Surah An-Nisa Verse 23 - Read, Listen, Translation, English : Prohibited to you [for marriage] are your mothers, your daughters,…

An-Nisa · 23/176

Translation Transliteration — An-Nisa

حُرِّمَتْ 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 ۝٢٣

🔤 Transliteration

Hurrimat `alaikum umma haatukum wa bannaatukum wa akhawaatukum wa `ammaatukum wa khaalaatukum wa banaatul akhi wa banaatul ukhti wa ummahaatu kumul laateee arda` nakum wa akhawaatukum minarradaa`ati wa ummahaatu nisaaa`ikum wa rabaaa`i bukumul laatee fee hujoorikum min nisaaa`ikumul laatee dakhaltum bihinna Fa il lam takoonoo dakhaltum bihina falaa junaaha `alaikum wa halaaa`ilu abnaaa`ikumul lazeena min aslaabikum wa an tajma`oo bainal ukhtaini illaa maa qad salaf; innallaaha kaana Ghafoorar Raheema

📖 Translation (English Meaning)

📖 English Meaning

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.

🌐 Additional reference in Français

📜

Translation — Tafsir

Word Meanings:

Ummahātikum (أُمَّهَاتُكُمْ): Your mothers, including grandmothers from both the father's and mother's side.
Rabā'ibukum (رَبَائِبُكُمْ): Your step-daughters — daughters of your wives from previous marriages.
Ḥalā'il (حَلَائِلُ): Wives (spouses), literally "lawful companions."
Min aṣlābikum (مِنْ أَصْلَابِكُمْ): From your own loins — biological sons, not adopted sons.
Ḥujūrikum (حُجُورِكُمْ): Your care and guardianship, literally "your laps" or homes.

Tafsir (Explanation):

In this profound verse, Allah, the Most Merciful, lays down clear boundaries for marriage to protect the family structure, honor, and social harmony. These prohibitions are not restrictions to burden you, but divine safeguards for a pure and dignified society.

First: Those forbidden by blood relation:

Allah forbids marriage to your mothers (including grandmothers), your daughters (including granddaughters), your sisters (full, paternal, or maternal), your paternal aunts (sisters of your fathers and grandfathers), your maternal aunts (sisters of your mothers and grandmothers), and the daughters of your brothers and sisters (including their descendants). These are permanent prohibitions — they never become permissible under any circumstance.

Second: Those forbidden through breastfeeding (fosterage):

The Prophet ﷺ said: "What is forbidden by lineage is forbidden by breastfeeding." Therefore, your foster mothers who nursed you, and your foster sisters (girls who shared the same nursing mother), are as forbidden to you as your blood relatives. This establishes the beautiful principle that the bond of breastfeeding creates family ties similar to blood ties.

Third: Those forbidden through marriage:

Mothers of your wives: Once you contract a valid marriage with a woman, her mother becomes permanently forbidden to you — whether or not you have consummated the marriage.
Step-daughters: Your wife's daughters from another marriage are forbidden to you only if you have consummated the marriage with their mother. If you divorce her or she passes away before consummation, there is no sin in marrying her daughter. The verse mentions those "in your care," but scholars clarify this applies whether they live with you or not — the condition is consummation with the mother.
Wives of your biological sons: Once your son contracts a marriage, his wife becomes forbidden to you — whether or not the marriage was consummated. The specification "from your loins" excludes adopted sons, as was practiced in pre-Islamic times, to clarify that the bond of adoption does not create this prohibition.

Fourth: Prohibition of combining two sisters:

You may not marry two sisters simultaneously — whether by blood or through breastfeeding. The Prophet ﷺ also extended this to prohibit combining a woman with her paternal or maternal aunt in marriage at the same time. What occurred before Islam is forgiven, but from now on, this is strictly forbidden.

The Divine Wisdom:

Allah concludes with: "Indeed, Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful." This is a beautiful reminder that He forgives what occurred in ignorance before the revelation, and His mercy encompasses those who sincerely repent and obey His commands. These laws protect the sanctity of family bonds, prevent jealousy and discord within households, and ensure that relationships remain pure and respectful.

Dear believer, see how your Lord cares for you! He has laid out these boundaries not to make life difficult, but to protect your honor, your family, and your peace. When you obey these divine limits, you build a society founded on chastity, respect, and mutual care. Embrace these teachings with love and gratitude, for they are a manifestation of Allah's infinite wisdom and His desire for your well-being in this life and the next.

🎧 Listen

📜 Verse 21-25 — An-Nisa

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

24۞ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ۖ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَأُحِلَّ لَكُم مَّا وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَن تَبْتَغُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُم مُّحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحِينَ ۚ فَمَا اسْتَمْتَعْتُم بِهِ مِنْهُنَّ فَآتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا تَرَاضَيْتُم بِهِ مِن بَعْدِ الْفَرِيضَةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا

And [also prohibited to you are all] married women except those your right hands possess. [This is] the decree of Allah 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 compensation as an obligation. And there is no blame upon you for what you mutually agree to beyond the obligation. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.

25وَمَن لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ مِنكُمْ طَوْلًا أَن يَنكِحَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ فَمِن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُم مِّن فَتَيَاتِكُمُ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِإِيمَانِكُم ۚ بَعْضُكُم مِّن بَعْضٍ ۚ فَانكِحُوهُنَّ بِإِذْنِ أَهْلِهِنَّ وَآتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ مُحْصَنَاتٍ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحَاتٍ وَلَا مُتَّخِذَاتِ أَخْدَانٍ ۚ فَإِذَا أُحْصِنَّ فَإِنْ أَتَيْنَ بِفَاحِشَةٍ فَعَلَيْهِنَّ نِصْفُ مَا عَلَى الْمُحْصَنَاتِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِيَ الْعَنَتَ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَأَن تَصْبِرُوا خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

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 Allah 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 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 sin, but to be patient is better for you. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

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Translation — An-Nisa 23

Surah An-Nisa Verse 23 - Read, Listen, Translation, English : Prohibited to you [for marriage] are your mothers, your daughters,…

Surah Verse 23/176 — An-Nisa النساء (Medinan). Read Listen Translation (English). Listen: An-Nisa Listen, An-Nisa Translation, An-Nisa mp3, An-Nisa pdf. Verse 21–25. English Meaning: Français.

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