And let abstain those who find not marriage until God enriches them out of His bounty. And those who seek the writ from among those your right hands possess: contract with them if you know good to be in them; and give to them out of the wealth God has given you. And compel not your slave-girls to whoredom, if they desire chastity — seeking the enjoyment of the life of this world. And whoso compels them, then God, after their compulsion, is forgiving and merciful.
| # | word | meaning | root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | walyastaʿfifi | And let be chaste | عفف |
| 2 | alladhīna | those who | |
| 3 | lā | (do) not | |
| 4 | yajidūna | find | وجد |
| 5 | nikāḥan | (means for) marriage | نكح |
| 6 | ḥattā | until | |
| 7 | yugh'niyahumu | Allah enriches them | غني |
| 8 | l-lahu | Allah enriches them | |
| 9 | min | from | |
| 10 | faḍlihi | His Bounty | فضل |
| 11 | wa-alladhīna | And those who | |
| 12 | yabtaghūna | seek | بغي |
| 13 | l-kitāba | the writing | كتب |
| 14 | mimmā | from (those) whom | |
| 15 | malakat | possess | ملك |
| 16 | aymānukum | your right hands | يمن |
| 17 | fakātibūhum | then give them (the) writing | كتب |
| 18 | in | if | |
| 19 | ʿalim'tum | you know | علم |
| 20 | fīhim | in them | |
| 21 | khayran | any good | خير |
| 22 | waātūhum | and give them | اتي |
| 23 | min | from | |
| 24 | māli | the wealth of Allah | مول |
| 25 | l-lahi | the wealth of Allah | |
| 26 | alladhī | which | |
| 27 | ātākum | He has given you | اتي |
| 28 | walā | And (do) not | |
| 29 | tuk'rihū | compel | كره |
| 30 | fatayātikum | your slave girls | فتي |
| 31 | ʿalā | to | |
| 32 | l-bighāi | [the] prostitution | بغي |
| 33 | in | if | |
| 34 | aradna | they desire | رود |
| 35 | taḥaṣṣunan | chastity | حصن |
| 36 | litabtaghū | that you may seek | بغي |
| 37 | ʿaraḍa | temporary gain | عرض |
| 38 | l-ḥayati | (of) the life | حيي |
| 39 | l-dun'yā | (of) the world | دنو |
| 40 | waman | And whoever | |
| 41 | yuk'rihhunna | compels them | كره |
| 42 | fa-inna | then indeed | |
| 43 | l-laha | Allah | |
| 44 | min | after | |
| 45 | baʿdi | after | بعد |
| 46 | ik'rāhihinna | their compulsion | كره |
| 47 | ghafūrun | (is) Oft-Forgiving | غفر |
| 48 | raḥīmun | Most Merciful | رحم |
Those who cannot find the means to marry should be abstinent until Allah enriches them from His bounty. If any slaves you own want to make a contract to free themselves, write it for them if you know of good in them and give them some of the wealth Allah has given you. Do not force your slavegirls to prostitute themselves if they desire to be virtuous women out of your desire for the goods of this world. If anyone forces them, then after they have been forced, Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
And let those who are not able to marry continue to be chaste until God enriches them of His Bounty. And if those who are still dependants seek marriage, then marry them off if you find that they are ready, and give them from the wealth of God which He has bestowed upon you. And do not force your daughters into marriage when they have desired independence, in order that you may make a gain in the goods of this worldly life. But if anyone has compelled them, then for their compulsion, God is Forgiving, Merciful.
And those who cannot find a match must keep chaste until Allah grants them sufficiency out of His Bounty. And if any of the male and female slaves desires a deed of freedom, write it out for them if you ensure good for them by way of rehabilitation. (4:5-6). Give them from Allah's wealth that He has given you. Never hold your slave maidens for worldly gains from preserving their chastity by marrying if they so desire, lest they resort to lewdness. If anyone forces them, then after this compulsion Allah will be Forgiving, Merciful to them. (And He will hold the one who forces them, accountable).
And let abstain those who find not marriage until God enriches them out of His bounty. And those who seek the writ from among those your right hands possess: contract with them if you know good to be in them; and give to them out of the wealth God has given you. And compel not your slave-girls to whoredom, if they desire chastity — seeking the enjoyment of the life of this world. And whoso compels them, then God, after their compulsion, is forgiving and merciful.
And let those who are not able to marry continue to be chaste until God enriches them of His Bounty. And if those who are maintained by your oaths seek to consummate the marriage, then document it with them if you find that they are ready, and give them from the wealth of God which He has bestowed upon you. And do not force your young women to need if they have desired to be independent, in order that you may make a gain in the goods of this worldly life. And if anyone has compelled them, then for their compulsion, God is Forgiving, Merciful.
Let those who are not able to marry continue to be chaste until God enriches them of His Bounty. If those whom you have over them contractual rights seek the signature, then sign with them if you find that they are ready, and give them from the wealth of God which He has bestowed upon you. Do not force your daughters into marriage when they have desired independence, in order that you may make a gain in the goods of this worldly life. But if anyone has compelled them, then considering their compulsion, God is Forgiving, Compassionate.
Those who cannot afford to get married shall maintain morality until GOD provides for them from His grace. Those among your servants who wish to be freed in order to marry, you shall grant them their wish, once you realize that they are honest. And give them from GOD's money that He has bestowed upon you. You shall not force your girls to commit prostitution, seeking the materials of this world, if they wish to be chaste. If anyone forces them, then GOD, seeing that they are forced, is Forgiver, Merciful.
Those who cannot afford to marry should abstain from what is unlawful until God enriches them by His grace. And free those slaves you possess who wish to buy their freedom after a written undertaking, if you know they have some goodness, and give them out of the riches God has given you. Do not force your maids to prostitution if they wish to lead married lives, in order to get the benefits of this world. But if someone forces them, surely God (will forgive them) after their forced helplessness, for He is forgiving and kind.
But let them who find not marriage abstain until Allah enriches them from His bounty. And those who seek a contract from among whom your right hands possess - then make a contract with them if you know there is within them goodness and give them from the wealth of Allah which He has given you. And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire chastity, to seek the temporary interests of worldly life. And if someone should compel them, then indeed, Allah is , after their compulsion, Forgiving and Merciful.
And as for those who are unable to marry, let them live in continence until God grants them sufficiency out of His bounty, And if any of those whom you rightfully possess desire a deed of freedom, write it out for them if you are aware of any good in them: and give them maidens into whoredom if they happen to be desirous of marriage; and if anyone should coerce them, then, verily, after they have been compelled , God will be much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace!
And let those who cannot find a match keep chaste till Allah give them independence by His grace. And such of your slaves as seek a writing (of emancipation), write it for them if ye are aware of aught of good in them, and bestow upon them of the wealth of Allah which He hath bestowed upon you. Force not your slave-girls to whoredom that ye may seek enjoyment of the life of the world, if they would preserve their chastity. And if one force them, then (unto them), after their compulsion, lo! Allah will be Forgiving, Merciful.
Let those who cannot afford to marry keep themselves chaste until Allah enriches them out of His Bounty.* And write out a deed of manumission for such of your slaves that desire their freedom* in lieu of payment* - if you see any good in them* - and give them out of the wealth that Allah has given you.* And do not compel your slave-girls to prostitution for the sake of the benefits of worldly life the while they desire to remain chaste.* And if anyone compels them to prostitution, Allah will be Most Pardoning, Much Merciful (to them) after their subjection to such compulsion.
And those who cannot marry because they lack the means may conform their life and conduct with the principles of morality until Allah makes His grace abound in them. And those on hand who wish to buy their freedom by performing certain paid-services deserve attention. You reduce a mutually binding agreement to writing if you believe that they qualify -stamped with virtues and sound minds- and give them -in benevolence and/or alms- something of the grace of Allah abounding in you. And do not force your female slaves -or any of your females- into prostitution for a worldly gain -a Pagan custom- nor make them recover their liberty by prostituting their honour if they seek chastity and purity. And he who forces them into sin shall suffer for it, whereas they -the women- shall, under the circumstances be recipients of Allah's Mercy and Forgiveness, for Allah is Ghafurun and Rahimun
Those who cannot find a match, must maintain morality. They should wait until God showers them out of His Grace. As for those slaves of yours who wish to be free and then marry (and you find them responsible people), grant them their freedom; also give them some capital out of what God has given you at first place. Do not force your female slaves into prostitution so that you make a little bit money. If the female slaved are forced to do so, God will forgive them as He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allâh enriches them of His Bounty. And such of your slaves as seek a writing (of emancipation), give them such writing, if you find that there is good and honesty in them. And give them something (yourselves) out of the wealth of Allâh which He has bestowed upon you. And force not your maids to prostitution, if they desire chastity, in order that you may make a gain in the (perishable) goods of this worldly life. But if anyone compels them (to prostitution), then after such compulsion, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (to those women, i.e. He will forgive them because they have been forced to do this evil act unwillingly).
Let those who find not the wherewithal for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allah gives them means out of His grace. And if any of your slaves ask for a deed in writing (to enable them to earn their freedom for a certain sum), give them such a deed if ye know any good in them: yea, give them something yourselves out of the means which Allah has given to you. But force not your maids to prostitution when they desire chastity, in order that ye may make a gain in the goods of this life. But if anyone compels them, yet, after such compulsion, is Allah, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (to them),
And let those who do not have the means to marry keep themselves chaste until Allah enriches them out of His bounty. And if any of those ˹bondspeople˺ in your possession desires a contract ˹to buy their own freedom˺, make it possible for them, if you find goodness in them. And give them some of Allah’s wealth which He has granted you. Do not force your ˹slave˺ girls into prostitution for your own worldly gains while they wish to remain chaste. And if someone coerces them, then after such a coercion Allah is certainly All-Forgiving, Most Merciful ˹to them˺.
And those who cannot afford marriage should keep themselves chaste until Allah enriches them out of His grace. And those of your slaves who wish to enter the contract of Kitābah (emancipation by paying money), contract Kitābah with them, if you recognize some good in them. And give them out of the wealth of Allah that He has given to you. And do not compel your maids to prostitution - if they wish to observe chastity - in order that you may seek the temporary benefit of the worldly life. If one compels them, then after their being compelled, Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.
Those who are unable to marry should keep chaste until God gives them enough out of His bounty. If any of your slaves wish to pay for their freedom, make a contract with them accordingly, if you know they have good in them, and give them some of the wealth God has given you. Do not force your slave-girls into prostitution, when they themselves wish to remain honourable, in your quest for the short-term gains of this world, although, if they are forced, God will be forgiving and merciful to them.
And let those who find not the means to marry be abstinent till God enriches them of His bounty. Those your right hands own who seek emancipation, contract with them accordingly, if you know some good in them; and give them of the wealth of God that He has given you. And constrain not your slave-girls to prostitution, if they desire to live in chastity, that you may seek the chance goods of the present life. Whosoever constrains them, surely God, after their being constrained, is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.
And let those who cannot find a match, until God enriches them of His grace, keep chaste. And such of those whom your right hands possess as crave a writing, write it for them, if ye know any good in them, and give them of the wealth of God which He has given you. And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire to keep continent, in order to crave the goods of the life of this world; but he who does compel them, then, verily, God after they are compelled is forgiving, compassionate.
And marry the single amongst you, and the righteous among your slaves and your handmaidens. If they be poor, Allah will enrich them of His grace, for Allah encompasses all and knows all.
And let the ones who do not find (the means) to wed keep abstaining until Allah enriches them of His Grace. And the ones your right hands possess who seek the Book, (Contract of emancipation) then contract with them (accordingly), in case you know that they are in charitable circumstances. And bring them of the wealth of Allah that He has brought you. And do not compel your handmaids to prostitution, in case they are willing to be chaste, (Literally: to be in wedlock) that you may inequitably seek the advantages of the present life; (Literally: the lowly life, i.e., the life of this world) and whoever compels them, then surely Allah, even after their being compelled, is Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.
And let those who find not a match, keep themselves from fornication, until God shall enrich them of his abundance. And unto such of your slaves as desire a written instrument allowing them to redeem themselves on paying a certain sum, write one, if ye know good in them; and give them of the riches of God, which He hath given you. And compel not your maid-servants to prostitute themselves, if they be willing to live chastly; that ye may seek the casual advantage of this present life: But whoever shall compel them thereto, verily God will be gracious and merciful unto such women after their compulsion.
And let those who do not find the (financial) means to marry, keep themselves pure, until Allah provides them means out of His grace. And if any of your slaves ask for a note (of promise) in writing (to enable them to earn their freedom), give them such a note (of promise); If you know any good (ones) from them; And give them something from yourselves out of the wealth that Allah has bestowed upon you. And do not force your maids to prostitution when they like purity (of their moral conduct), so that you may make a gain in things of this life. But if anyone forces (or has forced) them (the maids), still, after such compulsion (or circumstances), Allah is Often Forgiving (Ghafoor), Most Merciful (Raheem) (to the maids because of the force or compulsion.)
And those who find no (means of) marriage should (exercise restraint and) keep themselves chaste until Allâh grants them means (to marry) out of His grace and bounty. (There is another commandment, ) as for those of your bondsmen (or women) as ask for a written contract (of freedom for themselves on payment of ransom), write this (deed of manumission for them) provided you find good capabilities in them and give them out of Allâh's wealth which He has given you. (Another commandment for you is that,) with a mind to gain (by this unrighteous means) the benefits of the present life do not constrain your slave-girls to unchaste life (by keeping them unmarried) when they desire (to marry) to preserve their virtue. But if anybody forces them (to abstain from marrying and to become unchaste) they will find, after they are forced, that God is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful.
Those who cannot afford marriage should be continent until Allah enriches them out of His grace. As for those who seek an emancipation deal from among your slaves, make such a deal with them if you know any good in them, and give them out of the wealth of Allah which He has given you. Do not compel your female slaves to prostitution when they desire to be chaste, seeking the transitory wares of the life of this world. Should anyone compel them, then after their compulsion Allah is indeed all-forgiving, all-merciful.