4. An-Nisaa

(How can ye take it (back)) how can you take the dowry back as a lawful possession. (after one of you hath gone in unto the other) when you have come together under one cover as a result of this dowry and marriage, (and they have taken) He says: Allah has taken from you upon marrying women (a strong pledge from you?) a firm pledge that you either keep them in goodness or release them in kindness. Then Allah forbade them from marrying the wives of their fathers, since this is what they did in the pre-Islamic era.

He said: (And marry not those women whom your fathers married, except what hath already happened (of that nature) in the past) in the pre-Islamic era. (Lo! It) i.e. marrying the wives of one's father (was ever lewdness) a transgression (and abomination) antagonism, (and an evil way) the worst way to follow. This was revealed about Muhsin Ibn Abi Qays al-Ansari. Allah then showed them the women who are unlawful for them to marry.

He said: (Forbidden unto you are your mothers) your blood mothers, (and your daughters) your blood daughters, (and your sisters) your blood sisters, whether from both parents or from either one of them, (and your father's sisters, and your mother's sisters, and your brother's daughters) the daughters of your blood brother whether he is a full brother or half brother from the father or the mother (and your sister's daughters) and the daughters of your sister whether she is a full sister or half sister from the father or mother, (and your foster mothers) who suckled you within the first two years, (and your foster sisters, and your mothers-in-law) whether you have consummated the marriage with their daughters or not: in both cases you are forbidden from marrying them, (and your stepdaughters who are under your protection) who are brought up in your homes ((born) of your women unto whom ye have gone in) with whom you are married and consummated this marriage (but if ye have not gone in unto them) if you have not have consummated the marriage with their mothers, (then it is no sin for you) to marry their daughters after you divorce their mothers (and the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins) your sons who are born in wedlock. (And (it is forbidden unto you) that ye should have two sisters together) whether they are free or slave sisters, (except what hath already happened (of that nature) in the past) before Islam. (Lo! Allah is ever Forgiving) of that which ensued from you in the pre-Islamic era, (Merciful) regarding that which ensues from you in Islam, provided that you repent.

(And all married women (are forbidden unto you save those (captives) whom your right hands possess) of captives, even if they have husbands in the Abode of War, after ascertaining that they are not pregnant, by waiting for the lapse of one period of menstruation. (It is a decree of Allah for you) that which I have mentioned to you is unlawful in Allah's Book. (Lawful unto you are all beyond those mentioned) as unlawful, (so that ye seek them) marry (with your wealth) up to four wives; it is also said that this means: so that you buy with your wealth captives; and it is also said that this means: so that you should seek with your money marrying women for an agreed period of time (zawaj al-mut'ah) but the lawfulness of this practice was later abrogated, (in honest wedlock) He says: be with them as legitimate husbands, (not debauchery) not indulging in adultery without having a proper marriage. (And those of whom) after marriage (ye seek content) from whom you derive benefit, (give unto them their portions) give to them their full dowry (as a duty) as an obligation upon you from Allah to give the dowry in full. (And there is no sin for you) there is no harm for you (in what ye do by mutual agreement) in increasing or decreasing the amount of the dowry by mutual agreement (after the duty hath been done) after the first obligation to which you have aspired. (Lo! Allah is ever Knower) in relation to making lawful to you marriage for an agreed, limited period of time, (Wise) in later making this practice unlawful; it is also said that this means: Allah is ever Knower of your compulsion for marriage for an agreed, limited period of time, Wise in making such marriage unlawful.

(And whoso is not able to afford to marry free, believing women, let them marry from the believing maids whom your right hands possess) who are in the hands of the believers. (Allah knoweth best (concerning) your faith) He knows best that your hearts are firm in faith. (Ye (proceed) one from another) You are all the children of Adam; it is also said that this means: some of you follow the religion of others; and it is also said that this means: you are strengthened by one another; (so wed them) marry the maids (by permission of their folk) their owners, (and give unto them) the maids (their portions) their dowry (in kindness) on top of the price given to the prostitute for providing sex, (they being honest) He says: marry those maids who are chaste, (not debauched) not those who commit adultery in the open (nor of loose conduct) nor those who have lovers who commit adultery with them in secret. (And if when they are honourably married) if when they marry maids (they commit lewdness) fornication (they) the maids (shall incur the half of the punishment (prescribed)) lashing (for free women (in that case). This is) marrying maids is lawful (for him among you who feareth to commit sin) adultery and debauchery. (But to have patience) and refrain from marrying maids (would be better for you) in that your children would be free. (Allah is Forgiving) of the adultery you might commit, (Merciful) when He gave you a legal dispensation to marry captives in cases of necessity.

(Allah wishes to explain to you) that which is lawful for you; it is also said that this means: Allah would explain to you that having patience and refraining from marrying captives is better for you than marrying them (and guide you) expound to you (by the examples of those who were before you) among the people of the Book who were forbidden from marrying captives, (and would turn to you in mercy) He will forgive you that which ensued from you in pre-Islamic times. (Allah is Knower) that you have a dire need for marriage, (Wise) when He prohibited you to marry them except upon necessity.

(And Allah wishes to turn to you in mercy) He wishes to overlook your transgression when He made adultery and marrying your sisters, from the father's side, forbidden for you; (but those who follow vain desires) i.e. adultery and marrying their sisters from their fathers' side, namely, the Jews (would have you go tremendously astray) commit a serious error by marrying your sisters, from the father's side, by claiming that it is lawful in their Scripture.

(Allah would make the burden light for you) He wishes to make things easy for you by marrying captives in case of necessity, (for man was created weak) in that he cannot do without women.

(O ye who believe! Squander not your wealth among yourselves in vanity) through transgression, usurpation, false testimony, lying in oath or through other unlawful means, (except it be a trade by mutual consent) except if there is mutual agreement between you in the course of buying and selling or in abating the price in selling (Muhabat), (and kill not one another) without justified right. (Lo! Allah is ever Merciful unto you) when He forbade you to kill one another without such a justification.

(Whoso doeth that) killing another or wrongfully taking another person's property (through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into Fire) in the Hereafter; this is a threat to such a person, (and that) casting him into the Fire and tormenting him (is ever easy for Allah).