Virtues and benefits of Surah An-Nur

The innocence of Aishah, Mother of the Believers

Allah revealed in it Aishah’s innocence of the slander, in recited verses beginning “Those who came with the slander are a group among you”, and established that the rule is to think well of a Muslim unless there is certainty otherwise.

The rulings on chastity and modesty

According to Al-Qurtubi, the purpose of this surah is to set out the rulings on chastity and modesty: asking permission to enter, lowering the gaze, not displaying adornment. Aishah reports that when “let them draw their head-coverings over their chests” was revealed, the early emigrant women tore their wraps and covered themselves with them.

Umar ordered it taught to women

Umar ibn al-Khattab wrote: “Learn Surah At-Tawbah, and teach your women Surah An-Nur.” It is also reported in mursal form from Mujahid: “Teach your men Surah Al-Ma’idah, and your women Surah An-Nur.”

Authentic (sahih)Abu Ubayd (Fada’il al-Qur’an) and Al-Bayhaqi (Shu’ab al-Iman, 2437)

The most hopeful verse

When Abu Bakr swore to stop supporting Mistah after what he said about Aishah, there was revealed: “Let not those of grace and means among you swear… Do you not love that Allah should forgive you?”; so he restored his allowance. Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak said: “This is the most hopeful verse in the Book of Allah.”

One of the Mathani

It is one of the Mathani given to the Prophet ﷺ in place of the Gospel, according to the hadith of Wathilah ibn al-Asqa’: “I was given in place of the Torah the seven long ones, in place of the Psalms the Mi’in, in place of the Gospel the Mathani, and I was favoured with the Mufassal.”