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 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.
Forbidden to you (for marriage) are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal aunts, your maternal aunts, your brother’s daughters, your sister’s daughters, your mothers who nursed you [37], your milk-sisters, your wives’ mothers, and your stepdaughters under your care who are born of your wives with whom you have consummated marriage—but if you have not consummated the marriage, then there is no blame upon you (to marry their daughters)—and the wives of your own sons who are from your loins. And (it is also forbidden) that you take two sisters together in marriage, except for what has already passed [38]. Surely Allah is Most Forgiving [39], Most Merciful.
[37] Also consider the following Prophetic hadiths regarding the prohibition of relationships through breastfeeding:
1. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas ؓ that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The relationships that are prohibited due to lineage are also prohibited due to breastfeeding."
[بخاری، کتاب الشہادات، باب الشہادت علی الانساب]
Relationships of Breastfeeding and the Rulings of Breastfeeding:
2. Uqbah bin Harith says that he married the daughter of Abu Ihab bin Aziz. Then a woman came and said, "I have breastfed both Uqbah and his wife." I said to her, "I do not think that you have breastfed me, nor did you ever tell me." Then I rode to Medina and reached the Prophet ﷺ and asked him. The Prophet ﷺ said: "How can this marriage remain after such a thing has been said?" So I left her and married another woman.
[بخاری، کتاب العلم، باب الرحلۃ فی المسئلۃ النازلۃ]
3. Sayyida Aisha ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The breastfeeding that is considered valid is that which satisfies hunger in childhood."
[بخاری کتاب النکاح، باب من قال لارضاع بعد حولین]
4. Sayyida Aisha ؓ says that Aflah, the brother of Abu Qu‘ays, was my foster uncle. He came to me and sought permission to enter. This incident occurred after the command of veiling had been revealed. Therefore, I did not permit him. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came, I mentioned this to him. The Prophet ﷺ ordered me to allow him to enter.
[بخاری، کتاب النکاح، باب لبن الفحل]
5. Sayyida Aisha ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The prohibition of breastfeeding is not established by one or two sucklings."
[ترمذی، ابواب الرضاع، باب لاتحرم المصۃ ولا المصتان]
6. Sayyida Aisha ؓ says that there was a verse in the Quran: ‘Ten known sucklings’—that is, the prohibition of breastfeeding is established by ten sucklings. Then it was abrogated, and the command of five remained, and this ruling remained until the Prophet’s ﷺ death. Sayyida Aisha ؓ used to give fatwa according to this.
[جائزۃ الشعوذی، جامع ترمذی۔ ابواب الرضاع، باب لاتحرم المصۃ ولا المصتان]
As for the period of breastfeeding within which the prohibition of breastfeeding is established, according to ﴿حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ﴾ it is up to two years, and all jurists except Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) are of this opinion. However, Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) considers the period of breastfeeding to be two and a half years. Also, according to him, even one suckling or one sip establishes the prohibition of breastfeeding.
[38]
Prohibited Relationships According to the Sunnah:
In the Quran, only the prohibition of combining two real sisters in marriage is mentioned, whereas in the hadith, the prohibition of combining a paternal aunt and niece, and a maternal aunt and niece, is also mentioned. Thus, it is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir ؓ that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not combine a paternal aunt and her niece, nor a maternal aunt and her niece in marriage."
[بخاری، کتاب النکاح، باب لاینکح المراۃ علی عمتھا۔ مسلم، کتاب النکاح 'باب تحریم الجمع بین المرأۃ و عمتھا]
[39]
Details of Prohibited Relationships:
According to verse number 23, it is prohibited to marry the following women, and the Sunnah further clarifies this:
1. Mothers, including grandmothers from both sides, and so on.
2. Daughters, including granddaughters from sons and daughters, and so on.
3. Sisters, including full, paternal, and maternal sisters—all are included.
4. Paternal aunts.
5. Maternal aunts, whether they are the mother's full sisters, uterine half-sisters, or consanguine half-sisters—all are prohibited.
6. Nieces (brother’s daughters) and their daughters.
7. Nieces (sister’s daughters) and their daughters.
8. Foster mothers (through breastfeeding).
9. Foster sisters (through breastfeeding), and all relationships prohibited by lineage are also prohibited by breastfeeding.
10. Mother-in-law, and sisters-in-law as long as their sister is in marriage.
11. Daughters and stepdaughters.
12. Daughter-in-law (the widow of a real son) is prohibited for marriage.
13. It is prohibited to combine two sisters in marriage at the same time. After this command, one must immediately divorce one of them.
14. And according to the next verse, number 24, all married women are also prohibited.
[37] Also consider the following Prophetic hadiths regarding the prohibition of relationships through breastfeeding:
1. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas ؓ that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The relationships that are prohibited due to lineage are also prohibited due to breastfeeding."
[بخاری، کتاب الشہادات، باب الشہادت علی الانساب]
Relationships of Breastfeeding and the Rulings of Breastfeeding:
2. Uqbah bin Harith says that he married the daughter of Abu Ihab bin Aziz. Then a woman came and said, "I have breastfed both Uqbah and his wife." I said to her, "I do not think that you have breastfed me, nor did you ever tell me." Then I rode to Medina and reached the Prophet ﷺ and asked him. The Prophet ﷺ said: "How can this marriage remain after such a thing has been said?" So I left her and married another woman.
[بخاری، کتاب العلم، باب الرحلۃ فی المسئلۃ النازلۃ]
3. Sayyida Aisha ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The breastfeeding that is considered valid is that which satisfies hunger in childhood."
[بخاری کتاب النکاح، باب من قال لارضاع بعد حولین]
4. Sayyida Aisha ؓ says that Aflah, the brother of Abu Qu‘ays, was my foster uncle. He came to me and sought permission to enter. This incident occurred after the command of veiling had been revealed. Therefore, I did not permit him. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came, I mentioned this to him. The Prophet ﷺ ordered me to allow him to enter.
[بخاری، کتاب النکاح، باب لبن الفحل]
5. Sayyida Aisha ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The prohibition of breastfeeding is not established by one or two sucklings."
[ترمذی، ابواب الرضاع، باب لاتحرم المصۃ ولا المصتان]
6. Sayyida Aisha ؓ says that there was a verse in the Quran: ‘Ten known sucklings’—that is, the prohibition of breastfeeding is established by ten sucklings. Then it was abrogated, and the command of five remained, and this ruling remained until the Prophet’s ﷺ death. Sayyida Aisha ؓ used to give fatwa according to this.
[جائزۃ الشعوذی، جامع ترمذی۔ ابواب الرضاع، باب لاتحرم المصۃ ولا المصتان]
As for the period of breastfeeding within which the prohibition of breastfeeding is established, according to ﴿حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ﴾ it is up to two years, and all jurists except Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) are of this opinion. However, Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) considers the period of breastfeeding to be two and a half years. Also, according to him, even one suckling or one sip establishes the prohibition of breastfeeding.
[38]
Prohibited Relationships According to the Sunnah:
In the Quran, only the prohibition of combining two real sisters in marriage is mentioned, whereas in the hadith, the prohibition of combining a paternal aunt and niece, and a maternal aunt and niece, is also mentioned. Thus, it is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir ؓ that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not combine a paternal aunt and her niece, nor a maternal aunt and her niece in marriage."
[بخاری، کتاب النکاح، باب لاینکح المراۃ علی عمتھا۔ مسلم، کتاب النکاح 'باب تحریم الجمع بین المرأۃ و عمتھا]
[39]
Details of Prohibited Relationships:
According to verse number 23, it is prohibited to marry the following women, and the Sunnah further clarifies this:
1. Mothers, including grandmothers from both sides, and so on.
2. Daughters, including granddaughters from sons and daughters, and so on.
3. Sisters, including full, paternal, and maternal sisters—all are included.
4. Paternal aunts.
5. Maternal aunts, whether they are the mother's full sisters, uterine half-sisters, or consanguine half-sisters—all are prohibited.
6. Nieces (brother’s daughters) and their daughters.
7. Nieces (sister’s daughters) and their daughters.
8. Foster mothers (through breastfeeding).
9. Foster sisters (through breastfeeding), and all relationships prohibited by lineage are also prohibited by breastfeeding.
10. Mother-in-law, and sisters-in-law as long as their sister is in marriage.
11. Daughters and stepdaughters.
12. Daughter-in-law (the widow of a real son) is prohibited for marriage.
13. It is prohibited to combine two sisters in marriage at the same time. After this command, one must immediately divorce one of them.
14. And according to the next verse, number 24, all married women are also prohibited.
