سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْزَابِ
Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 52
لَّا يَحِلُّ لَكَ ٱلنِّسَآءُ مِنۢ بَعْدُ وَلَآ أَن تَبَدَّلَ بِهِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَٰجٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ حُسْنُهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ رَّقِيبًا ﴿52﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
It is not lawful for you (to marry other) women after this, nor to change them for other wives even though their beauty attracts you, except those (slaves) whom your right hand possesses. And Allâh is Ever a Watcher over all things.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَّا
lā
(It is) not
يَحِلُّ
yaḥillu
lawful
لَكَ
laka
for you
ٱلنِّسَآءُ
l-nisāu
(to marry) women
مِنۢ
min
after (this)
بَعْدُ
baʿdu
after (this)
وَلَآ
walā
and not
أَن
an
to
تَبَدَّلَ
tabaddala
exchange
بِهِنَّ
bihinna
them
مِنْ
min
for
أَزْوَٰجٍۢ
azwājin
(other) wives
وَلَوْ
walaw
even if
أَعْجَبَكَ
aʿjabaka
pleases you
حُسْنُهُنَّ
ḥus'nuhunna
their beauty
إِلَّا
illā
except
مَا
mā
whom
مَلَكَتْ
malakat
you rightfully possess
يَمِينُكَ ۗ
yamīnuka
you rightfully possess
وَكَانَ
wakāna
And Allah is
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
And Allah is
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
كُلِّ
kulli
all
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
things
رَّقِيبًۭا
raqīban
an Observer
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.
52. After this, no other women are lawful for you, nor is it permitted for you to exchange them for other wives, even if their beauty pleases you. However, slave women [85] are allowed to you. And Allah is Watchful over all things.
[84] This verse has two meanings: one is that you have already been permitted to marry those four types of wives, and apart from them, other women are not lawful for you; this is sufficient. The second meaning is that your wives have agreed to remain patient and grateful with whatever you provide them, whether little or much, and they will not trouble you by demanding their turn, nor will they make it a cause of dispute. Therefore, it is not permissible for you to divorce any of these patient and grateful wives and replace her with someone else, even if she is very beautiful. You should also remain patient and grateful with these wives. Incidentally, this verse also shows that it is permissible for a man to look at the woman he wishes to marry, and this is explicitly mentioned in authentic hadiths.
[85]
The Misuse of the Permission Regarding Slave Women:
That is, the Shariah has not imposed any restriction on the number of slave women, because their number depends on women taken captive in war, and these are future circumstances that are never the same. But this permission does not mean that nobles and wealthy people, for the sake of luxury and pleasure, keep buying as many slave women as they wish and keep bringing them into their homes and palaces; this is a misuse of the permission. The Prophet’s ﷺ slave women were only two: one was Maria al-Qibtiyya, from whom Sayyiduna Ibrahimؑ was born, and the other was Rayhana (may Allah be pleased with them both).
[84] This verse has two meanings: one is that you have already been permitted to marry those four types of wives, and apart from them, other women are not lawful for you; this is sufficient. The second meaning is that your wives have agreed to remain patient and grateful with whatever you provide them, whether little or much, and they will not trouble you by demanding their turn, nor will they make it a cause of dispute. Therefore, it is not permissible for you to divorce any of these patient and grateful wives and replace her with someone else, even if she is very beautiful. You should also remain patient and grateful with these wives. Incidentally, this verse also shows that it is permissible for a man to look at the woman he wishes to marry, and this is explicitly mentioned in authentic hadiths.
[85]
The Misuse of the Permission Regarding Slave Women:
That is, the Shariah has not imposed any restriction on the number of slave women, because their number depends on women taken captive in war, and these are future circumstances that are never the same. But this permission does not mean that nobles and wealthy people, for the sake of luxury and pleasure, keep buying as many slave women as they wish and keep bringing them into their homes and palaces; this is a misuse of the permission. The Prophet’s ﷺ slave women were only two: one was Maria al-Qibtiyya, from whom Sayyiduna Ibrahimؑ was born, and the other was Rayhana (may Allah be pleased with them both).
