سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 221
وَلَا تَنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكَـٰتِ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنَّ ۚ وَلَأَمَةٌ مُّؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكَةٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ ۗ وَلَا تُنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ وَلَعَبْدٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكُمْ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۖ وَيُبَيِّنُ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿221﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And do not marry Al-Mushrikât (idolatresses, etc.) till they believe (worship Allâh Alone). And indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress), even though she pleases you. And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al-Mushrikûn till they believe (in Allâh Alone) and verily, a believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolater), even though he pleases you. Those (Al-Mushrikûn) invite you to the Fire, but Allâh invites (you) to Paradise and Forgiveness by His Leave, and makes His Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to mankind that they may remember.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَنكِحُوا۟
tankiḥū
[you] marry
ٱلْمُشْرِكَـٰتِ
l-mush'rikāti
[the] polytheistic women
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
يُؤْمِنَّ ۚ
yu'minna
they believe
وَلَأَمَةٌۭ
wala-amatun
And a bondwoman
مُّؤْمِنَةٌ
mu'minatun
(who is) believing
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
(is) better
مِّن
min
than
مُّشْرِكَةٍۢ
mush'rikatin
a polytheistic woman
وَلَوْ
walaw
[and] even if
أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ ۗ
aʿjabatkum
she pleases you
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تُنكِحُوا۟
tunkiḥū
give in marriage (your women)
ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
l-mush'rikīna
(to) [the] polytheistic men
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
يُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ
yu'minū
they believe
وَلَعَبْدٌۭ
walaʿabdun
and a bondman
مُّؤْمِنٌ
mu'minun
(who is) believing
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
(is) better
مِّن
min
than
مُّشْرِكٍۢ
mush'rikin
a polytheistic man
وَلَوْ
walaw
[and] even if
أَعْجَبَكُمْ ۗ
aʿjabakum
he pleases you
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
ulāika
[Those]
يَدْعُونَ
yadʿūna
they invite
إِلَى
ilā
to
ٱلنَّارِ ۖ
l-nāri
the Fire
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
and Allah
يَدْعُوٓا۟
yadʿū
invites
إِلَى
ilā
to
ٱلْجَنَّةِ
l-janati
Paradise
وَٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ
wal-maghfirati
and [the] forgiveness
بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۖ
bi-idh'nihi
by His permission
وَيُبَيِّنُ
wayubayyinu
And He makes clear
ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ
āyātihi
His Verses
لِلنَّاسِ
lilnnāsi
for the people
لَعَلَّهُمْ
laʿallahum
so that they may
يَتَذَكَّرُونَ
yatadhakkarūna
take heed
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
221. And do not marry polytheist women until they believe. A believing slave woman is better than a free polytheist woman, even if she pleases you. And do not marry (your women) to polytheist men until they believe. A believing slave man is better than a free polytheist man, even if he pleases you. These (polytheists) invite you to the Fire, but Allah invites you, by His permission, to Paradise and forgiveness. And Allah makes His commandments clear to the people so that they may take heed.
[294]
Why is Marriage with a Polytheist Prohibited?
Because the relationship of marriage between a man and a woman is not merely a carnal connection, as it may appear at first glance, but its effects are far-reaching, deeply influencing each other's minds, morals, and culture. For example, if a believer marries a polytheist woman, then if that believer is firm in his faith, superior to his wife in knowledge, and resolute in determination, in that case, he can reform his wife and, to some extent, his in-laws. Otherwise, it generally happens that the man becomes subdued and the woman dominates his thoughts, and if both are steadfast in their respective positions, there will be constant conflict between them. And if both are lax, they will be compelled to compromise between polytheism and monotheism, and this situation is absolutely unacceptable from the Islamic point of view, and even such a situation is considered polytheism. And if the man is a polytheist and the wife is a monotheist, the dangers of polytheism can increase even more. Therefore, due to the greater likelihood of harm, such a marriage has been declared unlawful, and it has been stated that instead of looking at outward virtues and qualities, only faith should be made the condition for marriage. Incidentally, it is also understood from this that if, after marriage, either party becomes a polytheist, the previous marriage is automatically annulled.
[294]
Why is Marriage with a Polytheist Prohibited?
Because the relationship of marriage between a man and a woman is not merely a carnal connection, as it may appear at first glance, but its effects are far-reaching, deeply influencing each other's minds, morals, and culture. For example, if a believer marries a polytheist woman, then if that believer is firm in his faith, superior to his wife in knowledge, and resolute in determination, in that case, he can reform his wife and, to some extent, his in-laws. Otherwise, it generally happens that the man becomes subdued and the woman dominates his thoughts, and if both are steadfast in their respective positions, there will be constant conflict between them. And if both are lax, they will be compelled to compromise between polytheism and monotheism, and this situation is absolutely unacceptable from the Islamic point of view, and even such a situation is considered polytheism. And if the man is a polytheist and the wife is a monotheist, the dangers of polytheism can increase even more. Therefore, due to the greater likelihood of harm, such a marriage has been declared unlawful, and it has been stated that instead of looking at outward virtues and qualities, only faith should be made the condition for marriage. Incidentally, it is also understood from this that if, after marriage, either party becomes a polytheist, the previous marriage is automatically annulled.
