Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad
hence, as for those who would separate themselves from their wives by saying, “Thou art as unlawful to me as my mother”, and thereafter would go back on what they have said, [their atonement] shall be the freeing of a human being from bondage before the couple may touch one another again: this you are [hereby] exhorted to do - for God is fully aware of all that you do
M. M. Pickthall
Those who put away their wives (by saying they are as their mothers) and afterward would go back on that which they have said, (the penalty) in that case (is) the freeing of a slave before they touch one another. Unto this ye are exhorted; and Allah is Informed of what ye do
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
But those who divorce their wives by Zihar, then wish to go back on the words they uttered,- (It is ordained that such a one) should free a slave before they touch each other: Thus are ye admonished to perform: and Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
Those who divorce their wives in this manner, then ˹wish to˺ retract what they said, must free a slave before they touch each other. This ˹penalty˺ is meant to deter you. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
Safi Kaskas
Those of you who renounce their wives by equating them with their mothers, then wish to go back on what they said, must free a slave before they touch one another. This is what you are instructed to do, and God is well aware of what you do.
Wahiduddin Khan
Those who put away their wives by equating them with their mothers, and then wish to go back on what they have said, must set free a slave before the couple may touch one another again. This is what you are exhorted to do. God is fully aware of what you do
Shakir
And (as for) those who put away their wives by likening their backs to the backs of their mothers then would recall what they said, they should free a captive before they touch each other; to that you are admonished (to conform); and Allah is Aware of what you do
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
And those who say : Be as my mother’s back, to their wives and again, retract what they said, then, the letting go of a bondsperson before they both touch one another. That is of what you are admonished. And God is Aware of what you do.
T.B.Irving
The ones who back away from their wives [as if they were their mothers], then retract whatever they have said, should free a captive before either of them may touch one another [again]. That you are instructed to do; God is Informed about anything you do.
Abdul Hye
And those who divorce their wives by Zihar, then wish to go back (free themselves) from what they said, the penalty is to free a captive before they touch each other. This is prescribed for you (so that you may not return to such an evil thing). Allah is All-Aware of what you do
The Study Quran
As for those who commit ?ihar against their wives and then go back on what they have said, let them free a slave before they touch one another; to that are you counseled. And God is Aware of whatsoever you do
Talal Itani & AI (2024)
Those who estrange their wives by equating them with their mothers, then retract their statement, must free a captive before they may touch each other. This is what you are admonished by; and God is aware of what you do.
Talal Itani (2012)
Those who estrange their wives by equating them with their mothers, then go back on what they said, must set free a slave before they may touch one another. To this you are exhorted, and God is well aware of what you do
Dr. Kamal Omar
And those who indulge in Az-Zihar (the game of back) with their women; then indulge a 2nd time in what they uttered (before, which Allah forgave and pardoned without any ransom), then freeing one neck (from bondage is necessary) before the two came in physical contact (as husband and wife). This unto you: you are admonished regarding this. And Allah is All-Aware about what you do
Those who divorce their wives by ZihAr, then wish to retract the words they uttered, shall have to free a slave before they touch each other. This is enjoined as a penalty for doing so. Allah is well-aware of all your actions
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali
And (the ones) who back away from their women and thereafter go back on what they have said, they shall then set free a neck (Literally: there should be a freeing of a neck, i.e., manumission of a slave) even before the two of them touch one another. By that you are admonished; and Allah is Ever-Cognizant of whatever you do
Muhammad Sarwar
Those who renounce their wives by calling them mothers and then change their minds about what they have said will have to set free a slave as a ransom and only then will their carnal relations be lawful. This is what you have been commanded. God is Well Aware of whatever you do
Muhammad Taqi Usmani
Those who declare Zihar against their wives, then retract what they said, obligated on them is to free the neck (of a slave) before the two (spouses) touch one another. This is what you are advised, and Allah is well aware of what you do
Shabbir Ahmed
Hence, those of you who have made senseless declarations about their wives, and then put them away into separation, and then wish to go back on their utterance - they should free a human being from bondage before the couple may 'touch' each other. This you are hereby admonished to perform. And Allah is Aware of all you do. (Freeing from bondage includes relieving someone from any kind of oppression and from a crushing burden of debt)
Dr. Munir Munshey
Those who declare their wives to be like their mothers, and later wish to rescind their statement must free a slave before they may approach their wives. You are being cautioned against (making such statements). Allah is well Aware of what you do
Syed Vickar Ahamed
But those who make unlawful their wives by Zihar, and wish to go back on the words they said— (It is necessary that such a man) should set a slave free before they (man and estranged wife) touch each other: This you are warned to do: And Allah is Well-Acquainted (Khabir) with (all) that you do
And those who pronounce thihar from their wives and then [wish to] go back on what they said - then [there must be] the freeing of a slave before they touch one another. That is what you are admonished thereby; and Allah is Acquainted with what you do
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)
Those who had estranged their wives in this manner, then they do again repeat it, they shall free a slave before they have sexual contact between them. This is to enlighten you. God is well aware of everything you do
Abdel Haleem
Those of you who say such a thing to their wives, then go back on what they have said, must free a slave before the couple may touch one another again––this is what you are commanded to do, and God is fully aware of what you do––
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
Those who put away their wives by pronouncing zihar and thereafter would retract that which they have said, then upon them is the freeing of a slave before the twain touch each other. That is that wherewith ye are exhorted; and Allah is of whatsoever ye work Aware
Ahmed Ali
Those who call their wives their mothers then revoke what they had said, should free a slave before having physical contact (with them). This is to warn you, as God is aware of what you do
Aisha Bewley
Those who divorce their wives by equating them with their mothers, and then wish to go back on what they said, must set free a slave before the two of them may touch one another. This is what you are enjoined to do. Allah is aware of what you do.
Ali Ünal
Those who declare their wives unlawful for them (by using of them that abhorred expression) and thereafter wish to go back on the words they have uttered must free a slave before they (the spouses) touch each other. This is what you are urged to do. And God is fully aware of what you do (so do not seek to evade this act of penance and expiation for your wrong)
Ali Quli Qara'i
Those who repudiate their wives by Zihar and then retract what they have said, shall set free a slave before they may touch each other. This you are advised [to carry out], and Allah is well aware of what you do
Hamid S. Aziz
But if those who divorce their wives by Zihar and then wish to recall what they said, they should free a captive (slave) before they touch each other; to this are you admonished to conform; and Allah is Aware of what you do
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad
And those who divorce their wives by declaring them as their mothers, then they go back on what they said, should free a slave before touching each other. This is what you are advised to it. And God is well informed of what you do.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)
But those who divorce their wives by Zihar, then wish to go back on the words they spoke, should free a slave before they touch each other. This you are advised to perform, and God is well acquainted with all that you do
Musharraf Hussain
Those who divorce their wives by Zihar, and then decide to take back what they have said, must free a slave before they sleep together. This is what you have been ordered to do. Allah is fully aware of what you do.
Maududi
Those who declare their wives to be their mothers and thereafter go back on what they have said shall free a slave before they may touch each other. That is what you are exhorted to do. Allah is fully aware of all your deeds
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)
Those who had estranged their women, then they retracted what they had said, they shall free a slave before they have sexual contact between them. This is to enlighten you. God is well aware of everything you do
Mohammad Shafi
And those of you who abstain from having conjugal relations with their wives by pronouncing them as their mothers and afterward would go back on what they said — then freeing of a neck [slave] before they touch each other is what you are exhorted to do! And Allah is aware what you do
Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)
And those who call their wives as in place of their mothers then wish to retract what they have Said, it is then incumbent upon them to free a slave before they touch each other, This is what you are admonished with, and Allah is Aware of your doings.
Those who estrange their wives in this manner, then reconcile thereafter, shall atone by freeing a slave before resuming their sexual relations. This is to enlighten you. GOD is Cognizant of everything you do.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
Those who say to their wives, 'Be as my mother's back, ' then retract their words thereafter shall set a person free before they touch each other again. By that you are admonished. Allah is Aware of all that you do
Maulana Muhammad Ali
And those who put away their wives by calling them their mothers, then go back on that which they said, must free a captive before they touch one another. To this you are exhorted; and Allah is Aware of what you do
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira
And those who declare their wives as forbidden for them as their mothers, from their women (wives), then they return to what they said, so freeing/liberating a neck/person/slave, from before that they (B) touch each other, that one you (are) being preached to/advised/warned with it, and God (is) with what you make/do expert/experienced
Bijan Moeinian
If a man recourse to the above mentioned tradition and then wants to return to his wife should free a slave for his action/intention
Faridul Haque
And those among you who have proclaimed their wives as their mothers and then wish to revert to the matter upon which they had uttered such an enormous word, must then free a slave before they touch one another; this is what you are advised; and Allah is Aware of your deeds
Sher Ali
Those who put away their wives by calling them mothers, and then would go back on what they have said, must free a slave before they touch one another. This is what you are admonished with. And ALLAH is Well-Aware of what you do
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
And those who separate their wives by zihar, but then seek to go back on what they have said, setting free a neck (a slave) is obligatory before they touch each other. This is what you are admonished. And Allah is Well Aware of the works that you do
Amatul Rahman Omar
Such of those who thus happen to call their wives their mothers and then retract what they have said, must free a slave before they two touch each other (for re-establishing conjugal relationship). This is what you are enjoined (to do in case you commit such a hateful thing). And Allah is Well-Aware of what you do
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali
And those who make unlawful to them (their wives) (by Az-Zihar ) and wish to free themselves from what they uttered, (the penalty) in that case (is) the freeing of a slave before they touch each other. That is an admonition to you (so that you may not return to such an ill thing). And Allah is All-Aware of what you do
New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame
And those who abandon their wives claiming that they are as forbidden to them as their mothers and thereafter want to go back on what they have said, they must free a bondsman before they touch one another. This you are exhorted to do and Allah is All-acquainted with all that you do.
Munir Mezyed
As for Those who deliberately seek to estrange their wives by declaring them to be as their mothers and then go back on that which they said, they should free a captive before they touch each other. That is what you are admonished thereby. And Allâh is All-Aware of whatever you do.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher
And those who divorce their women by likening them to their mothers and go back on their word, they must free a slave before the two touch, that is what you are admonished with, and Allah is informed of what you do.
Linda “iLHam” Barto
Consider those who separate from their wives by claiming their wives are as forbidden as their mothers. Afterward, they want to back away from their claims. They should each free a slave before reuniting [with their wives]. This is your admonishment! Allah is Fully Aware of what you do.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation
And those who estrange their wives by equating them with their mothers then go back on what they have said—a slave must be set free before they may touch one another. With this youpl are admonished, and Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab
The ones who back away from their wives [as if they were their mothers], then retract whatever they have said, should free a captive before either of them may touch one another [again]. That you are instructed to do; Allah (God) is Informed about anything you do.
Samy Mahdy
And those who pronounce (Zihar) from their wives, then return back on what they said, so [they must] free a slave’s neck before they touch each other. That is what you are exhorted with; and Allah is Expert with what you work.
Ahmed Hulusi
And those who proclaim such things (and separate themselves from their wives) and then go back on what they have claimed (want to reunite with their wives) must free a slave before they can have relations with their wives! This is what you are advised to do... Allah is Habir of what you do (as their creator).
Mir Aneesuddin
And those who do not go near their wives calling them their mothers, then (afterwards if they intend to) go back on what they said, they should free a slave before they touch each other, that is what you are admonished with, and Allah is informed of what you do.
And those of you who have used this diction of " mother's back " in dissolving their marriages and now wish to take back their statements and resume their marriage ties, incur the liability. of freeing a slave before touching' their wives. This is a reproach against you to warn you of such an act, and Allah is well acquainted with your conditions and with all that you d
The Wise Quran
And those who put away their women by likening their backs to the backs of their mothers then return to what they said, then freeing of a neck before that they both touch each other. That, you are admonished with it. And God is aware of what you do.