Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Not lawful for thee are women thereafter, nor that thou exchange them for any wives, though their beauty please thee save what thy right hand possesses; and God is watchful over all things.

لَا يَحِلُّ لَكَ النِّسَٓاءُ مِنْ بَعْدُ وَلَٓا اَنْ تَبَدَّلَ بِهِنَّ مِنْ اَزْوَاجٍ وَلَوْ اَعْجَبَكَ حُسْنُهُنَّ اِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ يَم۪ينُكَۜ وَكَانَ اللّٰهُ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رَق۪يـباً۟
La yahillu laka annisaomin baAAdu wala an tabaddala bihinna min azwajinwalaw aAAjabaka husnuhunna illa ma malakatyameenuka wakana Allahu AAala kulli shay-inraqeeba
#wordmeaningroot
1(It is) not
2yaḥillulawfulحلل
3lakafor you
4l-nisāu(to marry) womenنسو
5minafter (this)
6baʿduafter (this)بعد
7walāand not
8anto
9tabaddalaexchangeبدل
10bihinnathem
11minfor
12azwājin(other) wivesزوج
13walaweven if
14aʿjabakapleases youعجب
15ḥus'nuhunnatheir beautyحسن
16illāexcept
17whom
18malakatyou rightfully possessملك
19yamīnukayou rightfully possessيمن
20wakānaAnd Allah isكون
21l-lahuAnd Allah is
22ʿalāover
23kulliallكلل
24shayinthingsشيا
25raqībanan Observerرقب
  • Aisha Bewley

    After that no other women are halal for you nor may you exchange them for other wives, even though their beauty might be pleasing to you, with the exception of any you own as slaves. Allah is watchful over all things.

  • Progressive Muslims

    No women are lawful to you beyond this, nor that you change them for other wives, even though you may be attracted by their beauty, except those to whom you are committed by oaths. And God is watchful over all things.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Henceforth, no other women shall be lawful to you (O Prophet), nor can you substitute anyone with other wives even though you admire their beauty and qualities. None beyond those you already have. Verily, Allah is Watchful over all things.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Not lawful for thee are women thereafter, nor that thou exchange them for any wives, though their beauty please thee save what thy right hand possesses; and God is watchful over all things.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    No women are lawful to you beyond this, nor that you change them for other wives, even though you may be attracted by their beauty, except what is maintained by your oath. And God is Watcher over all things.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    No women are lawful to you beyond this, nor that you change them for other wives, even though you may be attracted by their beauty, except those to whom you are committed by oaths. God is watchful over all things.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Beyond the categories described to you, you are enjoined from marrying any other women, nor can you substitute a new wife (from the prohibited categories), no matter how much you admire their beauty. You must be content with those already made lawful to you. GOD is watchful over all things.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    No other women are lawful for you after this except those you have married, nor to change your present wives for other women even though their beauty should appeal to you. God is watchful of everything.

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

    Not lawful to you, , are women after , nor for you to exchange them for wives, even if their beauty were to please you, except what your right hand possesses. And ever is Allah, over all things, an Observer.

  • Muhammad Asad

    No women shall henceforth be lawful to thee nor art thou to supplant them by other wives, even though their beauty should please thee greatly -: beyond those whom thou hast come to possess. And God keeps watch over everything.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    It is not allowed thee to take (other) women henceforth, nor that thou shouldst change them for other wives even though their beauty pleased thee, save those whom thy right hand possesseth. And Allah is ever Watcher over all things.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Thereafter women will not be lawful for you, and it will not be lawful for you to take other wives in place of them, even though their beauty might please you,unless they be those whom your right hand owns. Allah is watchful over everything.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    (And as of now) You are not permitted O Muhammad to unite in wedlock with more women nor are you permitted to change those you have for other wives even if their beauty attracts your eyes and captivates your heart except those you have on hand. And Allah, has always been Raqibun keeping a vigilant eye upon all things.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    It is no more lawful for you to take no other woman, beyond the categories explained above, except the slave girls. It is no more lawful for you that you should divorce any of your wives to replace them with the others (even though the latter’ beauty may be extremely appealing.)

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    It is not lawful for you (to marry other) women after this, nor to change them for other wives even though their beauty attracts you, except those (slaves) whom your right hand possesses. And Allâh is Ever a Watcher over all things.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    It is not lawful for thee (to marry more) women after this, nor to change them for (other) wives, even though their beauty attract thee, except any thy right hand should possess (as handmaidens): and Allah doth watch over all things.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    It is not lawful for you ˹O Prophet˺ to marry more women after this, nor can you replace any of your present wives with another, even if her beauty may attract you—except those ˹bondwomen˺ in your possession. And Allah is ever Watchful over all things.

  • Taqi Usmani

    No women are lawful for you after this, nor is it lawful that you replace them (the present wives) with other wives, even though their goodness may attract you, except the bond-women you own. And Allah is watchful of every thing.

  • Abdul Haleem

    You are not permitted to take any further wives, nor to exchange the wives you have for others, even if these attract you with their beauty. But this does not apply to your slave-girls: God is watchful over all.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Thereafter women are not lawful to thee, neither for thee to take other wives in exchange for them, though their beauty please thee, except what thy right hand owns; God is watchful over everything.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    It is not lawful to thee to take women after (this), nor to change them for (other) wives, even though their beauty please thee; except what thy right hand possesses, for God is ever watchful over all.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    You may put off whom you please of them, and you may take to you whom you please, and whom you desire of those whom you had separated provisionally; no blame attaches to you; this is most proper, so that their eyes may be cool and they may not grieve, and that they should be pleased, all of them with what you give them, and Allah knows what is in your heart; and Allah is Knowing, Forbearing.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Hereafter women are not lawful to you, neither for you to take other spouses in exchange for them, even if their fairness (may) make you admire them except what your right hand possesses; and Allah has (always) been Ever-Watchful over everything.

  • George Sale

    It shall not be lawful for thee to take other women to wife hereafter, nor to exchange any of thy wives for them, although their beauty please thee; except the slaves whom thy right hand shall possess: And God observeth all things.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    (O Prophet!) It is not lawful for you (to marry more) women after this, or to change them for (other) wives, even though their beauty may attract you, except any (women whom) your right hand should possess (as handmaidens): And Allah is Watchful (Raqib) over all things.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (Prophet!) you are not allowed (to marry) other woman after this, nor to change them (- your present wives )for other wives however much you may admire their good qualities. Only those (will remain with you) whom your right hand owns (after your having properly and lawfully wedded them). Remember that Allâh is Ever Watchful over everything.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Beyond that, women are not lawful for you, nor that you should change them for other wives even though their beauty should impress you, except those whom your right hand owns. And Allah is watchful over all things.