ٱلزَّانِى لَا يَنكِحُ إِلَّا زَانِيَةً أَوْ مُشْرِكَةً وَٱلزَّانِيَةُ لَا يَنكِحُهَآ إِلَّا زَانٍ أَوْ مُشْرِكٌ ۚ وَحُرِّمَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 3
Translations
The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator or a polytheist, and that [i.e., marriage to such persons] has been made unlawful to the believers.
Transliteration
Az-zānī lā yankiḥu illā zāniyatan aw mushrikatan wa-z-zāniyatu lā yankiḥuhā illā zānin aw mushrikun wa-ḥurrima dhālik ʿala-l-muʾminīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that a fornicator (male) will not marry except a fornicatress (female) or a polytheist woman, and similarly a fornicatress will not be married except by a fornicator or polytheist man, with this practice being forbidden for believers. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as both a legal ruling prohibiting such marriages and a divine principle that sinful individuals are drawn to similar partners, reflecting the natural consequences of immoral behavior. The ayah emphasizes the gravity of fornication and the incompatibility between a believer's faith and engaging in such unions.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nur (Chapter 24), a Medinan surah primarily addressing matters of personal conduct, family law, and the boundaries of moral behavior in the Muslim community. It follows the verses establishing the punishment for fornication (24:2) and precedes regulations on marriage and social interaction, providing a comprehensive framework for maintaining chastity and family honor in Islamic society.
Related Hadiths
The Hadith of 'A'ishah in Sahih Muslim regarding the Prophet's statement about marriage compatibility: 'The best of you are those who are best to their wives,' emphasizing righteous conduct in marriage. Additionally, traditions in Sunan At-Tirmidhi discuss the Prophet's guidance on choosing virtuous spouses.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that maintaining moral integrity is foundational to a healthy marriage and family life, and that believers are called to a higher standard of conduct that naturally leads them toward righteous partners; it serves as a reminder that our choices and character shape the quality of our most intimate relationships.
Related Ayahs
وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَ كُلَّ دَآبَّةٍ مِّن مَّآءٍ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰ بَطْنِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰ رِجْلَيْنِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰٓ أَرْبَعٍ ۚ يَخْلُقُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Allāh has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are those that move on their bellies, and of them are those that walk on two legs, and of them are those that walk on four. Allāh creates what He wills. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
وَيُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
And Allāh makes clear to you the verses [i.e., His rulings], and Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُزْجِى سَحَابًا ثُمَّ يُؤَلِّفُ بَيْنَهُۥ ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُۥ رُكَامًا فَتَرَى ٱلْوَدْقَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ خِلَـٰلِهِۦ وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن جِبَالٍ فِيهَا مِنۢ بَرَدٍ فَيُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَصْرِفُهُۥ عَن مَّن يَشَآءُ ۖ يَكَادُ سَنَا بَرْقِهِۦ يَذْهَبُ بِٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ
Do you not see that Allāh drives clouds? Then He brings them together; then He makes them into a mass, and you see the rain emerge from within it. And He sends down from the sky, mountains [of clouds] within which is hail, and He strikes with it whom He wills and averts it from whom He wills. The flash of its lightning almost takes away the eyesight.
وَٱلْخَـٰمِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
And the fifth [oath will be] that the wrath of Allāh be upon her if he was of the truthful.