ٱلزَّانِى لَا يَنكِحُ إِلَّا زَانِيَةً أَوْ مُشْرِكَةً وَٱلزَّانِيَةُ لَا يَنكِحُهَآ إِلَّا زَانٍ أَوْ مُشْرِكٌ ۚ وَحُرِّمَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 3
Translations
The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator or a polytheist, and that [i.e., marriage to such persons] has been made unlawful to the believers.
Transliteration
Az-zānī lā yankiḥu illā zāniyatan aw mushrikatan wa-z-zāniyatu lā yankiḥuhā illā zānin aw mushrikun wa-ḥurrima dhālik ʿala-l-muʾminīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that a fornicator (male) will not marry except a fornicatress (female) or a polytheist woman, and similarly a fornicatress will not be married except by a fornicator or polytheist man, with this practice being forbidden for believers. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as both a legal ruling prohibiting such marriages and a divine principle that sinful individuals are drawn to similar partners, reflecting the natural consequences of immoral behavior. The ayah emphasizes the gravity of fornication and the incompatibility between a believer's faith and engaging in such unions.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nur (Chapter 24), a Medinan surah primarily addressing matters of personal conduct, family law, and the boundaries of moral behavior in the Muslim community. It follows the verses establishing the punishment for fornication (24:2) and precedes regulations on marriage and social interaction, providing a comprehensive framework for maintaining chastity and family honor in Islamic society.
Related Hadiths
The Hadith of 'A'ishah in Sahih Muslim regarding the Prophet's statement about marriage compatibility: 'The best of you are those who are best to their wives,' emphasizing righteous conduct in marriage. Additionally, traditions in Sunan At-Tirmidhi discuss the Prophet's guidance on choosing virtuous spouses.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that maintaining moral integrity is foundational to a healthy marriage and family life, and that believers are called to a higher standard of conduct that naturally leads them toward righteous partners; it serves as a reminder that our choices and character shape the quality of our most intimate relationships.
Related Ayahs
وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and to Allāh is the destination.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَن تَشِيعَ ٱلْفَـٰحِشَةُ فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allāh knows and you do not know.
۞ وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ لَئِنْ أَمَرْتَهُمْ لَيَخْرُجُنَّ ۖ قُل لَّا تُقْسِمُوا۟ ۖ طَاعَةٌ مَّعْرُوفَةٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
And they swear by Allāh their strongest oaths that if you ordered them, they would go forth [in Allāh's cause]. Say, "Do not swear. [Such] obedience is known. Indeed, Allāh is [fully] Aware of that which you do."
۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّبِعْ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ مَا زَكَىٰ مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًا وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And if not for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but Allāh purifies whom He wills, and Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.