Tafseer of The Believers · Al-Muminoon · 23:6
Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed -
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
إِلا عَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِمْ — that is to say: except with their spouses, whom Allah has made lawful for men by means of marriage (nikāḥ). أوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ — by this He means: their slave-women (imāʾ). The "mā" in His words: أوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ is in the position of the jarr, being conjoined to "al-azwāj". فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ — that is to say: whoever does not guard his private part with his spouse and with what his right hand possesses, but does guard it with respect to all other creatures — such a one is not blamed for that, nor censured, and he commits thereby no sin for which he is held culpable.
The exegetes are also in agreement with what we have said.
*Mention of those who said this:*
Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to us, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His words: وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ * إِلا عَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ — he said: Allah has granted them His approval for consorting with their spouses and with what their right hand possesses.
