The Light
24. An-Nūr
النور
Page #354
24:33
وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ
الَّذِينَ
لَا
يَجِدُونَ
نِكَاحًا
حَتَّى
يُغْنِيَهُمُ
اللَّهُ
مِن
فَضْلِهِ
وَالَّذِينَ
يَبْتَغُونَ
الْكِتَابَ
مِمَّا
مَلَكَتْ
أَيْمَانُكُمْ
فَكَاتِبُوهُمْ
إِنْ
عَلِمْتُمْ
فِيهِمْ
خَيْرًا
وَآتُوهُم
مِّن
مَّالِ
اللَّهِ
الَّذِي
آتَاكُمْ
وَلَا
تُكْرِهُوا
فَتَيَاتِكُمْ
عَلَى
الْبِغَاءِ
إِنْ
أَرَدْنَ
تَحَصُّنًا
لِّتَبْتَغُوا
عَرَضَ
الْحَيَاةِ
الدُّنْيَا
وَمَن
يُكْرِههُّنَّ
فَإِنَّ
اللَّهَ
مِن
بَعْدِ
إِكْرَاهِهِنَّ
غَفُورٌ
رَّحِيمٌ
wa-l-yastaʿfifi lladhīna lā yajidūna nikāḥan ḥattā yughniyahumu llāhu min faḍlihī wa-lladhīna yabtaghūna l-kitāba mimmā malakat ʾaymānukum fa-kātibūhum ʾin ʿalimtum fīhim khayran wa-ʾātūhum min māli llāhi lladhī ʾātākum wa-lā tukrihū fatayātikum ʿalā l-bighāʾi ʾin ʾaradna taḥaṣṣunan li-tabtaghū ʿaraḍa l-ḥayāti d-dunyā wa-man yukrihhunna fa-ʾinna llāha min baʿdi ʾikrāhihinna ghafūrun raḥīmun
Let those who find not the wherewithal for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allah gives them means out of His grace. And if any of your slaves ask for a deed in writing (to enable them to earn their freedom for a certain sum), give them such a deed if ye know any good in them: yea, give them something yourselves out of the means which Allah has given to you. But force not your maids to prostitution when they desire chastity, in order that ye may make a gain in the goods of this life. But if anyone compels them, yet, after such compulsion, is Allah, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (to them),
— Abdullah Yusufali
Those who cannot afford marriage should be continent until Allah enriches them out of His grace. As for those who seek an emancipation deal from among your slaves, make such a deal with them if you know any good in them, and give them out of the wealth of Allah which He has given you. Do not compel your female slaves to prostitution when they desire to be chaste, seeking the transitory wares of the life of this world. Should anyone compel them, Allah will be forgiving and merciful to them following their compulsion.
