سُوْرَةُ النُّوْرِ
Surah An-Noor (24) — Ayah 32
وَأَنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْأَيَـٰمَىٰ مِنكُمْ وَٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَآئِكُمْ ۚ إِن يَكُونُوا۟ فُقَرَآءَ يُغْنِهِمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿32﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And marry those among you who are single (i.e. a man who has no wife and the woman who has no husband) and (also marry) the Sâlihûn (pious, fit and capable ones) of your (male) slaves and maid-servants (female slaves). If they be poor, Allâh will enrich them out of His Bounty. And Allâh is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knowing (about the state of the people).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَأَنكِحُوا۟
wa-ankiḥū
And marry
ٱلْأَيَـٰمَىٰ
l-ayāmā
the single
مِنكُمْ
minkum
among you
وَٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
wal-ṣāliḥīna
and the righteous
مِنْ
min
among
عِبَادِكُمْ
ʿibādikum
your male slaves
وَإِمَآئِكُمْ ۚ
wa-imāikum
and your female slaves
إِن
in
If
يَكُونُوا۟
yakūnū
they are
فُقَرَآءَ
fuqarāa
poor
يُغْنِهِمُ
yugh'nihimu
Allah will enrich them
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah will enrich them
مِن
min
from
فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ
faḍlihi
His Bounty
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
وَٰسِعٌ
wāsiʿun
(is) All-Encompassing
عَلِيمٌۭ
ʿalīmun
All-Knowing
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
1. In verse 32-1, the address is to the guardians, commanding them to marry off (their wards); it is not stated "marry yourselves," which would have addressed the men and women who are to marry. From this, it is understood that a woman cannot contract her own marriage without the permission and consent of her guardian, which is also supported by hadiths. In this way, some have deduced from the imperative form that marriage is obligatory, while others have considered it impermissible and preferred. However, for one who has the means, it is a confirmed Sunnah, and in some cases, even obligatory, and there is a severe warning against avoiding it. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me."
2. Here, righteousness refers to faith. There is a difference of opinion as to whether an owner can compel his male and female slaves to marry or not; some are of the view that it is impermissible, while others are not. However, in the case of fear of harm, it is legally impermissible to compel. Otherwise, it is not impermissible (al-Yasir al-Tafasir).
3. That is, mere poverty and hardship should not be an obstacle to marriage; it is possible that after marriage, Allah may change their hardship into abundance and provision by His grace. It is mentioned in a hadith that there are three persons whom Allah surely helps: 1. The one who marries with the intention of chastity; 2. The mukatib slave who intends to pay off (his contract); 3. And the one who strives in the way of Allah.
2. Here, righteousness refers to faith. There is a difference of opinion as to whether an owner can compel his male and female slaves to marry or not; some are of the view that it is impermissible, while others are not. However, in the case of fear of harm, it is legally impermissible to compel. Otherwise, it is not impermissible (al-Yasir al-Tafasir).
3. That is, mere poverty and hardship should not be an obstacle to marriage; it is possible that after marriage, Allah may change their hardship into abundance and provision by His grace. It is mentioned in a hadith that there are three persons whom Allah surely helps: 1. The one who marries with the intention of chastity; 2. The mukatib slave who intends to pay off (his contract); 3. And the one who strives in the way of Allah.
