What does Quran 23:6 mean?

Quran 23:6 (Surah Al-Muminoon, Ayah 6) translates to: "Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed -"

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 23:6 from?

This ayah is from Surah Al-Muminoon (The Believers), the 23th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 18.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 23:6?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sahih Muslim, Sunan an-Nasa'i, Jami` at-Tirmidhi.

What tafsir is available for Quran 23:6?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Abbas, Al-Jalalayn — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 23:6 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Chastity, Humility, Prayer, Divine Reward.

Ayah 5

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَٰفِظُونَ...

23:6Al-Muminoon

Ayah 7

فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُ...

إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ

Illaa 'alaaa azwaajihim aw maa malakat aimaanuhum fa innahum ghairu maloomeen

Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed -

Themes in this ayah

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Qualities of the believers60

Scores run 0–100: how strongly this ayah speaks to a theme. 70+ is central, 50+ is clear, under 50 is weak.

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Qualities of the believers

23:6Ayah 1118

13 ayahs in Al-Muminoon are strongly about the qualities of the believers.

← Previous on Qualities of the believers23:5And they who guard their private parts Next on Qualities of the believers →23:8And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive

Tafsir

Scholars offer diverse perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 23:6→

except from their spouses that is to their spouses and what slaves their right hands possess that is concubines for then they are not blameworthy in having sexual intercourse with them.

" And women already married, except those whom your right hands possess (iv. 24)" (i. e. they were lawful for them when their 'Idda period came to an end).

Sunan an-Nasa'i #3339It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri that the Prophet of Allah sent an army to Awtas. They met the enemy, fought them, and prevailed over them. They acquired female prisoners who had husbands among the idolaters. The Muslims felt reluctant to be intimate with them. Then Allah, the Mighty and Sublime revealed:Sahih

"Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those (slaves) whom your right hands possess," meaning, this is permissible for you once they have completed their 'Iddah.

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #1135Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri narrated:Sahih

"We got some captives on the day of Awtas, and they had husbands among their peopled. They mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah, so the following was revealed: And women who are already married, except those whom your right hands posses.

Sahih Muslim #3486Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) sent a small army. The rest of the hadith is the same except this that he said:Sahih

Except what your right hands possess out of them are lawful for you; and he did not mention" when their 'idda period comes to an end".

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #3100Narrated Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri:Hasan

"On the Day of Awtas, we captured some women who had husbands among the idolaters. So some of the men disliked that, so Allah, Most High, revealed: And women already married, except those whom your right hands possess... (4:24)"