Quran Verses about Women in the Quran
Men and women were created from a single origin, and the good deeds of both are rewarded without loss. The verses establish women's right to the dowry and to inheritance, forbid treating them by force, name the husband as the head of the family and describe righteous women, condemn resentment at the birth of daughters, and set the wife of Pharaoh and Maryam as examples for the believers.
Men and women from a single origin
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفۡسٖ وَٰحِدَةٖ وَخَلَقَ مِنۡهَا زَوۡجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنۡهُمَا رِجَالٗا كَثِيرٗا وَنِسَآءٗۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِي تَسَآءَلُونَ بِهِۦ وَٱلۡأَرۡحَامَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ رَقِيبٗا ١
Yāʾayyuhan-nāsuttaqū rabbakumul-ladhī khalaqakum min nafsiw wāḥidatiw wa khalaqa minhā zawjahā wa baththa minhumā rijālan kathīraw wa nisāʾā, wattaqullāhal-ladhī tasāʾalūna bihī wal-arḥām, innallāha kāna ʿalaykum raqībā.
O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allāh, through whom1 you ask one another,2 and the wombs.3 Indeed Allāh is ever,4 over you, an Observer.5
Footnotes (5)
- In whose name.
- i.e., request favors and demand rights.
- i.e., fear Allāh in regard to relations of kinship.
- When used in conjunction with Allāh's attributes, the word "ever" (occurring repeatedly throughout this sūrah and elsewhere, such as in sūrah al-Aḥzāb) is quite inadequate in imparting the sense of continuation expressed by the word "kāna" in Arabic, which indicates "always was, is, and always will be."
- Ever-present and taking account of everything.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٖ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ شُعُوبٗا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ أَكۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَىٰكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٞ ١٣
Yāʾayyuhan-nāsu innā khalaqnākum min dhakariw wa unthā wa jaʿalnākum shuʿūbaw wa qabāʾila litaʿārafū, inna akramakum ʿindallāhi atqākum, innallāha ʿalīmun khabīr.
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allāh is the most righteous1 of you. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Aware.
Footnotes (1)
- Literally, "he who has the most taqwā," i.e., consciousness and fear of Allāh, piety and righteousness.
The deeds of men and women are both rewarded
فَٱسۡتَجَابَ لَهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ أَنِّي لَآ أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَٰمِلٖ مِّنكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوۡ أُنثَىٰۖ بَعۡضُكُم مِّنۢ بَعۡضٖۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُواْ وَأُخۡرِجُواْ مِن دِيَٰرِهِمۡ وَأُوذُواْ فِي سَبِيلِي وَقَٰتَلُواْ وَقُتِلُواْ لَأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنۡهُمۡ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمۡ وَلَأُدۡخِلَنَّهُمۡ جَنَّٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ ثَوَابٗا مِّنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسۡنُ ٱلثَّوَابِ ١٩٥
Fastajāba lahum rabbuhum annī lā uḍīʿu ʿamala ʿāmilim minkum min dhakarin aw unthā, baʿḍukum mim baʿḍ, fal-ladhīna hājarū wa ukhrijū min diyārihim wa ūdhū fī sabīlī wa qātalū wa qutilū laʾukaffiranna ʿanhum sayyiʾātihim wa laʾudkhilannahum jannātin tajrī min taḥtihal-anhāru thawābam min ʿindillāh, wallāhu ʿindahū ḥusnuth-thawāb.
And their Lord responded to them, "Never will I allow to be lost the work of [any] worker among you, whether male or female; you are of one another. So those who emigrated or were evicted from their homes or were harmed in My cause or fought or were killed - I will surely remove from them their misdeeds, and I will surely admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow as reward from Allāh, and Allāh has with Him the best reward."
وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوۡاْ مَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ بَعۡضَكُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖۚ لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٞ مِّمَّا ٱكۡتَسَبُواْۖ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٞ مِّمَّا ٱكۡتَسَبۡنَۚ وَسۡـَٔلُواْ ٱللَّهَ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٗا ٣٢
Wa lā tatamannaw mā faḍḍalallāhu bihī baʿḍakum ʿalā baʿḍ, lir-rijāli naṣībum mimmaktasabū, walin-nisāʾi naṣībum mimmaktasabn, wasʾalullāha min faḍlih, innallāha kāna bikulli shayʾin ʿalīmā.
And do not wish for that by which Allāh has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of1 what they have earned. And ask Allāh of His bounty. Indeed Allāh is ever, of all things, Knowing.
Footnotes (1)
- This may refer to shares of inheritance, wages and reward in the Hereafter.
وَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوۡ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٞ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ يَدۡخُلُونَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ نَقِيرٗا ١٢٤
Wa may yaʿmal minaṣ-ṣāliḥāti min dhakarin aw unthā wa huwa muʾminun fa ulāʾika yadkhulūnal-jannata wa lā yuẓlamūna naqīrā.
And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.
وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتُ بَعۡضُهُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءُ بَعۡضٖۚ يَأۡمُرُونَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَيَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ سَيَرۡحَمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٞ ٧١
Wal-muʾminūna wal-muʾminātu baʿḍuhum awliyāʾu baʿḍ, yaʾmurūna bil-maʿrūfi wa yanhawna ʿanil-munkari wa yuqīmūnaṣ-ṣalāta wa yuʾtūnaz-zakāta wa yuṭīʿūnallāha wa rasūlah, ulāʾika sayarḥamuhumullāh, innallāha ʿazīzun ḥakīm.
The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakāh and obey Allāh and His Messenger. Those - Allāh will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ جَنَّٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَٰكِنَ طَيِّبَةٗ فِي جَنَّٰتِ عَدۡنٖۚ وَرِضۡوَٰنٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ أَكۡبَرُۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ ٧٢
Waʿadallāhul-muʾminīna wal-muʾmināti jannātin tajrī min taḥtihal-anhāru khālidīna fīhā wa masākina ṭayyibatan fī jannāti ʿadn, wa riḍwānum minallāhi akbar, dhālika huwal-fawzul-ʿaẓīm.
Allāh has promised the believing men and believing women gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence; but approval from Allāh is greater. It is that which is the great attainment.
مَنۡ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوۡ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٞ فَلَنُحۡيِيَنَّهُۥ حَيَوٰةٗ طَيِّبَةٗۖ وَلَنَجۡزِيَنَّهُمۡ أَجۡرَهُم بِأَحۡسَنِ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٩٧
Man ʿamila ṣāliḥam min dhakarin aw unthā wa huwa muʾminun falanuḥyiyannahū ḥayātan ṭayyibah, wa lanajziyannahum ajrahum biʾaḥsani mā kānū yaʿmalūn.
Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.
إِنَّ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ وَٱلۡمُسۡلِمَٰتِ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ وَٱلۡقَٰنِتِينَ وَٱلۡقَٰنِتَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ وَٱلصَّٰدِقَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّٰبِرَٰتِ وَٱلۡخَٰشِعِينَ وَٱلۡخَٰشِعَٰتِ وَٱلۡمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَٱلۡمُتَصَدِّقَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمِينَ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمَٰتِ وَٱلۡحَٰفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمۡ وَٱلۡحَٰفِظَٰتِ وَٱلذَّٰكِرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرٗا وَٱلذَّٰكِرَٰتِ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٗ وَأَجۡرًا عَظِيمٗا ٣٥
Innal-muslimīna wal-muslimāti wal-muʾminīna wal-muʾmināti wal-qānitīna wal-qānitāti waṣ-ṣādiqīna waṣ-ṣādiqāti waṣ-ṣābirīna waṣ-ṣābirāti wal-khāshiʿīna wal-khāshiʿāti wal-mutaṣaddiqīna wal-mutaṣaddiqāti waṣ-ṣāʾimīna waṣ-ṣāʾimāti wal-ḥāfiẓīna furūjahum wal-ḥāfiẓāti wadh-dhākirīnallāha kathīraw wadh-dhākirāti aʿaddallāhu lahum maghfirataw wa ajran ʿaẓīmā.
Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allāh often and the women who do so - for them Allāh has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.
مَنۡ عَمِلَ سَيِّئَةٗ فَلَا يُجۡزَىٰٓ إِلَّا مِثۡلَهَاۖ وَمَنۡ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوۡ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٞ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ يَدۡخُلُونَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ يُرۡزَقُونَ فِيهَا بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٖ ٤٠
Man ʿamila sayyiʾatan falā yujzā illā mithlahā, wa man ʿamila ṣāliḥam min dhakarin aw unthā wa huwa muʾminun fa ulāʾika yadkhulūnal-jannata yurzaqūna fīhā bighayri ḥisāb.
Whoever does an evil deed will not be recompensed except by the like thereof; but whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - those will enter Paradise, being given provision therein without account.
Women's right to the dowry, inheritance and fair treatment
وَٱلۡمُطَلَّقَٰتُ يَتَرَبَّصۡنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ ثَلَٰثَةَ قُرُوٓءٖۚ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَهُنَّ أَن يَكۡتُمۡنَ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ فِيٓ أَرۡحَامِهِنَّ إِن كُنَّ يُؤۡمِنَّ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِۚ وَبُعُولَتُهُنَّ أَحَقُّ بِرَدِّهِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ إِنۡ أَرَادُوٓاْ إِصۡلَٰحٗاۚ وَلَهُنَّ مِثۡلُ ٱلَّذِي عَلَيۡهِنَّ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۚ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيۡهِنَّ دَرَجَةٞۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ٢٢٨
Wal-muṭallaqātu yatarabbaṣna biʾanfusihinna thalāthata qurūʾ, wa lā yaḥillu lahunna ay yaktumna mā khalaqallāhu fī arḥāmihinna in kunna yuʾminna billāhi wal-yawmil-ākhir, wa buʿūlatuhunna aḥaqqu biraddihinna fī dhālika in arādū iṣlāḥā, wa lahunna mithlul-ladhī ʿalayhinna bil-maʿrūf, walir-rijāli ʿalayhinna darajah, wallāhu ʿazīzun ḥakīm.
Divorced women remain in waiting [i.e., do not remarry] for three periods,1 and it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allāh has created in their wombs if they believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And their husbands have more right to take them back in this [period] if they want reconciliation.2 And due to them [i.e., the wives] is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable.3 But the men [i.e., husbands] have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority]. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Footnotes (3)
- Either menstrual periods or periods of purity between menstruation. See also 65:1-7.
- The husband may return her to himself during the ʿiddah period of a first and second divorce without a new marriage contract.
- The wife has specific rights upon her husband, just as the husband has rights upon her.
وَءَاتُواْ ٱلنِّسَآءَ صَدُقَٰتِهِنَّ نِحۡلَةٗۚ فَإِن طِبۡنَ لَكُمۡ عَن شَيۡءٖ مِّنۡهُ نَفۡسٗا فَكُلُوهُ هَنِيٓـٔٗا مَّرِيٓـٔٗا ٤
Wa ātun-nisāʾa ṣaduqātihinna niḥlah, fa in ṭibna lakum ʿan shayʾim minhu nafsan fakulūhu hanīʾam marīʾā.
And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts1 graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease.2
Footnotes (2)
- The obligatory bridal gift (mahr).
- Knowing that it is lawful.
لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٞ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ٱلۡوَٰلِدَانِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبُونَ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٞ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ٱلۡوَٰلِدَانِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبُونَ مِمَّا قَلَّ مِنۡهُ أَوۡ كَثُرَۚ نَصِيبٗا مَّفۡرُوضٗا ٧
Lir-rijāli naṣībum mimmā tarakal-wālidāni wal-aqrabūna walin-nisāʾi naṣībum mimmā tarakal-wālidāni wal-aqrabūna mimmā qalla minhu aw kathur, naṣībam mafrūḍā.
For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much - an obligatory share.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمۡ أَن تَرِثُواْ ٱلنِّسَآءَ كَرۡهٗاۖ وَلَا تَعۡضُلُوهُنَّ لِتَذۡهَبُواْ بِبَعۡضِ مَآ ءَاتَيۡتُمُوهُنَّ إِلَّآ أَن يَأۡتِينَ بِفَٰحِشَةٖ مُّبَيِّنَةٖۚ وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۚ فَإِن كَرِهۡتُمُوهُنَّ فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكۡرَهُواْ شَيۡـٔٗا وَيَجۡعَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيۡرٗا كَثِيرٗا ١٩
Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū lā yaḥillu lakum an tarithun-nisāʾa karhā, wa lā taʿḍulūhunna litadhhabū bibaʿḍi mā ātaytumūhunna illā ay yaʾtīna bifāḥishatim mubayyinah, wa ʿāshirūhunna bil-maʿrūf, fa in karihtumūhunna faʿasā an takrahū shayʾaw wa yajʿalallāhu fīhi khayran kathīrā.
O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion.1 And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them2 unless they commit a clear immorality [i.e., adultery]. And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allāh makes therein much good.
Footnotes (2)
- The deceased man's heirs have no rights of marriage or otherwise over his widow.
- At the time of marriage as mahr.
وَيَسۡتَفۡتُونَكَ فِي ٱلنِّسَآءِۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُفۡتِيكُمۡ فِيهِنَّ وَمَا يُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ فِي يَتَٰمَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ ٱلَّٰتِي لَا تُؤۡتُونَهُنَّ مَا كُتِبَ لَهُنَّ وَتَرۡغَبُونَ أَن تَنكِحُوهُنَّ وَٱلۡمُسۡتَضۡعَفِينَ مِنَ ٱلۡوِلۡدَٰنِ وَأَن تَقُومُواْ لِلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۚ وَمَا تَفۡعَلُواْ مِنۡ خَيۡرٖ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٗا ١٢٧
Wa yastaftūnaka fin-nisāʾ, qulillāhu yuftīkum fīhinna wa mā yutlā ʿalaykum fil-kitābi fī yatāman-nisāʾil-lātī lā tuʾtūnahunna mā kutiba lahunna wa targhabūna an tankiḥūhunna wal-mustaḍʿafīna minal-wildāni wa an taqūmū lil-yatāmā bil-qisṭ, wa mā tafʿalū min khayrin fa innallāha kāna bihī ʿalīmā.
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 them1 - 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.
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., their rights, in general, and their mahr, specifically.
The husband as head of the family and the qualities of righteous women
ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٰمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعۡضَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُواْ مِنۡ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡۚ فَٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ قَٰنِتَٰتٌ حَٰفِظَٰتٞ لِّلۡغَيۡبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُۚ وَٱلَّٰتِي تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهۡجُرُوهُنَّ فِي ٱلۡمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضۡرِبُوهُنَّۖ فَإِنۡ أَطَعۡنَكُمۡ فَلَا تَبۡغُواْ عَلَيۡهِنَّ سَبِيلًاۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيّٗا كَبِيرٗا ٣٤
Ar-rijālu qawwāmūna ʿalan-nisāʾi bimā faḍḍalallāhu baʿḍahum ʿalā baʿḍiw wabimā anfaqū min amwālihim, faṣ-ṣāliḥātu qānitātun ḥāfiẓātul lil-ghaybi bimā ḥafiẓallāh, wal-lātī takhāfūna nushūzahunna faʿiẓūhunna wahjurūhunna fil-maḍājiʿi waḍribūhunn, fa in aṭaʿnakum falā tabghū ʿalayhinna sabīlā, innallāha kāna ʿaliyyan kabīrā.
Men are in charge of women1 by [right of] what Allāh has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allāh would have them guard.2 But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance3 - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them [lightly].4 But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allāh is ever Exalted and Grand.
Footnotes (4)
- This applies primarily to the husband-wife relationship.
- i.e., their husbands' property and their own chastity.
- i.e., major rebellion or refusal of basic religious obligations.
- This final disciplinary measure is more psychological than physical. It may be resorted to only after failure of the first two measures and when it is expected to amend the situation and prevent family breakup; otherwise, it is not acceptable. The Prophet ﷺ (who never struck a woman or a servant) additionally stipulated that it must not be severe or damaging and that the face be avoided.
عَسَىٰ رَبُّهُۥٓ إِن طَلَّقَكُنَّ أَن يُبۡدِلَهُۥٓ أَزۡوَٰجًا خَيۡرٗا مِّنكُنَّ مُسۡلِمَٰتٖ مُّؤۡمِنَٰتٖ قَٰنِتَٰتٖ تَٰٓئِبَٰتٍ عَٰبِدَٰتٖ سَٰٓئِحَٰتٖ ثَيِّبَٰتٖ وَأَبۡكَارٗا ٥
ʿAsā rabbuhū in ṭallaqakunna ay yubdilahū azwājan khayram minkunna muslimātim muʾminātin qānitātin tāʾibātin ʿābidātin sāʾiḥātin thayyibātiw wa abkārā.
Perhaps his Lord, if he divorced you [all], would substitute for him wives better than you - submitting [to Allāh], believing, devoutly obedient, repentant, worshipping, and traveling1 - [ones] previously married and virgins.
Footnotes (1)
- Emigrating for the cause of Allāh. Another meaning is "given to fasting."
The emigration and pledge of believing women
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا جَآءَكُمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتُ مُهَٰجِرَٰتٖ فَٱمۡتَحِنُوهُنَّۖ ٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِإِيمَٰنِهِنَّۖ فَإِنۡ عَلِمۡتُمُوهُنَّ مُؤۡمِنَٰتٖ فَلَا تَرۡجِعُوهُنَّ إِلَى ٱلۡكُفَّارِۖ لَا هُنَّ حِلّٞ لَّهُمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحِلُّونَ لَهُنَّۖ وَءَاتُوهُم مَّآ أَنفَقُواْۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ أَن تَنكِحُوهُنَّ إِذَآ ءَاتَيۡتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّۚ وَلَا تُمۡسِكُواْ بِعِصَمِ ٱلۡكَوَافِرِ وَسۡـَٔلُواْ مَآ أَنفَقۡتُمۡ وَلۡيَسۡـَٔلُواْ مَآ أَنفَقُواْۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ حُكۡمُ ٱللَّهِ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَكُمۡۖ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٞ ١٠
Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū idhā jāʾakumul-muʾminātu muhājirātin famtaḥinūhunn, allāhu aʿlamu biʾīmānihinn, fa in ʿalimtumūhunna muʾminātin falā tarjiʿūhunna ilal-kuffār, lā hunna ḥillul lahum wa lā hum yaḥillūna lahunn, wa ātūhum mā anfaqū, wa lā junāḥa ʿalaykum an tankiḥūhunna idhā ātaytumūhunna ujūrahunn, wa lā tumsikū biʿiṣamil-kawāfiri wasʾalū mā anfaqtum walyasʾalū mā anfaqū, dhālikum ḥukmullāhi yaḥkumu baynakum, wallāhu ʿalīmun ḥakīm.
O you who have believed, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, examine [i.e., test] them. Allāh is most knowing as to their faith. And if you know them to be believers, then do not return them to the disbelievers; they are not lawful [wives] for them, nor are they lawful [husbands] for them. But give them [i.e., the disbelievers] what they have spent.1 And there is no blame upon you if you marry them when you have given them their due compensation [i.e., mahr]. And hold not to marriage bonds with disbelieving women, but ask for what you have spent and let them [i.e., the disbelievers] ask for what they have spent.2 That is the judgement of Allāh; He judges between you. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
Footnotes (2)
- For marriage, i.e., compensate their loss.
- When a disbelieving wife chose to join the disbelievers, a Muslim husband could demand in return the equivalent of her mahr. Likewise, the disbelievers had a similar right when a believing woman joined the Muslims. This and the following verses were revealed subsequent to the Treaty of al-Ḥudaybiyyah.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتُ يُبَايِعۡنَكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن لَّا يُشۡرِكۡنَ بِٱللَّهِ شَيۡـٔٗا وَلَا يَسۡرِقۡنَ وَلَا يَزۡنِينَ وَلَا يَقۡتُلۡنَ أَوۡلَٰدَهُنَّ وَلَا يَأۡتِينَ بِبُهۡتَٰنٖ يَفۡتَرِينَهُۥ بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِنَّ وَأَرۡجُلِهِنَّ وَلَا يَعۡصِينَكَ فِي مَعۡرُوفٖ فَبَايِعۡهُنَّ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُنَّ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ ١٢
Yāʾayyuhan-nabiyyu idhā jāʾakal-muʾminātu yubāyiʿnaka ʿalā al lā yushrikna billāhi shayʾaw wa lā yasriqna wa lā yaznīna wa lā yaqtulna awlādahunna wa lā yaʾtīna bibuhtāniy yaftarīnahū bayna aydīhinna wa arjulihinna wa lā yaʿṣīnaka fī maʿrūfin fabāyiʿhunna wastaghfir lahunnallāh, innallāha ghafūrur raḥīm.
O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allāh, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have invented between their arms and legs,1 nor will they disobey you in what is right - then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Footnotes (1)
- This is an allusion to pregnancy and childbirth, i.e., to falsely attribute a child (whether adopted or born of adultery) to a woman's husband.
Condemnation of resentment at the birth of daughters
وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِٱلۡأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجۡهُهُۥ مُسۡوَدّٗا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٞ ٥٨
Wa idhā bushshira aḥaduhum bil-unthā ẓalla wajhuhū muswaddaw wa huwa kaẓīm.
And when one of them is informed of [the birth of] a female, his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief.
يَتَوَٰرَىٰ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ مِن سُوٓءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِهِۦٓۚ أَيُمۡسِكُهُۥ عَلَىٰ هُونٍ أَمۡ يَدُسُّهُۥ فِي ٱلتُّرَابِۗ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَحۡكُمُونَ ٥٩
Yatawārā minal-qawmi min sūʾi mā bushshira bih, ayumsikuhū ʿalā hūnin am yadussuhū fit-turāb, alā sāʾa mā yaḥkumūn.
He hides himself from the people because of the ill of which he has been informed. Should he keep it in humiliation or bury it in the ground? Unquestionably, evil is what they decide.
وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِمَا ضَرَبَ لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ مَثَلٗا ظَلَّ وَجۡهُهُۥ مُسۡوَدّٗا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ ١٧
Wa idhā bushshira aḥaduhum bimā ḍaraba lir-raḥmāni mathalan ẓalla wajhuhū muswaddaw wa huwa kaẓīm.
And when one of them is given good tidings of that which he attributes to the Most Merciful in comparison [i.e., a daughter], his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief.
Women as examples for the believers
وَإِذۡ قَالَتِ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ يَٰمَرۡيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصۡطَفَىٰكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَٱصۡطَفَىٰكِ عَلَىٰ نِسَآءِ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٤٢
Wa idh qālatil-malāʾikatu yāmaryamu innallāhaṣṭafāki wa ṭahharaki waṣṭafāki ʿalā nisāʾil-ʿālamīn.
And [mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allāh has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلٗا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱمۡرَأَتَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِذۡ قَالَتۡ رَبِّ ٱبۡنِ لِي عِندَكَ بَيۡتٗا فِي ٱلۡجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِي مِن فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَعَمَلِهِۦ وَنَجِّنِي مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ١١
Wa ḍaraballāhu mathalal lil-ladhīna āmanumraʾata firʿawna idh qālat rabbibni lī ʿindaka baytan fil-jannati wa najjinī min firʿawna wa ʿamalihī wa najjinī minal-qawmiẓ-ẓālimīn.
And Allāh presents an example of those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people."
وَمَرۡيَمَ ٱبۡنَتَ عِمۡرَٰنَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَحۡصَنَتۡ فَرۡجَهَا فَنَفَخۡنَا فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتۡ بِكَلِمَٰتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَكَانَتۡ مِنَ ٱلۡقَٰنِتِينَ ١٢
Wa maryamabnata ʿimrānal-latī aḥṣanat farjahā fanafakhnā fīhi mir rūḥinā wa ṣaddaqat bikalimāti rabbihā wa kutubihī wa kānat minal-qānitīn.
And [the example of] Mary, the daughter of ʿImrān, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into [her garment] through Our angel [i.e., Gabriel], and she believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient.