۞ 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 24
Translations
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.
Transliteration
Wa-al-muhsanātu min an-nisāi illā mā malakat aymānukum kitāb Allāhi ʿalaykum wa-uḥilla lakum mā warāʾa dhālikum an tabtaghū bi-amwālkum muḥsinīn ghayra musāfiḥīn fa-mā istamtaʿtum bihī minhunna fa-ātūhunna ujūrahunna farīḍah wa-lā junāḥa ʿalaykum fīmā tarāḍaytum bihī min baʿd al-farīḍah inn Allāh kāna ʿalīman ḥakīman
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah defines permissible women for marriage, prohibiting relations with chaste married women except those owned as slaves (war captives), while permitting lawful marriage with other women through proper contract. Scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that marriage must be accompanied by financial responsibility (mahr—obligatory gift) and must be done with chastity (iḥsān), not lewdness. The verse concludes by permitting mutual agreement on additional compensation beyond the obligatory mahr, establishing the principle of consent and fair dealing in marital contracts.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa, revealed in Madinah and addressing social regulations after the Battle of Uhud, which left many women widowed. The context encompasses laws of marriage, inheritance, and women's rights. This specific verse clarifies marriage permissions following the prohibition of unlawful relationships mentioned earlier in the surah (4:22-23).
Related Hadiths
1) From Sahih Bukhari and Muslim: The Prophet (ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said, 'The best among you are those who are best to their wives.' 2) From Sunan An-Nasa'i: 'A woman should not be married except by her permission, and a virgin should not be married except with her consent.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah establishes that Islamic marriage is a contractual relationship founded on mutual consent, financial responsibility, and moral integrity rather than mere desire. It emphasizes that women deserve honor, protection, and fair compensation, serving as a reminder for spouses to treat each other with justice and compassion in their marital covenant.