An-Nur 24:5

<h2>The Prescribed Punishment for slandering Chaste Women</h2><p>This Ayah states the prescribed punishment for making false accusations against chaste women, i.e., those who are free, adult and chaste. If the person who is falsely accused is a man, the same punishment of flogging also applies. If the accuser produces evidence that what he is saying is true, then the punishment does not apply. Allah said:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْتُواْ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ فَاجْلِدُوهُمْ ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً وَلاَ تَقْبَلُواْ لَهُمْ شَهَادَةً أَبَداً وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْفَـسِقُونَ</div><p>(and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever. They indeed are the rebellious.) If the accuser cannot prove that what he is saying is true, then three rulings apply to him: (firstly) that he should be flogged with eighty stripes, (secondly) that his testimony should be rejected forever, and (thirdly) that he should be labelled as a rebellious who is not of good character, whether in the sight of Allah or of mankind.</p><h2>Explaining the Repentance of the One Who makes a False Accusation</h2><p>Then Allah says:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ تَابُواْ مِن بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُواْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ </div><p>(Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous deeds; (for such) verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most …

Save those who afterward repent and make amends. (For such) lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Unless they repent thereafter and mend (their conduct); for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous deeds, (for such) verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Except for those who repent afterwards, and reform; for God is Forgiving and Merciful.