Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nur Verse 6

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Those who accuse their wives (of adultery) while they have no witnesses except their own selves, then the evidence of one of them would be to swear four oaths by Allah that he is truthful,

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And those who accuse their wives ˹of adultery˺ but have no witness except themselves, the accuser must testify,[[ In order to be spared the punishment for false accusation. ]] swearing four times by Allah that he is telling the truth,

Ruwwad Translation Center

As for those who accuse their wives [of adultery] but have no witness except themselves, then the evidence of one of them is to testify four times by Allah that he is telling the truth,

A. J. Arberry

And those who cast it up on their wives having no witnesses except themselves, the testimony of one of them shall be to testify by God four times that he is of the truthful,

Abdul Haleem

As for those who accuse their own wives of adultery, but have no other witnesses, let each one four times call God to witness that he is telling the truth,

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And as for those who accuse their wives and there are not for them witnesses except themselves, the testimony of one of them shall be four testimonies by Allah: that verily he is of the truth-tellers

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And for those who launch a charge against their spouses, and have (in support) no evidence but their own,- their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by Allah that they are solemnly telling the truth;

Abul Ala Maududi

As for those who accuse their own wives but have no witness except themselves, the evidence of one of them is that he shall swear four times by Allah and declare that he is true (in his charge).

Ahmed Ali

Those who accuse their wives and do not have any witnesses except themselves, should swear four times in the name of God, the testimony of each such person being that he is speaking the truth,

Ahmed Raza Khan

And those who accuse their wives and do not have witnesses except their own statements – for such the testimony is that he bear the testimony four times by the name of Allah that he is truthful.

Ali Quli Qarai

As for those who accuse their wives [of adultery], but have no witnesses except themselves, the testimony of such a man shall be a fourfold testimony [sworn] by Allah that he is indeed stating the truth,

Ali Ünal

As for those who accuse their own wives of adultery but have no witnesses except themselves, such a person must testify four times swearing by God in each oath that he is indeed speaking the truth.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And those who charge their wives of adultery and have no witnesses (to support their charge) except their own selves, let each (husband) bear testimony (repeating it) four times over calling Allâh to witness that he is surely of those who speak the truth in (the matter of) charging his wife (of adultery).

English Literal

And those who blame and accuse their spouses , and (there) were not for them witnesses/testifiers except themselves, so testimony/certification (of) one of them, four testimonies/certifications by God that he truly is from (E) the truthful.

Faridul Haque

And those who accuse their wives and do not have witnesses except their own statements – for such the testimony is that he bear the testimony four times by the name of Allah that he is truthful.

Hamid S. Aziz

Except such as repent after that and make amends, for, verily, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

Hilali & Khan

And for those who accuse their wives, but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies (i.e. testifies four times) by Allah that he is one of those who speak the truth.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Except those who afterwards repent and act aright; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And (as for) those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves, the evidence of one of these (should be taken) four times, bearing Allah to witness that he is most surely of the truthful ones.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

As for those who accuse their wives but have no witnesses except themselves; let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies, (swearing) by Allah that he is of those who speak the truth;

Muhammad Sarwar

Those who accuse their spouses of committing adultery but have no witness except themselves, should testify four times saying, "God is my witness that I am telling the truth".

Qaribullah & Darwish

And those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves, let them testify by swearing by Allah four times that he is of the truthful,

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And for those who accuse their wives, but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies by Allah that he is one of those who speak the truth.

Wahiduddin Khan

One who accuses his wife and has no witnesses except himself shall swear four times by God that his charge is true,

Talal Itani

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.

Tafsir jalalayn

And those who accuse their wives, of fornication, but have no witnesses, to [substantiate] this, except themselves -- which happened with some Companions -- then the testimony of one of them (fa-shahdatu ahadihim, the subject) shall be to testify [swearing] by God four times (araba`a shahdtin, is in the accusative as a verbal noun) that he is indeed being truthful, in accusing his wife of committing fornication,

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Details of Al-Li`an

Allah says;

وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ شُهَدَاء إِلاَّ أَنفُسُهُمْ فَشَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَرْبَعُ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ

And for those who accuse their wives, but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies by Allah,

This Ayah offers a way out for husbands. If a husband has accused his wife but cannot come up with proof, he can swear the Li`an (the oath of condemnation) as Allah commanded.

This means that he brings her before the Imam and states what he is accusing her of. The ruler then asks him to swear four times by Allah in front of four witnesses,

إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ



that he is one of those who speak the truth.

in his accusation of her adultery.

وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ