Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings
Ayah: (91) Surah: Al-Anbiyā’
وَٱلَّتِيٓ أَحۡصَنَتۡ فَرۡجَهَا فَنَفَخۡنَا فِيهَا مِن رُّوحِنَا وَجَعَلۡنَٰهَا وَٱبۡنَهَآ ءَايَةٗ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
91. 'Mention' her 'the Virgin Mary' who guarded her chastity16, so We breathed into 'the sleeves of' her 'garment' through Our angel 'Gabriel' and made her and her son 'Jesus' a Sign for all people17.
16. The word chastity here means the abstention from illicit sexual activities and to take a vow of chastity, promising to abstain from all illicit sexual activities.
The Sunnah exhorts young men to treat older women as mothers and younger women as sisters with all chastity and purity. Treat every woman the way you want someone to treat your mother or your sister. Once a young man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “O Messenger of Allāh, give me permission to commit adultery.” The people turned to rebuke him, saying, “Quiet! Quiet!” The Prophet Muhammad said, “Come here.” The young man came close and he told him to sit down. The Prophet asked, “Would you like that for your mother?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet asked, “Neither would people like it for their mothers. Would you like that for your daughter?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither would people like it for their daughters. Would you like that for your sister?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither would people like it for their sisters. Would you like that for your aunts?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither would people like it for their aunts.” Then, the Prophet placed his hand on him and he said, “O Allah, forgive his sins, purify his heart, and guard his chastity.” After that, the young man never again inclined to anything sinful.
The Quran’s teaching on sexual chastity is clear. Any sexual activity outside the marriage wedlock is a deadly sin .
But chastity is more than abstention from sex; chastity begins in the heart. It is from the heart that all evil comes.
The Prophet Muhammad taught that even private sexual lust is unchaste and sinful. The Prophet said, "Allāh fixed the very portion of adultery which a man will indulge in. There would be no escape from it. The adultery of the eye is the lustful look and the adultery of the ears is listening to voluptuous (song or talk) and the adultery of the tongue is licentious speech and the adultery of the hand is the lustful grip (embrace) and the adultery of the feet is to walk (to the place) where he intends to commit adultery and the heart yearns and desires which he may or may not put into effect. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) also said: "Every eye commits adultery, and when the woman uses perfume and she passes by a gathering of men, then she is like this and that.'" Meaning an adulteress.
Pornography, immodest clothing by not wearing the proper dress code, and heavy make-out sessions between dating couples all violate the Quran’s principle of chastity.
Chaste people must set personal boundaries so that their hearts are not led into temptation. Limiting exposure to sexually exploitive images and situations promotes chastity. Regular worship, prayer, reciting and meditation on the Qur’an help keep our minds chaste. Even though the concept of chastity is quickly vanishing from our world’s value system, it remains vital part of God’s true religion, Islam. Allāh looks the hearts and minds of every person, seeking those whose hearts are wholly His. Allāh, the Creator of our bodies and our souls is not fooled by our outward displays of chastity designed to impress onlookers. He seeks those who long to be pure in heart. When chastity is our goal in every area of life, Allāh strengthens and rewards us with power to overcome sin and enjoy more of His presence.
17. Of Allah's Infinite Power and Greatness as He created Jesus without father, and his mother Mary bore him without having a partner.
The Sunnah exhorts young men to treat older women as mothers and younger women as sisters with all chastity and purity. Treat every woman the way you want someone to treat your mother or your sister. Once a young man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “O Messenger of Allāh, give me permission to commit adultery.” The people turned to rebuke him, saying, “Quiet! Quiet!” The Prophet Muhammad said, “Come here.” The young man came close and he told him to sit down. The Prophet asked, “Would you like that for your mother?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet asked, “Neither would people like it for their mothers. Would you like that for your daughter?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither would people like it for their daughters. Would you like that for your sister?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither would people like it for their sisters. Would you like that for your aunts?” The man said, “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” The Prophet said, “Neither would people like it for their aunts.” Then, the Prophet placed his hand on him and he said, “O Allah, forgive his sins, purify his heart, and guard his chastity.” After that, the young man never again inclined to anything sinful.
The Quran’s teaching on sexual chastity is clear. Any sexual activity outside the marriage wedlock is a deadly sin .
But chastity is more than abstention from sex; chastity begins in the heart. It is from the heart that all evil comes.
The Prophet Muhammad taught that even private sexual lust is unchaste and sinful. The Prophet said, "Allāh fixed the very portion of adultery which a man will indulge in. There would be no escape from it. The adultery of the eye is the lustful look and the adultery of the ears is listening to voluptuous (song or talk) and the adultery of the tongue is licentious speech and the adultery of the hand is the lustful grip (embrace) and the adultery of the feet is to walk (to the place) where he intends to commit adultery and the heart yearns and desires which he may or may not put into effect. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) also said: "Every eye commits adultery, and when the woman uses perfume and she passes by a gathering of men, then she is like this and that.'" Meaning an adulteress.
Pornography, immodest clothing by not wearing the proper dress code, and heavy make-out sessions between dating couples all violate the Quran’s principle of chastity.
Chaste people must set personal boundaries so that their hearts are not led into temptation. Limiting exposure to sexually exploitive images and situations promotes chastity. Regular worship, prayer, reciting and meditation on the Qur’an help keep our minds chaste. Even though the concept of chastity is quickly vanishing from our world’s value system, it remains vital part of God’s true religion, Islam. Allāh looks the hearts and minds of every person, seeking those whose hearts are wholly His. Allāh, the Creator of our bodies and our souls is not fooled by our outward displays of chastity designed to impress onlookers. He seeks those who long to be pure in heart. When chastity is our goal in every area of life, Allāh strengthens and rewards us with power to overcome sin and enjoy more of His presence.
17. Of Allah's Infinite Power and Greatness as He created Jesus without father, and his mother Mary bore him without having a partner.
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings
Ayah: (91) Surah: Al-Anbiyā’
Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub - Translations’ Index
Translated by Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub