Page 800 - An Index to the Qur'an

amount, do not take any of it. Would you take it Do not covet what Allah has given to some of
by means of slander and outright crime? How you in preference to others–men have a portion
could you take it when you have been intimate of what they acquire and women have a portion
with one another and they have made a binding of what they acquire; but ask Allah for His
contract with you? (4:20-21) bounty. Allah has knowledge of all things. (4:32)
Do not marry any women your fathers mar- We have appointed heirs for everything that par-
ried–except for what may have already taken ents and relatives leave. If you have a bond with
place. That is an indecent act, a loathsome thing people, give them their share. Allah is a witness
and an evil path. (4:22) of all things. (4:33)
Forbidden for you are: your mothers and your Men have charge of women because Allah has
daughters and your sisters, your maternal aunts preferred the one above the other and because
and your paternal aunts, your brothers’ daughters they spend their wealth on them. Right-acting
and your sisters’ daughters, your foster mothers women are obedient (to Allah), guarding the un-
who have suckled you, your foster sisters by seen as Allah has guarded. If there are women
suckling, your wives’ mothers, your stepdaugh- whose disobedience you fear, you may admon-
ters who are under your protection: the daugh- ish them, refuse to sleep with them, and then
ters of your wives whom you have had sexual beat them. But if they obey you, do not look for a
relations with (though if you have not had sexual way to punish them. Allah is All-High, Most
relations with them there is nothing blameworthy Great. (4:34)
for you in it then), the wives of your sons whom If you fear a breach between a couple, send an
you have fathered, and marrying two sisters at arbiter from his people and an arbiter from her
the same time–except for what may have already people. If the couple desire to put things right,
taken place. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Allah will bring about a reconciliation between
Merciful. And also married women, except for them. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (4:35)
those you have taken in war as slaves. This is Worship Allah and do not associate anything
what Allah has prescribed for you. Apart from with Him. Be good to your parents and relatives
that He has made all other women lawful for you and to orphans and the very poor, and to neigh-
provided you seek them with your wealth in mar- bours who are related to you and neighbours
riage and not in fornication. When you consum- who are not related to you, and to companions
mate your marriage with them give them their and travellers and your slaves. Allah does not
prescribed dowry. There is nothing wrong in any love anyone vain or boastful. (4:36)
further agreement you might come to after the You who believe! Do not approach the prayer
dowry has been given. Allah is All-Knowing, All- when you are drunk, so that you will know what
Wise. (4:23-24) you are saying, nor in a state of major impu-
If any of you do not have the means to marry free rity–unless you are travelling–until you have
women who are believers, you may marry slave- washed yourselves completely. If you are ill or
girls who are believers. Allah knows best about on a journey, or any of you have come from the
your faith; you are all the same in that respect. lavatory or touched women, and you cannot find
Marry them with their owners’ permission and any water, then take for yourselves clean earth,
give them their dowries correctly and courte- wiping your faces and your hands. Allah is Ever-
ously as married women, not in fornication or Pardoning, Ever-Forgiving. (4:43)
taking them as lovers. When they are married, if What reason could you have for not fighting in
they commit fornication they should receive half the Way of Allah–for those men, women and
the punishment of free women. This is for those children who are oppressed and say, ‘Our Lord,
of you who are afraid of committing fornication. take us out of this city whose inhabitants are
But being patient is better for you. Allah is Ever- wrongdoers! Give us a protector from You! Give
Forgiving, Most Merciful. (4:25) us a helper from You!’? (4:75)
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