Adultery

It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are a clothing for you and you are a clothing¹ for them. Allāh knows that you used to deceive yourselves,² so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allāh has decreed for you [i.e., offspring]. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the night [i.e., sunset]. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allāh, so do not approach them. Thus does Allāh make clear His verses [i.e., ordinances] to the people that they may become righteous.

And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe.¹ And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allāh invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses [i.e., ordinances] to the people that perhaps they may remember.

And if a woman fears from her husband contempt or evasion, there is no sin upon them if they make terms of settlement between them - and settlement is best. And present in [human] souls is stinginess.¹ But if you do good and fear Allāh - then indeed Allāh is ever, of what you do, Aware.

And you will never be able to be equal [in feeling] between wives, even if you should strive [to do so]. So do not incline completely [toward one] and leave another hanging.¹ And if you amend [your affairs] and fear Allāh - then indeed, Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful.

O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion.¹ And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them² unless they commit a clear immorality [i.e., adultery]. And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allāh makes therein much good.

But if you want to replace one wife with another and you have given one of them a great amount [in gifts], do not take [back] from it anything. Would you take it in injustice and manifest sin?

And how could you take it while you have gone in unto each other and they have taken from you a solemn covenant?

And do not marry those [women] whom your fathers married, except what has already occurred.¹ Indeed, it was an immorality and hateful [to Allāh] and was evil as a way.

Prohibited to you [for marriage] are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father's sisters, your mother's sisters, your brother's daughters, your sister's daughters, your [milk] mothers who nursed you, your sisters through nursing, your wives' mothers, and your step-daughters under your guardianship [born] of your wives unto whom you have gone in. But if you have not gone in unto them, there is no sin upon you. And [also prohibited are] the wives of your sons who are from your [own] loins, and that you take [in marriage] two sisters simultaneously, except for what has already occurred.¹ Indeed, Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful.

And [also prohibited to you are all] married women except those your right hands possess.¹ [This is] the decree of Allāh upon you. And lawful to you are [all others] beyond these, [provided] that you seek them [in marriage] with [gifts from] your property, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse. So for whatever you enjoy [of marriage] from them, give them their due compensation² as an obligation. And there is no blame upon you for what you mutually agree to beyond the obligation. Indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.

And whoever among you cannot [find] the means to marry free, believing women, then [he may marry] from those whom your right hands possess of believing slave girls. And Allāh is most knowing about your faith. You [believers] are of one another. So marry them with the permission of their people and give them their due compensation [i.e., mahr] according to what is acceptable. [They should be] chaste, neither [of] those who commit unlawful intercourse randomly nor those who take [secret] lovers. But once they are sheltered in marriage, if they should commit adultery, then for them is half the punishment for free [unmarried] women. This [allowance] is for him among you who fears affliction [i.e., sin], but to be patient is better for you. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

Allāh wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow [their] passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation.

And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one or those your right hands possess [i.e., slaves]. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice].

And if you fear dissension between the two, send an arbitrator from his people and an arbitrator from her people. If they both desire reconciliation, Allāh will cause it between them. Indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing and Aware.

And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts¹ graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease.²

This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation,¹ desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers. And whoever denies the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.

And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse.¹ Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.

Indeed, those who like that immorality¹ should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allāh knows² and you do not know.

The [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse¹ - lash each one of them with a hundred lashes,² and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion [i.e., law] of Allāh,³ if you should believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment.

Indeed, those who [falsely] accuse chaste, unaware and believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter; and they will have a great punishment

The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator¹ or a polytheist, and that [i.e., marriage to such persons] has been made unlawful to the believers.

And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allāh will enrich them from His bounty, and Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.

But let them who find not [the means for] marriage abstain [from sexual relations] until Allāh enriches them from His bounty. And those who seek a contract [for eventual emancipation] from among whom your right hands possess¹ - then make a contract with them if you know there is within them goodness and give them from the wealth of Allāh which He has given you. And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire chastity, to seek [thereby] the temporary interests of worldly life. And if someone should compel them, then indeed, Allāh is [to them], after their compulsion, Forgiving and Merciful.

And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient,

And those who accuse their wives [of adultery] and have no witnesses except themselves - then the witness of one of them¹ [shall be] four testimonies [swearing] by Allāh that indeed, he is of the truthful.

And the fifth [oath will be] that the curse of Allāh be upon him if he should be of the liars.

But it will prevent punishment from her if she gives four testimonies [swearing] by Allāh that indeed, he is of the liars.

And the fifth [oath will be] that the wrath of Allāh be upon her if he was of the truthful.

And it is He who has created from water [i.e., semen] a human being and made him [a relative by] lineage and marriage. And ever is your Lord competent [concerning creation].

And those who do not invoke¹ with Allāh another deity or kill the soul which Allāh has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty.

And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.

And [remember, O Muḥammad], when you said to the one on whom Allāh bestowed favor and you bestowed favor,¹ "Keep your wife and fear Allāh," while you concealed within yourself that which Allāh is to disclose.² And you feared the people,³ while Allāh has more right that you fear Him.⁴ So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you in order that there not be upon the believers any discomfort [i.e., guilt] concerning the wives of their claimed [i.e., adopted] sons when they no longer have need of them. And ever is the command [i.e., decree] of Allāh accomplished.

They and their spouses - in shade, reclining on adorned couches.

Our Lord, and admit them to gardens of perpetual residence which You have promised them and whoever was righteous among their forefathers, their spouses and their offspring. Indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

Enter Paradise, you and your kinds,¹ delighted."

Certainly has Allāh heard the speech of the one who argues [i.e., pleads] with you, [O Muḥammad], concerning her husband and directs her complaint to Allāh. And Allāh hears your dialogue; indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.

O you who have believed, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, examine [i.e., test] them. Allāh 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 [wives] for them, nor are they lawful [husbands] for them. But give them [i.e., the disbelievers] what they have spent.¹ And there is no blame upon you if you marry them when you have given them their due compensation [i.e., mahr]. And hold not to marriage bonds with disbelieving women, but ask for what you have spent and let them [i.e., the disbelievers] ask for what they have spent.² That is the judgement of Allāh; He judges between you. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.

And if you have lost any of your wives to the disbelievers and you subsequently obtain [something],¹ then give those whose wives have gone the equivalent of what they had spent. And fear Allāh, in whom you are believers.