Daughter’s marriage & question of menstruation

Daughter’s marriage & question of menstruation

Surah ‘Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – Chapter – 2)

Stage – 1, Verses –  221c & 222a of 286, Section – 27 & 28 of 40 (Part - 2)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

221c.  And give not your daughters in   marriage to idolaters till they believe. And lo! A believing slave is better than an idolater though he please you. These invite unto the Fire, and Allah inviteth unto the Garden, and unto forgiveness by His Grace, and expoundeth thus His Revelations to mankind that haply they may remember.

221c.  Wa  laa  tunkihul-mushrikiina  hattaa  yu’-minuu.  Wa  la-‘abdum-mu’-minun- khayrum-mim-mushrikinw-wa  law  ‘a’-jabakum.  Ulaaa-‘ika yad-‘uuna  ‘ilan-Naar.  WAllaahu  yad-‘uuu  ‘ilal-Jannati  wal-mag-firati  bi-‘izniH.  Wa  yu-bayyinu  ‘aayaatiHii  lin-naasi  la-‘allahum  yatazakkaruun.

Lesson

Laa  tunkihu – don’t marry (your daughters with idolaters), here the Muslim men are being addressed that they should not give their daughters in marriage to idolaters. This command is not being delivered direct to the women that ‘do not wed idolaters’. The reason is clear that marriage of the girl/woman is arranged always by means of her father or patron/guardian.

‘ilan-Naar – unto the Fire, that is to say; they call towards the faiths and acts, end of which is the Hell.  

‘ilal-Jannati  wal-mag-firati - unto the Garden, and unto forgiveness, namely; God Almighty prevails towards Belief and Islam, and Admonishes to adopt the way of life which leads to the Paradise and forgiveness.

bi-‘izniH - by His Grace, ‘izn means power, intention and sanction.

It was commanded to the Muslims in the first part of the verse, “Wed not idolatresses till they believe” though you like them very much. Now, it is being ordered in this part, “Give not your daughters in marriage to idolaters till they believe”. Scholars have explained that if the husband has rejected Islam then his wife will not remain any more as his life partner. Their marriage will be dismissed automatically immediately, which was till now lawful. And this woman can wed any Muslim after completion her Iddat. It has been explained also that if the husband and wife (both) were already Infidel and now the wife has become Believer then there is no form of remaining wedlock except that the husband embraces Islam too.

 

Now it has been cleared again that though you like the idolater much, but in every condition; a Muslim slave is better than a non Muslim, because which results of marriage  with idolater were disclosed, those are very frightful. The idolaters will preach much worse and that will become cause of throwing you in to the Fire of Hell. 

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222a.  They question thee (O Muhammad)   concerning menstruation. Say: It is an illness, so let women alone  at such times

222a.  Wa  yas-‘aluunaka  ‘anil-  mahiiz.  Qul  huwa  ‘azaa,  fa’-tazilun-nisaaa-‘a  fil-mahiiz.

Lesson

Mahiiz – (menstruation), mahiiz is the blood which comes to the women every month. It is called monthly course and menses also. It is an illness. Other nations of the world have determined it too as foul blood as well as medical specialists claim that it is detective blood. According to color, smell and particles, this blood is different from the normal blood also. It has extremely fury.

  

fa’-tazilu- (so let women alone), this word has been derived from ‘A’-tazaal which means here “remain away from that woman for the process of copulation with her”.

Reason for revelation of this verse is that during the times of Last Messenger of God Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) the worshippers of the fire and the Jews used to think impure to eat and drink foods made by the women during the period of menses at one side. Some people didn’t think it legal to keep the women in their houses during this period. Hindus still don’t eat things made by them during menstruation. On the other side, the Christians didn’t avoid copulation during these days.

The Companions (God Almighty may be agreed upon them) asked from the Prophet (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) about this matter. Prophet (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) called it as worse inflation and deflation, and said: neither too much hatred is needed that the women should not be let to remain in their houses and think as impure meal; made by their hands, nor there should be as much negligence that one does not avoid from intercourse, but the straightway is that one should avoid from the process of intercourse in this condition, and in addition; eating, drinking and living together is lawful.

Holy Qur’an is a perfect Code for life. It gives advise and commands in the entire fields of life which belong to human being and naturally in it, the mankind not only eats, drinks and sleeps with one another (husband and wife) but their sexual appetite, desire of having children and desire to make special connections are also produced. So, Holy Qur’an gives proper orders for them.

Other nations selected exaggerated way. Holy Qur’an explained that during this period just sexual contact is prohibited. Other things like sitting and standing, eating and drinking etc. with the wife do not have any connection with it. These all acts are lawful.

‘Azaa – (illness) Holy Qur’an called the menstruation as impurity. Its other meanings are pain and trouble. It is possible that because of that pain and trouble, the intercourse is forbidden in these days. Today medically it is proved that in these days connection can be reason of different diseases. Doctors prevent from it also.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)