Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 221-240 — Word by Word
البقرة
The Cow
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
walā tankiḥū l-mush'rikāti ḥattā yu'minna wala-amatun mu'minatun khayrun min mush'rikatin walaw aʿjabatkum walā tunkiḥū l-mush'rikīna ḥattā yu'minū walaʿabdun mu'minun khayrun min mush'rikin walaw aʿjabakum ulāika yadʿūna ilā l-nāri wal-lahu yadʿū ilā l-janati wal-maghfirati bi-idh'nihi wayubayyinu āyātihi lilnnāsi laʿallahum yatadhakkarūna
And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allāh invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses [i.e., ordinances] to the people that perhaps they may remember.
wayasalūnaka ʿani l-maḥīḍi qul huwa adhan fa-iʿ'tazilū l-nisāa fī l-maḥīḍi walā taqrabūhunna ḥattā yaṭhur'na fa-idhā taṭahharna fatūhunna min ḥaythu amarakumu l-lahu inna l-laha yuḥibbu l-tawābīna wayuḥibbu l-mutaṭahirīna
And they ask you about menstruation. Say, "It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allāh has ordained for you. Indeed, Allāh loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves."
nisāukum ḥarthun lakum fatū ḥarthakum annā shi'tum waqaddimū li-anfusikum wa-ittaqū l-laha wa-iʿ'lamū annakum mulāqūhu wabashiri l-mu'minīna
Your wives are a place of cultivation [i.e., sowing of seed] for you, so come to your place of cultivation however you wish and put forth [righteousness] for yourselves. And fear Allāh and know that you will meet Him. And give good tidings to the believers.
walā tajʿalū l-laha ʿur'ḍatan li-aymānikum an tabarrū watattaqū watuṣ'liḥū bayna l-nāsi wal-lahu samīʿun ʿalīmun
And do not make [your oath by] Allāh an excuse against being righteous and fearing Allāh and making peace among people. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
lā yuākhidhukumu l-lahu bil-laghwi fī aymānikum walākin yuākhidhukum bimā kasabat qulūbukum wal-lahu ghafūrun ḥalīmun
Allāh does not impose blame upon you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He imposes blame upon you for what your hearts have earned. And Allāh is Forgiving and Forbearing.
lilladhīna yu'lūna min nisāihim tarabbuṣu arbaʿati ashhurin fa-in fāū fa-inna l-laha ghafūrun raḥīmun
For those who swear not to have sexual relations with their wives is a waiting time of four months, but if they return [to normal relations] - then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
wa-in ʿazamū l-ṭalāqa fa-inna l-laha samīʿun ʿalīmun
And if they decide on divorce - then indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
wal-muṭalaqātu yatarabbaṣna bi-anfusihinna thalāthata qurūin walā yaḥillu lahunna an yaktum'na mā khalaqa l-lahu fī arḥāmihinna in kunna yu'minna bil-lahi wal-yawmi l-ākhiri wabuʿūlatuhunna aḥaqqu biraddihinna fī dhālika in arādū iṣ'lāḥan walahunna mith'lu alladhī ʿalayhinna bil-maʿrūfi walilrrijāli ʿalayhinna darajatun wal-lahu ʿazīzun ḥakīmun
Divorced women remain in waiting [i.e., do not remarry] for three periods, and it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allāh has created in their wombs if they believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And their husbands have more right to take them back in this [period] if they want reconciliation. And due to them [i.e., the wives] is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable. But the men [i.e., husbands] have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority]. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
al-ṭalāqu marratāni fa-im'sākun bimaʿrūfin aw tasrīḥun bi-iḥ'sānin walā yaḥillu lakum an takhudhū mimmā ātaytumūhunna shayan illā an yakhāfā allā yuqīmā ḥudūda l-lahi fa-in khif'tum allā yuqīmā ḥudūda l-lahi falā junāḥa ʿalayhimā fīmā if'tadat bihi til'ka ḥudūdu l-lahi falā taʿtadūhā waman yataʿadda ḥudūda l-lahi fa-ulāika humu l-ẓālimūna
Divorce is twice. Then [after that], either keep [her] in an acceptable manner or release [her] with good treatment. And it is not lawful for you to take anything of what you have given them unless both fear that they will not be able to keep [within] the limits of Allāh. But if you fear that they will not keep [within] the limits of Allāh, then there is no blame upon either of them concerning that by which she ransoms herself. These are the limits of Allāh, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allāh - it is those who are the wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust].
fa-in ṭallaqahā falā taḥillu lahu min baʿdu ḥattā tankiḥa zawjan ghayrahu fa-in ṭallaqahā falā junāḥa ʿalayhimā an yatarājaʿā in ẓannā an yuqīmā ḥudūda l-lahi watil'ka ḥudūdu l-lahi yubayyinuhā liqawmin yaʿlamūna
And if he has divorced her [for the third time], then she is not lawful to him afterward until [after] she marries a husband other than him. And if he [i.e., the latter husband] divorces her [or dies], there is no blame upon them [i.e., the woman and her former husband] for returning to each other if they think that they can keep [within] the limits of Allāh. These are the limits of Allāh, which He makes clear to a people who know [i.e.,understand].
wa-idhā ṭallaqtumu l-nisāa fabalaghna ajalahunna fa-amsikūhunna bimaʿrūfin aw sarriḥūhunna bimaʿrūfin walā tum'sikūhunna ḍirāran litaʿtadū waman yafʿal dhālika faqad ẓalama nafsahu walā tattakhidhū āyāti l-lahi huzuwan wa-udh'kurū niʿ'mata l-lahi ʿalaykum wamā anzala ʿalaykum mina l-kitābi wal-ḥik'mati yaʿiẓukum bihi wa-ittaqū l-laha wa-iʿ'lamū anna l-laha bikulli shayin ʿalīmun
And when you divorce women and they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or release them according to acceptable terms, and do not keep them, intending harm, to transgress [against them]. And whoever does that has certainly wronged himself. And do not take the verses of Allāh in jest. And remember the favor of Allāh upon you and what has been revealed to you of the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] and wisdom [i.e., the Prophet's sunnah] by which He instructs you. And fear Allāh and know that Allāh is Knowing of all things.
wa-idhā ṭallaqtumu l-nisāa fabalaghna ajalahunna falā taʿḍulūhunna an yankiḥ'na azwājahunna idhā tarāḍaw baynahum bil-maʿrūfi dhālika yūʿaẓu bihi man kāna minkum yu'minu bil-lahi wal-yawmi l-ākhiri dhālikum azkā lakum wa-aṭharu wal-lahu yaʿlamu wa-antum lā taʿlamūna
And when you divorce women and they have fulfilled their term, do not prevent them from remarrying their [former] husbands if they [i.e., all parties] agree among themselves on an acceptable basis. That is instructed to whoever of you believes in Allāh and the Last Day. That is better for you and purer, and Allāh knows and you know not.
wal-wālidātu yur'ḍiʿ'na awlādahunna ḥawlayni kāmilayni liman arāda an yutimma l-raḍāʿata waʿalā l-mawlūdi lahu riz'quhunna wakis'watuhunna bil-maʿrūfi lā tukallafu nafsun illā wus'ʿahā lā tuḍārra wālidatun biwaladihā walā mawlūdun lahu biwaladihi waʿalā l-wārithi mith'lu dhālika fa-in arādā fiṣālan ʿan tarāḍin min'humā watashāwurin falā junāḥa ʿalayhimā wa-in aradttum an tastarḍiʿū awlādakum falā junāḥa ʿalaykum idhā sallamtum mā ātaytum bil-maʿrūfi wa-ittaqū l-laha wa-iʿ'lamū anna l-laha bimā taʿmalūna baṣīrun
Mothers may nurse [i.e., breastfeed] their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period]. Upon the father is their [i.e., the mothers'] provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable. No person is charged with more than his capacity. No mother should be harmed through her child, and no father through his child. And upon the [father's] heir is [a duty] like that [of the father]. And if they both desire weaning through mutual consent from both of them and consultation, there is no blame upon either of them. And if you wish to have your children nursed by a substitute, there is no blame upon you as long as you give payment according to what is acceptable. And fear Allāh and know that Allāh is Seeing of what you do.
wa-alladhīna yutawaffawna minkum wayadharūna azwājan yatarabbaṣna bi-anfusihinna arbaʿata ashhurin waʿashran fa-idhā balaghna ajalahunna falā junāḥa ʿalaykum fīmā faʿalna fī anfusihinna bil-maʿrūfi wal-lahu bimā taʿmalūna khabīrun
And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind - they, [the wives, shall] wait four months and ten [days]. And when they have fulfilled their term, then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable manner. And Allāh is [fully] Aware of what you do.
walā junāḥa ʿalaykum fīmā ʿarraḍtum bihi min khiṭ'bati l-nisāi aw aknantum fī anfusikum ʿalima l-lahu annakum satadhkurūnahunna walākin lā tuwāʿidūhunna sirran illā an taqūlū qawlan maʿrūfan walā taʿzimū ʿuq'data l-nikāḥi ḥattā yablugha l-kitābu ajalahu wa-iʿ'lamū anna l-laha yaʿlamu mā fī anfusikum fa-iḥ'dharūhu wa-iʿ'lamū anna l-laha ghafūrun ḥalīmun
There is no blame upon you for that to which you [indirectly] allude concerning a proposal to women or for what you conceal within yourselves. Allāh knows that you will have them in mind. But do not promise them secretly except for saying a proper saying. And do not determine to undertake a marriage contract until the decreed period reaches its end. And know that Allāh knows what is within yourselves, so beware of Him. And know that Allāh is Forgiving and Forbearing.
lā junāḥa ʿalaykum in ṭallaqtumu l-nisāa mā lam tamassūhunna aw tafriḍū lahunna farīḍatan wamattiʿūhunna ʿalā l-mūsiʿi qadaruhu waʿalā l-muq'tiri qadaruhu matāʿan bil-maʿrūfi ḥaqqan ʿalā l-muḥ'sinīna
There is no blame upon you if you divorce women you have not touched nor specified for them an obligation. But give them [a gift of] compensation - the wealthy according to his capability and the poor according to his capability - a provision according to what is acceptable, a duty upon the doers of good.
wa-in ṭallaqtumūhunna min qabli an tamassūhunna waqad faraḍtum lahunna farīḍatan faniṣ'fu mā faraḍtum illā an yaʿfūna aw yaʿfuwā alladhī biyadihi ʿuq'datu l-nikāḥi wa-an taʿfū aqrabu lilttaqwā walā tansawū l-faḍla baynakum inna l-laha bimā taʿmalūna baṣīrun
And if you divorce them before you have touched them and you have already specified for them an obligation, then [give] half of what you specified - unless they forego the right or the one in whose hand is the marriage contract foregoes it. And to forego it is nearer to righteousness. And do not forget graciousness between you. Indeed Allāh, of whatever you do, is Seeing.
ḥāfiẓū ʿalā l-ṣalawāti wal-ṣalati l-wus'ṭā waqūmū lillahi qānitīna
Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle [i.e., ʿaṣr] prayer and stand before Allāh, devoutly obedient.
fa-in khif'tum farijālan aw ruk'bānan fa-idhā amintum fa-udh'kurū l-laha kamā ʿallamakum mā lam takūnū taʿlamūna
And if you fear [an enemy, then pray] on foot or riding. But when you are secure, then remember Allāh [in prayer], as He has taught you that which you did not [previously] know.
wa-alladhīna yutawaffawna minkum wayadharūna azwājan waṣiyyatan li-azwājihim matāʿan ilā l-ḥawli ghayra ikh'rājin fa-in kharajna falā junāḥa ʿalaykum fī mā faʿalna fī anfusihinna min maʿrūfin wal-lahu ʿazīzun ḥakīmun
And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind - for their wives is a bequest: maintenance for one year without turning [them] out. But if they leave [of their own accord], then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable way. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.