The Quran

سورة النِّسَاء

Surah Al-Nisâ’ 4:21

The Women · Verse 21 of 176

وَكَيْفَ تَأْخُذُونَهُ وَقَدْ أَفْضَىٰ بَعْضُكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَأَخَذْنَ مِنْكُمْ مِيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا

Abdul Mannan Omar

And how can you take it when you have already lain with one another and they (- your wives) have bound you down to a firm and solemn covenant (by marriage)?

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And how could ye take it when ye have gone in unto each other, and they have Taken from you a solemn covenant?

Ahmed Ali

How could you do that having slept with one another, and when they had taken a solemn pledge from you?

12 more translations

Ali Unal

Then, how could you take it back when you have gone in to each other, and they (the married women) have taken from you a most solemn pledge (of honoring their rights)?

Daryabadi

And how can ye take it back when one of you hath gone in unto the other, and they have obtained from you a rigid bond!

Faridul Haque

And how will you take it back whereas you have become unveiled before each other, and they have taken a strong pledge from you?

Maulana Muhammad Ali

And how can you take it when one of you has already gone in to the other and they have taken from you a strong covenant?

Maulvi Sher Ali

And how can you take it when one of you may have consorted with the other, and they (the women) have taken from you a strong covenant?

Muhammad Asad

And how could you take it away after you have given yourselves to one another, and she has received a most solemn pledge from you?

Muhammad Musin Khan

And how could you take it (back) while you have gone in unto each other, and they have taken from you a firm and strong covenant?

Muhammad Pickthall

How can ye take it (back) after one of you hath gone in unto the other, and they have taken a strong pledge from you?

Muhammad Sarwar

How can you take it back when you have had intimate relations and made a solemn agreement with each other?

Muhammed ali Shakir

And how can you take it when one of you has already gone in to the other and they have made with you a firm covenant?

Rashad Khalifa

How could you take it back, after you have been intimate with each other, and they had taken from you a solemn pledge?

Shabbir Ahmed

And how could you take the marital gift back from her after you have lived intimately with each other and after she has taken from you a very solemn pledge of the marital contract?

Commentary 4:21 The marriage is called a covenant and a contract between the husband and the wife – (مِّيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا). There can be no agreement or no covenant unless…

وَكَيْفَ تَأْخُذُونَهُ وَقَدْ أَفْضَىٰ بَعْضُكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَأَخَذْنَ مِنكُم مِّيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا

4:21 The marriage is called a covenant and a contract between the husband and the wife – (مِّيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا). There can be no agreement or no covenant unless both parties give their free consent to it.