24:33 An-Noor (The Light)

{ وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا حَتَّى يُغْنِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ } هذا حكم العاجز عن النكاح، أمره الله أن يستعفف، أن يكف عن المحرم، ويفعل الأسباب التي تكفه عنه، من صرف دواعي قلبه بالأفكار التي تخطر بإيقاعه فيه، ويفعل أيضا، كما قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: \" يا معشر الشباب من استطاع منكم الباءة فليتزوج ومن لم يستطع فعليه بالصوم فإنه له وجاء \" وقوله: { الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا } أي: لا يقدرون نكاحا، إما لفقرهم أو فقر أوليائهم وأسيادهم، أو امتناعهم من تزويجهم [وليس لهم] من قدرة على إجبارهم على ذلك، وهذا التقدير، أحسن من تقدير من قدر \" لا يجدون مهر نكاح \" وجعلوا المضاف إليه نائبا مناب المضاف، فإن في ذلك محذورين: أحدهما: الحذف في الكلام، والأصل عدم الحذف. والثاني كون المعنى قاصرا على من له حالان، حالة غنى بماله، وحالة عدم، فيخرج العبيد والإماء ومن إنكاحه على وليه، كما ذكرنا. { حَتَّى يُغْنِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ } وعد للمستعفف أن الله سيغنيه وييسر له أمره، وأمر له بانتظار الفرج، لئلا يشق عليه ما هو فيه. وقوله { وَالَّذِينَ يَبْتَغُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ فَكَاتِبُوهُمْ إِنْ عَلِمْتُمْ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا } أي: من ابتغى وطلب منكم الكتابة، وأن يشتري نفسه، من عبيد وإماء، فأجيبوه إلى ما طلب، وكاتبوه، { إِنْ عَلِمْتُمْ فِيهِمْ } أي: في الطالبين للكتابة { خَيْرًا } أي: قدرة على التكسب، وصلاحا في دينه، لأن في الكتابة تحصيل المصلحتين، مصلحة العتق والحرية، ومصلحة العوض الذي يبذله في فداء نفسه. وربما جد واجتهد، وأدرك لسيده في مدة الكتابة من المال ما لا يحصل في رقه، فلا يكون ضرر على السيد في كتابته، مع حصول عظيم المنفعة للعبد، فلذلك أمر الله بالكتابة على هذا الوجه أمر إيجاب، كما هو الظاهر، أو أمر استحباب على القول الآخر، وأمر بمعاونتهم على كتابتهم، لكونهم محتاجين لذلك، بسبب أنهم لا مال لهم، فقال: { وَآتُوهُمْ مِنْ مَالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آتَاكُمْ } يدخل في ذلك أمر سيده الذي كاتبه، أن يعطيه من كتابته أو يسقط عنه منها، وأمر الناس بمعونتهم. ولهذا جعل الله للمكاتبين قسطا من الزكاة، ورغب في إعطائه بقوله: { مِنْ مَالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آتَاكُمْ } أي: فكما أن المال مال الله، وإنما الذي بأيديكم عطية من الله لكم ومحض منه، فأحسنوا لعباد الله، كما أحسن الله إليكم. ومفهوم الآية الكريمة، أن العبد إذا لم يطلب الكتابة، لا يؤمر سيده أن يبتدئ بكتابته، وأنه إذا لم يعلم منه خيرا، بأن علم منه عكسه، إما أنه يعلم أنه لا كسب له، فيكون بسبب ذلك كلا على الناس، ضائعا، وإما أن يخاف إذا أعتق، وصار في حرية نفسه، أن يتمكن من الفساد، فهذا لا يؤمر بكتابته، بل ينهى عن ذلك لما فيه من المحذور المذكور. ثم قال تعالى: { وَلَا تُكْرِهُوا فَتَيَاتِكُمْ } أي: إماءكم { عَلَى الْبِغَاءِ } أي: أن تكون زانية { إِنْ أَرَدْنَ تَحَصُّنًا } لأنه لا يتصور إكراهها إلا بهذه الحال، وأما إذا لم ترد تحصنا فإنها تكون بغيا، يجب على سيدها منعها من ذلك، وإنما هذا نهى لما كانوا يستعملونه في الجاهلية، من كون السيد يجبر أمته على البغاء، ليأخذ منها أجرة ذلك، ولهذا قال: { لِتَبْتَغُوا عَرَضَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا } فلا يليق بكم أن تكون إماؤكم خيرا منكم، وأعف عن الزنا، وأنتم تفعلون بهن ذلك، لأجل عرض الحياة، متاع قليل يعرض ثم يزول. فكسبكم النزاهة، والنظافة، والمروءة -بقطع النظر عن ثواب الآخرة وعقابها- أفضل من كسبكم العرض القليل، الذي يكسبكم الرذالة والخسة. ثم دعا من جرى منه الإكراه إلى التوبة، فقال: { وَمَنْ يُكْرِههُّنَّ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ مِنْ بَعْدِ إِكْرَاهِهِنَّ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ } فليتب إلى الله، وليقلع عما صدر منه مما يغضبه، فإذا فعل ذلك، غفر الله ذنوبه، ورحمه كما رحم نفسه بفكاكها من العذاب، وكما رحم أمته بعدم إكراهها على ما يضرها.

هذا أمر من الله تعالى لمن لا يجد تزويجا بالتعفف عن الحرام كما قال صلى الله عليه وسلم "يا معشر الشباب من استطاع منكم الباءة فليتزوج فإنه أغض للبصر وأحصن للفرج ومن لم يستطع فعليه بالصوم فإنه له وجاء" الحديث وهذه الآية مطلقة والتي في سورة النساء أخص منها وهي قوله "ومن لم يستطع منكم طولا أن ينكح المحصنات - إلى قوله - وأن تصبروا خير لكم" أي صبركم عن تزوج الإماء خير لكم لأن الولد يجىء رقيقا "والله غفور رحيم" قال عكرمة في قوله "وليستعفف الذين لا يجدون نكاحا" قال: هو الرجل يرى المرأة فكأنه يشتهي فإن كانت له امرأة فليذهب إليها وليقض حاجته منها وإن لم يكن له امرأة فلينظر في ملكوت السموات والأرض حتى يغنيه الله. وقوله تعالى "والذين يبتغون الكتاب مما ملكت أيمانكم فكاتبوهم إن علمتم فيهم خيرا" هذا أمر من الله تعالى للسادة إذا طلب عبيدهم منهم الكتابة أن يكاتبوهم بشرط أن يكون للعبد حيلة وكسب يؤدي إلى سيده المال الذي شارطه على أدائه وقد ذهب كثير من العلماء إلى أن هذا الأمر أمر إرشاد واستحباب لا أمر تحتم وإيجاب بل السيد مخير إذا طلب منه عبده الكتابة إن شاء كاتبه وإن شاء لم يكاتبه قال الثوري عن جابر عن الشعبي إن شاء كاتبه وإن شاء لم يكاتبه وكذا روى ابن وهب عن إسماعيل بن عياش عن رجل عن عطاء بن أبي رباح إن يشأ كاتبه وإن يشأ لم يكاتبه وكذا قال مقاتل ابن حيان والحسن البصري وذهب آخرون إلى أنه يجب على السيد إذا طلب منه عبده ذلك أن يجيبه إلى ما طلب أخذأ بظاهر هذا الأمر. وقال البخاري وقال روح عن ابن جريج قلت لعطاء أواجب علي إذا علمت له مالا أن أكاتبه؟ قال ما أراه إلا واجبا وقال عمرو بن دينار قلت لعطاء أتأثره عن أحد؟ قال لا ثم أخبرني أن موسي ابن أنس أخبره أن سيرين سأل أنسا المكاتبة وكان كثير المال فأبي فانطلق إلى عمر رضي الله عنه فقال: كاتبه فأبي فضربه بالدرة ويتلو عمر رضي الله عنه "فكاتبوهم إن علمتم فيهم خيرا" فكاتبه هكذا ذكره البخاري معلقا ورواه عبد الرزاق أخبرنا ابن جريج قال قلت لعطاء: أواجب علي إذا علمت له مالا أن أكاتبه؟ قال ما أراه إلا واجبا. وقال ابن جرير حدثنا محمد بن بشار حدثنا محمد بن بكر حدثنا سعيد عن قتادة عن أنس بن مالك أن سيرين أراد أن يكاتبه فتلكأ عليه فقال له عمر: لتكاتبنه إسناد صحيح وروى سعيد بن منصور حدثنا هشيم بن جويبر عن الضحاك قال: هي عزمة وهذا هو القول القديم من قولي الشافعي وذهب في الجديد إلى أنه لا يجب لقوله عليه السلام "لا يحل مال امرئ مسلم إلا بطيب نفس" وقال ابن وهب قال مالك: الأمر عندنا أنه ليس على سيد العبد أن يكاتبه إذا سأله ذلك ولم أسمع أحدا من الأئمة أكره أحدا على أن يكاتب عبده قال مالك وإنما ذلك أمر من الله تعالى وإذن منه للناس وليس بواجب وكذا قال الثوري وأبو حنيفة وعبدالرحمن بن زيد بن أسلم وغيرهم واختار ابن جرير قول الوجوب لظاهر الآية وقوله تعالى "إن علمتم فيهم خيرا" قال بعضهم: أمانه وقال بعضهم: صدقا وقال بعضهم: مالا وقال بعضهم: حيلة وكسبا وروى أبو داود في المراسيل عن يحيي بن أبي كثير قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "فكاتبوهم إن علمتم فيهم خيرا" قال: "إن علمتم لم حرفة ولا ترسلوهم كلا على الناس". وقوله تعالى: "وآتوهم من مال الله الذي آتاكم" اختلف المفسرون فيه: فقال بعضهم: معناه اطرحوا لهم من الكتابة بعضها ثم قال بعضهم: مقدار الربع وقيل: الثلث وقيل: النصف وقيل: جزء من الكتابة من غير حد وقال آخرون: بل المراد من قوله "وآتوهم من مال الله الذي آتاكم" هو النصيب الذي فرض الله لهم من أموال الزكاة وهذا قول الحسن وعبدالرحمن بن زيد بن أسلم وأبيه ومقاتل بن حيان واختاره ابن جرير وقال إبراهيم النخعي في قوله "وآتوهم من مال الله الذي آتاكم" قال: حث الناس عليه مولاه وغيره وكذا قال بريدة بن الحصيب الأسلمي قتادة وقال ابن عباس: أمر الله المؤمنين أن يعينوا فى الرقاب وقد تقدم في الحديث عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال: "ثلاثة حق علي الله عونهم" فذكر منهم المكاتب يريد الأداء والقول الأول أشهر وقال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا محمد بن إسماعيل حدثنا وكيع عن ابن شبيب عن عكرمة عن ابن عباس عن عمر أنه كاتب عبدا له يكنى أبا أمية فجاء بنجمه حين حل فقال: يا أبا أمية اذهب فاستعن به في مكاتبتك فقال يا أمير المؤمنين لو تركته حتى يكون من آخر نجم؟ قال أخاف أن لا أدرك ذلك ثم قرأ "فكاتبوهم إن علمتم فيهم خيرا وآتوهم من مال الله الذي آتاكم" قال عكرمة فكان أول نجم أدي في الإسلام. وقال ابن جرير حدثنا ابن حميد حدثنا هارون بن المغيرة عن عنبسة عن سالم الأفطس عن سعيد بن جبير قال: كان ابن عمر إذا كاتب مكاتب لم يضع عنه شيئا من أول نجومه مخافة أن يعجز فترجع إليه صدقته ولكنه إذا كان في آخر مكاتبته وضع عنه ما أحب وقال علي بن أبي طلحة عن ابن عباس في الآية "وآتوهم من مال الله الذي آتاكم" قال: ضعوا عنهم من مكاتبتهم وكذا قال مجاهد وعطاء والقاسم بن أبي بزة وعبد الكريم بن مالك الجزري والسدى وقال محمد بن سيرين في الآية كان يعجبهم أن يدع الرجل لمكاتبه طائفة من مكاتبته وقال ابن أبي حاتم أخبرنا الفضل بن شاذان المقري أخبرنا إبراهيم بن موسي أخبرنا هشام بن يوسف عن ابن جريج أخبرني عطاء بن السائب أن عبدالله بن جندب أخبره عن علي "1 عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "ربع الكتابة" وهذا حديث غريب ورفعه منكر والأشبه أنه موقوف على علي رضي الله عنه كما رواه عنه أبو عبد الرحمن السلمي رحمه الله. وقوله تعالى: "ولا تكرهوا فتياتكم على البغاء" الآية كان أهل الجاهلية إذا كان لأحدهم أمة أرسلها تزني وجعل عليها ضريبة يأخذها منها كل وقت فلما جاء الإسلام نهى الله المؤمنين عن ذلك وكان سبب نزول هذه الآية الكريمة فيما ذكر غير واحد من المفسرين من السلف والخلف في شأن عبدالله بن أبي بن سلول فانه كان له إماء فكان يكرههن علي البغاء طلبا لخراجهن ورغبة في أولادهن ورياسة منه فيما يزعم. ذكر الآثار الواردة في ذلك: قال الحافظ أبو بكر أحمد بن عمرو بن عبد الخالق البزار رحمه الله فى مسنده حدثنا أحمد بن داود الواسطي حدثنا أبو عمرو اللخمي يعني محمد بن الحجاح حدثنا محمد بن إسحاق عن الزهري قال كانت جارية لعبدالله بن أبي ابن سلول يقال لها معاذة يكرهها على الزنا فلما جاء الإسلام نزلت "ولا تكرهوا فتياتكم على البغاء" الآية وقال الأعمش عن أبي سفيان عن جابر فى هذه الآية قال نزلت في أمة لعبدالله بن أبي بن سلول يقال لها مسيكة كان يكرهها على الفجور وكانت لا بأس بها فتأبي فأنزل الله هذه الآية "ولا تكرهوا فتياتكم على البغاء - إلى قوله - ومن يكرهن فإن الله من بعد إكراههن غفور رحيم" وروى النسائي من حديث ابن جريج عن أبي الزبير عن جابر نحوه وقال الحافظ أبو بكر البزار حدثنا عمر بن علي حدثنا علي بن سعيد حدثنا الأعمش حدثني أبو سفيان عن جابر قال كان لعبدالله بن أبي بن سلول جارية يقال لها مسيكة وكان يكرهها على البغاء فأنزل الله "ولا تكرهوا فتياتكم على البغاء - إلى قوله - ومن يكرههن فإن الله من بعد إكراههن غفور رحيم" صرح الأعمش بالسماع من أبي سفيان بن طلحة بن نافع فدل على بطلان قول من قال لم يسمع منه إنما هو صحيفة حكاه البزار وروى أبو داود الطيالسي عن سليمان بن معاذ عن سماك عن عكرمة عن ابن عباس أن جارية لعبدالله بن أبي كانت تزنى في الجاهلية فولدت أولادا من الزنا فقال لها مالك: لا تزنين قالت: والله لا أزني فضربها فأنزل الله عز وجل: "ولا تكرهوا فتياتكم على البغاء". وروى البزار أيضا حدثنا أحمد بن داود الواسطي حدثنا أبو عمرو اللخمي يعني محمد ابن الحجاج حدثنا محمد بن إسحاق عن الزهري عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: كانت جارية لعبدالله بن أبى يقال لها معاذة يكرهها على الزنا فلما جاء الإسلام نزلت "ولا تكرهوا فتياتكم على البغاء إن أردن تحصنا - إلى قوله - ومن يكرههن فإن الله من بعد إكراههن غفور رحيم" وقال عبد الرزاق أخبرنا معمر عن الزهري أن رجلا من قريش أسر يوم بدر وكان عند عبدالله بن أبي أسيرا وكانت لعبدالله بن أبي جارية يقال لها معاذة وكان القرشي الأسير يريدها على نفسها وكانت مسلمة وكانت تمتنع منه لإسلامها وكان عبدالله بن أبي يكرهها على ذلك ويضربها رجاء أن تحمل من القرشي فيطلب فداء ولده فقال تبارك وتعالى: "ولا تكرهوا فتياتكم على البغاء إن أردن تحصنا". وقال السدي أنزلت هذه الآية الكريمة في عبدالله بن أبي بن سلول رأس المنافقين وكانت له جارية تدعى معاذة وكان إذا نزل به ضيف أرسلها إليه ليواقعها إرادة الثواب منه والكرامة له فأقبلت الجارية إلى أبي بكر رضي الله عنه فشكت إليه فذكره أبو بكر للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فأمره بقبضها فصاح عبدالله بن أبي من يعذرنا من محمد يغلبنا على مملوكتنا فأنزل الله فيه هذا وقال مقاتل بن حيان بلغني والله أعلم أن هذه الآية نزلت في رجلين كانا يكرهان أمتين لهما إحداهما اسمها مسيكة وكانت للأنصار وكانت أميمة أم مسيكة لعبدالله بن أبي وكانت معاذة وأروى بتلك المنزلة فأتت مسيكة وأمها النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فذكرنا ذلك له فأنزل الله في ذلك "ولا تكرهوا فتياتكم على البغاء" يعنى الزنا وقوله تعالى: "إن أردن تحصنا" هذا خرج مخرج الغالب فلا مفهوم له وقوله تعالى: "لتبتغوا عرض الحياة الدنيا" أي من خراجهن ومهورهن أولادهن وقد نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن كسب الحجام ومهر البغي وحلوان الكاهن وفي رواية "مهر البغي خبيث وكسب الحجام خبيث وثمن الكلب خبيث" وقوله تعالى: "ومن يكرهن فإن الله من بعد إكراههن غفور رحيم" أي لهن كما تقدم في الحديث عن جابر وقال ابن أبي طلحة عن ابن عباس فإن فعلتم فإن الله لهن غفور رحيم وإثمهن على من أكرههن وكذا قال مجاهد وعطاء الخراساني والأعمش وقتادة وقال أبو عبيد حدثني إسحاق الأزرق عن عوف عن الحسن في هذه الآية "فإن الله من بعد إكراههن غفور رحيم" قال لهن والله لهن والله: وعن الزهري قال غفور لهن ما أكرهن عليه وعن زيد بن أسلم قال غفور رحيم للمكرهات حكاهن ابن المنذر في تفسيره بأسانيده وقال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا أبو زرعة حدثنا يحيي ابن عبدالله حدثني ابن لهيعة حدثني عطاء عن سعيد بن جبير قال في قراءة عبدالله بن مسعود "فإن الله من بعد إكراههن غفور رحيم" لهن وإثمهن على من أكرههن وفي الحديث المرفوع عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال: "رفع عن أمتي الخطأ والنسيان وما استكرهوا عليه".

The Command to marry

These clear Ayat include a group of unambiguous rulings and firm commands.

وَأَنْكِحُواْ الأَيَـمَى مِنْكُمْ

(And marry those among you who are single (Al-Ayama)....) This is a command to marry. The Prophet said:

«يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ، مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ، فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ»

(O young men, whoever among you can afford to get married, let him marry, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and protecting the private parts. Whoever cannot do that, then let him fast, for it is a protection for him.) This was recorded in the Two Sahihs from the Hadith of Ibn Mas`ud. In the Sunan, it was recorded from more than one person that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

«تَزَوَّجُوا تَوَالَدُوا تَنَاسَلُوا فَإِنِّي مُبَاهٍ بِكُمُ الْأُمَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ»

(Marry and have children, for I will be proud of you before the nations on the Day of Resurrection.) The word Al-Ayama, the plural form of Ayyim, is used to describe a woman who has no husband and a man who has no wife, regardless of whether they have been married and then separated, or have never been married at all. Al-Jawhari reported this from the scholars of the (Arabic) language, and the word is applied to men and women alike.

إِن يَكُونُواْ فُقَرَآءَ يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ

(If they be poor, Allah will enrich them out of His bounty.) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas: "Allah encouraged them to get married, commanded both free men and servants to get married, and He promised to enrich them."

إِن يَكُونُواْ فُقَرَآءَ يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ

(If they be poor, Allah will enrich them out of His bounty.) It was recorded that Ibn Mas`ud said: "Seek the richness through marriage, for Allah says:

إِن يَكُونُواْ فُقَرَآءَ يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ

(If they be poor, Allah will enrich them out of His bounty.)" This was recorded by Ibn Jarir. Al-Baghawi also recorded something similar from `Umar. It was reported from Al-Layth from Muhammad bin `Ajlan from Sa`id Al-Maqburi from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

«ثَلَاثَةٌ حَقٌّ عَلَى اللهِ عَوْنُهُمْ: النَّاكِحُ يُرِيدُ الْعَفَافَ، وَالْمُكَاتَبُ يُرِيدُ الْأَدَاءَ، وَالْغَازِي فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ»

(There are three whom it is a right upon Allah to help: one who gets married seeking chastity; a slave who makes a contract with his master with the aim of buying his freedom; and one who fights for the sake of Allah.) This was recorded by Imam Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah. The Prophet performed the marriage of a man who owned nothing but his waist wrap, and could not even buy a ring made of iron, but he still married him to that woman, making the Mahr his promise to teach her whatever he knew of the Qur'an. And it is known from the generosity and kindness of Allah that He provided him with whatever was sufficient for her and for him.

The Command to keep Oneself Chaste if One is not able to get married

Allah's saying:

وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحاً حَتَّى يُغْنِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ

(And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allah enriches them of His bounty.) This is a command from Allah to those who do not have the means to get married: they are to keep themselves chaste and avoid unlawful things, as the Prophet said:

«يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ»

(O young men, whoever among you can afford to get married, let him marry, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and protecting the private parts. Whoever cannot do that, then let him fast, for it is a protection for him.) This Ayah is general in meaning, and the Ayah in Surat An-Nisa' is more specific, where Allah says:

وَمَن لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ مِنكُمْ طَوْلاً أَن يَنكِحَ الْمُحْصَنَـتِ

(And whoever of you have not the means wherewith to wed free believing women)until His statement;

وَأَن تَصْبِرُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ

(but it is better for you that you practise self-restraint) 4:25 meaning, it is better for you to be patient and refrain from marrying slave-girl, because any child that is born will also be a slave.

وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

(and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful) 4:25.

وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحاً

(And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste,) `Ikrimah said, "This refers to a man who sees a woman and it is as if he feels desire; if he has a wife then let him go to her and fulfill his desire with her, and if he does not have a wife, then let him ponder the kingdom of heaven and earth until Allah grants him means of livelihood."

The Command to grant Slaves a Contract of Emancipation

وَالَّذِينَ يَبْتَغُونَ الْكِتَـبَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـنُكُمْ فَكَـتِبُوهُمْ إِنْ عَلِمُتُمْ فِيهِمْ خَيْراً

(And such of your servants as seek a writing (of emancipation), give them such writing, if you find that there is good and honesty in them.) This is a command from Allah to slave-owners: if their servants ask them for a contract of emancipation, they should write it for them, provided that the servant has some skill and means of earning so that he can pay his master the money that is stipulated in the contract. Al-Bukhari said: "Rawh narrated from Ibn Jurayj: `I said to `Ata', "If I know that my servant has money, is it obligatory for me to write him a contract of emancipation" He said, "I do not think it can be anything but obligatory." `Amr bin Dinar said: "I said to `Ata', `Are you narrating this from anybody' He said, `No,' then he told me that Musa bin Anas told him that Sirin, who had a lot of money, asked Anas for a contract of emancipation and he refused. So he went to `Umar (bin Al-Khattab), may Allah be pleased with him, and he said, `Write it for him.' He refused, so `Umar hit him with his whip and recited,

فَكَـتِبُوهُمْ إِنْ عَلِمُتُمْ فِيهِمْ خَيْراً

(give them such writing, if you find that there is good and honesty in them.)Then he wrote the contract." This was mentioned by Al-Bukhari with a disconnected chain of narration. It was also narrated by `Abdur-Razzaq who said Ibn Jurayj told them: I said to `Ata', "If I know that my servant has some money, is it obligatory for me to write him a contract of emancipation" He said, `I do not think it can be anything but obligatory."' It was also said by `Amr bin Dinar who said, "I said to `Ata', `Are you narrating this from anybody' He said, `No."' Ibn Jarir recorded that Sirin wanted Anas bin Malik to write a contract of emancipation and he delayed, then `Umar said to him, "You should certainly write him a contract of emancipation." Its chain of narrators is Sahih. Allah's saying:

إِنْ عَلِمُتُمْ فِيهِمْ خَيْراً

(if you find that there is good and honesty in them.) Some of them said (this means) trustworthiness. Some said: "Honesty," and others said: "A skill and ability to earn."

وَءَاتُوهُمْ مِّن مَّالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِى ءَاتَـكُمْ

(And give them something out of the wealth of Allah which He has bestowed upon you.) This is the share of the wealth of Zakah that Allah stated to be their right. This is the opinion of Al-Hasan, `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam and his father and Muqatil bin Hayyan. It was also the opinion favored by Ibn Jarir.

وَءَاتُوهُمْ مِّن مَّالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِى ءَاتَـكُمْ

(And give them something out of the wealth of Allah which He has bestowed upon you. ) Ibrahim An-Nakha`i said, "This is urging the people, their masters and others." This was also the view of Buraydah bin Al-Husayb Al-Aslami and Qatadah. Ibn `Abbas said: "Allah commanded the believers to help in freeing slaves."

The Prohibition of forcing One's Slave-Girls to commit Zina ®257

؛ Allah's saying:

وَلاَ تُكْرِهُواْ فَتَيَـتِكُمْ عَلَى الْبِغَآءِ

(And force not your slave-girls to prostitution...) Among the people of the Jahiliyyah, there were some who, if he had a slave-girl, he would send her out to commit Zina and would charge money for that, which he would take from her every time. When Islam came, Allah forbade the believers to do that. The reason why this Ayah was revealed, according to the reports of a number of earlier and later scholars of Tafsir, had to do with `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul. He had slave-girls whom he used to force into prostitution so that he could take their earnings and because he wanted them to have children which would enhance his status, or so he claimed.

Reports narrated on this Topic

In his Musnad, Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Ahmad bin `Amr bin `Abd Al-Khaliq Al-Bazzar, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded that Az-Zuhri said, "`Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul had a slave-girl whose name was Mu`adhah, whom he forced into prostitution. When Islam came, the Ayah

وَلاَ تُكْرِهُواْ فَتَيَـتِكُمْ عَلَى الْبِغَآءِ

(And force not your slave-girls to prostitution...) was revealed." Al-A`mash narrated from Abu Sufyan that Jabir said concerning this Ayah, "This was revealed about a slave-girl belonging to `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul whose name was Musaykah. He used to force her to commit immoral actions, but there was nothing wrong with her and she refused. Then Allah revealed this Ayah:

وَلاَ تُكْرِهُواْ فَتَيَـتِكُمْ عَلَى الْبِغَآءِ

(And force not your slave-girls to prostitution,) until His saying;

وَمَن يُكْرِههُنَّ فِإِنَّ اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ إِكْرَاهِهِنَّ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

(But if anyone compels them, then after such compulsion, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.)" An-Nasa'i also recorded something similar. Muqatil bin Hayyan said, "I heard -- and Allah knows best -- that this Ayah was revealed about two men who used to force two slave-girls of theirs (into prostitution). One of them was called Musaykah who belonged to the Ansari, and Umaymah the mother of Musaykah belonged to `Abdullah bin Ubayy. Mu`adhah and Arwa were in the same situation. Then Musaykah and her mother came to the Prophet and told him about that. Then Allah revealed:

وَلاَ تُكْرِهُواْ فَتَيَـتِكُمْ عَلَى الْبِغَآءِ

(And force not your slave-girls to prostitution), meaning Zina.

إِنْ أَرَدْنَ تَحَصُّناً

(if they desire chastity,) means, if they want to be chaste, which is the case with the majority of slave-girls.

لِّتَبْتَغُواْ عَرَضَ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا

(in order that you may make a gain in the goods of this worldly life.) meaning, from the money they earn and their children. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade the money earned by the cupper, the prostitute and the fortune-teller. According to another report:

«مَهْرُ الْبَغِيِّ خَبِيثٌ وَكَسْبُ الْحَجَّامِ خَبِيثٌ، وَثَمَنُ الْكَلْبِ خَبِيثٌ»

(The earnings of a prostitute are evil, the earnings of a cupper are evil, and the price of a dog is evil.)

وَمَن يُكْرِههُنَّ فِإِنَّ اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ إِكْرَاهِهِنَّ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

(But if anyone compels them, then after such compulsion, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) meaning, towards them, as has already been stated in the Hadith narrated from Jabir. Ibn Abi Talhah narrated that Ibn `Abbas said, "If you do that, then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful, and their sin will be on the one who forced them to do that." This was also the view of Mujahid, `Ata' Al-Khurasani, Al-A`mash and Qatadah. After explaining these rulings in detail, Allah says:

وَلَقَدْ أَنْزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـتٍ مُّبَيِّنَـتٍ

(And indeed We have sent down for you Ayat that make things plain,) meaning, in the Qur'an there are Ayat which are clear and explain matters in detail.

وَمَثَلاً مِّنَ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْاْ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ

(and the example of those who passed away before you,) means, reports about the nations of the past and what happened to them when they went against the commandments of Allah, as Allah says:

فَجَعَلْنَـهُمْ سَلَفاً وَمَثَلاً لِّلاٌّخِرِينَ

(And We made them a precedent, and an example to later generations.) 43:56; We made them a lesson, i.e., a rebuke for committing sin and forbidden deeds.

لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

(for those who have Taqwa. ) meaning, for those who remember and fear Allah.

And let those who cannot find the means to marry be continent those who do not have the bridal money or the means for financial support needed for marriage let them restrain themselves from fornication until God enriches them until He improves their means out of His bounty and they marry. And those who seek a written contract of emancipation from among those whom your right hand owns of male slaves and female slaves contract with them accordingly if you know in them any good such as trustworthiness and the ability to earn income in order to fulfil the amount stated in the written contract which might be worded for example thus ‘I contract you for the amount of two thousand to be paid over a period of two months at one thousand a month and if you fulfill this you are a free man’ and the other would say ‘I accept’; and give them — this is a command for the slaves’ owners — out of the wealth of God which He has given you in the measure that will help them to fulfill their commitment to you the action of ītā’ ‘giving’ here suggests that some of the amount to which they have committed themselves should be waived. And do not compel your slave-girls your handmaidens to prostitution fornication when they desire to be chaste to abstain therefrom this ‘desire’ is the cause of the act of ‘compulsion’ so that the statement is not properly a conditional that you may seek through such compulsion the transient things of the life of this world — this was revealed regarding ‘Abd Allāh b. Ubayy who used to force his slave-girls to earn money through fornication. And should anyone compel them then surely God after their compulsion will be Forgiving to these slave-girls Merciful to them.

Warning

It is commented in Tafsir Mazhari that it should, however, be noted that Allah Ta’ ala's promise to grant riches to the one who will marry is only on the condition that his intention is to safeguard his chastity and to follow the sunnah. After that he should have trust and faith in Allah Ta’ ala, for which the confirmation is available in the next verse, which reads: وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا حَتَّىٰ يُغْنِيَهُمُ اللَّـهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ (And those who cannot afford marriage should keep chaste until Allah enriches them out of His grace - 24:33). ` It means that the people who do not have the material wealth for the marriage, and in case they marry, there is the risk of not fulfilling the rights of wife and their becoming sinners, they should wait with patience until Allah grants them riches from His bounty. A method has been stated in the hadith for achieving the required patience, which is keeping fasts abundantly. If they will follow the advice, Allah Ta` a1a will grant them so much material resources that they will be able to afford the expenses of marriage.

Commentary

Owners of the slaves and slave girls were advised in the previous verse that they should allow their subjects to marry if they so desire. They should not delay their marriage to curb their natural urge for their own expediency. The essence of this advice is to save the subjects from trouble and that they be treated graciously. In the same context another direction is given in this verse to the owners of slaves and slave girls that if their subjects wish to enter into a deal with them for making payment against their freedom, then it is desirable for the owners to concede to this wish, which will bring them good reward. This instruction is commonly taken by the jurists, like the author of Hidayah, as a recommendatory instruction in that it is not compulsory for the owners to concede for freedom of their subjects against payment, yet it is preferable to do so. The procedure for entering into a deal of freedom is that the subject asks his owner to set up an amount with mutual consent for the freedom, which he should earn with his labour and pay to the owner. Alternatively, the owner can also initiate the deal and with mutual consent on payment of a certain amount whereby the slaves can earn their freedom. When such a deal is struck with mutual consent between the owner and the slave, then it becomes mandatory under Islamic law, and the owner has no authority to call it off. As soon as the slave makes the payment of the agreed amount, he gets free automatically.

The amount of money so agreed for the freedom of slave is called badal-al-kitabah for which Islamic law has fixed no limit. It may be the same as the cost of slave, or more or less. The amount on which the parties mutually agree will be regarded as badal-al-kitabah. The essence behind the advice given in this verse is to open up the doors of freedom for the slaves. This is but one such instruction which points out toward the underlying objective of Islamic law of allowing freedom for slaves. In all types of expiations, a common injunction is freedom of slaves. Even otherwise, there is a promise of generous blessings for freeing the slaves. Arrangement of the treaty for freedom in exchange of money is one such route. This is why there is so much persuasion and emphasis on this. However, a condition has also been placed with this treaty إِنْ عَلِمْتُمْ فِيهِمْ خَيْرً‌ا (33). The treaty will only be in order when you notice signs of goodness in them. Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn ` Umar ؓ and many other scholars have explained that here the word 'Khair' (good) is purported to mean the strength to earn. Hence, it means that someone who has the strength to earn and can make payment should be allowed to enter the deal, otherwise his labour will be wasted on one hand and the owner will also suffer loss. Some other scholars have given another explanation that goodness and betterment mean here that there should be no risk of any harm to the Muslims because of his freedom. For instance, the slave may be an infidel and he might have been helping his infidel brethren. As a matter of, fact the word 'Khair' (good) stands here for both the meanings, that is the slave should have the strength to earn, and there should be no risk of any harm to the Muslims as a result of his freedom. (Mazhari)

وَآتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ اللَّـهِ الَّذِي آتَاكُمْ

Give them out of the wealth of Allah that He has given to you - 24:33.

This address is directed towards Muslims in general, and to the owners of the slaves in particular. When the freedom of a slave is dependent on a fixed amount to be given to his owner, then it is incumbent upon Muslims to help him collect that money. For this they can pay from the zakah money as well. And the owners are induced to contribute on their own or reduce the amount of the treaty. It was the practice of the Companions to reduce the amount of treaty by one third or one fourth, depending upon their capacity. (Mazhari)

An important economic issue and the Qur’ anic verdict on it

The present day world is totally materialistic. Everyone seems to have forgotten about the life hereafter and has completely entangled himself in money making. All types of researches, contemplation: and developments, revolve round economic uplift only. Detailed discussions and researches on finer economic points have raised its status many fold, and now it has assumed the position of greatest art. The world thinkers have propounded two well-known theories, which, paradoxically, are in conflict with each other. Because of the inherent conflict between them, the world at large is divided in two groups, who are unfortunately at daggers drawn with each other, resulting in the loss of peace and tranquility of the world.

One theory has given birth to capitalist system, commonly known as capitalism. The other one is the socialist system which is called as socialism or communism. It is an everyday common experience, which neither of the two systems can deny, that whatever the man earns or produces in this world through his hard work, its basic source of production is the natural resources, like water, the produce from earth or any other natural produce. The man produces millions of things of his need and use from natural resources through his skill, hard work, ingenuity and composing or decomposing their certain elements. It is but natural to think that there is someone who creates the natural resources. They have not come into being of their own. It also goes without saying that the One who has created the natural resources is the real owner and master of them all. The natural resources have been passed on to man for a limited period (his life span) for his benefit and use. It does not mean that the man has become the master of natural resources for all times, because his own life is so short. Moreover, man does not, and cannot, exercise total control and authority on all natural resources for all the time. For instance, man can irrigate the fields with water, but he cannot create water if there is a drought. Therefore, it is clear that man is not free to use or control them, and hence should follow the instructions given to him by their Crea or and Master. But in the frenzy of materialism everyone has forgotten even the concept of real Master and Creator. The only controversy between them is that whether the one who possesses the factors of production becomes their owner, or all these resources are common to all and everyone has a right to benefit from them.

The first theory is that of the capitalist system which grants freedom of ownership to man in that he can acquire anything by any means, and is also free to use and spend it any way he likes. There is absolutely no restriction on him. The infidels and disbelievers of the olden times professed the same belief, who objected before Sayyidna Shu` aib ؓ as to why should he place any restriction on their wealth, which belonged to them and they were its owners. They claimed that the prophet had no right to tell them as to where the spending was permitted and where it was not? The meaning of Qur'anic verse أَوْ أَن نَّفْعَلَ فِي أَمْوَالِنَا مَا نَشَاءُ (or that we do with our wealth what we wish - 11:87) is the same. The other theory is that of socialism, which does not allow ownership to anyone of anything, and professes common ownership of everyone and equal right to all. This is the original theory of communism, but when they felt that this is not practicable, they exempted some objects from the common ownership.

As against these two extremes the Holy Qur'an has given a system in which the most fundamental concept is that everything belongs to Allah Ta’ ala, who has given the charge of some things to man temporarily by His grace and bounty. For such things where man has been given the charge and possession, others have been debarred to make any claim on their use, without the permission of the owner. But despite the possession and ownership being given to man, he is not granted freedom to earn or spend them in any manner he likes. Both for earning and spending there are wise and equitable rules and regulations which are clearly defined, and which clearly identify the permissible and impermissible ways of earning and spending. In addition to this, it has also been made incumbent upon him to pass on certain part of his possession to others, which is made the right of recipients on those things.

Although the verse under reference deals with a different subject yet it contains some important principles relating to this economic issue. So, look at the wordings of the verse rather intently وَآتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ اللَّـهِ الَّذِي آتَاكُمْ. ` Give them out of the wealth of Allah that He has given to you - 33'. Three things come out of this statement. One, that Allah is the real owner of everything. Two, that He has given the possession of certain things to man by His grace. Three, that there are certain restrictions on things which He has given to man. Spending of certain things has been prohibited, and spending of other things is made obligatory, while spending of some others is made preferable.

The other injunction given in this verse is for the eradication of an uncouth custom, and for curbing adultery and obscenity وَلَا تُكْرِ‌هُوا فَتَيَاتِكُمْ عَلَى الْبِغَاءِ ` Do not compel your maid to prostitution - 33'. During the pre-Islamic period many people used to have this business done by their slave girls. When Islam placed strict punishments on adultery, both on free and slave individuals, then it was necessary to enjoin special strict orders to stop and eradicate this uncivilized custom.

إِنْ أَرَ‌دْنَ تَحَصُّنًا (If they wish to observe chastity - 24:33). It means that when those slave girls express their wish to avoid adultery and remain pure, then pressurizing them on your part is extremely imprudent and shameless. Although the wording of the injunction is conditional, yet there is consensus of Ummah that the intention here is not to press the slave girls for adultery, irrespective of the situation whether they express their wish to avoid it or not. In other words, it is not meant here that in case they do not wish to avoid adultery, then it is permitted to force them into it. What is intended here is to tell that in the pre-Islamic days obscenity was common, so the slave girls did not mind adultery. Although after the advent of Islam they repented and wished not to be involved in this practice, yet their owners still forced them for the crime, which they resented. On this situation this injunction was revealed, in which their owners are warned and reproached that while they (the slave girls) want to avoid a shameful act, you are trying to force it on them.

فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ مِن بَعْدِ إِكْرَ‌اهِهِنَّ غَفُورٌ‌ رَّ‌حِيمٌ

Then after their being compelled, Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful - 33.

The gist of this sentence is that it is prohibited to force the slave girls to adultery. If someone does that and the slave girl gets involved in adultery because of the compulsion exercised by her owner, then Allah Ta’ ala will pardon her sin and that sin will be passed on to the one who had forced her. (Mazhari).

(And such of your slaves as seek a writing (of emancipation), write it for them�) [24:33]. This verse was revealed about a slave of Huwaytib ibn �Abd al-�Uzza who was called Subayh. The latter asked his master for a writing of emancipation but he refused. When Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse, Huwaytib agreed to write a letter of emancipation in exchange for a hundred pieces of gold. Out of this sum, he offered him twenty pieces of gold which he paid. But he was killed in war at the Battle of Hunayn. (Force not your slave-girls to whoredom that ye may seek enjoyment of the life of the world, if they would preserve their chastity) [24:33]. Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Qadi informed us> the chamberlain of Ahmad al-Tusi> Muhammad ibn Hamdan> Abu Mu�awiyah> al-A�mash> Abu Sufyan> Jabir who said: ��Abd Allah ibn Ubayy used to say to a slave-girl of his: �Go and earn something for us from whoring�, and so Allah, glorious and majestic is He, revealed (Force not your slave-girls to whoredom) up to His words (Allah will be Forgiving, Merciful!)�. Narrated by Muslim from Abu Kurayb from Abu Mu�awiyah. Al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Farisi informed us> Muhammad ibn �Abd Allah ibn Hamdun> Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Hafiz> Muhammad ibn Yahya> Isma�il ibn Abi Uways> Malik> Ibn Shihab> �Umar ibn Thabit who related that the verse (Force not your slave-girls to whoredom) was revealed about Mu�adhah, the slave-girl of �Abd Allah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul. And through this chain of transmission> Muhammad ibn Yahya> �Ayyash ibn al-Walid> �Abd al-A�la> Muhammad ibn Ishaq> al-Zuhri> �Umar ibn Thabit who said: �Mu�adhah was Muslim as well as being the slave-girl of �Abd Allah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul. The latter used to force her to whoredom, and so Allah, exalted is He, revealed (Force not your slave-girls to whoredom) up to the end of the verse�. Sa�id ibn Muhammad al-Mu�adhdhin informed> Abu �Ali al-Faqih> Abu�l-Qasim al-Baghawi> Dawud ibn �Amr> Mansur ibn Abi al-Aswad> al-A�mash> Abu Nadrah> Jabir who said: ��Abd ibn Ubayy used to have a slave-girl by the name of Musaykah whom he forced to whoredom. And so, Allah, glorious and majestic is He, revealed (Force not your slave-girls to whoredom) up to the end of the verse�. The commentators of the Qur�an said: �This verse was revealed about Mu�adhah and Musaykah, two slave-girls of �Abd Allah ibn Ubayy, whom he used to force to whoredom and tax them for it.