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 Post subject: Verses 4:24-25
PostPosted: 07 Jun 2009, 05:32 
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Suggested translation1,2:


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1This translation may have been updated from the original suggested translation as a result of the discussions that follow.
2Click on the {verse number} of a translation to see other good translations of the verse.

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 4:24-25
PostPosted: 05 Sep 2009, 14:26 
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Quote:
{4:24} And [also prohibited to you are all] married women except those your right hands possess. [This is] the decree of God upon you. And lawful to you are [all others] beyond these, [provided] that you seek them [in marriage] with [gifts from] your property, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse. So for whatever you enjoy [of marriage] from them, give them their due compensation as an obligation. And there is no blame upon you for what you mutually agree to beyond the obligation. Indeed, God is ever Knowing and Wise.

"Those your right hand possesses" needs an explanation to the English reader. It means "(your bond-maids)."

Quote:
{4:25} And whoever among you cannot [find] the means to marry free, believing women, then [he may marry] from those whom your right hands possess of believing slave girls. And God is most knowing about your faith. You [believers] are of one another. So marry them with the permission of their people and give them their due compensation according to what is acceptable. [They should be] chaste, neither [of] those who commit unlawful intercourse randomly nor those who take [secret] lovers. But once they are sheltered in marriage, if they should commit adultery, then for them is half the punishment for free [unmarried] women. This [allowance] is for him among you who fears sin, but to be patient is better for you. And God is Forgiving and Merciful.

The word "slave" is not in the Arabic text, so it should be in brackets. Better yet is to replace "slave girls" with "bond-maids."

"Those who commit unlawful intercourse randomly" is too verbose for the one Arabic word مسافحات. How about a simple "promiscuous?"

The interjection "secret" is probably unnecessary. The Arabic dictionary defines خدن as "friend." The lovers may or may not be secret!

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 4:24-25
PostPosted: 10 Sep 2009, 09:43 
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Linguistic wrote:
"Those who commit unlawful intercourse randomly" is too verbose for the one Arabic word مسافحات. How about a simple "promiscuous?"

Excellent choice!

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 Post subject: Suggested translation
PostPosted: 18 Mar 2014, 21:53 
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{4:24} And [also prohibited to you to marry are] the married among women except those your right hands have possessed (bond-maids). [This is] the writ of God upon you. And made lawful to you are [all others] beyond these, that you seek [them for marriage] with [dowry from] your riches, desiring wedlock, not being promiscuous. So for whatever you have relished from them, then grant them their awards (dowry) - a mandate. And there is no violation upon you for what you have mutually agreed to beyond the mandate. Verily, God has ever been All-Knowing, Wise.

{4:25} And whoever could not among you [find] the means to marry the chaste, believing women, then [he may marry] from those whom your right hands have possessed of believing bond-maids. And God is most knowing about your faith. You [believers] are of one another. So, marry them with the permission of their family and grant them their awards (dowries) as customary. [They should be] chaste, not being promiscuous nor taking for themselves lovers. Then when they have been sanctioned [by marriage], then if they should commit a debauchery, then upon them is half of what is upon free women of torment (penalty). That [allowance] is for him who has feared austerity among you, but to endure is better for you. And God is much Forgiving, Merciful.

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