Announcement

**Ray** · 04 Sep 06,, 20:15

Hudood Ordinaces- The Crime And Punishment For Zina

The Hudood Ordinances are a set of laws that were introduced by Presidential decree in 1979 under the then President General Zia Ul Haq. These laws were intended �to bring in conformity with the injunctions of Islam� certain aspects of the criminal justice system and make certain offences punishable by hadd, which is defined as �punishment ordained by the Holy Quran or Sunnah.� The quotations are from the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979, Ordinance No. VII of 1979, 9 February 1979, preamble and sec. 2(b), respectively. Hereinafter: Zina Ordinance. . The laws introduced under the Hudood Ordinances cover the offences of Zina (various forms of unlawful sexual intercourse) Qazf (wrongful accusation of Zina crimes), and offences Against Property and Prohibition. An offence of Zina occurs, under the Ordinance, whenever �a man and a woman� wilfully have sexual intercourse without being validly married to each other.� Section 4 of the Zina Ordinance.

Offences of rape are called Zina bil Jabr (literally meaning �forced adultery� in the Arabic original) as they have occurred without the consent of the victim. Significantly, however, the Zina Ordinance excludes marital rape from the definition of that offence.

According to The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, every two hours a woman is raped in Pakistan and every eight hours a woman is subjected to gang rape. While these figures are derived from reported incidents in 2002, the frequency of rapes is in reality much higher. The combination of social taboos, discriminatory laws and victimization at the hands of the police are key reasons why many rapes remain unreported.

The following account is not a true story in the sense that we do not know a girl named Priya with a sister named Leila, who underwent everything that is told here. Nor are the localities real. Nevertheless, everything recounted here did actually happen to women, girls and men in Pakistan. The story combines several true incidents, to elucidate the plight of Pakistani women and girls under the Hudood Ordinances.

Priya - victim of rape and of discriminatory laws, Prisoner of Conscience

Priya is a 13 year old girl who lives in Roshan Colony in Karachi. She has grown up in a small one bedroom shack with her five brothers and sisters while her eldest sister is married and lives in the neighbouring colony. Priya is fortunate that she is able to attend the girl�s government school and does not have to work like her older sisters or brothers do. With the exception of her younger brother Suhail who attends a nearby boys� government school, the home is empty when Priya returns from school as both her parents and her older siblings are away at work till 5 or 6 pm.

One day as Priya as is on her way home to meet her brother after school she is abducted by her neighbour who drags her indoors and rapes her, though she struggles to fight back she falls unconscious. Meanwhile Suhail who is waiting for her to come home begins to worry. He wanders around the neighbourhood in the hope of finding her and then stumbles across her bruised and unconscious body in an alley behind their house.

Later that evening Priya�s father and brother go to the police station to file a First Information Report (which is required for a criminal investigation to begin) on the rape of Priya. Meanwhile, Priya�s mother and older sister take her to a hospital to be examined by a doctor. The medical reports confirm that she has been sexually assaulted and the case is brought in front of the magistrate.

While Priya was able to fully describe her attacker and could give details of his name and where he lived, she had no other proof of rape other than the medical examination and her own testimony. Since the crime of Zina bil jabr in her case was liable to a hadd punishment, her own testimony was not admissible as evidence - under section 8 of the Zina Ordinance, proof of Zina-bil-jabr liable to hadd is only attained either by the perpetrator�s confession or by the testimony of four men. The testimony of her brother appeared to have been changed from what he originally accounted to the police.

Priya�s neighbour Aslam denied the charges of rape or having had any sexual relationship with her, and twisted the story saying that he often caught her staring at him but was never inclined to act indecently. He portrayed himself as a respectable, pious man and the young girl as having unsound character. Without his confession or four male eye witnesses Priya was unable to prove that the act of penetration had been non-consensual.

Having attained puberty a few months earlier, Priya was for legal purposes (under Section 2(a) of the Zina Ordinance) considered to be an adult despite the fact that she was only 13 years old. Since the medical examination was proof that penetration did occur and the judge did not see there to be any clear evidence proving her perpetrator was the accused Under section 10 of the Zina Ordinance, if the judge felt there was proof linking the accused to the crime he could have been convicted of Zina bil Jabr liable to tazir, which is a lesser punishment and is applied to cases where evidence falls short of hadd requirements but still proves the accused perpetrated the crime. This only applies if the court does not feel that the complainant was filing a false accusation. , the legal table turned against Priya: Because any sexual relationship by a sane �adult� out of wedlock is considered a crime under the Zina Ordinance, she herself was now charged with Zina under that Ordinance and put in detention to await her trial. Meanwhile Priya�s father who had filed the rape complaint with the police was facing charges for Qazf- the wrongful accusation of rape- and was detained while Aslam, the perpetrator, was allowed to go free as there was no sufficient evidence to prove that he had been a party to the sexual offence concerning Priya.

While her mother tried to find a way of appealing the detention of her husband and daughter, the eldest daughter Leila went with one of her brothers to the police station to ensure the case was kept open and to obtain a copy of the testimony submitted by the police officer to the court. At the police station Leila was asked to enter a separate room to discuss the case of her sister and the testimony that had been recorded by the police. She appeared from the room thirty minutes later shaking and in tears and begged her brother to leave immediately- she had been raped by two police officers and threatened not to pry any further into her sister�s case or else they would bring charges of Zina against her. Being happily married, the charges of Zina had vast implications for Leila as the maximum punishment for adultery is death by stoning.

Desperate to get home Leila rushed through the streets offering her brother little explanation for her shaken behaviour. Her brother returned to his house to find his mother crying with despair over the detention of her daughter and husband. In addition to an emotional burden she now faced undetermined time without the main bread earner of the family which had grave implications for her ability to provide for her family in his absence.

The next morning Leila came to the house in tears saying that her husband had divorced her after she told him of the incidents at the police station. He had said he did not want to be with a woman who had been �spoilt� by others and pronounced the divorce out loud 3 times and swore to file the papers to be rid of her.

Over a year later, Priya still remained in prison awaiting her trial for Zina while her father also remained in detention and has to this day not been seen by a magistrate. Leila has been approached by a family for her hand in marriage and is looking at being remarried. Having a heavy financial burden her mother urges her to remarry as at least she will be provided for and she will lessen the burden on her mother. Overlooking the fact that she has not received any written confirmation of her divorce she agrees to marry again. Two months after her new marriage both Leila and her husband find themselves being arrested under Zina charges that have been brought forward by her ex-husband who claims her never divorced her. Since the pronouncement of the divorce was verbal, and was only heard by herself and her ex-husband, and since he had neglected to file the divorce papers, in the eyes of the state they appear to be married, making her new marriage void and the sexual relations she has had with her new husband illicit.

While it is legal for a husband to divorce his wife by pronouncing it out loud, he is then required to file the papers that take three months to process making this divorce legal. As there is no provision for a maximum period during which the husband must file the papers, many divorces remain legally un-recognised and the lack of a formal mechanism to help the woman ensure these papers go through, means that they are left at the mercy of their ex-husband and may face charges of Zina when attempting to remarry.

As illustrated in this account, the Zina Ordinance places a heavy, indeed almost impossible, burden of proof on women and girls who fall victim to rape. Once they complain, those women and girls are themselves exposed to charges of Zina - having admitted to the fact of �penetration� outside of wedlock, which is a crime under the Ordinance. In such a situation, the victims are in fact more likely to be convicted than the perpetrators.

The Constitution of Pakistan clearly states in article 25:

�(1) All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law

(2) There shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex alone�

Nevertheless, discriminatory laws like the Zina Ordinance remain in place and women continue to hesitate reporting incidents of sexual violence out of fear of possible repercussions.

According to the National Commission on the Status of Women, an independent statutory body, 88% of the women currently in jail in Pakistan have either been convicted or are awaiting trial for Zina. While the death penalty does exist for adultery, this sentence is rarely ever carried out. Most times if it is passed by a judge it is overturned in an appeal.

This was true for the case of Zafran Bibi who according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, was sentenced to death by stoning for adultery in April 2000. She maintained that she had been raped by her brother �in-law while her husband was in prison, and was acquitted on appeal once her husband confirmed that he was indeed the father of the child that she gave birth to earlier that year.

However, the presence of these ordinances in the law-books means that the punishments could be carried out and therefore cannot be overlooked. Many women languish in jail for years before they are released. Even after release women remain victims to their past and most have never received justice.

Secular political parties, human rights groups and women�s groups continue to oppose the Hudood Ordinances and the National Commission on Women has recommended in September that the Ordinances be repealed.

Amnesty International continues to express concern over the presence of these laws as they are not in accordance with international legal standards for fair trial and pre-trial safeguards, as well as being blatantly discriminatory of women and girls. Additionally, Amnesty International is opposed to the use of all forms of punishment which are cruel, inhuman and degrading, such as the death penalty and corporal punishment, under any circumstances, including for crimes such as rape.

AI, therefore continues to call for the repeal of the Zina laws and ending practices that are discriminatory toward women and girls, in accordance with international human rights standards These standards are to be found, among other international treaties and declarations, in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights; the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Pakistan is not a state party); the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (Pakistan is a state party); the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women; and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Pakistan is a state party). :

� Make all rape and other sexual attacks, including of spouses, a crime;

� Exercise due diligence in promoting and protecting all human rights of women, including the right to full equality in law and in practice;

� In particular, abolish all legal provisions that discriminate against women, whether explicitly or implicitly,
including the inadmissibility of evidence by women, and especially by rape victims, as well as any excessive burden of proof for rape and other forms of sexual attacks or exploitation;

� Ensure, in law and in practice, that all girls, namely females under the age of 18, are protected from all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse;

� Ensure, in law and in practice, that detainees are either tried promptly or else are released pending their trial;

� Ensure that all trial procedures are in accordance with international standards of fair trial;

� Abolish the death penalty;

� Abolish all forms of corporal punishment.

http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/apro/...ges/svaw_hudoo

**Ray** · 04 Sep 06,, 20:23

Welcome to Submission

Your best source for ISLAM (SUBMISSION) on the WWW

Sexual Misconduct in Islam (Submission)

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Submission (Islam in Arabic), like all the previous religions of God, strongly condemns sexual misconduct and considers it a gross offense. See 17:32, 27:54

Submission (Islam) does not only condemn sexual misconduct but it also condemns the false accusations of people with such an offense and creating and/or spreading rumors about such accusations.

God, the Most Merciful, knows that accusing innocent people with such a crime is detrimental to the society and to the spirit of the people living in such a society.

Accusations of people with sexual misconduct is as old as the history of the human race. In many societies, the law of the land is that the word of the accuser is accepted against the word of the accused.

In the USA, for example, if no proof can be established in favor of either parties, it is usually the word of the accuser against the word of the accused, while in some other societies, if the accused is of a higher social class, his/her word will be accepted instead of the accuser.

God in the Quran does not take but the side of justice and well-being of the society as a whole. The message that comes out of the Quran is that accusation of someone with sexual misconduct or spreading rumors with such accusations is a very serious matter and is not looked upon lightly by God.

God used the strongest language possible to admonish those who commit such an offense by spreading rumors and repeating accusations of sexual misconduct for which they did not have a proof. The proof here, is the personal knowledge of a proof and not just hearing about a proof.

Sura 12 (Joseph-Yousuf) and Sura 24 (Light -Al-Noor)like all the other suras of the Quran, have great lessons for all of us.

"In their history, there is a LESSON for those who possess intelligence. This is not a fabricated hadith; this (Quran) confirms all previous scriptures, and provides the details of everything. It is a beacon and mercy for those who believe." 12:111

Many of the Muslims (and non-Muslims) today who are reading the history of previous generations in the Quran are not appreciating what these stories mean or what lessons they teach. For them these stories only represent " . . . tales from the past." But God insists on reminding us with the reasons for telling us the history of previous messengers, prophets, communities and nations.

".......God thus cites the examples for the people, that they may take heed." 14:25

Let us take heed and reflect on the Quranic Justice in the case of false accusations of sexual misconduct and spreading rumors about such accusations. This issue is so important, that God explained it in detail in Sura 24 and gave us a great example of it in Sura 12. For those submitters (Muslims in Arabic), who studied their Quran, they will realize that this important issue is also treated in such a way to show us in detail "How to handle the accusations of sexual misconduct in an Islamic society or community?"

The incident in Sura 24 is in reference to the false accusation of Aysha, the Prophet's wife with sexual misconduct, for which the prophet Muhammed was very upset and disturbed. God elaborated on this incident without mentioning names to teach His true believers a great lesson. Read these verses and reflect on the implications that God put in these words and these verses.

24:11-13

"A Gang among you produced a big lie. Do not think that it was bad for you, in fact it was good for you (as a lesson). Meanwhile, each one of them has earned his share of guilt. And the one who initiated the whole incident has incurred a terrible retribution. When you heard it, the believers should have had better thoughts about themselves, and should have said, "This is obviously a big lie." You should have
demanded four witnesses. If the WITNESSES were NOT PRODUCED, then they are according to God, LIARS."

God demands from His true believers before accusing anyone of sexual misconduct or spreading rumors about anyone to have a proof, or to produce four witnesses. Accusations of sexual misconduct that is carried out against anybody who denies them and without verifiable proofs, are considered by God a gross sin. The failure to produce four witnesses means this person or these persons should be considered according to God, LIARS.

"You fabricated it with your own tongues, and the rest of you repeated it with your mouths without proof. You thought it was simple, when it was, according to God, gross." 24:15

---YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SIMPLE, WHEN IT WAS, ACCORDING TO GOD, GROSS.---

What should they do ?

24:16

"When you heard it, you should have said, "We will not repeat this. Glory be to You. This is a gross falsehood."

Many Muslims missed these lessons but again God reminds them in 24:17 It is spelled out clearly in this verse

24:17

"GOD ADMONISHES YOU THAT YOU SHALL NEVER DO THIS AGAIN, IF YOU ARE REALLY BELIEVERS."

...............SHALL NEVER DO IT AGAIN..........

This important lesson is usually forgotten, because many of those who claim to be Muslims fail to uphold the great teachings of the Quran specially if it inconveniences their plans of scheming and plotting against someone they do not like. They may have also looked at these stories in the Quran as "tales from the past."

Stories and history in the Quran are meant to teach us today, for our everyday life and was never meant only for the previous generations. Our generation, at this time of our life, needs this guidance and this kind of justice now as much as the previous generations needed them and even more. Only the true believers will hear and obey, while the hypocrites and disbelievers will try to find excuses not to follow the rules and commandments of God. The Quranic justice is not good enough for them, or in other words, for them, God is not enough nor His book, the Quran. Even for those who might have missed 24:17, God gave
us another great lesson in 49:6,

"O you who believe, if a wicked person brings news to you, you shall first investigate, lest you commit injustice towards some people out of Ignorance, then become sorry for what you have done."

It is God's Quranic justice system that requires four witnesses to prove an accusation of sexual misconduct of a man or a woman, See 24:3-9. However, the utmost justice is represented by the fact that, if you have no witness then it is the word of the ACCUSED against the word of the ACCUSER and it is God who will then judge them and condemn the liar. WHEN THERE IS NO WITNESS, GOD DOES NOT GIVE THE JUDGMENT TO US (Humans), knowing that man is biased by nature, where hatred, prejudice, ignorance and jealousy may influence his judgment. The judgment then rests
with the law of God in the Quran. A liar, being the accused or accuser, will not escape God's justice either in this life or in the Hereafter.

For those who falsely accuse women of sexual misconduct, God specified the punishment for them in this life, as well as His wrath in the Hereafter.

24:4

"Those who accuse married women of adultery, then fail to produce four witnesses, you shall whip them eighty lashes, and do not EVER accept any testimony from them; they are wicked."

24:23

"Surely, those who falsely accuse married women who are pious believers have incurred condemnation in this life and in the Hereafter; they have incurred a horrendous retribution."

For the accusations of sexual misconduct that is exchanged between husbands and wives, God set their rule also in Sura 24.

24:6-10

"As for those who accuse their own spouses, without any other witnesses, then the testimony may be accepted if he swears by GOD four times that he is telling the truth. The fifth oath shall be to incur GOD's condemnation upon him, if he was lying. She shall be considered innocent if she swears by GOD four times that he is a liar. The fifth oath shall incur GOD's wrath upon her if he was telling the truth. This is GOD's grace and mercy towards you. GOD is Redeemer, Most Wise." 24:6-10

God spared no words to tell us that He means every order in these verses of Sura 24.

" A sura that we reveal, and DECREE as a law. We reveal in it CLEAR revelations, that you may take heed." 24:1

"We have revealed to you clarifying revelations and examples from the past generations, and an enlightenment for the righteous." 24:34

ACCUSATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
AND THE MESSENGER OF GOD:

The prophets and messengers, being humans like us, had been subjected to all kinds of crimes that can be committed against a human being. They were subjected to everything from accusations of sexual misconduct to murder and anything in-between. The prophet Muhammed was verbally abused, physically assaulted and emotionally insulted by those who lived around him and could not accept his message of worshipping God alone. They even insulted his beloved wife Aysha by falsely accusing her of sexual misconduct and spreading rumors about it. As we know now these insults and accusations did not represent the weakness of the prophet Muhammed, but rather the strength of his message. People with poor issues need not be attacked because their message will fall apart by itself. People with real strong issues are like a tree full of fruits at which people throw all kinds of rocks. Nobody throws rocks at a dry fruitless tree.

History will repeat itself. When the people cannot face the issues, they try to assail the character - a game one may play in politics, but not with God. The example given to us in sura 12, is almost a reflection of what some misguided people can do and are doing these days.

A messenger of God, Joseph, was accused of sexual misconduct with his master's wife. Although he was innocent, denied the accusations and there were no witness but the accuser, he was thrown into the prison. According to the hypocrites and misguided people, Joseph would be labeled a fraud, because he was accused, convicted and jailed.

Despite that, Joseph was chosen as a messenger of God even before he was sent to the prison. God could have spared him these false accusations and the prison, but God wants to teach us a lesson. God makes it a lesson for all the generations to come, including our generation. What happened to Joseph did not change the fact that Joseph was a messenger of God and did not change his message of worshipping God alone. It enforces the fact that , accusing anyone or even convicting him and putting him in jail is no proof of wrong doing if there is no proof, no witness and as long as the accused denies the accusations.

Again, history repeats itself and the messenger of the covenant was accused in the same exact way, accusations he adamantly denied , but the misguided people and the hypocrites disregarded God's commandments in the Quran (see 24:11-15) and tried to assail his character to revenge for what he did of exposing their misguidance and the false teachings they uphold beside the Quran. Today's hypocrites and misguided people come armed with web sites, HTML files and new technology that will as much be their witness on the Day that God will ask them why they did not take heed from the Quran.

Accusations, insults, physical abuses or murders are part of our testing, we, the human beings. We are put through these tests to have the disbelievers and the hypocrites exposed and to purify the true believers and advance them to higher ranks.

"We must test you with some fear, hunger, and loss of money, lives and crops and give good news to the steadfast." 2:155

More important is the fact that these accusations, insults or murders of the messengers, the prophets and/or the righteous people will not change the truth, or the message, because the truth will always prevail. The message will always be the same, WORSHIP GOD ALONE.

"They want to put out God's light with their mouths, but God insists upon perfecting His light, in spite of the disbelievers." 9:32.

The lessons in Sura 12 and Sura 24 cannot be disregarded except by those who refuse to believe God in His own book, the Quran. For them, to call themselves Muslims is an insult to Islam (Submission), an insult to GOD of the book and an insult to the Prophet who brought that same book.

Here, I will reproduce Sura 24 and part of Sura 12, for those who are interested, from the English Translation of the Quran by Dr. Rashad Khalifa.

Sura 24, Light , Al-Noor (in Arabic)

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

[24:1]

A sura that we have sent down, and we have decreed as law. We have revealed in it clear revelations, that you may take heed.

[24:2]

The adulteress and the adulterer you shall whip each of them a hundred lashes. Do not be swayed by pity from carrying out GOD's law, if you truly believe in GOD and the Last Day. And let a group of believers witness their penalty.*

*24:2 Social pressure, i.e., public witnessing of the penalty, is the basic punishment (see also 5:38). The lashes shall be symbolic, not severe.

[24:3]

The adulterer will end up marrying an adulteress or an idol worshiper, and the adulteress will end up marrying an adulterer or an idol worshiper. This is prohibited for the believers.

[24:4]

Those who accuse married women of adultery, then fail to produce four witnesses, you shall whip them eighty lashes, and do not accept any testimony from them; they are wicked.

[24:5]

If they repent afterwards and reform, then GOD is Forgiver, Merciful.

[24:6]

As for those who accuse their own spouses, without any other witnesses, then the testimony may be accepted if he swears by GOD four times that he is telling the truth.

[24:7]

The fifth oath shall be to incur GOD's condemnation upon him, if he was lying.

[24:8]

She shall be considered innocent if she swears by GOD four times that he is a liar.

[24:9]

The fifth oath shall incur GOD's wrath upon her if he was telling the truth.

[24:10]

This is GOD's grace and mercy towards you. GOD is Redeemer, Most Wise.

[24:11]

A gang among you produced a big lie.* Do not think that it was bad for you; instead, it was good for you. Meanwhile, each one of them has earned his share of the guilt. As for the one who initiated the whole incident, he has incurred a terrible retribution.

*24:11 This refers to a historical incident where the Prophet Muhammad's wife Aysha was left in the desert by mistake, and later found by a young man who helped her catch up with the Prophet's caravan. This triggered the famous `Big Lie' against Aysha.

[24:12]

When you heard it, the believing men and the believing women should have had better thoughts about themselves, and should have said, "This is obviously a big lie."

[24:13]

Only if they produced four witnesses (you may believe them). If they fail to produce the witnesses, then they are, according to GOD, liars.

[24:14]

If it were not for GOD's grace towards you, and His mercy in this world and in the Hereafter, you would have suffered a great retribution because of this incident.

[24:15]

You fabricated it with your own tongues, and the rest of you repeated it with your mouths without proof. You thought it was simple, when it was, according to GOD, gross.

[24:16]

When you heard it, you should have said, "We will not repeat this. Glory be to You. This is a gross falsehood."

[24:17]

GOD admonishes you that you shall never do it again, if you are believers.

[24:18]

GOD thus explains the revelations for you. GOD is Omniscient, Wise.

[24:19]

Those who love to see immorality spread among the believers have incurred a painful retribution in this life and in the Hereafter. GOD knows, while you do not know.

[24:20]

GOD showers you with His grace and mercy. GOD is Most Kind towards the believers, Most Merciful.

[24:21]

O you who believe, do not follow the steps of Satan. Anyone who follows the steps of Satan should know that he advocates evil and vice. If it were not for GOD's grace towards you, and His mercy, none of you would have been purified. But GOD purifies whomever He wills. GOD is Hearer, Knower.

[24:22]

Those among you who are blessed with resources and wealth shall be charitable towards their relatives, the poor, and those who have immigrated for the sake of GOD. They shall treat them with kindness and tolerance; do you not love to attain GOD's forgiveness? GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

[24:23]

Surely, those who falsely accuse married women who are pious believers have incurred condemnation in this life and in the Hereafter; they have incurred a horrendous retribution.

[24:24]

The day will come when their own tongues, hands, and feet will bear witness to everything they had done.

[24:25]

On that day, GOD will requite them fully for their works, and they will find out that GOD is the Truth.

[24:26]

The bad women for the bad men, and the bad men for the bad women, and the good women for the good men, and the good men for the good women. The latter are innocent of such accusations. They have attained forgiveness and a generous reward.

[24:27]

O you who believe, do not enter homes other than yours without permission from their inhabitants, and without greeting them. This is better for you, that you may take heed.

[24:28]

If you find no one in them, do not enter them until you obtain permission. If you are told, "Go back," you must go back. This is purer for you. GOD is fully aware of everything you do.

[24:29]

You commit no error by entering uninhabited homes wherein there is something that belongs to you. GOD knows everything you reveal, and everything you conceal.

[24:30]

Tell the believing men that they shall subdue their eyes (and not stare at the women), and to maintain their chastity. This is purer for them. GOD is fully Cognizant of everything they do.

[24:31]

And tell the believing women to subdue their eyes, and maintain their chastity. They shall not reveal any parts of their bodies, except that which is necessary. They shall cover their chests, and shall not relax this code in the presence of other than their husbands, their fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons, the sons of their husbands, their brothers, the sons of their brothers, the sons of their sisters, other women, the male servants or employees whose sexual drive has been nullified, or the children who have not reached puberty. They shall not strike their feet when they walk in order to shake and reveal certain details of their bodies. All of you shall repent to GOD, O you believers, that you may succeed.*

*24:30-31 Dressing modestly, therefore, is a trait of the believing men and women. The minimum requirements for a woman's dress is to lengthen her garment (33:59) and to cover her chest. Tyrannical Arab traditions have given a false impression that women must be covered from head to toe; Such is not a Quranic or Islamic dress.

[24:32]

You shall encourage those of you who are single to get married. They may marry the righteous among your male and female servants, if they are poor. GOD will enrich them from His grace. GOD is Bounteous, Knower.

[24:33]

Those who cannot afford to get married shall maintain morality until GOD provides for them from His grace. Those among your servants who wish to be freed in order to marry, you shall grant them their wish, once you realize that they are honest. And give them from GOD's money that He has bestowed upon you. You shall not force your girls to commit prostitution, seeking the materials of this world, if they wish to be chaste. If anyone forces them, then GOD, seeing that they are forced, is Forgiver,
Merciful.

[24:34]

We have revealed to you clarifying revelations, and examples from the past generations, and an enlightenment for the righteous.

[24:35]

GOD is the light of the heavens and the earth. The allegory of His light is that of a concave mirror behind a lamp that is placed inside a glass container. The glass container is like a bright, pearl-like star. The fuel thereof is supplied from a blessed oil-producing tree, that is neither eastern, nor western. Its oil is almost self-radiating; needs no fire to ignite it. Light upon light. GOD guides to His
light whoever wills (to be guided). GOD thus cites the parables for the people. GOD is fully aware of all things.

[24:36]

(God's guidance is found) in houses exalted by GOD, for His name is commemorated therein. Glorifying Him therein, day and night -

[24:37]

People who are not distracted by business or trade from commemorating GOD; they observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and they are conscious of the day when the minds and the eyes will be horrified.

[24:38]

GOD will certainly reward them for their good works, and will shower them with His grace. GOD provides for whomever He wills without limits.

[24:39]

As for those who disbelieve, their works are like a mirage in the desert. A thirsty person thinks that it is water. But when he reaches it, he finds that it is nothing, and he finds GOD there instead, to requite him fully for his works. GOD is the most efficient reckoner.

[24:40]

Another allegory is that of being in total darkness in the midst of a violent ocean, with waves upon waves, in addition to thick fog. Darkness upon darkness - if he looked at his own hand, he could barely see it. Whomever GOD deprives of light, will have no light.

[24:41]

Do you not realize that everyone in the heavens and the earth glorifies GOD, even the birds as they fly in a column? Each knows its prayer and its glorification. GOD is fully aware of everything they do.

[24:42]

To GOD belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and to GOD is the final destiny.

[24:43]

Do you not realize that GOD drives the clouds, then gathers them together, then piles them on each other, then you see the rain coming out of them? He sends down from the sky loads of snow to cover whomever He wills, while diverting it from whomever He wills. The brightness of the snow almost blinds the eyes.

[24:44]

GOD controls the night and day. This should be a lesson for those who possess eyes.

[24:45]

And GOD created every living creature from water. Some of them walk on their bellies, some walk on two legs, and some walk on four. GOD creates whatever He wills. GOD is Omnipotent.

[24:46]

We have sent down to you clarifying revelations, then GOD guides whoever wills (to be guided) in a straight path.

[24:47]

They say, "We believe in GOD and in the messenger, and we obey," but then some of them slide back afterwards. These are not believers.

[24:48]

When they are invited to GOD and His messenger to judge among them, some of them get upset.

[24:49]

However, if the judgment is in their favor, they readily accept it!

[24:50]

Is there a disease in their hearts? Are they doubtful? Are they afraid that GOD and His messenger may treat them unfairly? In fact, it is they who are unjust.

[24:51]

The only utterance of the believers, whenever invited to GOD and His messenger to judge in their affairs, is to say, "We hear and we obey." These are the winners.

[24:52]

Those who obey GOD and His messenger, and reverence GOD and observe Him, these are the triumphant ones.

[24:53]

They swear by GOD, solemnly, that if you commanded them to mobilize, they would mobilize. Say, "Do not swear. Obedience is an obligation. GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do."

[24:54]

Say, "Obey GOD, and obey the messenger." If they refuse, then he is responsible for his obligations, and you are responsible for your obligations. If you obey him, you will be guided. The sole duty of the messenger is to deliver (the message).

[24:55]

GOD promises those among you who believe and lead a righteous life, that He will make them sovereigns on earth, as He did for those before them, and will establish for them the religion He has chosen for them, and will substitute peace and security for them in place of fear. All this because they worship Me alone; they never set up any idols beside Me. Those who disbelieve after this are the truly wicked.

[24:56]

You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and obey the messenger, that you may attain mercy.

[24:57]

Do not think that those who disbelieve will ever get away with it. Their final abode is Hell; what a miserable destiny.

[24:58]

O you who believe, permission must be requested by your servants and the children who have not attained puberty (before entering your rooms). This is to be done in three instances - before the Dawn Prayer, at noon when you change your clothes to rest, and after the Night Prayer. These are three private times for you. At other times, it is not wrong for you or them to mingle with one another. GOD thus clarifies the revelations for you. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.

[24:59]

Once the children reach puberty, they must ask permission (before entering) like those who became adults before them have asked permission (before entering). GOD thus clarifies His revelations for you. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.

[24:60]

The elderly women who do not expect to get married commit nothing wrong by relaxing their dress code, provided they do not reveal too much of their bodies. To maintain modesty is better for them. GOD is Hearer, Knower.

[24:61]

The blind is not to be blamed, the crippled is not to be blamed, nor is the handicapped to be blamed, just as you are not to be blamed for eating at your homes, or the homes of your fathers, or the homes of your mothers, or the homes of your brothers, or the homes of your sisters, or the homes of your fathers' brothers, or the homes of your fathers' sisters, or the homes of your mothers' brothers, or the
homes of your mothers' sisters, or the homes that belong to you and you possess their keys, or the homes of your friends. You commit nothing wrong by eating together or as individuals. When you enter any home, you shall greet each other a greeting from GOD that is blessed and good. GOD thus explains the revelations for you, that you may understand.

[24:62]

The true believers are those who believe in GOD and His messenger,* and when they are with him in a community meeting, they do not leave him without permission. Those who ask permission are the ones who do believe in GOD and His messenger. If they ask your permission, in order to tend to some of their affairs, you may grant permission to whomever you wish, and ask GOD to forgive them. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

*24:62 This verse refers to God's Messenger of the Covenant; by adding the gematrical value of "Rashad" (505) plus the value of "Khalifa" (725), plus the verse number (62), we get 1292, a multiple of 19 (1292=19x68). See Appendix 2.

[24:63]

Do not treat the messenger's requests as you treat each others' requests. GOD is fully aware of those among you who sneak away using flimsy excuses. Let them beware - those who disobey his orders - for a disaster may strike them, or a severe retribution.

[24:64]

Absolutely, to GOD belongs everything in the heavens and the earth. He fully knows every condition you may be in. The day you are returned to Him, He will inform them of everything they had done. GOD is fully aware of all things.

Sura 12, Joseph or Yousuf (in Arabic)

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

[12:7]

In Joseph and his brothers there are lessons for the seekers.

[12:8]

They said, "Joseph and his brother are favored by our father, and we are in the majority. Indeed, our father is far astray.

[12:9]

"Let us kill Joseph, or banish him, that you may get some attention from your father. Afterwards, you can be righteous people."*

*12:9 We learn from Joseph's dream that he was destined for a bright future. Thus, while his brothers met to decide his fate, his fate was already decided by God. Everything is done by God (8:17), and is already recorded(57:22).

[12:10]

One of them said, "Do not kill Joseph; let us throw him into the abyss of the well. Perhaps some caravan can pick him up, if this is what you decide to do."

[12:11]

They said, "Our father, why do you not trust us with Joseph? We will take good care of him.

[12:12]

"Send him with us tomorrow to run and play. We will protect him."

[12:13]

He said, "I worry lest you go away with him, then the wolf may devour him while you are not watching him."

[12:14]

They said, "Indeed, if the wolf devours him, with so many of us around, then we are really losers."

[12:15]

When they went away with him, and unanimously decided to throw him into the abyss of the well, we inspired him: "Some day, you will tell them about all this, while they have no idea."

[12:16]

They came back to their father in the evening, weeping.

[12:17]

They said, "Our father, we went racing with each other, leaving Joseph with our equipment, and the wolf devoured him. You will never believe us, even if we were telling the truth."

[12:18]

They produced his shirt with fake blood on it. He said, "Indeed, you have conspired with each other to commit a certain scheme. All I can do is resort to a quiet patience. May GOD help me in the face of your conspiracy."

[12:19]

A caravan passed by, and soon sent their waterer. He let down his bucket, then said, "How lucky! There is a boy here!" They took him along as merchandise, and GOD was fully aware of what they did.

[12:20]

They sold him for a cheap price - a few dirhams - for they did not have any need for him.

[12:21]

The one who bought him in Egypt said to his wife, "Take good care of him. Maybe he can help us, or maybe we can adopt him." We thus established Joseph on earth, and we taught him the interpretation of dreams. GOD's command is always done, but most people do not know.

[12:22]

When he reached maturity, we endowed him with wisdom and knowledge. We thus reward the righteous.

[12:23]

The lady of the house where he lived tried to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "I am all yours." He said, "May GOD protect me. He is my Lord, who gave me a good home.* The transgressors never succeed."

*12:23 Joseph worded this statement in such a way that the governor's wife thought that he was talking about her husband, when in fact he was talking about God.

[12:24]

She almost succumbed to him, and he almost succumbed to her, if it were not that he saw a proof from his Lord. We thus diverted evil and sin away from him, for he was one of our devoted servants.

[12:25]

The two of them raced towards the door, and, in the process, she tore his garment from the back. They found her husband at the door. She said, "What should be the punishment for one who wanted to molest your wife, except imprisonment or a painful punishment?"

[12:26]

He said, "She is the one who tried to seduce me." A witness from her family suggested: "If his garment is torn from the front, then she is telling the truth and he is a liar.

[12:27]

"And if his garment is torn from the back, then she lied, and he is telling the truth."

[12:28]

When her husband saw that his garment was torn from the back, he said, "This is a woman's scheme. Indeed, your scheming is formidable.

[12:29]

"Joseph, disregard this incident. As for you (my wife), you should seek forgiveness for your sin. You have committed an error."

[12:30]

Some women in the city gossiped: "The governor's wife is trying to seduce her servant. She is deeply in love with him. We see that she has gone astray."

[12:31]

When she heard of their gossip, she invited them, prepared for them a comfortable place, and gave each of them a knife. She then said to him, "Enter their room." When they saw him, they so admired him, that they cut their hands.* They said, "Glory be to GOD, this is not a human being; this is an honorable angel."

*12:31 This is the same word used in 5:38 regarding the hand of the thief, and the sum of sura and verse numbers (12+31 and 5+38) are the same. Therefore, the thief's hand should be marked, not severed as practiced by the corrupted Islam (see Footnote 5:38).

[12:32]

She said, "This is the one you blamed me for falling in love with. I did indeed try to seduce him, and he refused. Unless he does what I command him to do, he will surely go to prison, and will be debased."

[12:33]

He said, "My Lord, the prison is better than giving in to them. Unless You divert their scheming from me, I may desire them and behave like the ignorant ones."

[12:34]

His Lord answered his prayer and diverted their scheming from him. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.

[12:35]

Later, they saw to it, despite the clear proofs, that they should imprison him for awhile.

The rest of the Sura is very beautiful and should be read also. Let us pray to God to guide us to His straight path, the path of those He blessed , not the path of those who deserved wrath.

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