004:026

The Holy Qor-aan                                                                                                                004:026

وَمَنۡ لَّمۡ يَسۡتَطِعۡ مِنۡكُمۡ طَوۡلًا اَنۡ يَّنۡكِحَ الۡمُحۡصَنٰتِ الۡمُؤۡمِنٰتِ فَمِنۡ مَّا مَلَـكَتۡ اَيۡمَانُكُمۡ مِّنۡ فَتَيٰـتِكُمُ الۡمُؤۡمِنٰتِ‌ ؕ   وَاللّٰهُ اَعۡلَمُ بِاِيۡمَانِكُمۡ‌ ؕ   بَعۡضُكُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡضٍ‌ ۚ   فَانْكِحُوۡهُنَّ بِاِذۡنِ اَهۡلِهِنَّ وَاٰ تُوۡهُنَّ اُجُوۡرَهُنَّ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ مُحۡصَنٰتٍ غَيۡرَ مُسٰفِحٰتٍ وَّلَا مُتَّخِذٰتِ اَخۡدَانٍ‌ ؕ   فَاِذَاۤ اُحۡصِنَّ فَاِنۡ اَ تَيۡنَ بِفَاحِشَةٍ فَعَلَيۡهِنَّ نِصۡفُ مَا عَلَى الۡمُحۡصَنٰتِ مِنَ الۡعَذَابِ‌ ؕ   ذٰ لِكَ لِمَنۡ خَشِىَ الۡعَنَتَ مِنۡكُمۡ‌ ؕ   وَاَنۡ تَصۡبِرُوۡا خَيۡرٌ لَّكُمۡ‌ ؕ  وَاللّٰهُ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِيۡمٌ

Wa-mun-lum-yus-ta-tae-min-koom-tao-lun                                                                                    Un-yun-kay-hul-moh-sa-naa-til-moe-may-naa-tay                                                                      Fa-mim-maa-ma-la-kut-aiy-maa-no-koom                                                                                   Min-fa-ta-yaa-tay-ko-mool-moe-may-naa-tay

Wul-laa-ho-au-la-mo-bay-aiy-maa-nay-koom                                                                                Bau-do-koom-min-bau-dzin

Fun-kay-hoon-na-bay-iz-nay-aah-lay-hin-na                                                                                Wa-aa-too-hoon-na-ojoo-ra-hoon-na-bil-mau-roo-fay                                                                Moh-sa-naa-tin-ghai-ra-mo-saa-fay-haa-tin                                                                                  Wa-laa-moot-ta-khay-zaa-tay-ukh-daa-n

Fa-ezaa-oh-sin-na-fa-in-aa-tee-na-bay-faa-hay-sha-tin                                                              Fa-alai-hin-na-nis-fo-maa-alul-moh-say-naa-tay                                                                          May-nul-azaa-bay

Zaa-lay-ka-lay-mun-kha-shay-yaul-unta-min-koom                                                                    Wa-un-tus-bay-roo-khai-roon-la-koom                                                                                            Wul-laa-ho-gha-foo-roon-ra-hee-m.

And whoever among you can’t openly afford                                                                    That he marries chaste women believers                                                                        Then may do so from what your right hands owned                                                From among your believing maids.

And by God Allah is Well Aware of your faiths.                                                                Some of you are from some others.

So marry them with the permission of their folks                                                        And give them their dowers as appropriate                                                                Chaste women seeking marriage not fornicating                                                            And not taking secret lovers.

And when they are married, then if they come up with lewdness                              Then on them is one-half of what is on the free chaste women                                  From the punishment.

This is for anyone who among you feared wrongdoing.                                                And that you exercise self-restraint is better for you.                                                  And by God Allah is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

• وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but; also; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
• مَنۡ — Mun — Whoever (= Anyone; whoever; whom; who; whoso)
• لَمۡ — Lum — Cannot (= Absolutely never; does not; no, not at all)
• يَسۡتَطِعۡ — Yus-ta-tae — He is able (= v., pres., pl., 3^rd person. Has, controls, owns or possesses the proper ability, capability, means, measure, strength or other wherewithal to do the needful. With the word لَا (laa) before it, the word means forbidden, restricted, restrained or unable to do what is necessary. A/t/a, ‘have .. the means wherewith,’ ‘have the means (- social or financial),’ ‘to enable’ and ‘able to afford’)
• مِنۡ — Min — From (= Among, from or out of the class of persons)
• كُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2^nd person., You all men)
• طَوۡلًا — Tao-lun — Openly (= adv., Freely; unreservedly; without restraint; with no stint. A/t/a, ‘affluence’)
• اَنۡ — Un — That (= Due to; for the reason or purpose; since; so that; that. A/t/a, ‘wherewith’)
• يَّنۡكِحَ — Yun-kay-ha(ul) — He marries (= v., pres., m., 3^rd person. Enters the marriage contract. A/t/a, ‘to wed’)
• الۡمُحۡصَنٰتِ — Moh-sa-naa-til — Chaste women (= n., f., pl., Faithfully pure, spotless, unblemished, uncorrupted and unsullied women. This word has become synonymous with the married women whom marriage has taken to higher moral levels, to become chaste, pious and virtuous, and has harnessed to them their urges for procreation and surges for recreation. A/t/a, ‘free’)
• الۡمُؤۡمِنٰتِ — Moe-may-naa-tay — Believing women (= n., pl., f., Women who follow the Holy Qor-aan,  enter the Faith, embrace Islaam and become Moslems)
• فَ — Fa — Then (= Hence; so; thus; after all this; consequently; finally)
• مِنۡ  — Min — From (= Among, from or out of class of persons. See مِنۡ above. A/t/a, ‘(let him marry) such of,’ ‘let him marry,’ ‘let him marry out of those’ and ‘they may wed’)

{The next 4 words are in several verses: See 004:004}

• مَّا — Maa — All that (= What; whatever; whatsoever; whom; whomever.  Everything of value including one’s time, talent, energy, abilities, potentials and every kind of physical assets, money, property, possessions and wealth)
• مَلَكَتۡ — Ma-la-kut — Had owned (= v., past., f., 3^rd person. Held in ownership or some sort of servitude. The phrase made of four words is used in the Holy Qor-aan in verses such as 004:004, 004:025, 004:026, 023:007, 024:034 and 070:031. The simple and straightforward translation of this phrase is given above. The Holy Qor-aan described the action in this phrase by a verb in the past tense, but some authors translated it wrongly in the present tense. The disgrace of slavery deprecated universally is discussed in our our Commentary The Slavery, but its continuation has been insinuated by translating this phrase as follows:-                                                                      — ‘slave girls,’                                                                                                                                      — ‘(slaves) … your right hands possess,’                                                                                        — ‘(captives) that your right hands possess,’                                                                               — ‘your right hands possess,’                                                                                                          — ‘who have passed into your hands as prisoners,’                                                                    — ‘what your right hands possess, namely your believing handmaids’ and                          — ‘such of your believing bonds women as your right  hands own (by being captives in war)’
• اَيۡمَانُ — iy-maa-no — Right hands (= n., pl., The word refers to all that one owns, possesses, controls or over what one has the controlling authority. Since everyone has only one right hand, the word ‘right hands’ in plural really reflects two persons who have mutually agreed and confirmed by shaking their right hands to acknowledge as to what each owned or would do )
• كُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2^nd person., You all men)
• مِنۡ — Min — From (= Among, from or out of class of persons. See مِنۡ above)
• فَتَيٰـتِ — Fa-ta-yaa-tay — Maids (= n., pl. Young girls, ladies, virgin or women who render services as hired maid or servants. Also, ‘handmaids,’ ‘girls from among those (slaves) and ‘bonds women.’ A/t/a, ‘a slave-girl’ in singular whereas the Holy Qor-aan has used the word which is meant for the plural)
• كُمۡ — Ko-mo(ol) — Your (= pro., pl., m., 2^nd person., You / Your)
• الۡمُؤۡمِنٰتِ — Moe-may-naa-tay — Believing women (= n., pl., f., Women who follow the Holy Qor-aan, enter the Faith, embrace Islaam and become Moslems)
• وَ — Wa…(ul) — And  (= The وَ  vaao here is tantamount to taking oath; solemn declaration or calling as a witness. Normally a Conj. links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
• اللّٰهُ — Laa-ho — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
• اَعۡلَمُ — Au-la-mo — Well Aware (= adj., To the nth degree … Aware, experienced, familiar, informed or knowing. Also, when the text indicates, as a v., pres., s., 1^st person this word means I know more and best. The Holy Qor-aan used this word as adjective but one author translated it as ‘knew best’ which is a verb in the past tense in 003:037 and inconsistently therewith as ‘knows … best’ as a verb in the present tense in verse 004:026. A/t/a, ‘has full knowledge’ by several authors as a verb in the present tense)
• بِ — Bay — With (= Literally the word بِ  means with)
• اِيۡمَانِ — Ee-maa-nay — Faiths (= n., pl., Beliefs; conviction. A/t/a, ‘(the state of) .. faith.’
• كُمۡ — Koom — Your (= pro., pl., m., 2^nd person., You / Your)
• بَعۡضُ — Bau-dzo — Some (= A few; a part; piece; fraction; portion; others. A/t/a, ‘You are all from each other,’ ‘you are all one from another,’ ‘you are born one of another,’ ‘you are (sprung) the one from the other,’ ‘you are all (sprung) one from another’ and ‘you are spiritually akin one to another’)
• كُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2^nd person., You all men)
• مِنۡ — Min — From (= Among, from or out of class of persons. See مِنۡ above)
• بَعۡضٍ — Bau-din — Some others (= A few; a part; piece; fraction; portion; others.
• فَ — Fa…(un) — So (= Hence; then; thus; after all this; consequently; finally)
• انْكِحُو — (F)un-kay-hoo — You marry (= v., pres., pl., 2^nd person. Contract marriage; establish matrimonial ties; wed; set up husband-wife relationship)
• هُنَّ — Hoon-na — Them (= pro., pl, f in 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid women who are being taken as wives)
• بِ — Bay — With (= Literally the word بِ  means with)
• اِذۡنِ — Iz-nay — Permission (= n., Agreement; approval; authority; command; decree; leave; order; plan; scheme of things; will)
• اَهۡلِ — Aah-lay  — Folks (= Refers to family heads who are custodians, guardians; families; household people. A/t/a, ‘masters,’ ‘owners’ and ‘folk (guardians, Auliya’ or masters’ )
• هِنَّ — Hin-na –Their (= pro., pl, f in 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid women who are being taken as wives)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
• اۡتُوا — Aa-too — You give (= v., pres., pl., 2^nd person. Adduce; come in with; deliver; display; produce; show)
• هُنَّ — Hoon-na — Them (= pro., pl, f in 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid women who are being taken as wives)
• اُجُوۡرَ — O-joo-ra — Rewards (= n., pl. Awards; compensations; good results; payments; prizes; recognitions; recompense; rewards; successes; trophies  A/t/a, ‘dowries’ and ‘dowers’)
• هُنَّ —  Hoon-na — Them (= pro., pl, f in 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid women who are being taken as wives)
• بِ  —  B…(il)  — With (= Literally the word بِ  means with. When used with the word الۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ‌ it has been translated variously like ‘according to, as, as a, as a gesture of, in,  on or within)
• الۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ‌ — Mau-roo-fay — Appropriate (= With / in decency, grace, gratefulness, honor, justice, kindness or propriety. According to the custom / usage. As a gesture of kindness.  In an approved, becoming, befitting, customary, decent, equitable, fair, generous,  just, kind, legal, proper, reasonable or suitable basis,fashion, form, manner, method, term or way.  As a noun anything that is appropriate, customary, decent, equitable, fair, graceful, honorable, just, kind, legal, proper, reasonable, suitable or within rights. As an adverb appropriately, beautifully, decently, equitably, fairly, gracefully, gratefully, gratuitously, honorably, lawfully, nicely, properly, reasonably,   righteously, rightfully or suitably. A/t/a, ‘justly,’ ‘with equity’ and ‘according to what is fair’ )
• مُحۡصَنٰتٍ — Moh-sa-naa-tin — Chaste women (= n., f., pl., Faithfully pure, spotless, unblemished, uncorrupted and unsullied women. See الۡمُحۡصَنٰتِ  above.  A/t/a, ‘they should be chaste,’ ‘they being chaste’ and ‘being properly married’)
• غَيۡرَ — Ghai-ra — Neither (= Besides; excluding; no; not; other than; out of; without)
• مُسٰفِحٰتٍ — Mo-saa-fay-haa-tin — Fornicating (= n., f., pl. Going after and seeking sex, lust and no marriage. A/t/a, ‘not committing fornication,’ ‘not (committing fornication) to pursue their lust’ and ‘committing illegal sex’)

The concept in next four (4) words is repeated in 004:026 and 005:006.

• وَّ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
• لَا — Laa– Nor (= Naught; neither; never; none; not at all; absolute denial and total negation without exception)
• مُتَّخِذٰتِ — Moot-ta-kha-zaa-tay — Taking (= adv., Catching, coercing, getting, obtaining, securing or taking. A/t/a, ‘receiving’ and ‘have not entertained other men’)
• اَخۡدَانٍ — Ukh-daa-nay — Secret lovers (= n., Paramours; secret lovers; hidden love affairs; those who make secret pledges; confidentially promising or secretly entering hidden pacts; lovers, especially one in a relationship with a married person. A/t/a, ‘secret paramours,’ ‘boyfriends’ and ‘other men’)
• فَ — Fa — Then (= After this; hence; so; thus; therefore. See فَ above)
• اِذَاۤ — Ezaa — If (= Also, any time or event; when; whenever)
• اُحۡصِنَّ — Oh-sin-na — Had wed (= v, pass-past, f., pl., 3^rd person. Literally Become chaste. Contracted or entered marriage; become or had married. A/t/a, ‘after they are married,’ ‘after marriage’ and ‘taken in wedlock’)
• فَ — Fa — Then (= After this; hence; so; thus; therefore. See فَ above)
• اِنۡ — In — If (= In case; under the circumstances; when; whenever)
• اَ تَيۡنَ — Aa-tai-na — Come up (= v., pres, pl., f., 3^rd person. Appear; arrive; bring about; commit; manifest; show. A/t/a, ‘fall in’ and ‘guilty of’)
• بِ — Bay — With (= Literally the word بِ  means with. Sometimes English   translation is appropriate by using in instead of with)
• فَاحِشَةٍ — Faa-hay-sha-tin –Lewdness (= n., s., Abomination. Illegality. Immorality. Indecency. Inherently bad, evil, foul, immoral, improper, lewd, obscene, repulsive, shameful, sinful or unseemly act, conduct, deed, practice or thing. Open foul infraction. Sexual perversion. Violation. Wickedness by doing in public view any of the above outrages. A/t/a, ‘adultery,’ ‘illegal sexual intercourse and ‘unbecoming conduct’)
• فَ — Fa — Then (= After this; hence; so; thus; therefore. See فَ above)
• عَلَيۡ — Alai — On (= Above; against; before; for; on top of; over; to; upon. A/t/a, ‘they shall suffer,’ ‘they shall have,’ ‘they incur’ [aro, amo], ‘their punishment will be’)
• هِنَّ — Hin-na — Them (= pro., pl, f in 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid women who are being taken as wives)
• نِصۡفُ — Nis-fo — One-half (= Half of; fifty percent. A/t/a, ‘half’ and ‘(the punishment of fifty strips which is) half of that (punishment prescribed)’
• مَاۤ — Maa — All that (= What; whatever; whatsoever)
• عَلَى –Ala..(ul) — On (= Above; against; before; for; on top of; over; to; upon. A/t/a, ‘prescribed for’ and ‘punishment … for’)
• الۡمُحۡصَنٰتِ — Moh-sa-naa-tay — Chaste women (= n., f., pl., Faithfully pure, spotless, unblemished, uncorrupted and unsullied women. See  الۡمُحۡصَنٰتِ  above.  A/t/a, ‘free adulteress’ and ‘free (unmarried) women)
• مِنَ — May-na..(ul) — From (= Among, from or out of class of persons. See مِنۡ above)
• الۡعَذَابِ — Azaa-bay —  Punishment (= Appropriate, due and fair agony, chastisement, doom, hard task, penalty, recompense; torment, torture or scourge. A/t/a, ‘penalty inflicted upon’)
• ذٰلِكَ  — Zaa-lay-ka — This (= Here; refers to an aforesaid fact, person or statement; it is because; right here; such is this; that is how it is. A/t/a, ‘This (permission),’ ‘such is the law,’ ‘This (permission to marry a bonds woman)’ and ‘This facility is’)
• لِ — Lay — For (= Concerning; due to; for the object, purpose or reason of; intended for; on account of; regarding; relative to)
• مَنۡ  — Mun — Who (= Anyone; whoever; whom; whomever; whoso. A/t/a, ‘him’)
• خَشِىَ — Kha-shay-ya(ul) — Feared (= v., past., s., 3^rd person. Was afraid or scared of. A/t/a, ‘fear,’ ‘who fears falling into,’ ‘who fears lest he should’ and ‘who fears (that otherwise he will fall into)’ using a verb in the present tense, but the Holy Qor-aan has used here a verb in the past tense)
• الۡعَنَتَ — Un-ta — Wrong-doing (= n., Bad practice; evil; offence;.sin. A/t/a, ‘falling into evil,’ ‘fall into sin,’ ‘commit sin’ and ‘being harmed in his religion or in his body’)
• مِنۡ — Min — Among (= Among, from or out of class of persons. See مِنۡ above)
• كُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2^nd person. You)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
• اَنۡ — Un — That surely (= Absolutely; certainly; definitely; positively; verily)
• تَصۡبِرُوۡا — Tus-bay-roo — Exercise self-restraint (= v., pres., s., 2^nd  person. Be patient; exercise  self-control. A/t/a, ‘you abstain,’ ‘exercise restraint,’ ‘restrain yourself,’ ‘restrain yourselves,’ ‘practice restraint’ and ‘practice self-restraint’)
• خَيۡرٌ — Khai-roon — Better (= Speaking comparatively; best)
• لَ — La — For (= Concerning; due to; for the object, purpose or reason of; intended for; on account of; regarding; relative to)
• كُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2^nd person. You all. See كُمۡ above)
• وَ — Wa…(ul) — By (= The وَ vaao is tantamount to taking oath; solemn declaration)
• اللّٰهُ — Laa-ho — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
• غَفُوۡرٌ — Gha-foo-ro(or) — Most Forgiving (= superlative form indicates the greatest, the highest, the most and highlights that none more than Him is Who excuses, overlooks and pardons. All Forgiving. A/t/a, ‘Oft-forgiving’)
• الرَّحِيۡمُ — Ra-heem — Most Merciful (= superlative form indicates the greatest, the highest, the most. and highlights that none more than Him shows mercy again and again, continually, incessantly and indefinitely like endlessly and perpetually incoming   waves from the oceans; Merciful Forever)

** Note 004:026. The accurate translation of وَمَنۡ لَّمۡ يَسۡتَطِعۡ مِنۡكُمۡ طَوۡلًا اَنۡ يَّنۡكِحَ الۡمُحۡصَنٰتِ الۡمُؤۡمِنٰتِ   as stated above is that whoso among you “can’t freely and openly afford that he marries chaste believing women.”

But most authors have copied each other and translated the relevant words with a glaring inaccuracy into “can’t afford to marry free believing women.”

The fact is that the word  طَوۡلًا  (tao-lun) meaning freely, openly or unreservedly qualifies the preceding verb يَسۡتَطِعۡ  (yus-ta-tay) and makes perfect sense as can’t afford freely and openly.

Several inaccuracies developed in the translations by removing the meanings of the word طَوۡلًا from its intended and immediately preceding word which is the verb يَسۡتَطِعۡ  and attaching it to the non-intended third word that follows it and is a noun الۡمُحۡصَنٰتِ (moh-sa-naa-tay).

Firstly, the Holy Qor-aan empowered the groom with ability and capacity to marry freely and openly but the inaccurate translations took it away and reduced the impact of the Command.

Secondly, the Holy Qor-aan did not burden the chaste and righteous believing bride to be free as well, but the inaccurate translations arbitrarily added there this burden.

Thirdly, the inaccuracy attached the unintended addition of free to a believing bride, thus differentiating it from a non-free captive slaves and implying the cruel continuation of slavery.