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
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَضْلُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ عَلِيمًا
That is the bounty from Allāh, and sufficient is Allāh as Knower.
وَيَسْتَفْتُونَكَ فِى ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ فِيهِنَّ وَمَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ فِى يَتَـٰمَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ ٱلَّـٰتِى لَا تُؤْتُونَهُنَّ مَا كُتِبَ لَهُنَّ وَتَرْغَبُونَ أَن تَنكِحُوهُنَّ وَٱلْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ ٱلْوِلْدَٰنِ وَأَن تَقُومُوا۟ لِلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمًا
And they request from you, [O Muḥammad], a [legal] ruling concerning women. Say, "Allāh gives you a ruling about them and [about] what has been recited to you in the Book concerning the orphan girls to whom you do not give what is decreed for them - and [yet] you desire to marry them - and concerning the oppressed among children and that you maintain for orphans [their rights] in justice." And whatever you do of good - indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing of it.
وَأَخْذِهِمُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ وَقَدْ نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَكْلِهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ ۚ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
And [for] their taking of usury while they had been forbidden from it, and their consuming of the people's wealth unjustly. And We have prepared for the disbelievers among them a painful punishment.
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَـٰقَهُمْ وَكُفْرِهِم بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتْلِهِمُ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌۢ ۚ بَلْ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
And [We cursed them] for their breaking of the covenant and their disbelief in the signs of Allāh and their killing of the prophets without right and their saying, "Our hearts are wrapped" [i.e., sealed against reception]. Rather, Allāh has sealed them because of their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.