“Verily We have sent down for you revelations which clearly expound true guidance, and examples of those who passed away before you, and an admonition for those who fear (Allah).”
(Al-Qur’ān – 24:34)
‘Revelations which clearly expound true guidance’ refer to those verses in which the laws pertaining to zinā, qadhf and li‘ān were laid down, in which believers were directed to abstain from marrying immoral men and women, and slandering good-charactered people was forbidden. The same verses urged both men and women to restrain their eyes and guard their chastity, and laid down injunctions regarding the hijāb of women, expressed a disapproval of celibacy, provided for the institution of a kitabāh for the liberation of slaves, and called for the extirpation of all forms of prostitution.
After laying down these laws, the people are told that the teaching needed by the God-fearing so that they can act righteously has been provided for them. If they violate these teachings, it clearly means that they are willing to court the same fate which befell those misguided nations of the past. Nations whose detailed accounts are provided in the Qur’ān. Perhaps no warning could have been more stern than the present one to conclude the exposition of this set of legal injunctions. Yet there were still to be found those people who said they believed, who recited the whole set of injunctions prescribed by God, who were also fully aware of the stern warning contained within these verses and yet who still violated these injunctions with absolute impunity.