Surah An-Nisaa
Chapter 4 · Verse 15 · Revealed in Madinah
“Those who commit unlawful sexual intercourse of your women - bring against them four [witnesses] from among you. And if they testify, confine the guilty women to houses until death takes them or Allah ordains for them [another] way.”
Translation: Saheeh International
Listen to recitation
Mishary Rashid Alafasy
Reflection — Ibn Kathir
The Adulteress is Confined in her House; A Command Later Abrogated
At the begining of Islam, the ruling was that if a woman commits adultery as stipulated by sufficient proof, she was confined to her home, without leave, until she died. Allah said,
وَاللَـتِى يَأْتِينَ الْفَـحِشَةَ
Reflection — Maarif ul Quran
Sequence
In previous verses, the objective was to correct the malpractices of the days of ignorance committed about orphans and inheritances. The people of jahiliyyah also used to subject women to cruel treatment. They had certain other evil customs also, such as marrying prohibited women.
What does this verse bring up for you today?