Skip to content
Assabile
English

Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 221

سورة البقرة، الآية ٢٢١

2:221 Juz 2 Hizb 4 Page 35 of the mushaf Medinan surah

Text of verse 2:221

وَلَا تَنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكَٰتِ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنَّ وَلَأَمَةٌ مُّؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكَةٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ وَلَا تُنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ وَلَعَبْدٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكُمْ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ وَٱللَّهُ يَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ بِإِذْنِهِۦ وَيُبَيِّنُ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ۝٢٢١

Transliteration

walā tankiḥū l-mush'rikāti ḥattā yu'minna wala-amatun mu'minatun khayrun min mush'rikatin walaw aʿjabatkum walā tunkiḥū l-mush'rikīna ḥattā yu'minū walaʿabdun mu'minun khayrun min mush'rikin walaw aʿjabakum ulāika yadʿūna ilā l-nāri wal-lahu yadʿū ilā l-janati wal-maghfirati bi-idh'nihi wayubayyinu āyātihi lilnnāsi laʿallahum yatadhakkarūna

Translation

And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe.81 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.

Notes

[81] i.e., worship and obey Allāh alone.

Translation in another language
Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary Read in the surah

Verse 221 of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:221), a Medinan surah, is in juz 2, on page 35 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 69 reciters.

Listen to verse 221 of Surah Al-Baqarah

75 recitations by 69 reciters: pick one and it plays in the player.

Full Surah Al-Baqarah by: Mahmoud Khalil Al-HussarySaad Al-GhamdiAbdul Rahman Al-SudaisMaher Al-MuaiqlyMishary Rashid AlafasyAbdul Basit Abdul Samad

All voices (75)

Tafsir of verse 221

Al-Mukhtasar

Do not get married, O believers, to those women who give partners to Allah until they have faith in Him alone and enter the path of Islam. A woman who is a slave but has faith in Allah and His Messenger is better than a free woman who worships idols, even though you may be impressed by her beauty and wealth. Do not give Muslim women in marriage to men who are idolaters. A slave man who has faith in Allah and His Messenger is better than a free man who is an idolater, even though he may seem impressive to you. Men and women who commit idolatry, invite by their statements and actions, towards that which will lead to entering the fire of Hell. Allah, on the other hand, invites to good actions which will lead to entry into Paradise and forgiveness of sins by His permission and grace. Allah makes His verses clear for people so that they may learn and act obediently.

Tafsir of the whole Surah Al-Baqarah

Other translations of verse 221

Do not marry polytheist women until they believe; for a believing slave woman is better than a free polytheist, even though she may attract you. And do not give your women in marriage to polytheist men until they believe, for a believing slave is better than a free polytheist, even though he may attract you. They invite to the Fire while Allah invites to Paradise and to forgiveness by His grace, and He makes His verses clear to people so that they may take heed114.

Notes

[114] i.e., worship and obey Allah alone.

And do not marry Al-Mushrikât (idolatresses, etc.) till they believe (worship Allâh Alone). And indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress), even though she pleases you. And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al-Mushrikûn56 till they believe (in Allâh Alone) and verily, a believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolater), even though he pleases you. Those (Al-Mushrikûn) invite you to the Fire, but Allâh invites (you) to Paradise and Forgiveness by His Leave, and makes His Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to mankind that they may remember.

Notes

[56] (V.2:221) Al-Mushrikûn: polytheists, pagans, idolaters, and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh and in His Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم.

Wed not idolatresses till they believe; for lo! a believing bondwoman is better than an idolatress though she please you; and give not your daughters in marriage to idolaters till they believe, for lo! a believing slave is better than an idolater though he please you. These invite unto the Fire, and Allah inviteth unto the Garden, and unto forgiveness by His grace, and expoundeth His revelations to mankind that haply they may remember.

Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters), until they believe: A slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman, even though she allures you. Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe: A man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever, even though he allures you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the Fire. But Allah beckons by His Grace to the Garden (of bliss) and forgiveness, and makes His Signs clear to mankind: That they may celebrate His praise.

And do not marry the idolatresses until they believe, and certainly a believing maid is better than an idolatress woman, even though she should please you; and do not give (believing women) in marriage to idolaters until they believe, and certainly a believing servant is better than an idolater, even though he should please you; these invite to the fire, and Allah invites to the garden and to forgiveness by His will, and makes clear His communications to men, that they may be mindful.

And do not marry female associators (Those who associate others with Allah) until they believe; and indeed a believing bondwoman is more charitable than a female associator, even if you may admire her. And do not (allow) associators to marry (your females) until they believe. And indeed a believing bondman is more charitable than an associator, even if you may admire him. Those call to the Fire, and Allah calls to the Garden and forgiveness, by His permission, and He makes evident His signs to mankind, that possibly they would remind themselves.

Verse 221 word by word

  1. وَلَا walā And (do) not
  2. تَنكِحُوا۟ tankiḥū [you] marry ن ك ح
  3. ٱلْمُشْرِكَٰتِ l-mush'rikāti [the] polytheistic women ش ر ك
  4. حَتَّىٰ ḥattā until
  5. يُؤْمِنَّ yu'minna they believe أ م ن
  6. وَلَأَمَةٌ wala-amatun And a bondwoman أ م و
  7. مُّؤْمِنَةٌ mu'minatun (who is) believing أ م ن
  8. خَيْرٌ khayrun (is) better خ ي ر
  9. مِّن min than
  10. مُّشْرِكَةٍ mush'rikatin a polytheistic woman ش ر ك
  11. وَلَوْ walaw [and] even if
  12. أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ aʿjabatkum she pleases you ع ج ب
  13. وَلَا walā And (do) not
  14. تُنكِحُوا۟ tunkiḥū give in marriage (your women) ن ك ح
  15. ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ l-mush'rikīna (to) [the] polytheistic men ش ر ك
  16. حَتَّىٰ ḥattā until
  17. يُؤْمِنُوا۟ yu'minū they believe أ م ن
  18. وَلَعَبْدٌ walaʿabdun and a bondman ع ب د
  19. مُّؤْمِنٌ mu'minun (who is) believing أ م ن
  20. خَيْرٌ khayrun (is) better خ ي ر
  21. مِّن min than
  22. مُّشْرِكٍ mush'rikin a polytheistic man ش ر ك
  23. وَلَوْ walaw [and] even if
  24. أَعْجَبَكُمْ aʿjabakum he pleases you ع ج ب
  25. أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ulāika [Those]
  26. يَدْعُونَ yadʿūna they invite د ع و
  27. إِلَى ilā to
  28. ٱلنَّارِ l-nāri the Fire ن و ر
  29. وَٱللَّهُ wal-lahu and Allah
  30. يَدْعُوٓا۟ yadʿū invites د ع و
  31. إِلَى ilā to
  32. ٱلْجَنَّةِ l-janati Paradise ج ن ن
  33. وَٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ wal-maghfirati and [the] forgiveness غ ف ر
  34. بِإِذْنِهِۦ bi-idh'nihi by His permission أ ذ ن
  35. وَيُبَيِّنُ wayubayyinu And He makes clear ب ي ن
  36. ءَايَٰتِهِۦ āyātihi His Verses أ ي ي
  37. لِلنَّاسِ lilnnāsi for the people أ ن س
  38. لَعَلَّهُمْ laʿallahum so that they may
  39. يَتَذَكَّرُونَ yatadhakkarūna take heed ذ ك ر

Hadiths that cite this verse

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 5285

Whenever Ibn `Umar was asked about marrying a Christian lady or a Jewess, he would say: "Allah has made it unlawful for the believers to marry ladies who ascribe partners in worship to Allah, and I do not know of a greater thing, as regards to ascribing partners in worship, etc. to Allah, than that…

حَرَّمَ الْمُشْرِكَاتِ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ مِنَ الإِشْرَاكِ شَيْئًا أَكْبَرَ مِنْ أَنْ تَقُولَ الْمَرْأَةُ رَبُّهَا عِيسَى، وَهْوَ عَبْدٌ مِنْ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

Verses related to verse 221

Cited by Ibn Kathir in his explanation of this verse

  • Al-Ma’idah 5:5

    ٱلْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتُ وَطَعَامُ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ حِلٌّ لَّكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّ لَّهُمْ وَٱلْمُحْصَنَٰتُ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ وَٱلْمُحْصَنَٰتُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ إِذَآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَٰفِحِينَ وَلَا مُتَّخِذِىٓ أَخْدَانٍ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلْإِيمَٰنِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُۥ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلْخَٰسِرِينَ

    This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers. And whoever denies the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.

  • Al-An’am 6:152

    وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ مَالَ ٱلْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَأَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَٱعْدِلُوا۟ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ وَبِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْفُوا۟ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

    And do not approach the orphan's property except in a way that is best [i.e., intending improvement] until he reaches maturity. And give full measure and weight in justice. We do not charge any soul except [with that within] its capacity. And when you speak [i.e., testify], be just, even if [it concerns] a near relative. And the covenant of Allāh fulfill. This has He instructed you that you may remember.

Go further

English
Friday, November 13, 2026 3 جمادى الآخرة 1448 هـ

About Privacy