سورة المؤمنون
Surah Al-Mu’minûn 23:6
The Believers · Verse 6 of 118
إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ
Abdul Mannan Omar
Except from their spouses, that is those whom they justly and rightfully own in proper wedlock, in that case they are not to be blamed,
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (in their case) they are free from blame,
Ahmed Ali
Except from their wives and women slaves of old are free of blame,
12 more translations
Ali Unal
Save from their spouses or (as a permission for men) those (bondsmaids) whom their right hands possess, for with regard to them they are free from blame.
Daryabadi
Save in regard to their spouses and those whom their right hands own: so they are not blameworthy-
Faridul Haque
Except from their wives or the legal bondwomen that they possess, for then there is no blame upon them.
Maulana Muhammad Ali
Except in the presence of their mates or those whom their right hands possess, for such surely are not blameable,
Maulvi Sher Ali
Except from their wives or what their right hands possess, for then they are not to be blamed;
Muhammad Asad
[not giving way to their desires] with any but their spouses - that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock] - for then, behold, they are free of all blame,
Muhammad Musin Khan
Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame;
Muhammad Pickthall
Save from their wives or the (slaves) that their right hands possess, for then they are not blameworthy,
Muhammad Sarwar
except with their spouses and slave-girls. The practice of carnal relations is lawful with them.
Muhammed ali Shakir
Except before their mates or those whom their right hands possess, for they surely are not blameable,
Rashad Khalifa
Only with their spouses, or those who are rightfully theirs, do they have sexual relations; they are not to be blamed.
Shabbir Ahmed
Holding off their carnal desires except for their spouses who are rightfully theirs through wedlock. They are then, free of all blame. (4:3, 24, 25. 24:32)
Commentary 23:6 The particle awأو does not denote an alternative with the meaning “or” but in the sense of “rather,” in the nature of an explanatory amplification, as is…
إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ
23:6 The particle awأو does not denote an alternative with the meaning “or” but in the sense of “rather,” in the nature of an explanatory amplification, as is used in 25:62. It should not be inferred from this verse that sexual intercourse with ones female slave is permitted without marriage. This assumption is contradicted by the Holy Qur’ân (see 4:3,24,25; 24:32). Just as the word muminûn مؤمنون, “believers,” applies to men and women alike, and the term Azwâjأَزْوَاج, “spouses,” also denotes both the wife and the husband, so there is no reason for attributing to the phrase mâ malakat aimân-u-kum مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ the meaning of “their female slave.” The phrase does not relate to slaves at all, but has the same meaning as in 4:24, that is, those whom they rightfully possess through wedlock.