002:222

Holy Qor-aan                                                                                                                          002:222

وَلَا تَنكِحُواْ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكَـٰتِ حَتَّىٰ يُؤۡمِنَّ‌ۚ  وَلَأَمَةٌ۬ مُّؤۡمِنَةٌ خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّن مُّشۡرِكَةٍ۬ وَلَوۡ أَعۡجَبَتۡكُمۡ‌ۗ  وَلَا تُنكِحُواْ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ حَتَّىٰ يُؤۡمِنُواْ‌ۚ وَلَعَبۡدٌ۬ مُّؤۡمِنٌ خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّن مُّشۡرِكٍ۬ وَلَوۡ أَعۡجَبَكُمۡ‌ۗ  أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يَدۡعُونَ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ‌ۖ  وَٱللَّهُ يَدۡعُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلۡجَنَّةِ وَٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ بِإِذۡنِهِٖ وَيُبَيِّنُ ءَايَـٰتِهِٖ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَكَّرُونؕ

Wa-laa-tun-kay-hool-moosh-ray-kaa-tay-hut-taa-yoe-min-na.                                         Wa-laam-ma-toon-moe-may-na-toon-khai-roon-min                                                                Moosh-ray-kaa-tin-wa-lao-au-ja-but-koom.                                                                             Wa-laa-toon-kay-hool-moosh-ray-ke-na-hut-ta-yoe-may-noo                                                Wa-la-ub-doon-moe-may-noon-khair-roon-min                                                                     Moosh-ray-kin-wa-lao-au-ja-ba-koom.    

Olaa-aiy-ka-yud-oo-na-elun-naa-ray                                                                                             Wul-laa-ho-yud-oo-elul-jun-na-tay                                                                                            Wul-maugh-fay-ra-tay-bay-iz-nay-he.                                                                                            Wa-yo-buy-yay-no-aa-yaa-tay-he                                                                                                  Lin-naa-say-la-aul-la-hoom-ya-ta-zuk-ka-roo-n.

And (you men) do not marry idolatresses until they believe.                                      A believing woman slave is better from                                                                              A free idolatress even if she pleased you very much.                                                     And (you women) do not marry idolaters until they believe.                                     A slave believing man is better from                                                                                   A free idolater even if he pleased you very much.                                                      

They call you to the Fire                                                                                                         And Allah calls you to the Heavens                                                                                     And forgiveness by His Master plan (= grace or scheme of things).                       And He explains his revelations                                                                                          For the people so that they may pay heed.

• وَ — Wa — And   (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but; also; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
• لَا — Laa — Do not (= Absolute denial; never; not at all; total negation)
• تَنكِحُوا  — Tun-kay-hoo(l) — You men marry (= v., pl., m., Establish matrimony; wed)
• ٱلۡمُشۡرِكَـٰتِ — Moosh-ray-kaa-tay — Idolatress (= Idolatrous; women associating partners to God; pagan or unbelieving; polytheist females)
• حَتَّىٰ — Hut-ta — Until (= Unless; till)
• يُؤۡمِنَّ‌ۚ — Yoe-min-na — They believe   (= v., pl., f., They [women] who follow the Holy Qor-aan,  enter the Faith, embrace Islaam and become Moslems)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses.  See وَ  above)
• لَأَمَةٌ۬ — Laa-ma-toon — Woman slave  (= Bondwoman; maid; slave girl)
• مُّؤۡمِنَةٌ — Moe-may-na-toon — She believer (= n., s., f., Women who follow the Holy Qor-aan, enter the Faith, embrace Islaam and become Moslems)
• خَيۡرٌ۬ — Khai-roon(m) — Better (= 1. Comparatively superior; of greater, higher or more value.  2. At apex; best; noblest; on top; good news.   3. Mate who hold prospects of a better and improved life. Will make a better wife)
• مِّن — Min — From (= From the class, category or count of; out of)
• مُّشۡرِكَةٍ۬ — Moosh-ray-ka-tin — Idolatress (= Idolatrous; woman associating partners to God; pagan women; polytheist females)
• وَ — Wa — And  (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses.  See وَ  above)
• لَوۡ — Lao — Even if (= Although; irrespective of; no matter; regardless)
• أَعۡجَبَتۡ — Au-ja-but — She pleased (= v., past., f., s., 3^rd person. Allured, comforted or made happy a lot. Soothed a great deal. Pleased extremely, highly and very much)
• کُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2^nd person. You. The Holy Qor-aan states this way when addressing both men and women jointly)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses.  See وَ  above)
• لَا — Laa — Do not (= Absolute denial; never; not at all; total negation)
• تُنكِحُواْ — Toon-kay-hoo(l) — You give in marriage (= v., pl., m., Give daughters, girls or women in marriage; establish matrimonial relationship; wed)
• ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ — Moosh-ray-ke-na — Idolaters (= n., m., pl., Men who ascribe, associate or set up equal or partners to God Almighty Allah. Men who worship imaginary gods or anything other than the Almighty God. Polytheists. Unbelieving pagan men)
• حَتَّىٰ — Hut-ta — Until (= Unless; till)
• يُؤۡمِنُواْ‌ — Yoe-may –noo — They believe (= v., pres., pl., 3^rd person. Believe in the Holy Qor-aan; become Moslem; enter Iss-laam. See Commentary Believe and Disbelieve)
• وَ — Wa — And  (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses.  See وَ  above)
• لَ — La — Definitely (= Certainly; positively; surely; verily)
• عَبۡدٌ — Ub-doon — Slave (= Male slave; man slave)
• مُّؤۡمِنٌ — Moe-may-noon — Believer (= n., s., m., One who has followed the Holy Qor-aan and embraced Islaam; a Moslem)
• خَيۡرٌ۬ — Khai-roon — Better (= 1. Comparatively superior; of greater, higher or more  value.   2. At apex; best; noblest; on top; good news.  3. Mate who hold prospects of a better and improved life; make a better husband)
• مِّن — Min — From (= From the class, category or count of; out of)
• مُّشۡرِكٍ۬ — Moosh-ray-kin — Idolater (= s., He who ascribes, associates or sets up equal as the partners to Allah.  Who worship other gods besides the God Almighty Allah. Polytheists)
• وَ — Wa — And  (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses.  See وَ  above)
• َلَوۡ — Lao — Even if (= Although; irrespective of; no matter; regardless)
• أَعۡجَبَ — Au-ja-ba — He pleased (= v., past., m., s., 3^rd person. Allured, comforted or made happy a lot. Soothed a great deal. Pleased extremely, highly and very much)
• کُمۡ — Koom — You all (= pro., pl., m., 2^nd person. You. The Holy Qor-aan states  this way when addressing both men and women jointly
• اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ — Olaa-aiy-ka — They all  (= The unbelievers; reference is to the Moslem men who marry idolatresses and women who marry idolaters)
• يَدۡعُونَ — Yud-oo-na — They call (= v., pres., pl., 3^rd person. Address; beg; beseech; call on or upon; draw attention; invite; invoke; pray. The word in different contexts also means allure; appeal; attract; beckon; charm; exhort; guide; lure; summon; tempt; urge; usher)
• إِلَى — E-la…(un) — To (= In the direction of; to; towards)
• ٱلنَّارِ‌ — Naa-ray — The fire (= Hell-fire)
• وَ — Wa…(ul) — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. This vaao is tantamount to taking oath; solemn declaration)
• اللّٰهُ — Laa-ho — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
• يَدۡعُوٓاْ — Yud-oo — He Calls (= v., s., Beckons; exhorts; guides; invites; urges; ushers)
• إِلَى — E-la…(ul) — To (= In the direction of; to; towards)
• ٱلۡجَنَّةِ — Jun-na-tay — The heavens (= Garden of bliss; orchard full of blessings; paradise)
• وَ — Wa…(ul) — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses.  See وَ  above)
• ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ — Maugh-fay-ra-tay —  Forgiveness  (= n., Excusing; looking over; pardon; protection; salvation)
• بِ — Bay — With (= The Arabic word  بِ  literally means ‘with’ in English
• إِذۡنِ‌ — Iz-nay — Master plan (= n., Allowance; approval; command; decree; design; grace; grant; leave; order; permission; plan; scheme of things; Will)
• هٖ — He — His (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person. Refers to the Almighty God)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses.  See وَ  above)
• يُبَيِّنُ — Yo-buy-yay-noo — Makes clear (= Clarifies; elaborates; espouses; explains; expounds; makes crystal clear, plain and obvious)
• ءَايَـٰتِ –Aa-yaa-tay — Signs (= n., pl of … An argument, corroboration, indication, insinuation, pointer, portent, sign, suggestion, symbol or token. See Note 002:074)
• هٖ — He — His (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person. Refers to the Almighty God)
• لِ —  L…(in) —  For (= For any item, person or thing)
• لنَّاسِ — Naa-say — The people (= Folks; mankind; nation)
• لَعَلَّ –La-aul-la — So that (= Haply; hopefully; wishing the result to be)
• ھُمۡ‌ — Hoom — They (= pro., pl., m., 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid ‘people’)
• يَتَذَكَّرُونَ  — Ya-ta-zuk-ka-roo-n — Pay heed (= Be mindful about; celebrate praise; recall; remember;  take heed.    The last eight (8) words of this verse state ‘He makes clear His signs to the people so that they pay heed.’    Though at times worded differently, the message is repeated in several verses including 002:220, 002:243, 002:267, 024:059 and 024:060.  See the Note 002:220)

* Note 002:222.  This verse shows why a believer must not marry before a prospective spouse becomes a believer.    Physical attraction is the main reason to marry but the beauty of body can change and fade fast.   Marriage for wrong reasons usually turns a matrimony into a living hell and ruins the progeny.    Allah knows what is good and exhorts that way of life as the heaven on earth – a better alternative.

One Hadeeth reports that men look for their brides who have (a) assets, (b) beauty, (c) connections, but (d) dutifulness to God [the piety or righteousness] is the best criteria to look for.    But Moslems have yet to agree on one standard Islamic way to start their married life.    They marry differently in different countries and all they generally need is the blessing of the Clergy.

Some marriages are completed before either spouse ever sees or knows the other.    Some are contracted across oceans and one goes to live with the other in different country.    Some are celebrated with pomp and show and ceremonies that are spread over several days.    Some must be conducted with a minimal arrangement requiring pronouncement by a cleric.    Western style courtship in Europe or USA is frowned upon by the Middle Eastern Moslem.    Families procure armed forces bands for aristocratic touch but others construe it a vulgarity.    Playing records of movie melodies is common in Indo-Pak area as the festivity of marriage.    Yet the participants in such weddings have been excommunicated as an un-Islamic activity.     Local customs of people have been inducted in Moslem weddings without loud disapproval.    Marriages in Pakistan, UK, USA and India we attended were poles apart in their essentials.

Some individuals depart from the guidance given in Islam for personal reasons.    That is a private affair and a matter between them and the Almighty God to forgive them.    A religious leader publicly justifying such conduct generally moves and misleads masses.    But fabricating excuses for others for power or politicians makes them downright criminal.    Too many bid-duts (bad acts) have been added to or subtracted from the theme of this verse.    Commentary Islaam 102 – History of Additions and Subtractions decries such malpractices.    Several sects have been created and recognized by such unfortunate additions of the Clergy.    We recall reading in some literature the following.

Bad is he who [sins for himself and] ruins his worldly life here.                                                   Worse is he who [sees another sin and by justifying his conduct] ruins his own Hereafter. But worst is he who [sins himself] for another’s worldly life ruins his own Hereafter.