Tafseer of The Ascending Stairways · Al-Ma'aarij · 70:30
Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to 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.
Concerning إِلا ("except") — that they are not to be blamed for failing to guard them, عَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ ("with respect to their wives or what their right hands possess"), namely their slave-women (imāʾ). And it has been said: لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ * إِلا عَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِمْ ("guarding their private parts, except with respect to their wives") — although no negation preceded it — because of the indication of His words: فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ ("then they are truly not to be blamed"), which indicates that within the statement a sense of negation is contained. And this is like the saying of the speaker: "Do what seems good to you, except committing the sin, for you will be punished for it," the meaning of which is: "Do what seems good to you, except that you will be punished for committing the sin."
