سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 23
حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَّهَـٰتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُكُمْ وَأَخَوَٰتُكُمْ وَعَمَّـٰتُكُمْ وَخَـٰلَـٰتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُ ٱلْأَخِ وَبَنَاتُ ٱلْأُخْتِ وَأُمَّهَـٰتُكُمُ ٱلَّـٰتِىٓ أَرْضَعْنَكُمْ وَأَخَوَٰتُكُم مِّنَ ٱلرَّضَـٰعَةِ وَأُمَّهَـٰتُ نِسَآئِكُمْ وَرَبَـٰٓئِبُكُمُ ٱلَّـٰتِى فِى حُجُورِكُم مِّن نِّسَآئِكُمُ ٱلَّـٰتِى دَخَلْتُم بِهِنَّ فَإِن لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ دَخَلْتُم بِهِنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَحَلَـٰٓئِلُ أَبْنَآئِكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِنْ أَصْلَـٰبِكُمْ وَأَن تَجْمَعُوا۟ بَيْنَ ٱلْأُخْتَيْنِ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ﴿23﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Forbidden to you (for marriage) are: your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father’s sisters, your mother’s sisters, your brother’s daughters, your sister’s daughters, your foster mother who gave you suck, your foster milk suckling sisters, your wives’ mothers, your step daughters under your guardianship, born of your wives to whom you have gone in - but there is no sin on you if you have not gone in them (to marry their daughters), - the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins, and two sisters in wedlock at the same time, except for what has already passed; verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
حُرِّمَتْ
ḥurrimat
Forbidden
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
to you
أُمَّهَـٰتُكُمْ
ummahātukum
(are) your mothers
وَبَنَاتُكُمْ
wabanātukum
and your daughters
وَأَخَوَٰتُكُمْ
wa-akhawātukum
and your sisters
وَعَمَّـٰتُكُمْ
waʿammātukum
and your father's sisters
وَخَـٰلَـٰتُكُمْ
wakhālātukum
and your mother's sisters
وَبَنَاتُ
wabanātu
and daughters
ٱلْأَخِ
l-akhi
(of) brothers
وَبَنَاتُ
wabanātu
and daughters
ٱلْأُخْتِ
l-ukh'ti
(of) sisters
وَأُمَّهَـٰتُكُمُ
wa-ummahātukumu
and (the) mothers
ٱلَّـٰتِىٓ
allātī
who
أَرْضَعْنَكُمْ
arḍaʿnakum
nursed you
وَأَخَوَٰتُكُم
wa-akhawātukum
and your sisters
مِّنَ
mina
from
ٱلرَّضَـٰعَةِ
l-raḍāʿati
the nursing
وَأُمَّهَـٰتُ
wa-ummahātu
and mothers
نِسَآئِكُمْ
nisāikum
(of) your wives
وَرَبَـٰٓئِبُكُمُ
warabāibukumu
and your step daughters
ٱلَّـٰتِى
allātī
who
فِى
fī
(are) in
حُجُورِكُم
ḥujūrikum
your guardianship
مِّن
min
of
نِّسَآئِكُمُ
nisāikumu
your women
ٱلَّـٰتِى
allātī
whom
دَخَلْتُم
dakhaltum
you had relations
بِهِنَّ
bihinna
with them
فَإِن
fa-in
but if
لَّمْ
lam
not
تَكُونُوا۟
takūnū
you had
دَخَلْتُم
dakhaltum
relations
بِهِنَّ
bihinna
with them
فَلَا
falā
then (there is) no
جُنَاحَ
junāḥa
sin
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
on you
وَحَلَـٰٓئِلُ
waḥalāilu
And wives
أَبْنَآئِكُمُ
abnāikumu
(of) your sons
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
مِنْ
min
(are) from
أَصْلَـٰبِكُمْ
aṣlābikum
your loins
وَأَن
wa-an
and that
تَجْمَعُوا۟
tajmaʿū
you gather together
بَيْنَ
bayna
[between]
ٱلْأُخْتَيْنِ
l-ukh'tayni
two sisters
إِلَّا
illā
except
مَا
mā
what
قَدْ
qad
has
سَلَفَ ۗ
salafa
passed before
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
كَانَ
kāna
is
غَفُورًۭا
ghafūran
Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمًۭا
raḥīman
Most-Merciful
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 23) ➊ {حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ اُمَّهٰتُكُمْ …:} The details of the women with whom marriage is forbidden are being explained. Firstly, it was mentioned in the previous verse that marrying the wife of one's father is forbidden. Now, here, seven forbidden relationships by lineage are mentioned: (1) Mother: This includes grandmothers and great-grandmothers upwards, for example, paternal great-grandmother, maternal great-grandmother. (2) Daughter: This includes granddaughters and great-granddaughters downwards. (3) Sister: Whether full, paternal, or maternal, in any case, it is forbidden. (4) Paternal aunt: This includes the sister of the grandfather and the sister of the maternal grandfather as well. (5) Maternal aunt: This word includes the sisters of the mother, maternal and paternal grandmothers. (6,7) Brother's daughter and sister's daughter: This includes their daughters downwards. (Qurtubi)
➋ {وَ اُمَّهٰتُكُمُ الّٰتِيْۤ اَرْضَعْنَكُمْ … :} That is, just as the mother and sister by lineage are forbidden, so are the mother and sister by suckling. Here, two relationships are mentioned, but according to hadith, all seven relationships that are forbidden by lineage are also forbidden by suckling. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Those relationships become forbidden by suckling which are forbidden by lineage." [ بخاری، النکاح، باب : «و أمہاتکم التی أرضعنکم» : ۵۰۹۹، عن عائشۃ رضی اللہ عنہا ]
The Qur'an has declared suckling as a cause of prohibition, but has not specified how many times suckling must occur at minimum. However, in Muslim, it is narrated from Umm al-Fadl and Aisha (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "One or two times of suckling does not establish prohibition." [ مسلم، الرضاع، باب فی المصۃ والمصتان : ۱۴۵۰، ۱۴۵۱ ] It is narrated from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that in the revealed command in the Qur'an, ten known times of suckling made prohibition, then it was abrogated with five, so the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away and it was still recited in the Qur'an. [ مسلم، الرضاع، باب التحریم بخمس رضعات : ۱۴۵۲ ] Remember that this suckling will only be valid when it is within the period of suckling, that is, within two years. See Surah Al-Baqarah (233).
➌ {وَ اُمَّهٰتُ نِسَآىِٕكُمْ:} This includes the grandmothers of the wife upwards. The mother of the wife (mother-in-law) is forbidden, whether the wife was divorced before consummation or she passed away.
➍ {وَ رَبَآىِٕبُكُمُ الّٰتِيْ فِيْ حُجُوْرِكُمْ: ”رَبَائِبُ“ } This is the plural of {’’ رَبِيْبَةٌ ‘‘ }, meaning the daughter of the wife from another husband is also forbidden, provided that one has consummated the marriage with his wife (the girl's mother). If divorced before consummation, then marriage with the woman's daughter is permissible; there is consensus among the scholars on this. (Qurtubi, Ibn Kathir)
{ ”فِيْ حُجُوْرِكُمْ“ } (In your lap) is not a condition, but rather incidental, meaning that generally this happens, otherwise, if she was raised elsewhere, she is still forbidden.
➎ {وَحَلَاۤئِلُ أَبْنَاۤئِكُمْ: ”حَلَاۤئِلُ“ } This is the plural of "{حَلِيْلَةٌ“ }," meaning the wives of biological sons, not the wives of adopted sons. See Surah Al-Ahzab (37).
➏ {وَ اَنْ تَجْمَعُوْا بَيْنَ الْاُخْتَيْنِ.....:} This is in the nominative case, meaning { ”حُرِّمَ عَلَیْکُمُ الْجَمْعُ بَیْنَ الْاُخْتَیْنِ“ } that it is forbidden to have two sisters, whether by blood or by suckling, together in marriage at the same time. In the Qur'an, only the combining of two sisters is prohibited, but in hadith, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Do not combine a paternal aunt and her niece, nor a maternal aunt and her niece in one marriage." [بخاری، النکاح، باب: لا تنکح المرأۃ علی عمتھا: 5109، عن أبی ھریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ] From this, it is understood that besides the Qur'an, the Sunnah is also an independent source of Shariah. In the Qur'an, only the combining of two sisters is prohibited, and in the hadith, combining a paternal aunt and her niece and a maternal aunt and her niece is also prohibited; this must also be accepted.
➐ { اِلَّا مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ:} That is, there is no sin for those relationships that have already occurred before; this does not mean that they will be maintained.
➋ {وَ اُمَّهٰتُكُمُ الّٰتِيْۤ اَرْضَعْنَكُمْ … :} That is, just as the mother and sister by lineage are forbidden, so are the mother and sister by suckling. Here, two relationships are mentioned, but according to hadith, all seven relationships that are forbidden by lineage are also forbidden by suckling. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Those relationships become forbidden by suckling which are forbidden by lineage." [ بخاری، النکاح، باب : «و أمہاتکم التی أرضعنکم» : ۵۰۹۹، عن عائشۃ رضی اللہ عنہا ]
The Qur'an has declared suckling as a cause of prohibition, but has not specified how many times suckling must occur at minimum. However, in Muslim, it is narrated from Umm al-Fadl and Aisha (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "One or two times of suckling does not establish prohibition." [ مسلم، الرضاع، باب فی المصۃ والمصتان : ۱۴۵۰، ۱۴۵۱ ] It is narrated from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that in the revealed command in the Qur'an, ten known times of suckling made prohibition, then it was abrogated with five, so the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away and it was still recited in the Qur'an. [ مسلم، الرضاع، باب التحریم بخمس رضعات : ۱۴۵۲ ] Remember that this suckling will only be valid when it is within the period of suckling, that is, within two years. See Surah Al-Baqarah (233).
➌ {وَ اُمَّهٰتُ نِسَآىِٕكُمْ:} This includes the grandmothers of the wife upwards. The mother of the wife (mother-in-law) is forbidden, whether the wife was divorced before consummation or she passed away.
➍ {وَ رَبَآىِٕبُكُمُ الّٰتِيْ فِيْ حُجُوْرِكُمْ: ”رَبَائِبُ“ } This is the plural of {’’ رَبِيْبَةٌ ‘‘ }, meaning the daughter of the wife from another husband is also forbidden, provided that one has consummated the marriage with his wife (the girl's mother). If divorced before consummation, then marriage with the woman's daughter is permissible; there is consensus among the scholars on this. (Qurtubi, Ibn Kathir)
{ ”فِيْ حُجُوْرِكُمْ“ } (In your lap) is not a condition, but rather incidental, meaning that generally this happens, otherwise, if she was raised elsewhere, she is still forbidden.
➎ {وَحَلَاۤئِلُ أَبْنَاۤئِكُمْ: ”حَلَاۤئِلُ“ } This is the plural of "{حَلِيْلَةٌ“ }," meaning the wives of biological sons, not the wives of adopted sons. See Surah Al-Ahzab (37).
➏ {وَ اَنْ تَجْمَعُوْا بَيْنَ الْاُخْتَيْنِ.....:} This is in the nominative case, meaning { ”حُرِّمَ عَلَیْکُمُ الْجَمْعُ بَیْنَ الْاُخْتَیْنِ“ } that it is forbidden to have two sisters, whether by blood or by suckling, together in marriage at the same time. In the Qur'an, only the combining of two sisters is prohibited, but in hadith, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Do not combine a paternal aunt and her niece, nor a maternal aunt and her niece in one marriage." [بخاری، النکاح، باب: لا تنکح المرأۃ علی عمتھا: 5109، عن أبی ھریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ] From this, it is understood that besides the Qur'an, the Sunnah is also an independent source of Shariah. In the Qur'an, only the combining of two sisters is prohibited, and in the hadith, combining a paternal aunt and her niece and a maternal aunt and her niece is also prohibited; this must also be accepted.
➐ { اِلَّا مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ:} That is, there is no sin for those relationships that have already occurred before; this does not mean that they will be maintained.
