Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

O you who heed warning: when the believing women come to you as émigrées: examine them. God best knows their faith. And if you know them to be believing women, then return them not to the atheists. Such women are not lawful for them, and they are not lawful for such women. And give them what they spent. And you do no wrong to marry such women when you give them their rewards. And hold not by tie denying women; and ask for what you have spent, and let them ask for what they have spent. That is the judgment of God; He judges between you; and God is knowing and wise.

يَٓا اَيُّهَا الَّذ۪ينَ اٰمَنُٓوا اِذَا جَٓاءَكُمُ الْمُؤْمِنَاتُ مُهَاجِرَاتٍ فَامْتَحِنُوهُنَّۜ اَللّٰهُ اَعْلَمُ بِا۪يمَانِهِنَّۚ فَاِنْ عَلِمْتُمُوهُنَّ مُؤْمِنَاتٍ فَلَا تَرْجِعُوهُنَّ اِلَى الْكُفَّارِۜ لَا هُنَّ حِلٌّ لَهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحِلُّونَ لَهُنَّۜ وَاٰتُوهُمْ مَٓا اَنْفَقُواۜ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ اَنْ تَنْكِحُوهُنَّ اِذَٓا اٰتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ اُجُورَهُنَّۜ وَلَا تُمْسِكُوا بِعِصَمِ الْكَوَافِرِ وَسْـَٔلُوا مَٓا اَنْفَقْتُمْ وَلْيَسْـَٔلُوا مَٓا اَنْفَقُواۜ ذٰلِكُمْ حُكْمُ اللّٰهِۜ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْۜ وَاللّٰهُ عَل۪يمٌ حَك۪يمٌ
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanooitha jaakumu almu/minatu muhajiratinfamtahinoohunna Allahu aAAlamu bi-eemanihinnafa-in AAalimtumoohunna mu/minatin falatarjiAAoohunna ila alkuffari la hunna hillunlahum wala hum yahilloona lahunna waatoohumma anfaqoo wala junaha AAalaykum an tankihoohunnaitha ataytumoohunna ojoorahunna walatumsikoo biAAisami alkawafiri was-aloo maanfaqtum walyas-aloo ma anfaqoo thalikum hukmuAllahi yahkumu baynakum wallahuAAaleemun hakeem
#wordmeaningroot
1yāayyuhāO you
2alladhīnawho
3āmanūbelieveامن
4idhāWhen
5jāakumucome to youجيا
6l-mu'minātuthe believing womenامن
7muhājirātin(as) emigrantsهجر
8fa-im'taḥinūhunnathen examine themمحن
9l-lahuAllah
10aʿlamu(is) most knowingعلم
11biīmānihinnaof their faithامن
12fa-inAnd if
13ʿalim'tumūhunnayou know themعلم
14mu'minātin(to be) believersامن
15falāthen (do) not
16tarjiʿūhunnareturn themرجع
17ilāto
18l-kufārithe disbelieversكفر
19Not
20hunnathey
21ḥillun(are) lawfulحلل
22lahumfor them
23walāand not
24humthey
25yaḥillūnaare lawfulحلل
26lahunnafor them
27waātūhumBut give themاتي
28what
29anfaqūthey have spentنفق
30walāAnd not
31junāḥaany blameجنح
32ʿalaykumupon you
33anif
34tankiḥūhunnayou marry themنكح
35idhāwhen
36ātaytumūhunnayou have given themاتي
37ujūrahunnatheir (bridal) duesاجر
38walāAnd (do) not
39tum'sikūholdمسك
40biʿiṣamito marriage bondsعصم
41l-kawāfiri(with) disbelieving womenكفر
42wasalūbut ask (for)سال
43what
44anfaqtumyou have spentنفق
45walyasalūand let them askسال
46what
47anfaqūthey have spentنفق
48dhālikumThat
49ḥuk'mu(is the) Judgmentحكم
50l-lahi(of) Allah
51yaḥkumuHe judgesحكم
52baynakumbetween youبين
53wal-lahuAnd Allah
54ʿalīmun(is) All-Knowingعلم
55ḥakīmunAll-Wiseحكم
  • Aisha Bewley

    You who have iman! when women who have iman come to you as muhajirun, submit them to a test. Allah has best knowledge of their iman. If you know they are muminun, do not return them to the kuffar. They are not halal for the kuffar nor are the kuffar halal for them. Give the kuffar whatever dowry they paid. And there is nothing wrong in your marrying them provided you pay them their due. Do not hold to any marriage ties with women who are kafir. Ask for what you paid and let them ask for what they paid. That is Allah’s judgement. Allah will judge between them. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

  • Progressive Muslims

    O you who believe, if the believing women come emigrating to you, then you shall test them. God is fully aware of their belief. Thus, if you establish that they are believers, then you shall not return them to the disbelievers. They are no longer lawful for them, nor are the disbelievers lawful for them. And return the dowries that were paid. And there is no sin upon you to marry them, if you have paid their dowries to them. And do not keep disbelieving wives, and ask back what dowries you paid. And let them ask back what dowries they had paid. Such is God's judgement; He judges between you. God is Knowledgeable, Wise.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! When believing women come to you as immigrants, investigate their case, although only Allah is best Aware of their Faith. Once you establish that they are indeed believers, do not return them to the rejecters of the Truth. They are not lawful for the rejecters, nor are the rejecters lawful for them. Give the rejecters what they have spent on them (as dowry). And there is no blame on you if you marry these women, when you have given them their due marital gift. And do not hold on to wedlock with women who continue to deny the Truth. And you may ask them for the dowry you had paid, just as the rejecters have the right to ask the return of what they spent. This is the Judgment of Allah. He judges between you, for Allah is all-Knowing, all-Wise.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    O you who heed warning: when the believing women come to you as émigrées: examine them. God best knows their faith. And if you know them to be believing women, then return them not to the atheists. Such women are not lawful for them, and they are not lawful for such women. And give them what they spent. And you do no wrong to marry such women when you give them their rewards. And hold not by tie denying women; and ask for what you have spent, and let them ask for what they have spent. That is the judgment of God; He judges between you; and God is knowing and wise.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    O you who believe, if the believing females come emigrating to you, then you shall test them. God is fully aware of their belief. Thus, if you establish that they are believers, then you shall not return them to the rejecters. They are no longer lawful for one another. And return the dowries that were paid. And there is no sin upon you to marry them, if you have paid their dowries to them. And do not keep disbelieving wives, and ask back what dowries you paid. And let them ask back what dowries they had paid. Such is the judgment of God; He judges between you. God is Knowledgeable, Wise.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    O you who acknowledge, if the acknowledging women come emigrating to you, then you shall test them. God is fully aware of their acknowledgement. Thus, if you establish that they are those who acknowledge, then you shall not return them to those who do not appreciate. They are no longer lawful for them, nor are those who do not appreciate lawful for them. Return the dowries that were paid. There is no sin upon you to marry them, if you have paid their dowries to them. Do not keep the wives who do not acknowledge, and ask back what dowries you paid. Let them ask back what dowries they had paid. Such is God's judgment; He judges between you. God is Knowledgeable, Wise.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    O you who believe, when believing women (abandon the enemy and) ask for asylum with you, you shall test them. GOD is fully aware of their belief. Once you establish that they are believers, you shall not return them to the disbelievers. They are not lawful to remain married to them, nor shall the disbelievers be allowed to marry them. Give back the dowries that the disbelievers have paid. You commit no error by marrying them, so long as you pay them their due dowries. Do not keep disbelieving wives (if they wish to join the enemy). You may ask them for the dowry you had paid, and they may ask for what they paid. This is GOD's rule; He rules among you. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    O believers, when believing women come over to you as refugees, then examine them. God alone is cognisant of their faith. If you find that they are believers, do not send them back to unbelievers. They are not lawful for them, nor are infidels lawful for believing women. Give the unbelievers what they have spent on them. There is no sin if you marry them provided you give their dowers to them. Do not retain your (marriage) ties with unbelieving women. Ask for the return of what you have spent (on them); and the unbelievers should ask for the return of what they have spent. This is the judgement of God. He judges between you. God is all-knowing and all-wise.

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

    O you who have believed, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them. Allah is most knowing as to their faith. And if you know them to be believers, then do not return them to the disbelievers; they are not lawful for them, nor are they lawful for them. But give the disbelievers what they have spent. And there is no blame upon you if you marry them when you have given them their due compensation. And hold not to marriage bonds with disbelieving women, but ask for what you have spent and let them ask for what they have spent. That is the judgement of Allah; He judges between you. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.

  • Muhammad Asad

    O YOU who have attained to faith! Whenever believing women come unto you, forsaking the domain of evil, examine them, God is fully aware of their faith; and if you have thus ascertained that they are believers, do not send them back to the deniers of the truth, they are lawful to their erstwhile husbands, and these are lawful to them. None the less, you shall return to them whatever they have spent ; and you will be committing no sin if you marry them after giving them their dowers. On the other hand, hold not to the marriage-tie with women who deny the truth, and ask but for whatever you have spent -just as they have the right to demand whatever they have spent. Such is God's judgment: He judges between you - for God is all-knowing, wise.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    O ye who believe! When believing women come unto you as fugitives, examine them. Allah is Best Aware of their faith. Then, if ye know them for true believers, send them not back unto the disbelievers. They are not lawful for them (the disbelievers), nor are they (the disbelievers) lawful for them. And give them (the disbelievers) that which they have spent (upon them). And it is no sin for you to marry such women when ye have given them their dues. And hold not to the ties of disbelieving women; and ask for (the return of) that which ye have spent; and let them (the disbelievers) ask for that which they have spent. That is the judgment of Allah. He judgeth between you. Allah is Knower, Wise.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Believers, when believing women come to you as Emigrants (in the cause of faith), examine them. Allah fully knows (the truth) concerning their faith. And when you have ascertained them to be believing women, do not send them back to the unbelievers.* Those women are no longer lawful to the unbelievers, nor are those unbelievers lawful to those (believing) women. Give their unbelieving husbands whatever they have spent (as bridal-dues); and there is no offence for you to marry those women if you give them their bridal-dues.* Do not hold on to your marriages with unbelieving women: ask for the return of the bridal-due you gave to your unbelieving wives and the unbelievers may ask for the return of the bridal-due they had given to their believing wives.* Such is Allah's command. He judges between you. Allah is All-Knowing, Most Wise.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    O you whose hearts reflect he image of religious and spiritual virtues: If women come to you emigrating or seeking refuge owing to religious persecution or political troubles, test their beliefs; Allah knows well if the image of Faith has been imprinted upon their hearts. if you are satisfied that they believe in Allah with bosoms filled with reverential awe, do not send them back to the Pagans. They -the women are no longer legitimate to them nor are they -the Pagan men- any longer legitimate to them. But you must pay their -Pagan- husbands the equivalent of what they had spent on them in the way of dowry. You are absolved to marry these women if you pay them their dower and do not marry the Pagan women nor remain with them if you have conformed to Islam and they have not, but you may ask for what you spent and so can Pagan men ask for what they spent. This is the ordinance of Allah; He judges between you, and He is Alimun (Omniscient), and Hakimun (Wise).

  • Bijan Moeinian

    The believers hereby ordered to test the women who claim have fled the enemy and ask for asylum. God is fully aware of their faith. If you found that they are true believers, do not extradite them to disbelievers. The newly converted Muslim women are not lawful to remain married to disbelievers. Muslim women may not marry the disbelievers. Therefore, return to their ex-husbands the dowers that they have given to their ex-wives. You are encouraged to ask their hands in marriage having paid a dower to them. The Muslim man should divorce his disbeliever wife after having paid her dower. The disbeliever man also should be asked to return the dower of his exwife who has recently embraced Islam. This is God’s command; He rules among you. He knows everything and is the Most Wise.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    O you who believe! When believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them; Allâh knows best as to their Faith, then if you ascertain that they are true believers send them not back to the disbelievers. They are not lawful (wives) for the disbelievers nor are the disbelievers lawful (husbands) for them. But give them (the disbelievers) that (amount of money) which they have spent to them. And there will be no sin on you to marry them if you have paid their Mahr to them. Likewise hold not the disbelieving women as wives, and ask for (the return of) that which you have spent (as Mahr ) and let them (the disbelievers) ask back for that which they have spent. That is the Judgement of Allâh, He judges between you. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    O ye who believe! When there come to you believing women refugees, examine (and test) them: Allah knows best as to their Faith: if ye ascertain that they are Believers, then send them not back to the Unbelievers. They are not lawful (wives) for the Unbelievers, nor are the (Unbelievers) lawful (husbands) for them. But pay the Unbelievers what they have spent (on their dower), and there will be no blame on you if ye marry them on payment of their dower to them. But hold not to the guardianship of unbelieving women: ask for what ye have spent on their dowers, and let the (Unbelievers) ask for what they have spent (on the dowers of women who come over to you). Such is the command of Allah: He judges (with justice) between you. And Allah is Full of Knowledge and Wisdom.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    O believers! When the believing women come to you as emigrants, test their intentions—their faith is best known to Allah—and if you find them to be believers, then do not send them back to the disbelievers. These ˹women˺ are not lawful ˹wives˺ for the disbelievers, nor are the disbelievers lawful ˹husbands˺ for them. ˹But˺ repay the disbelievers whatever ˹dowries˺ they had paid. And there is no blame on you if you marry these ˹women˺ as long as you pay them their dowries. And do not hold on to marriage with polytheistic women. ˹But˺ demand ˹repayment of˺ whatever ˹dowries˺ you had paid, and let the disbelievers do the same. That is the judgment of Allah—He judges between you. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

  • Taqi Usmani

    O you who believe, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, put them to a test. Allah knows best about their faith. So, if you find them faithful, do not send them back to the disbelievers. Neither these (women) are lawful for them, nor are those (disbelievers) lawful for these (women). And give them (the disbelievers) that (dower) which they had paid (to these women). And there is no sin for you if you marry them, when you give them their dowers. And do not hold on to the ties of marriage with the disbelieving women,and ask (their new Non-Muslim husbands to pay to you) that (dower) which you had paid (to your previous wives), and they (the previous Non-Muslim husbands of the Muslim women) should ask (their new Muslim husbands) to pay that (dower) which they had paid (to their previous wives). That is the decision of Allah. He decides between you. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

  • Abdul Haleem

    You who believe, test the believing women when they come to you as emigrants- God knows best about their faith- and if you are sure of their belief, do not send them back to the disbelievers: they are not lawful wives for them, nor are the disbelievers their lawful husbands. Give the disbelievers whatever bride-gifts they have paid- if you choose to marry them, there is no blame on you once you have paid their bride-gifts- and do not yourselves hold on to marriage ties with disbelieving women. Ask for repayment of the bride-gifts you have paid, and let the disbelievers do the same. This is God’s judgement: He judges between you, God is all knowing and wise.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    O believers, when believing women come to you as emigrants, test them. God knows very well their belief. Then, if you know them to be believers, return them not to the unbelievers. They are not permitted to the unbelievers, nor are the unbelievers permitted to them. Give the unbelievers what they have expended; and there is no fault in you to marry them when you have given them their wages. Do not hold fast to the ties of unbelieving women, and ask what you have expended, and let them ask what they have expended. That is God's judgment; He judges between you; and God is All-knowing, All-wise.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    O ye who believe! when there come believing women who have fled, then try them: God knows their faith. If ye know them to be believers do not send them back to the misbelievers;- they are not lawful for them, nor are the men lawful for these; - but give them what they have expended, and it shall be no crime against you that ye marry them, when ye have given them their hire. And do not ye retain a right over misbelieving women; but ask for what ye have spent, and let them ask for what they have spent. That is God's judgment: He judges between you, for God is knowing, wise!

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    O you who believe! When believing women come to you fleeing (as refugees), then examine (or test) them; Allah knows best their faith. If you find them to be believing women, do not send them back to the unbelievers. Neither are they lawful (wives) for them, nor are they lawful (husbands) for them. But pay them what they have spent (as dower); and no blame attaches to you in marrying them on payment of their dowries. But hold not to the ties of unbelieving women. Ask for what you have spent for them, and let them ask for what they have spent. That is Allah's judgment; He judges between you, and Allah is Knowing, Wise.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    O you who have believed, when female believers come to you as migrants (i. e., those who have left their homes. The Arabic word means both emigrants and immigrants) then test them Allah best knows their belief. So in case you know them to be believers, then do not return them to the steadfast disbelievers. They are not lawful (wives) to the disbelievers, nor are the disbelievers lawful (husbands) for them. And bring (the disbelievers) what they have expended; and there is no fault in you to marry them (The female believers) when you have brought them (The female believers) their (due) rewards. And do not hold back the ties (i.e., marriage bonds) of the disbelieving women and ask what you have expended, (i.e., do not keep disbelieving women as wives; ask for the return of the dower you paid to them) and let them (The pronoun is masculine plural; i.e., the disbelievers) ask what they (The pronoun is masculine plural; i.e., the disbelievers) have expended. That is the Judgment of Allah; He judges between you; and Allah is Ever-Knowing, Ever-Wise.

  • George Sale

    O true believers, when believing women come unto you as refugees, try them: God well knoweth their faith. And if ye know them to be true believers, send them not back to the infidels: They are not lawful for the unbelievers to have in marriage; neither are the unbelievers lawful for them. But give their unbelieving husbands what they shall have expended for their dowers. Nor shall it be any crime in you if ye marry them, provided ye give them their dowries. And retain not the patronage of the unbelieving women: But demand back that which ye have expended for the dowry of such of your wives as go over to the unbelievers; and let them demand back that which they have expended for the dowry of those who come over to you. This is the judgment of God, which He establisheth among you: And God is knowing and wise.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    O you who believe! When believing women come to you as refugees (and emigrants) examine (and verify) them (for their faith): Allah knows best as to their faith: Then if you ascertain that they are believers, then do not send them back to the unbelievers. They are not lawful (wives) for the unbelievers, nor are the (unbelievers) lawful (husbands) for them. But pay the unbelievers what they have spent (on their dowry). And there will be no sin (or blame) on you, if you marry them on payment of their dowry to them. But do not hold the guardianship of unbelieving women: Ask for what you have spent for their dowry, and let the (unbelievers) ask for what they have spent (on their dowers of women who have come to you). Such is the Judgment (the Command) of Allah: He judges (with justice) between you. And Allah is All Knowing (Aleem), All Wise (Hakeem).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    O you who believe! when the believing women come to you having fled their homes, examine them. Allâh knows best the state of their faith. If you ascertain them to be (true) believers do not send them back to the disbelievers. These (believing women) are not lawful (wives) to those (disbelievers); nor are they lawful (husbands) to these (women). You shall however give them (their former disbelieving husbands) what they have spent on them. And you will be doing nothing unlawful if you marry these women after you have given them their dowries. And do not hold matrimonial ties with the disbelieving women, (should they join the disbelievers) you can claim what you have spent on them. So can (the disbelieving husbands) claim that which they have spent (on these believing women). This is the judgment of Allâh. He implements this judgment between you. Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    O you who have faith! When faithful women come to you as immigrants, test them. Allah knows best their faith. Then, if you ascertain them to be faithful women, do not send them back to the faithless. They are not lawful for them, nor are they lawful for them. And give them what they have spent . There is no sin upon you in marrying them when you have given them their dowries. Do not hold on to ties with faithless women. Ask for what you have spent, and let the faithless ask for what they have spent. That is the judgment of Allah; He judges between you; and Allah is all-knowing, all-wise.