Exegesis of ‘The Fornicator Does Not Marry Except a Fornicatress...’

Question

Question: An exegesis is requested of [the verse]: [ar]ٱلزَّانِى لَا يَنكِحُ إِلَّا زَانِيَةً أَوْ مُشْرِكَةً وَٱلزَّانِيَةُ لَا يَنكِحُهَآ إِلَّا زَانٍ أَوْ مُشْرِكٌ ۚ وَحُرِّمَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ[/ar] “The fornicator does not marry except a fornicatress or a polytheist woman, and none marries the fornicatress except a fornicator or a polytheist; and that has been made unlawful for the believers” (Surah al-Nur, 24:3) — to the end of the verse.

Answer

After the Hijra, certain women of bad character arrived in blessed Madina; this verse was revealed regarding marriage to them, and the believers and the righteous were forbidden [from marrying them]. Then, when the condition of these women too became upright, this prohibition was abrogated — through [the revelation of] the verse: [ar]وَأَنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْأَيَـٰمَىٰ مِنكُمْ…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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