Page 453 - An Index to the Qur'an

give them their dowries correctly and courte- So are chaste women from among the believers
ously as married women, not in fornication or and chaste women of those given the Book be-
taking them as lovers. When they are married, if fore you, once you have given them their
they commit fornication they should receive half dowries in marriage, not in fornication or taking
the punishment of free women. This is for those them as lovers. But as for anyone who rejects
of you who are afraid of committing fornication. faith, his actions will come to nothing and in the
But being patient is better for you. Allah is Ever- hereafter he will be among the losers. (5:15)
Forgiving, Most Merciful. (4:25) A man who has fornicated may only marry a
Men have charge of women because Allah has woman who has fornicated or a woman of the
preferred the one above the other and because idolaters. A woman who has fornicated may only
they spend their wealth on them. Right-acting marry a man who has fornicated or a man of the
women are obedient (to Allah), guarding the un- idolaters. Doing such a thing is forbidden for the
seen as Allah has guarded. If there are women believers. (24:3)
whose disobedience you fear, you may admon- Marry off those among you who are unmarried
ish them, refuse to sleep with them, and then and those of your slaves and slavegirls who are
beat them. But if they obey you, do not look for a righteous. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them
way to punish them. Allah is All-High, Most from His bounty. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-
Great. (4:34) Knowing. (24:32)
If you fear a breach between a couple, send an Those who cannot find the means to marry
arbiter from his people and an arbiter from her should be abstinent until Allah enriches them
people. If the couple desire to put things right, from His bounty. If any slaves you own want to
Allah will bring about a reconciliation between make a contract to free themselves, write it for
them. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (4:35) them if you know of good in them and give them
They request from you a ruling concerning some of the wealth Allah has given you. Do not
women. Say, ‘Allah gives you a ruling about force your slavegirls to prostitute themselves if
them; and also what is recited to you in the Book they desire to be virtuous women out of your de-
about orphan girls to whom you do not give the sire for the goods of this world. If anyone forces
inheritance they are owed, while at the same them, then after they have been forced, Allah is
time desiring to marry them; and also about Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (24:33)
young children who are denied their rights: that As for women who are past child-bearing age
you should act justly with respect to orphans.’ and no longer have any hope of getting married,
Whatever good you do, Allah knows it. (4:127) there is nothing wrong in their removing their
If a woman fears cruelty or aversion on her hus- outer clothes, provided they do not flaunt their
band’s part, there is nothing wrong in the couple adornments; but to refrain from doing so is better
becoming reconciled. Reconciliation is better. for them. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
But people are prone to selfish greed. If you do (24:60)
good and guard against evil, Allah is aware of And it is He Who created human beings from
what you do. (4:128) water and then gave them relations by blood and
You will not be able to be completely fair be- marriage. Your Lord is All-Powerful. (25:54)
tween your wives, however hard you try. But do He said, ‘I would like to marry you to one of
not be completely partial so as to leave a wife, as these two daughters of mine on condition that
it were, suspended in mid-air. And if you make you work for me for eight full years. If you com-
amends and guard against evil, Allah is Ever- plete ten, that is up to you. I do not want to be
Forgiving, Most Merciful. (4:129) hard on you. You will find me, Allah willing, to
Today all good things have been made lawful for be one of the righteous.’ (28:27)
you. And the food of those given the Book is also When you said to him whom Allah has blessed
lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. and you yourself have greatly favoured, ‘Keep
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