "servants" mentioned here are unsurprisingly slaves. Why are these people only required to get consent for these three times in the day? Why do they not always have basic human rights regardless of the time of day? Islam unsurprisingly condones slavery and lumps slaves in alongside minors.

Qur'an 24:59 When the children among you reach puberty, they must ask permission, as those before them asked permission. God thus clarifies His revelations for you. God is Knowledgeable and Wise.	Qur'an 24:59 Notes Islamic scholars would not disagree with each other about the meaning of any part of this book if Allah truly clarified any part of this book. It would be plainly clear to anybody, scholar or not.

Qur'an 24:60 Women past the age of childbearing, who have no desire for marriage, commit no wrong by taking off their outer clothing, provided they do not flaunt their finery. But to maintain modesty is better for them. God is Hearing and Knowing.	Qur'an 24:60 Notes

Qur'an 24:61 There is no blame on the blind, nor any blame on the lame, nor any blame on the sick, nor on yourselves for eating at your homes, or your fathers’ homes, or your mothers’ homes, or your brothers’ homes, or your sisters’ homes, or the homes of your paternal uncles, or the homes of your paternal aunts, or the homes of your maternal uncles, or the homes of your maternal aunts, or those whose keys you own, or the homes of your friends. You commit no wrong by eating together or separately. But when you enter any home, greet one another with a greeting from God, blessed and good. God thus explains the revelations for you, so that you may understand.

Qur'an 24:61 Notes

Qur'an 24:62 The believers are those who believe in God and His Messenger, and when they are with him for a matter of common interest, they do not leave until they have asked him for permission. Those who ask your permission are those who believe in God and His Messenger. So when they ask your permission to attend to some affair of theirs, give permission to any of them you wish, and ask God’s forgiveness for them. God is Forgiving and Merciful.

Qur'an 24:62 Notes "This book is clear. This book is clear. This book is clear. This book is clear. This book is clear. God is Forgiving and Merciful. This book is clear. This book is clear. Obey the prophet or else. This book is clear. This book is clear."

Qur'an 24:63 Do not address the Messenger in the same manner you address one another. God knows those of you who slip away using flimsy excuses. So let those who oppose his orders beware, lest an ordeal strikes them, or a painful punishment befalls them.	Qur'an 24:63 Notes The Quran should be clear. This sounds like a clear way of stating, beyond reasonable doubt, that Muhammad wants everyone to put him above all other humans. Muhammad, according to this "clear verse" commands his followers to place him on a pedestal far beyond anyone else.

Qur'an 24:64 Surely, to God belongs everything in the heavens and the earth. He knows what you are about. And on the Day they are returned to Him, He will inform them of what they did. God has full knowledge of all things.	Qur'an 24:64 Notes Muhammad finishes this chapter filled entirely with clear verses and commands, unsurprisingly, by assuring people that his authority and superiority among all humans came from the tyrannical overlord who threatens to torture disobedient skeptics endlessly.