Marriage and Sexual Conduct — Surah An-Nur Ayah 3

ٱلزَّانِى لَا يَنكِحُ إِلَّا زَانِيَةً أَوْ مُشْرِكَةً وَٱلزَّانِيَةُ لَا يَنكِحُهَآ إِلَّا زَانٍ أَوْ مُشْرِكٌ ۚ وَحُرِّمَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

In Saheeh International's English translation, Quran 24:3 says: “The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator<sup foot_note=196881>1</sup> or a polytheist, and that [i.e., marriage to such persons] has been made unlawful to the believers.”

Translation source: Saheeh International

Which surah is Quran 24:3 in?

Quran 24:3 is in Surah An-Nur, chapter 24 of the Quran.

What is the subject of Quran 24:3?

Quran 24:3 discusses marriage in relation to unlawful sexual conduct and belief. It sits within Surah An-Nur’s opening passage. Read the attributed translation and tafsir for context; a short verse summary is not a ruling about a particular person or marriage.

Furqanly editorial reading note. Source: Quran 24:3 and tafsir on Quran.com. This note is separate from the translation and is not scholar-reviewed tafsir.

Read the connected passage

Read with context

This ayah belongs to Surah An-Nur (The Light), chapter 24 of the Quran. Reading it as part of the full surah helps you see the flow before and after this verse instead of treating it as an isolated quote.

Open this verse in the surah reader to consult the tafsir panel, which names the selected source: Ibn Kathir (Abridged), Al-Sa'di, or Tafsir Muyassar. Read our source and editorial policy.

Continue reading

Use the full surah reader for nearby ayahs, or browse the popular verse hubs to discover other frequently searched Quran references.