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Surah An-Nisa, Verse 25

سورة النساء، الآية ٢٥

4:25 Juz 5 Hizb 9 Page 82 of the mushaf Medinan surah

Text of verse 4:25

وَمَن لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ مِنكُمْ طَوْلًا أَن يَنكِحَ ٱلْمُحْصَنَٰتِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ فَمِن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُكُم مِّن فَتَيَٰتِكُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِإِيمَٰنِكُم بَعْضُكُم مِّنۢ بَعْضٍ فَٱنكِحُوهُنَّ بِإِذْنِ أَهْلِهِنَّ وَءَاتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ مُحْصَنَٰتٍ غَيْرَ مُسَٰفِحَٰتٍ وَلَا مُتَّخِذَٰتِ أَخْدَانٍ فَإِذَآ أُحْصِنَّ فَإِنْ أَتَيْنَ بِفَٰحِشَةٍ فَعَلَيْهِنَّ نِصْفُ مَا عَلَى ٱلْمُحْصَنَٰتِ مِنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِىَ ٱلْعَنَتَ مِنكُمْ وَأَن تَصْبِرُوا۟ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ۝٢٥

Transliteration

waman lam yastaṭiʿ minkum ṭawlan an yankiḥa l-muḥ'ṣanāti l-mu'mināti famin mā malakat aymānukum min fatayātikumu l-mu'mināti wal-lahu aʿlamu biīmānikum baʿḍukum min baʿḍin fa-inkiḥūhunna bi-idh'ni ahlihinna waātūhunna ujūrahunna bil-maʿrūfi muḥ'ṣanātin ghayra musāfiḥātin walā muttakhidhāti akhdānin fa-idhā uḥ'ṣinna fa-in atayna bifāḥishatin faʿalayhinna niṣ'fu mā ʿalā l-muḥ'ṣanāti mina l-ʿadhābi dhālika liman khashiya l-ʿanata minkum wa-an taṣbirū khayrun lakum wal-lahu ghafūrun raḥīmun

Translation

And whoever among you cannot [find] the means to marry free, believing women, then [he may marry] from those whom your right hands possess of believing slave girls. And Allāh is most knowing about your faith. You [believers] are of one another. So marry them with the permission of their people and give them their due compensation [i.e., mahr] according to what is acceptable. [They should be] chaste, neither [of] those who commit unlawful intercourse randomly nor those who take [secret] lovers. But once they are sheltered in marriage, if they should commit adultery, then for them is half the punishment for free [unmarried] women. This [allowance] is for him among you who fears affliction [i.e., sin], but to be patient is better for you. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

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

Verse 25 of Surah An-Nisa (4:25), a Medinan surah, is in juz 5, on page 82 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 72 reciters.

Listen to verse 25 of Surah An-Nisa

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Tafsir of verse 25

Al-Mukhtasar

Whoever among you cannot marry a free woman, because he does not have enough wealth, is allowed to marry a believing slave owned by someone else. Allah knows the reality of your faith and your situation, and you are equal in your faith and humanity, so do not look down on marrying them. Marry them with the permission of their owners, and give them their dowries without reducing the amount or delaying it. This is if they are chaste and do not commit sexual offences publicly and do not take lovers secretly. If you marry them and then they have illicit sexual relations, their punishment is half that of a free woman: fifty lashes, and not stoning, which is the punishment for chaste women. Marrying chaste believing slave women is a concession for those who fear falling into illicit sexual relations, and who are not able to marry free women. Patience is preferable to marrying slave women though, so that the children do not become slaves. Allah is Forgiving and Compassionate to those of His servants who repent to Him, and it is from His mercy that He allowed marriage to slaves in the case of not being able to marry free women, for those who fear falling into illicit sexual relations.

Tafsir of the whole Surah An-Nisa

Other translations of verse 25

But if any of you cannot afford to marry free believing women, you may marry believing bondwomen in your possession. Allah knows best about your faith; you are from one another. Marry them with the permission of their masters and give them their dowries in fairness – provided that they are chaste, neither given to committing fornication nor having secret paramours. If they commit adultery after marriage, they are liable to half of the punishment prescribed for free women18. This is for those of you who fear falling into sin; but if you stay patient, it is better for you. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Notes

[18] Their punishment is fifty (50) lashes; neither stoning to death nor exile.

And whoever of you have not the means wherewith to wed free, believing women, they may wed believing girls from among those (slaves) whom your right hands possess, and Allâh has full knowledge about your Faith; you are one from another. Wed them with the permission of their own folk (guardians, Auliyâ’ or masters) and give them their Mahr according to what is reasonable; they (the above said captive and slave-girls) should be chaste, not committing illegal sex, nor taking boy-friends. And after they have been taken in wedlock, if they commit illegal sexual intercourse, their punishment is half that for free (unmarried) women.7 This is for him among you who is afraid of being harmed in his religion or in his body; but it is better for you that you practise self-restraint, and Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Notes

[7] (V.4:25) Female or male slaves (married or unmarried); if they commit illegal sexual intercourse, their punishment is fifty (50) lashes (half of that which is for free unmarried women); neither stoning to death nor exile.

And whoso is not able to afford to marry free, believing women, let them marry from the believing maids whom your right hands possess. Allah knoweth best (concerning) your faith. Ye (proceed) one from another; so wed them by permission of their folk, and give unto them their portions in kindness, they being honest, not debauched nor of loose conduct. And if when they are honourably married they commit lewdness they shall incur the half of the punishment (prescribed) for free women (in that case). This is for him among you who feareth to commit sin. But to have patience would be better for you. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

If any of you have not the means wherewith to wed free believing women, they may wed believing girls from among those whom your right hands possess: And Allah hath full knowledge about your faith. Ye are one from another: Wed them with the leave of their owners, and give them their dowers, according to what is reasonable: They should be chaste, not lustful, nor taking paramours: when they are taken in wedlock, if they fall into shame, their punishment is half that for free women. This (permission) is for those among you who fear sin; but it is better for you that ye practise self-restraint. And Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

And whoever among you has not within his power ampleness of means to marry free believing women, then (he may marry) of those whom your right hands possess from among your believing maidens; and Allah knows best your faith: you are (sprung) the one from the other; so marry them with the permission of their masters, and give them their dowries justly, they being chaste, not fornicating, nor receiving paramours; and when they are taken in marriage, then if they are guilty of indecency, they shall suffer half the punishment which is (inflicted) upon free women. This is for him among you who fears falling into evil; and that you abstain is better for you, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

And whoever of you is unable to (provide) ample (means) for marrying (free) believing women in wedlock, then (let him take) from the believing handmaids that your right hands possess; and Allah knows best your belief, the ones of you are as the others (Literally: Some of you are from some others, i.e., you are equal). So marry them by the permission of their families, (i.e. their folk) and bring them their rewards with beneficence, as (women) in wedlock, other than in fornication or taking mates to themselves. (So) when they are in wedlock, (then) in case they come up with an obscenity, (5) they shall have then half the torment of free women in wedlock. That is for the ones of you who are apprehensive of distress; (i.e., sin) (and) to be patient is more charitable for you; and Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.

Verse 25 word by word

  1. وَمَن waman And whoever
  2. لَّمْ lam (is) not
  3. يَسْتَطِعْ yastaṭiʿ able to ط و ع
  4. مِنكُمْ minkum among you
  5. طَوْلًا ṭawlan afford ط و ل
  6. أَن an to
  7. يَنكِحَ yankiḥa marry ن ك ح
  8. ٱلْمُحْصَنَٰتِ l-muḥ'ṣanāti the free chaste ح ص ن
  9. ٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ l-mu'mināti [the] believing women أ م ن
  10. فَمِن famin then (marry) from
  11. مَّا mā what
  12. مَلَكَتْ malakat possess[ed] م ل ك
  13. أَيْمَٰنُكُم aymānukum your right hands ي م ن
  14. مِّن min of
  15. فَتَيَٰتِكُمُ fatayātikumu your slave girls ف ت ي
  16. ٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ l-mu'mināti (of) the believers أ م ن
  17. وَٱللَّهُ wal-lahu And Allah
  18. أَعْلَمُ aʿlamu knows best ع ل م
  19. بِإِيمَٰنِكُم biīmānikum about your faith أ م ن
  20. بَعْضُكُم baʿḍukum You ب ع ض
  21. مِّنۢ min (are) from
  22. بَعْضٍ baʿḍin (one) another ب ع ض
  23. فَٱنكِحُوهُنَّ fa-inkiḥūhunna So marry them ن ك ح
  24. بِإِذْنِ bi-idh'ni with (the) permission أ ذ ن
  25. أَهْلِهِنَّ ahlihinna (of) their family أ ه ل
  26. وَءَاتُوهُنَّ waātūhunna and give them أ ت ي
  27. أُجُورَهُنَّ ujūrahunna their bridal due أ ج ر
  28. بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ bil-maʿrūfi in a fair manner ع ر ف
  29. مُحْصَنَٰتٍ muḥ'ṣanātin (They should be) chaste ح ص ن
  30. غَيْرَ ghayra not غ ي ر
  31. مُسَٰفِحَٰتٍ musāfiḥātin those who commit immorality س ف ح
  32. وَلَا walā and not
  33. مُتَّخِذَٰتِ muttakhidhāti those who take أ خ ذ
  34. أَخْدَانٍ akhdānin secret lovers خ د ن
  35. فَإِذَآ fa-idhā Then when
  36. أُحْصِنَّ uḥ'ṣinna they are married ح ص ن
  37. فَإِنْ fa-in and if
  38. أَتَيْنَ atayna they commit أ ت ي
  39. بِفَٰحِشَةٍ bifāḥishatin adultery ف ح ش
  40. فَعَلَيْهِنَّ faʿalayhinna then for them
  41. نِصْفُ niṣ'fu (is) half ن ص ف
  42. مَا mā (of) what
  43. عَلَى ʿalā (is) on
  44. ٱلْمُحْصَنَٰتِ l-muḥ'ṣanāti the free chaste women ح ص ن
  45. مِنَ mina of
  46. ٱلْعَذَابِ l-ʿadhābi the punishment ع ذ ب
  47. ذَٰلِكَ dhālika That
  48. لِمَنْ liman (is) for whoever
  49. خَشِىَ khashiya fears خ ش ي
  50. ٱلْعَنَتَ l-ʿanata committing sin ع ن ت
  51. مِنكُمْ minkum among you
  52. وَأَن wa-an and that
  53. تَصْبِرُوا۟ taṣbirū you be patient ص ب ر
  54. خَيْرٌ khayrun (is) better خ ي ر
  55. لَّكُمْ lakum for you
  56. وَٱللَّهُ wal-lahu And Allah
  57. غَفُورٌ ghafūrun (is) Oft-Forgiving غ ف ر
  58. رَّحِيمٌ raḥīmun Most Merciful ر ح م

Hadiths that cite this verse

Authentic Muwatta Malik 1123

Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said that Said ibn al-Musayyab said, "The slave girl is not married when there is a free woman who is a wife unless the free woman wishes it. If the free woman complies, she has two-thirds of the division of time." Malik said, "A free man must not marry…

وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ لاَ تُنْكَحُ الأَمَةُ عَلَى الْحُرَّةِ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَشَاءَ الْحُرَّةُ فَإِنْ طَاعَتِ الْحُرَّةُ فَلَهَا…

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 2152

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If a slave-girl commits illegal sexual intercourse and it is proved beyond doubt, then her owner should lash her and should not blame her after the legal punishment. And then if she repeats the illegal sexual intercourse he should lash her again and should not blame her after…

إِذَا زَنَتِ الأَمَةُ فَتَبَيَّنَ زِنَاهَا فَلْيَجْلِدْهَا، وَلاَ يُثَرِّبْ، ثُمَّ إِنْ زَنَتْ فَلْيَجْلِدْهَا، وَلاَ يُثَرِّبْ، ثُمَّ إِنْ زَنَتِ الثَّالِثَةَ فَلْيَبِعْهَا، وَلَوْ بِحَبْلٍ مِنْ شَعَرٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 9 other versions

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 2153

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was asked about the slave-girl, if she was a virgin and committed illegal sexual intercourse. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If she committed illegal sexual intercourse, lash her, and if she did it a second time, then lash her again, and if she repeated the third time, then sell her…

الأَمَةِ إِذَا زَنَتْ وَلَمْ تُحْصِنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنْ زَنَتْ فَاجْلِدُوهَا، ثُمَّ إِنْ زَنَتْ فَاجْلِدُوهَا، ثُمَّ إِنْ زَنَتْ فَبِيعُوهَا وَلَوْ بِضَفِيرٍ ‏"

Narrated by Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhani + 3 other versions

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 2232

that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was asked about an unmarried slave-girl who committed illegal sexual intercourse. They heard him saying, "Flog her, and if she commits illegal sexual intercourse after that, flog her again, and on the third (or the fourth) offense, sell her."

اجْلِدُوهَا، ثُمَّ إِنْ زَنَتْ فَاجْلِدُوهَا، ثُمَّ بِيعُوهَا بَعْدَ الثَّالِثَةِ أَوِ الرَّابِعَةِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 2555

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If a slave-girl (Ama) commits illegal sexual intercourse, scourge her; if she does it again, scourge her again; if she repeats it, scourge her again." The narrator added that on the third or the fourth offense, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Sell her even for a hair rope."

إِذَا زَنَتِ الأَمَةُ فَاجْلِدُوهَا، ثُمَّ إِذَا زَنَتْ فَاجْلِدُوهَا، ثُمَّ إِذَا زَنَتْ فَاجْلِدُوهَا، فِي الثَّالِثَةِ أَوِ الرَّابِعَةِ بِيعُوهَا وَلَوْ بِضَفِيرٍ ‏"

Narrated by Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhani

Authentic Sahih Muslim 1703c

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the unmarried bondmaid who fornicates.

Abu Hurayrah and Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the unmarried bondmaid who fornicates, and he replied: "If she commits fornication, then flog her; if she commits fornication…

الأَمَةِ إِذَا زَنَتْ وَلَمْ تُحْصِنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنْ زَنَتْ فَاجْلِدُوهَا ثُمَّ إِنْ زَنَتْ فَاجْلِدُوهَا ثُمَّ إِنْ زَنَتْ فَاجْلِدُوهَا ثُمَّ بِيعُوهَا وَلَوْ بِضَفِيرٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah Explained

Verses related to verse 25

Cited by Ibn Kathir in his explanation of this verse

  • An-Nur 24:2

    ٱلزَّانِيَةُ وَٱلزَّانِى فَٱجْلِدُوا۟ كُلَّ وَٰحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا مِا۟ئَةَ جَلْدَةٍ وَلَا تَأْخُذْكُم بِهِمَا رَأْفَةٌ فِى دِينِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَلْيَشْهَدْ عَذَابَهُمَا طَآئِفَةٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

    The [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse - lash each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion [i.e., law] of Allāh, if you should believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment.

  • Al-Ahzab 33:56

    إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا

    Indeed, Allāh confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allāh to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allāh to grant him] peace.

Verses with similar wording

They share a sequence of words with this verse: useful for telling them apart when memorising.

  • Al-Hadid 57:28

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَءَامِنُوا۟ بِرَسُولِهِۦ يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ نُورًا تَمْشُونَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

    O you who have believed, fear Allāh and believe in His Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of His mercy and make for you a light by which you will walk and forgive you; and Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

  • Al-Anfal 8:70

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّمَن فِىٓ أَيْدِيكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَسْرَىٰٓ إِن يَعْلَمِ ٱللَّهُ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ خَيْرًا يُؤْتِكُمْ خَيْرًا مِّمَّآ أُخِذَ مِنكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

    O Prophet, say to whoever is in your hands of the captives, "If Allāh knows [any] good in your hearts, He will give you [something] better than what was taken from you, and He will forgive you; and Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful."

  • An-Nur 24:22

    وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْفَضْلِ مِنكُمْ وَٱلسَّعَةِ أَن يُؤْتُوٓا۟ أُو۟لِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينَ وَٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلْيَعْفُوا۟ وَلْيَصْفَحُوٓا۟ أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

    And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allāh, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allāh should forgive you? And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

  • Ar-Rum 30:28

    ضَرَبَ لَكُم مَّثَلًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ هَل لَّكُم مِّن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُكُم مِّن شُرَكَآءَ فِى مَا رَزَقْنَٰكُمْ فَأَنتُمْ فِيهِ سَوَآءٌ تَخَافُونَهُمْ كَخِيفَتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ

    He presents to you an example from yourselves. Do you have among those whom your right hands possess [i.e., slaves] any partners in what We have provided for you so that you are equal therein [and] would fear them as your fear of one another [within a partnership]? Thus do We detail the verses for a people who use reason.

All similar verses of Surah An-Nisa

The names of Allah in this verse

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