Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And whoso has not the means: — a fast of two months consecutively before they touch one another. And whoso is not able: — the feeding of sixty needy persons. That is that you might believe in God and His messenger. And those are the limits of God; and for the false claimers of guidance is a painful punishment.

فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِنْ قَبْلِ اَنْ يَتَمَٓاسَّاۚ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَاِطْعَامُ سِتّ۪ينَ مِسْك۪يناًۜ ذٰلِكَ لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِاللّٰهِ وَرَسُولِه۪ۜ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللّٰهِۜ وَلِلْكَافِر۪ينَ عَذَابٌ اَل۪يمٌ
Faman lam yajid fasiyamushahrayni mutatabiAAayni min qabli an yatamassafaman lam yastatiAA fa-itAAamu sitteenamiskeenan thalika litu/minoo billahiwarasoolihi watilka hudoodu Allahi walilkafireenaAAathabun aleem
#wordmeaningroot
1famanThen whoever
2lam(does) not
3yajidfindوجد
4faṣiyāmuthen fastingصوم
5shahrayni(for) two monthsشهر
6mutatābiʿayniconsecutivelyتبع
7minbefore
8qablibeforeقبل
9an[that]
10yatamāssāthey both touch each otherمسس
11famanBut (he) who
12lamnot
13yastaṭiʿis ableطوع
14fa-iṭ'ʿāmuthen (the) feedingطعم
15sittīna(of) sixtyستت
16mis'kīnanneedy one(s)سكن
17dhālikaThat
18litu'minūso that you may believeامن
19bil-lahiin Allah
20warasūlihiand His Messengerرسل
21watil'kaand these
22ḥudūdu(are the) limitsحدد
23l-lahi(of) Allah
24walil'kāfirīnaand for the disbelieversكفر
25ʿadhābun(is) a punishmentعذب
26alīmunpainfulالم
  • Aisha Bewley

    Anyone who cannot find the means must fast for two consecutive months before the two of them may touch one another again. And anyone who is unable to do that must feed sixty poor people. That is to affirm your iman in Allah and His Messenger. These are Allah’s limits. The kafirun will have a painful punishment.

  • Progressive Muslims

    If he cannot find any, then he shall fast two consecutive months before any sexual contact between them. If he cannot, then he shall feed sixty poor people. That is so you would believe in God and His messenger. And these are the limits set by God. The disbelievers have incurred a painful retribution.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    However, he who does not have the means thereof, let him resort to Abstinence (as in the month of Ramadan) for two consecutive months before the couple may 'touch' each other. And if he is unable to do that either, he should arrange the feeding of sixty needy ones. This is so that you might be true to your faith in Allah and His Messenger. Now these are the bounds ordained by Allah. And for the deniers of the Divine Commands is a painful doom.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And whoso has not the means: — a fast of two months consecutively before they touch one another. And whoso is not able: — the feeding of sixty needy persons. That is that you might believe in God and His messenger. And those are the limits of God; and for the false claimers of guidance is a painful punishment.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    If he cannot find any, then he shall fast two consecutive months before any sexual contact between them. If he cannot, then he shall feed sixty poor people. That is so you would believe in God and His messenger. And these are the boundaries set by God. The disbelievers have incurred a painful retribution.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    If he cannot find anyone, then he shall fast two consecutive months before any sexual contact between them. If he cannot, then he shall feed sixty poor people. That is so you would acknowledge God and His messenger. These are the limits set by God. Those who do not appreciate have incurred a painful retribution.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    If you cannot find a slave to free, you shall fast two consecutive months before resuming sexual relations. If you cannot fast, then you shall feed sixty poor people. You shall believe in GOD and His messenger. These are GOD's laws. The disbelievers have incurred a painful retribution.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    If one does not have the means (of doing so) then he should fast for two months continuously before he has physical contact; but any one who is unable to do so, should feed sixty needy persons. This (is enjoined) so that you may be faithful to God and His Apostle. These are the limits set by God. As for the unbelievers, there is painful punishment for them.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    And he who does not find - then a fast for two months consecutively before they touch one another; and he who is unable - then the feeding of sixty poor persons. That is for you to believe in Allah and His Messenger; and those are the limits Allah. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.

  • Muhammad Asad

    However, he who does not have the where­withal shall fast for two consecutive months before the couple may touch one another again; and he who is unable to do it shall feed sixty needy ones: this, so that you might prove your faith in God and His Apostle. Now these are the bounds set by God; and grievous suffering awaits all who deny the truth.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And he who findeth not (the wherewithal), let him fast for two successive months before they touch one another; and for him who is unable to do so (the penance is) the feeding of sixty needy ones. This, that ye may put trust in Allah and His messenger. Such are the limits (imposed by Allah); and for disbelievers is a painful doom.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    And he who does not find a slave (to free), shall fast for two months consecutively before they may touch each other; and he who is unable to do so shall feed sixty needy people.* All this is in order that you may truly believe in Allah and His Messenger.* These are the bounds set by Allah; and a grievous chastisement awaits the unbelievers.*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    And he, who does not have the means to do so, will have to fast by way a penitence for two successive months (dawn to sunset) before touching his wife, and if he is unable to fast, he may feed sixty indigent persons with desire and intention of amendment and repentance; this is to make you believe in Allah and His Messenger with hearts impressed with the image of religious and spiritual virtues. These are the limitations imposed by Allah; and those who deny Him shall be destined to suffer a condign punishment.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    If such a man is not wealthy enough to free a slave, he should fast two consecutive months. If he is not physically fit to do so, he has to feed sixty needy ones. This is to increase your faith in God. The unbelievers who do not obey the laws of your Lord, will certainly deserve His punishment.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And he who finds not (the money for freeing a slave) must fast two successive months before they both touch each other. And he who is unable to do so, should feed sixty Miskîns (poor). That is in order that you may have perfect Faith in Allâh and His Messenger. These are the limits set by Allâh. And for disbelievers, there is a painful torment.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    And if any has not (the wherewithal), he should fast for two months consecutively before they touch each other. But if any is unable to do so, he should feed sixty indigent ones, this, that ye may show your faith in Allah and His Messenger. Those are limits (set by) Allah. For those who reject (Him), there is a grievous Penalty.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    But if the husband cannot afford this, let him then fast two consecutive months before the couple touch each other. But if he is unable ˹to fast˺, then let him feed sixty poor people. This is to re-affirm your faith in Allah and His Messenger. These are the limits set by Allah. And the disbelievers will suffer a painful punishment.

  • Taqi Usmani

    But whoever does not find (a slave) has to fast for two consecutive months before the two (spouses) touch one another. Then the one who is not able to do so has to feed sixty indigent persons. This is (laid down) so that you believe in Allah and His Messenger. These are the limits set by Allah; and for the disbelievers there is a painful punishment.

  • Abdul Haleem

    but anyone who does not have the means should fast continuously for two months before they touch each other, and anyone unable to do this should feed sixty needy people. This is so that you may have faith in God and His Messenger. These are the bounds set by God: grievous torment awaits those who ignore them.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    But whosoever finds not the means, then let him fast two successive months, before the two of them touch one another. And if any man is not able to, then let him feed sixty poor persons -- that, that you may believe in God and His Messenger. Those are God's bounds; and for the unbelievers there awaits yet a painful chastisement.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    But he who finds not (the means):- then a fast for two months consecutively, before they touch each other; and he who cannot endure that:- then the feeding of sixty poor folk. That is that ye may believe in God and His Apostle; and these are the bounds of God; and for the misbelievers is grievous woe!

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    But whoever has not the means, let him fast for two successive months before they touch each other. And as for him who is unable to do so, let him feed sixty needy ones. This is in order that you may have faith in Allah and His Messenger. These are the limits imposed by Allah, and the disbelievers shall have a painful punishment.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Yet whoever does not find (a neck), then let him fast two months (Literally: there should be fasting of two months) following each other even before the two of them touch one another. So for him who is unable (to do so), then feeding sixty indigent persons is (incumbent on him). That (is so) that you may believe in Allah and His Messenger. And such are the bounds of Allah, and for the disbelievers is a painful torment.

  • George Sale

    And whoso findeth not a captive to redeem, shall observe a fast of two consecutive months, before they touch one another. And whoso shall not be able to fast that time, shall feed threescore poor men, This is ordained you, that ye may believe in God and his apostle. These are the statutes of God: And for the unbelievers is prepared a grievous torment.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And if any (man) does not have (the means to free a slave), he should fast for two successive months (every day) continuously before they touch each other. And if anyone is unable to do so, he should feed sixty persons in need. This is (commanded to be) so, that you may show your faith in Allah and His Messenger. And these are the limits (set by) Allah. For those who disbelieve (in Him), there is a painful penalty.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    He that cannot afford (a slave to be set free) shall then (observe) fasts for two consecutive months before he and his wife touch each other (for conjugal relationship). But he who has not even the strength (to fast for that time) shall feed sixty poor people. This has been so (ordained) that you may have faith in Allâh and really submit before Him and His Messenger. These are the limits (enjoining you to give up foul practices and injustice to women) prescribed by Allâh. And the deniers of these shall receive grievous punishment.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    He who can not afford shall fast for two successive months before they may touch each other. If he cannot , he shall feed sixty needy persons. This, that you may have faith in Allah and His Apostle. These are Allah’s bounds, and there is a painful punishment for the faithless.