Surah An-Nisa Verse 21 - Read, Listen, Translation, English : And how could you take it while you have gone…

An-Nisa · 21/176

Translation Transliteration — An-Nisa

وَكَيْفَ تَأْخُذُونَهُ وَقَدْ أَفْضَىٰ بَعْضُكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَأَخَذْنَ مِنكُم مِّيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا ۝٢١

🔤 Transliteration

Wa kaifa taakhuzoonahoo wa qad afdaa ba`dukum ilaa ba`dinw wa akhazna minkum meesaaqan ghaleezaa

📖 Translation (English Meaning)

📖 English Meaning

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

🌐 Additional reference in Français

📜

Translation — Tafsir

Word Meanings:

أَفْضَىٰ بَعْضُكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ — A euphemism for marital intimacy and the deep physical and emotional connection between spouses.
مِيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا — A firm, solemn, and binding covenant; a strong and sacred pledge.

Explanation of the Verse:

Allah (Exalted be He) addresses husbands who contemplate taking back the dowry (mahr) they had given to their wives, and He does so in the form of a rhetorical, disapproving question: "And how could you take it..." — meaning, how could it ever be permissible or appropriate for you to reclaim what you willingly gave as a bridal gift?

The verse then presents two powerful reasons why such an act is utterly reprehensible:

First: "…while you have gone in unto each other…" — This is a delicate and dignified expression referring to marital intimacy. The husband and wife have shared the most private and sacred aspects of their lives together. They have built a bond of love, trust, and mutual familiarity, and they have come to know each other's secrets and vulnerabilities. After such profound closeness, how could one turn around and demand back what was given as a token of honor and commitment? It would be a betrayal of that intimacy and a degradation of the sacred bond they once shared.

Second: "…and they have taken from you a solemn covenant?" — This refers to the marriage contract itself, which is not merely a legal document but a divine and weighty pledge. The wife accepted you as her husband based on the word of Allah and His sacred law. She entrusted herself to you under this covenant, which includes the rights of companionship, kindness, and honorable treatment — either to keep her in goodness or release her with grace. This covenant is so significant that the Qur'an elsewhere calls it "a solemn covenant" (mīthāqan ghalīẓan), the same term used for the covenant taken from the prophets. It is a bond witnessed by Allah Himself.

A Call to Reflection and God-Consciousness:

Dear believer, reflect on the profound wisdom of this verse. Islam elevates the institution of marriage far beyond a mere transaction. It is a sacred union built on mercy, love, and mutual respect. The dowry is not a price for a commodity; it is a gift of honor and a symbol of the husband's sincere commitment. To take it back after intimacy is not only legally forbidden in most cases but is also a moral degradation that wounds the dignity of the wife and tarnishes the sanctity of the marital bond.

This verse teaches us to be people of honour, integrity, and generosity. It reminds husbands to treat their wives with the utmost respect and to never let greed or spite drive them to unjust acts. It also instils in both spouses the awareness that their relationship is witnessed by Allah and governed by a sacred covenant that demands righteousness.

Let this beautiful guidance inspire you to cherish your spouse, honour your commitments, and always remember that the best among you are those who are best to their families. The Qur'an continuously calls us to excellence in character, and this verse is a shining example of how Islam protects the rights and dignity of women while purifying the hearts of men.

🎧 Listen

📜 Verse 19-23 — An-Nisa

19يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَرِثُوا النِّسَاءَ كَرْهًا ۖ وَلَا تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ لِتَذْهَبُوا بِبَعْضِ مَا آتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ إِلَّا أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَاحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ ۚ وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِن كَرِهْتُمُوهُنَّ فَعَسَىٰ أَن تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَيَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا

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

20وَإِنْ أَرَدتُّمُ اسْتِبْدَالَ زَوْجٍ مَّكَانَ زَوْجٍ وَآتَيْتُمْ إِحْدَاهُنَّ قِنطَارًا فَلَا تَأْخُذُوا مِنْهُ شَيْئًا ۚ أَتَأْخُذُونَهُ بُهْتَانًا وَإِثْمًا مُّبِينًا

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?

21وَكَيْفَ تَأْخُذُونَهُ وَقَدْ أَفْضَىٰ بَعْضُكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَأَخَذْنَ مِنكُم مِّيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا

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

22وَلَا تَنكِحُوا مَا نَكَحَ آبَاؤُكُم مِّنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَمَقْتًا وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا

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

23حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَّهَاتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُكُمْ وَأَخَوَاتُكُمْ وَعَمَّاتُكُمْ وَخَالَاتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُ الْأَخِ وَبَنَاتُ الْأُخْتِ وَأُمَّهَاتُكُمُ اللَّاتِي أَرْضَعْنَكُمْ وَأَخَوَاتُكُم مِّنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ وَأُمَّهَاتُ نِسَائِكُمْ وَرَبَائِبُكُمُ اللَّاتِي فِي حُجُورِكُم مِّن نِّسَائِكُمُ اللَّاتِي دَخَلْتُم بِهِنَّ فَإِن لَّمْ تَكُونُوا دَخَلْتُم بِهِنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَحَلَائِلُ أَبْنَائِكُمُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ أَصْلَابِكُمْ وَأَن تَجْمَعُوا بَيْنَ الْأُخْتَيْنِ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

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, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.

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An-NisaQuran Index

176Verse

MedinanRevelation

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Translation — An-Nisa 21

Surah An-Nisa Verse 21 - Read, Listen, Translation, English : And how could you take it while you have gone…

Surah Verse 21/176 — An-Nisa النساء (Medinan). Read Listen Translation (English). Listen: An-Nisa Listen, An-Nisa Translation, An-Nisa mp3, An-Nisa pdf. Verse 19–23. English Meaning: Français.

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