Marrying

Marry off the single among you and the righteous among your servants. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty.

Let those who cannot afford marriage remain chaste until Allah enriches them. And if any of your servants seek freedom through a contract, grant it if you see goodness in them, and give them from Allah’s wealth which He has given you.

Do not marry polytheistic women until they believe, for a believing slave-woman is better than a polytheist, even if she pleases you. Likewise, do not give your women in marriage to polytheistic men until they believe, for a believing slave-man is better than a polytheist, even if he pleases you.

There is no sin in discreet proposals during the waiting period, but do not make binding commitments. Allah knows what is in your hearts, so be mindful of Him. Do not finalize marriage until the waiting period ends.

Grant women their dowries graciously. But if they willingly forgo part of it, then enjoy it freely and with gratitude.

Do not marry women whom your fathers married, except what has already passed. This is shameful, detestable, and an evil practice.

Forbidden to you in marriage are your mothers, daughters, sisters, paternal and maternal aunts, nieces, foster mothers, foster sisters, mothers-in-law, stepdaughters under your care, if you have consummated marriage with their mothers, wives of your sons, and marrying two sisters at once, except what has already passed.

If any of you cannot afford to marry free, believing women, then marry from among the believing slave women under your care. Allah knows your faith best; you are of one another. Marry them with the permission of their guardians and give them their due dowries in kindness, ensuring they are chaste, neither promiscuous nor taking secret lovers. If they enter marriage and then commit adultery, their punishment is half that of free women. This is for those who fear falling into sin, but patience is better for you.

Today, all good things are lawful, including the food of the People of the Book, and your food is lawful for them. Lawful to you are chaste believing women and chaste women from the People of the Book, provided you give them their due dowries in marriage, not in fornication or as mistresses.

You who believe, when believing women come to you as emigrants, test them. God knows their faith. If you find them to be believers, do not return them to the disbelievers; they are not lawful for them, nor are the disbelievers lawful for them. Return to them whatever dowry was given. There is no blame upon you to marry them if you give them their due. But do not hold on to disbelieving women. Ask for what you spent, and let them ask for what they spent. That is Allah’s judgment; He judges between you.

If any of your wives leave you for the disbelievers, and you later gain something from them, then give those whose wives left the equivalent of what they spent.

Men are protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has favoured some over others and because they spend from their wealth. Righteous women are devout and guard what Allah has entrusted them with. But if you fear rebellion, advise them, then separate from them in bed, and if necessary, discipline them. If they return to obedience, do not seek a way against them.