وَأَنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْأَيَـٰمَىٰ مِنكُمْ وَٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَآئِكُمْ ۚ إِن يَكُونُوا۟ فُقَرَآءَ يُغْنِهِمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ 32
Translations
And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allāh will enrich them from His bounty, and Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.
Transliteration
Wa-ankihū al-ayāmā minkum wa-as-sālihīn min ibādikum wa-imā'ikum. In yakūnū fuqarā' yughnihim Allāh min fadlih. Wa-Allāh wāsi' 'alīm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands believers to marry off the unmarried among them, including righteous slaves and slave-women, emphasizing that poverty should not be a deterrent to marriage as Allah will enrich them from His bounty. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir highlight that this verse establishes marriage as a recommended act of worship and removes social barriers to matrimony based on economic status, while affirming Allah's vast knowledge and provision.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Madinah within Surah An-Nur, which addresses issues of social conduct, modesty, and family relations in the Muslim community. This particular verse fits within the broader context of Quranic teachings on marriage and family structure, encouraging a culture where matrimony is facilitated rather than hindered by worldly concerns.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'O young people! Whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it lowers the gaze and protects the private parts' (Sahih Bukhari 5193). Additionally, the Prophet encouraged marriage as a Sunnah, stating: 'Marriage is my Sunnah, and whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me' (Sunan Ibn Majah 1846).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should actively facilitate marriage within their communities without letting economic circumstances become obstacles, trusting in Allah's infinite provision and wisdom. This teaches that seeking righteous partnership is a noble endeavor deserving communal support and that financial constraints should not prevent adherence to the Sunnah of marriage.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَخْشَ ٱللَّهَ وَيَتَّقْهِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَآئِزُونَ
And whoever obeys Allāh and His Messenger and fears Allāh and is conscious of Him - it is those who are the attainers.
لَّوْلَا جَآءُو عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ ۚ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا۟ بِٱلشُّهَدَآءِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰذِبُونَ
Why did they [who slandered] not produce for it four witnesses? And when they do not produce the witnesses, then it is they, in the sight of Allāh, who are the liars.
لَّقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ ءَايَـٰتٍ مُّبَيِّنَـٰتٍ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
We have certainly sent down distinct verses. And Allāh guides whom He wills to a straight path.
إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُۥ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُم مَّا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُۥ هَيِّنًا وَهُوَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ
When you received it with your tongues and said with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge and thought it was insignificant while it was, in the sight of Allāh, tremendous.