وَلَا تَنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكَـٰتِ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنَّ ۚ وَلَأَمَةٌ مُّؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكَةٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ ۗ وَلَا تُنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ وَلَعَبْدٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكُمْ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۖ وَيُبَيِّنُ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ 221
Translations
And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allāh invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses [i.e., ordinances] to the people that perhaps they may remember.
Transliteration
Wa laa tankihoo al-mushrikati hatta yu'minnal walaamatu mu'minatun khayrun min mushrikatin wa law a'jabatkum wa laa tunkih oo al-mushrikina hatta yu'minoo wa la'abdun mu'minun khayrun min mushrikin wa law a'jabakum ulaika yad'oona ila an-nari wallahu yad'oo ila al-jannati wa al-maghfirati bi idhnihi wa yubayyin ayatihi li an-nasi la'allahum yatadhakaroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah prohibits Muslim men and women from marrying polytheists (non-believers), emphasizing that a believing slave is superior to an unbelieving person of high status. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as addressing the fundamental incompatibility between a believer and disbeliever in matters of faith, worldview, and spiritual direction—polytheists call people toward the Fire while Allah calls toward Paradise and forgiveness. The prohibition protects the Islamic faith and ensures the religious well-being of the Muslim community, as marriage requires deep spiritual harmony.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Madinah during the early Islamic period when new Muslim converts faced pressure to marry pagans from their pre-Islamic families and tribes. This ayah addresses the social and spiritual challenges of the early Muslim community and establishes the Islamic principle that religious compatibility is fundamental to marriage, transcending social status or physical attraction.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The whole world is a provision, and the best provision of the world is a righteous woman' (Sahih Muslim 1469). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized that 'A woman is married for four things: her wealth, her family status, her beauty, and her religious commitment. Choose the one with religious commitment' (Sahih Bukhari 5090).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that spiritual alignment and shared religious values are more important in marriage than wealth, status, or physical attraction, as they determine the moral and religious foundation of a household. For modern Muslims, it emphasizes that marriage is not merely a social contract but a spiritual covenant that requires a partner who shares one's fundamental beliefs and commitment to worshipping Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
And [recall] when We gave Moses the Scripture and criterion that perhaps you would be guided.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
O you who have believed, eat from the good [i.e., lawful] things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allāh if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.
فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُۥ ۗ فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَآ أَن يَتَرَاجَعَآ إِن ظَنَّآ أَن يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ يُبَيِّنُهَا لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
And if he has divorced her [for the third time], then she is not lawful to him afterward until [after] she marries a husband other than him. And if he [i.e., the latter husband] divorces her [or dies], there is no blame upon them [i.e., the woman and her former husband] for returning to each other if they think that they can keep [within] the limits of Allāh. These are the limits of Allāh, which He makes clear to a people who know [i.e.,understand].
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world [in exchange] for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided.