وَكَيۡفَ

تَأۡخُذُونَهُۥ

وَقَدۡ

أَفۡضَىٰ

بَعۡضُكُمۡ

إِلَىٰ

بَعۡضٖ

وَأَخَذۡنَ

مِنكُم

مِّيثَٰقًا

غَلِيظٗا

٢١

And how could you take it back after having enjoyed each other intimately and she has taken from you a firm commitment?¹ 

Do not marry former wives of your fathers—except what was done previously. It was indeed a shameful, despicable, and evil practice.

˹Also˺ forbidden to you for marriage are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal and maternal aunts, your brother’s daughters, your sister’s daughters, your foster-mothers, your foster-sisters, your mothers-in-law, your stepdaughters under your guardianship if you have consummated marriage with their mothers—but if you have not, then you can marry them—nor the wives of your own sons, nor two sisters together at the same time—except what was done previously. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Also ˹forbidden are˺ married women—except ˹female˺ captives in your possession.¹ This is Allah’s commandment to you. Lawful to you are all beyond these—as long as you seek them with your wealth in a legal marriage, not in fornication. Give those you have consummated marriage with their due dowries. It is permissible to be mutually gracious regarding the set dowry. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

But if any of you cannot afford to marry a free believing woman, then ˹let him marry˺ a believing bondwoman possessed by one of you. Allah knows best ˹the state of˺ your faith ˹and theirs˺. You are from one another.¹ So marry them with the permission of their owners,² giving them their dowry in fairness, if they are chaste, neither promiscuous nor having secret affairs. If they commit indecency after marriage, they receive half the punishment of free women.³ This is for those of you who fear falling into sin. But if you are patient, it is better for you. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

It is Allah’s Will to make things clear to you, guide you to the ˹noble˺ ways of those before you, and turn to you in mercy. For Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

And it is Allah’s Will to turn to you in grace, but those who follow their desires wish to see you deviate entirely ˹from Allah’s Way˺.

And it is Allah’s Will to lighten your burdens, for humankind was created weak.

O believers! Do not devour one another’s wealth illegally, but rather trade by mutual consent. And do not kill ˹each other or˺ yourselves. Surely Allah is ever Merciful to you.

And whoever does this sinfully and unjustly, We will burn them in the Fire. That is easy for Allah.