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Surah An-Nisa, Verse 43

سورة النساء، الآية ٤٣

4:43 Juz 5 Hizb 9 Page 85 of the mushaf Medinan surah

Text of verse 4:43

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا۟ مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِى سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىٰ تَغْتَسِلُوا۟ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا ۝٤٣

Transliteration

yāayyuhā alladhīna āmanū lā taqrabū l-ṣalata wa-antum sukārā ḥattā taʿlamū mā taqūlūna walā junuban illā ʿābirī sabīlin ḥattā taghtasilū wa-in kuntum marḍā aw ʿalā safarin aw jāa aḥadun minkum mina l-ghāiṭi aw lāmastumu l-nisāa falam tajidū māan fatayammamū ṣaʿīdan ṭayyiban fa-im'saḥū biwujūhikum wa-aydīkum inna l-laha kāna ʿafuwwan ghafūran

Translation

O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying187 or in a state of janābah,188 except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women [i.e., had sexual intercourse] and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allāh is ever Pardoning189 and Forgiving.

Notes

[187] The use of intoxicants was later prohibited completely. See 5:90-91.
[188] Literally, "distance." The state of one under obligation to perform ghusl (a complete bath) due to having had sexual intercourse or ejaculation.
[189] Literally, able to erase and remove sins completely, leaving no trace of them in the record of deeds.

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

Verse 43 of Surah An-Nisa (4:43), a Medinan surah, is in juz 5, on page 85 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 72 reciters.

Listen to verse 43 of Surah An-Nisa

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Tafsir of verse 43

Al-Mukhtasar

O you who have faith in Allah and follow His Messenger, do not pray when you are drunk, until you recover from your drunkenness, and can tell what you are saying. (This ruling was before alcohol was completely forbidden.) Do not pray when you are in a state of major ritual impurity, and do not enter the mosques when you are in that state, except in passing, until you have washed your body. If you have an illness and cannot use water because of it, or if you are travelling, or have answered the call of nature, or have had sexual relations with women, and you cannot find water, then find clean earth, and wipe your faces and hands with it. Allah pardons your shortcomings and is Forgiving to you.

Tafsir of the whole Surah An-Nisa

Other translations of verse 43

O you who believe, do not approach the prayer while you are intoxicated31 until you know what you are saying, nor in a state of major impurity – except while passing through [a mosque] – until you take a bath. If you are ill, or on a journey, or have relieved yourselves, or had intercourse with [your] women and find no water, then purify yourselves with clean earth and wipe your faces and hands with it. For Allah is Ever-Pardoning, All-Forgiving.

Notes

[31] The use of intoxicants was later prohibited completely. See 5:90-91.

O you who believe! Approach not As-Salât (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning) of what you utter, nor when you are in a state of Janâba ,(i.e. in a state of sexual impurity and have not yet taken a bath) except when travelling on the road (without enough water, or just passing through a mosque), till you wash your whole body. And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (by sexual relations) and you find no water, perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands (Tayammum)14. Truly, Allâh is Ever Oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving.

Notes

[14] (V.4:43) Strike your hands on the earth and then pass the palm of each on the back of the other and then blow off the dust from them and then pass (rub) them on your face, this is called Tayammum

O ye who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when ye are drunken, till ye know that which ye utter, nor when ye are polluted, save when journeying upon the road, till yehave bathed. And if ye be ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have touched women, and ye find not water, then go to high clean soil and rub your faces and your hands (therewith). Lo! Allah is Benign, Forgiving.

O ye who believe! Approach not prayers with a mind befogged, until ye can understand all that ye say,- nor in a state of ceremonial impurity (Except when travelling on the road), until after washing your whole body. If ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from offices of nature, or ye have been in contact with women, and ye find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands. For Allah doth blot out sins and forgive again and again.

O you who believe! do not go near prayer when you are Intoxicated until you know (well) what you say, nor when you are under an obligation to perform a bath-- unless (you are) travelling on the road-- until you have washed yourselves; and if you are sick, or on a journey, or one of you come from the privy or you have touched the women, and you cannot find water, betake yourselves to pure earth, then wipe your faces and your hands; surely Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving.

O you who have believed, do not draw near to prayer (when) you are drunken until you know what you are saying, nor (when) you are ritually unclean, (i.e. unclean through the emission of semen, or sexual discharge "in woman") except when you are traversing a way, until you have washed yourselves. And in case you are sick, or on a journey, or (in case) any of you comes from the privy, or you have had contact with women, yet you have not found water, so have recourse to good soil, (i.e. a high dry place, a mounting place) then wipe (most of) your faces and hands. Surely Allah has been Ever-Clement, Ever-Forgiving.

Verse 43 word by word

  1. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا yāayyuhā O you أ ي ي
  2. ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna who
  3. ءَامَنُوا۟ āmanū believe[d] أ م ن
  4. لَا lā (Do) not
  5. تَقْرَبُوا۟ taqrabū go near ق ر ب
  6. ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ l-ṣalata the prayer ص ل و
  7. وَأَنتُمْ wa-antum while you
  8. سُكَٰرَىٰ sukārā (are) intoxicated س ك ر
  9. حَتَّىٰ ḥattā until
  10. تَعْلَمُوا۟ taʿlamū you know ع ل م
  11. مَا mā what
  12. تَقُولُونَ taqūlūna you are saying ق و ل
  13. وَلَا walā and not
  14. جُنُبًا junuban (when you are) impure ج ن ب
  15. إِلَّا illā except
  16. عَابِرِى ʿābirī (when) passing ع ب ر
  17. سَبِيلٍ sabīlin (through) a way س ب ل
  18. حَتَّىٰ ḥattā until
  19. تَغْتَسِلُوا۟ taghtasilū you have bathed غ س ل
  20. وَإِن wa-in And if
  21. كُنتُم kuntum you are ك و ن
  22. مَّرْضَىٰٓ marḍā ill م ر ض
  23. أَوْ aw or
  24. عَلَىٰ ʿalā on
  25. سَفَرٍ safarin a journey س ف ر
  26. أَوْ aw or
  27. جَآءَ jāa came ج ي أ
  28. أَحَدٌ aḥadun one أ ح د
  29. مِّنكُم minkum of you
  30. مِّنَ mina from
  31. ٱلْغَآئِطِ l-ghāiṭi the toilet غ و ط
  32. أَوْ aw or
  33. لَٰمَسْتُمُ lāmastumu you have touched ل م س
  34. ٱلنِّسَآءَ l-nisāa the women ن س و
  35. فَلَمْ falam and not
  36. تَجِدُوا۟ tajidū you find و ج د
  37. مَآءً māan water م و ه
  38. فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ fatayammamū then do tayammum ي م م
  39. صَعِيدًا ṣaʿīdan (with) earth ص ع د
  40. طَيِّبًا ṭayyiban clean ط ي ب
  41. فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ fa-im'saḥū and wipe (with it) م س ح
  42. بِوُجُوهِكُمْ biwujūhikum your faces و ج ه
  43. وَأَيْدِيكُمْ wa-aydīkum and your hands ي د ي
  44. إِنَّ inna Indeed
  45. ٱللَّهَ l-laha Allah
  46. كَانَ kāna is ك و ن
  47. عَفُوًّا ʿafuwwan Oft-Pardoning ع ف و
  48. غَفُورًا ghafūran Oft-Forgiving غ ف ر

Hadiths that cite this verse

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 347

Shaqiq said, "While I was sitting with `Abdullah and Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari, the latter asked the former, 'If a person becomes Junub and does not find water for one month, can he perform Tayammum and offer his prayer?' (He applied in the negative). Abu Musa said, 'What do you say about this verse from…

إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَكْفِيكَ أَنْ تَصْنَعَ هَكَذَا ‏"‏‏.‏ فَضَرَبَ بِكَفِّهِ ضَرْبَةً عَلَى الأَرْضِ ثُمَّ نَفَضَهَا، ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِهَا ظَهْرَ كَفِّهِ بِشِمَالِهِ، أَوْ ظَهْرَ شِمَالِهِ بِكَفِّهِ، ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِهِمَا…

Narrated by Ammār ibn Yāsir

Authentic Sahih Muslim 368a

It was sufficient for you to do this with your hands." Then, he struck the ground once with his hands, then wiped the right hand with the left one, the back side of his hands and his face

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent me on an errand, and I became Junub (in a state of major ritual impurity) and could not find water. So, I rolled in the dirt like an animal and then came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and told…

يَكْفِيكَ أَنْ تَقُولَ بِيَدَيْكَ هَكَذَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ بِيَدَيْهِ الأَرْضَ ضَرْبَةً وَاحِدَةً ثُمَّ مَسَحَ الشِّمَالَ عَلَى الْيَمِينِ وَظَاهِرَ كَفَّيْهِ وَوَجْهَهُ

Narrated by Ammār ibn Yāsir Explained

Authentic Sunan Abu Dawud 321

While I was sitting between 'Abd Allah and Abu Musa, the latter said: Abu 'Abd al-Rahman, what do you think if a man becomes defiled (because of seminal omission) and does not find water for a month; should he not perform tayammum ? He replied: No, even if he does not find water for a month. Abu…

إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَكْفِيكَ أَنْ تَصْنَعَ هَكَذَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى الأَرْضِ فَنَفَضَهَا ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ بِشِمَالِهِ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ وَبِيَمِينِهِ عَلَى شِمَالِهِ عَلَى الْكَفَّيْنِ ثُمَّ مَسَحَ وَجْهَهُ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ammār ibn Yāsir

Differing grades Sunan Abu Dawud 3670

When the prohibition of wine (was yet to be) declared, Umar said: O Allah, give us a satisfactory explanation about wine. So the following verse of Surat al-Baqarah revealed; "They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: In them is great sin...." Umar was then called and it was recited to him…

اللَّهُمَّ بَيِّنْ لَنَا فِي الْخَمْرِ بَيَانًا شِفَاءً فَنَزَلَتِ الآيَةُ الَّتِي فِي الْبَقَرَةِ ‏‏{‏ يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ ‏}‏ الآيَةَ قَالَ فَدُعِيَ عُمَرُ…

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattāb + 3 other versions

Authentic Sunan Abu Dawud 3671

A man of the Ansar called him and AbdurRahman ibn Awf and supplied them wine before it was prohibited. Ali then led them in the evening prayer, and he recited; "Say: O ye who reject faith." He was confused in it. Then the following verse came down: "O ye who believe! approach not prayers with a…

فَسَقَاهُمَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تُحَرَّمَ الْخَمْرُ فَأَمَّهُمْ عَلِيٌّ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ فَقَرَأَ ‏‏{‏ قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ ‏}‏ فَخَلَطَ فِيهَا فَنَزَلَتْ ‏‏{‏ لاَ تَقْرَبُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَأَنْتُمْ سُكَارَى حَتَّى…

Narrated by Ali

Good chain (hasan) Sunan Abu Dawud 3672

The Quranic verse :”O ye who believe ,approach not prayer with minds befogged until you can understand all they say,” and the verse: “They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: In them is great sin and some profit for men ,” were repeated by the verse in Surat al-Ma’idah: ”O ye who believe…

وَ ‏‏{‏ يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ ‏}‏ نَسَخَتْهُمَا الَّتِي فِي الْمَائِدَةِ ‏‏{‏ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالأَنْصَابُ ‏}‏ الآيَةَ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

Other hadiths (13)

Verses related to verse 43

Cited by Ibn Kathir in his explanation of this verse

  • Al-Ma’idah 5:6

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغْسِلُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْمَرَافِقِ وَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْكَعْبَيْنِ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًا فَٱطَّهَّرُوا۟ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍ وَلَٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

    O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janābah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allāh does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.

  • Al-An’am 6:23

    ثُمَّ لَمْ تَكُن فِتْنَتُهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ وَٱللَّهِ رَبِّنَا مَا كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَ

    Then there will be no [excuse upon] examination except they will say, "By Allāh, our Lord, we were not those who associated."

  • Al-Baqarah 2:219

    يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ ٱلْعَفْوَ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ

    They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess [beyond needs]." Thus Allāh makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought

  • Al-Ma’idah 5:90–91

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَٰمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ …

    O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allāh], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. …

  • Ali ’Imran 3:102

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

    O you who have believed, fear Allāh as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].

  • Al-Baqarah 2:237

    وَإِن طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ وَقَدْ فَرَضْتُمْ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً فَنِصْفُ مَا فَرَضْتُمْ إِلَّآ أَن يَعْفُونَ أَوْ يَعْفُوَا۟ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِۦ عُقْدَةُ ٱلنِّكَاحِ وَأَن تَعْفُوٓا۟ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ وَلَا تَنسَوُا۟ ٱلْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

    And if you divorce them before you have touched them and you have already specified for them an obligation, then [give] half of what you specified - unless they forego the right or the one in whose hand is the marriage contract foregoes it. And to forego it is nearer to righteousness. And do not forget graciousness between you. Indeed Allāh, of whatever you do, is Seeing.

Verses with similar wording

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

  • Al-Anfal 8:27

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَخُونُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوٓا۟ أَمَٰنَٰتِكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

    O you who have believed, do not betray Allāh and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence].

  • Al-Baqarah 2:104

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقُولُوا۟ رَٰعِنَا وَقُولُوا۟ ٱنظُرْنَا وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ وَلِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

    O you who have believed, say not [to Allāh's Messenger], "Rāʿinā" but say, "Unẓurnā" and listen. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.

  • Ali ’Imran 3:130

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَأْكُلُوا۟ ٱلرِّبَوٰٓا۟ أَضْعَٰفًا مُّضَٰعَفَةً وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

    O you who have believed, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allāh that you may be successful.

  • Al-Ahzab 33:41

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا

    O you who have believed, remember Allāh with much remembrance

  • At-Tawbah 9:119

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ

    O you who have believed, fear Allāh and be with those who are true.

  • Al-Ahzab 33:70

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا

    O you who have believed, fear Allāh and speak words of appropriate justice.

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