حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَّهَـٰتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُكُمْ وَأَخَوَٰتُكُمْ وَعَمَّـٰتُكُمْ وَخَـٰلَـٰتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُ ٱلْأَخِ وَبَنَاتُ ٱلْأُخْتِ وَأُمَّهَـٰتُكُمُ ٱلَّـٰتِىٓ أَرْضَعْنَكُمْ وَأَخَوَٰتُكُم مِّنَ ٱلرَّضَـٰعَةِ وَأُمَّهَـٰتُ نِسَآئِكُمْ وَرَبَـٰٓئِبُكُمُ ٱلَّـٰتِى فِى حُجُورِكُم مِّن نِّسَآئِكُمُ ٱلَّـٰتِى دَخَلْتُم بِهِنَّ فَإِن لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ دَخَلْتُم بِهِنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَحَلَـٰٓئِلُ أَبْنَآئِكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِنْ أَصْلَـٰبِكُمْ وَأَن تَجْمَعُوا۟ بَيْنَ ٱلْأُخْتَيْنِ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا 23
Translations
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. Indeed, Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Hurrimat AAalaykum ommahatukum wabanátukum waakhawaátukum wAAAmmátukum wakhálatukum wabanátu alákhi wabanátu alókhti waommahatukumu alláti arðaAAtannakum waakhawátukum mina alrrðáAAati waommahátu nisáikum warabáibukumu alláti fee hujorikum min nisáikumu alláti dakhalltum bihinna fa-in lam takoonoo dakhalltum bihinna fala jonaha AAalaykum wahaláilu abnáikumu alládhína min asláabikum waan tajmaAAoo bayna alókhatayn illa má qad salaf, inna Alláha kána ghafoorun raheemun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the definitive categories of women who are forbidden (haram) for marriage based on consanguinity (blood relations), affinity (in-law relations), and milk kinship (nursing relations). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that these prohibitions are absolute and permanent, serving to preserve family honor, prevent confusion in lineage, and establish clear social boundaries. The concluding phrase "except what has already occurred" refers to pre-Islamic marriages that are now invalid, demonstrating Allah's mercy (rahmah) toward those who unknowingly violated these laws before the revelation.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina during the consolidation of Islamic law regarding marriage and family matters. It addresses the social and legal chaos that existed in pre-Islamic Arabia where marriage restrictions were unclear or non-existent. The surah An-Nisa focuses comprehensively on women's rights, inheritance, marriage, and family law, making this ayah foundational to Islamic jurisprudence on permissible marriages.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Do not marry women for their beauty, for beauty may lead to destruction. Do not marry them for their wealth, for wealth may lead to disobedience. Rather, marry them for their deen (faith)' - a hadith emphasizing the Islamic framework for marriage mentioned in various collections. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah records that the Prophet confirmed these prohibitions as essential to Islamic practice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that Islamic marriage laws are not arbitrary restrictions but divine wisdom designed to protect family integrity, prevent moral confusion, and establish clear social boundaries. For modern readers, it reinforces that true freedom in Islam comes through submitting to Allah's guidance, which prevents harm and preserves dignity in intimate relationships and family structures.
Related Ayahs
وَلَئِنْ أَصَـٰبَكُمْ فَضْلٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لَيَقُولَنَّ كَأَن لَّمْ تَكُنۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُۥ مَوَدَّةٌ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى كُنتُ مَعَهُمْ فَأَفُوزَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا
But if bounty comes to you from Allāh, he will surely say, as if [i.e., showing that] there had never been between you and him any affection, "Oh, I wish I had been with them so I could have attained a great attainment."
وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآئِفَةٌ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا۟ فَلْيَكُونُوا۟ مِن وَرَآئِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَآئِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا۟ فَلْيُصَلُّوا۟ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ ۗ وَدَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةً وَٰحِدَةً ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَن تَضَعُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ ۖ وَخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا
And when you [i.e., the commander of an army] are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allāh has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَيَأْتِ بِـَٔاخَرِينَ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ قَدِيرًا
If He wills, He can do away with you, O people, and bring others [in your place]. And ever is Allāh competent to do that.
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍۭ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ شَهِيدًا
So how [will it be] when We bring from every nation a witness and We bring you, [O Muḥammad], against these [people] as a witness?