Surah An-Nisa — Verse 24
The Women · 4:24 · 24/176
۞ وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ ۖ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَأُحِلَّ لَكُم مَّا وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَن تَبْتَغُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِكُم مُّحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَـٰفِحِينَ ۚ فَمَا ٱسْتَمْتَعْتُم بِهِۦ مِنْهُنَّ فَـَٔاتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا تَرَٰضَيْتُم بِهِۦ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلْفَرِيضَةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
Walmuhsanatu mina annisa-iilla ma malakat aymanukum kitaba AllahiAAalaykum waohilla lakum ma waraa thalikuman tabtaghoo bi-amwalikum muhsineena ghayra musafiheenafama istamtaAAtum bihi minhunna faatoohunnaojoorahunna fareedatan wala junaha AAalaykumfeema taradaytum bihi min baAAdi alfareedatiinna Allaha kana AAaleeman hakeema
Translations of this verse 7
Saheeh International
And [also prohibited to you are all] married women except those your right hands possess. [This is] the decree of Allāh upon you. And lawful to you are [all others] beyond these, [provided] that you seek them [in marriage] with [gifts from] your property, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse. So for whatever you enjoy [of marriage] from them, give them their due compensation as an obligation. And there is no blame upon you for what you mutually agree to beyond the obligation. Indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
women already married, other than your slaves.God has ordained all this for you. Other women are lawful to you, so long as you seek them in marriage, with gifts from your property, looking for wedlock rather than fornication. If you wish to enjoy women through marriage, give them their bride-gift- this is obligatory- though if you should choose mutually, after fulfilling this obligation, to do otherwise [with the bride-gift], you will not be blamed: God is all knowing and all wise.
Marmaduke Pickthall
And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess. It is a decree of Allah for you. Lawful unto you are all beyond those mentioned, so that ye seek them with your wealth in honest wedlock, not debauchery. And those of whom ye seek content (by marrying them), give unto them their portions as a duty. And there is no sin for you in what ye do by mutual agreement after the duty (hath been done). Lo! Allah is ever Knower, Wise.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Also (prohibited are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess: Thus hath Allah ordained (Prohibitions) against you: Except for these, all others are lawful, provided ye seek (them in marriage) with gifts from your property,- desiring chastity, not lust, seeing that ye derive benefit from them, give them their dowers (at least) as prescribed; but if, after a dower is prescribed, agree Mutually (to vary it), there is no blame on you, and Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.
Mufti Taqi Usmani
(Also prohibited are) the women already bound in marriage, except the bondwomen you come to own. It has been written by Allah for you. All (women), except these, have been permitted for you to seek (to marry) through your wealth, binding yourself, (in marriage) and not only for lust. So, to those of them whose company you have enjoyed, give their dues (dower) as obligated. There is no sin on you in what you mutually agree upon after the (initial) agreement. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Al-Hilali & Khan
Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Thus has Allâh ordained for you. All others are lawful, provided you seek (them in marriage) with Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) from your property, desiring chastity, not committing illegal sexual intercourse, so with those of whom you have enjoyed sexual relations, give them their Mahr as prescribed; but if after a Mahr is prescribed, you agree mutually (to give more), there is no sin on you. Surely, Allâh is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Abul A'la Maududi (Tafhim)
And also forbidden to you are all married women (muhsanat) except those women whom your right hands have come to possess (as a result of war). This is Allah's decree and it is binding upon you. But it is lawful for you to seek out all women except these, offering them your wealth and the protection of wedlock rather than using them for the unfettered satisfaction of lust. And in exchange of what you enjoy by marrying them pay their bridal-due as an obligation. But there is no blame on you if you mutually agree to alter the settlement after it has been made. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Reason for Revelation Asbāb al-Nuzūl
Arabic source: al-Wāḥidī / al-Suyūṭī, via Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies (CC BY 4.0)
قال تعالى: {وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأُحِلَّ لَكُمْ مَا وَرَاءَ ذَلِكُمْ أَنْ تَبْتَغُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحِينَ فَمَا اسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْهُنَّ فَآتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا تَرَاضَيْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الْفَرِيضَةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا (24)} [النساء: 24].
101 - عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدِ الْخُدْرِيِّ - رضي الله عنه -: أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بَعَثَ جَيْشاً إِلَى أَوْطَاسِ فَلَقُوا عَدُوًّا، فَقَاتَلُوهُمْ، وَظَهَرُوا عَلَيْهِمْ، فَأَصَابُوا لَهُمْ سَبَايَا لَهُنَّ أَزْوَاجٌ فِي الْمُشْرِكِينَ، فَكَانَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ تَحَرَّجُوا مِنْ غِشْيَانِهِنَّ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللّهُ عَز وَجلّ: {وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ}، أَيْ: هَذَا لَكُمْ حَلالٌ إِذَا انْقَضتْ عِدَّتُهُنَّ ¬أخرجه مسلم برقم: 1456، والترمذي برقم: 1132، 3016، 3017، وأبو داود برقم: 2155، والنسائي: 3333، 4434، 4077، والكبرى برقم: 11096، 11097، وأبو يعلى برقم: 1148، 1231، 1318، والطبري برقم: 8969، 8970، 8971، والطيالسي برقم: 2239، والبيهقي: 7/ 167، وأحمد: 3/ 72، 84، وابن أبي شيبة: 4/ 265، والواحدي في أسباب النزول: ص 148 - 149، والدارمي برقم: 2295، وعزاه في الدر: 2/ 137 - 138 للفريابي وعبد بن حميد وابن المنذر وابن أبي حاتم وابن حبان.¥.
102 - وقد جاء من حديث ابن عباس -رضي الله عنهما- شبيهاً به ¬أخرجه النَّسَائِيّ في التفسير برقم: 118، وفي الكبرى برقم: 11098، وإسناده صحيح، والطبراني في الكبير برقم: 12637، والسهمي في تاريخ جرجان: ص 212، والحاكم في المستدرك: 2/ 2 0 3، والبيهقي في السنن: 7/ 167، وصححه الحاكم ووافقه الذهبي، وزاد السيوطي عزوه في الدر: 2/ 138 لابن أبي شيبة وعبد بن حميد وابن المنذر.¥.