Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nur Verse 60

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And those old women who have no hope for marriage, there is no sin on them, if they take off their (extra) clothes while they do not display their adornment. Still, that they refrain (even from this) is better for them. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

As for elderly women past the age of marriage, there is no blame on them if they take off their ˹outer˺ garments, without revealing their adornments. But it is better for them if they avoid this ˹altogether˺. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Ruwwad Translation Center

As for elderly women who have no interest in marriage, there is no blame on them if they take off their outer garments without revealing their beauty. But if they modestly refrain from it, that is better for them. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

A. J. Arberry

Such women as are past child- bearing and have no hope of marriage -- there is no fault in them that they put off their clothes, so be it that they flaunt no ornament; but to abstain is better for them; and God is All-hearing, All-knowing.

Abdul Haleem

No blame will be attached to elderly women who are not hoping for sex, if they take off their outer garments without flaunting their charms, but it is preferable for them not to do this: God is all hearing, all seeing.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And past child-bearing women who have no hope of wedlock-- upon them it is no fault that they lay aside their outer garments, not flaunting their adornment. And that they should restrain themselves is better for them; Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Such elderly women as are past the prospect of marriage,- there is no blame on them if they lay aside their (outer) garments, provided they make not a wanton display of their beauty; but it is best for them to be modest; and Allah is One Who sees and knows all things.

Abul Ala Maududi

There is no sin for such elderly women as are past the age of marriage, if they lay aside their outer graments provided that they do not mean to display their adornment. Nevertheless, if they behave modestly, it would be better for them: for Allah hears everything and knows everything.

Ahmed Ali

As for your women past the age of bearing children, who have no hope of marriage, there is no harm if they take off their outer garments, but in such a way that they do not display their charms; yet if they avoid this it would be better for them. God is all-hearing and all-knowing.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And the old women residing in houses who do not have the desire of marriage – it is no sin upon them if they discard their upper coverings provided they do not display their adornment; and avoiding even this is better for them; and Allah is All Hearing, All Knowing.

Ali Quli Qarai

As for women advanced in years who do not expect to marry, there will be no sin upon them if they put off their cloaks, without displaying their adornment. But it is better for them to be modest, and Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.

Ali Ünal

The women advanced in years, having passed the age of child-bearing and no longer feel any sexual desire, incur no sin if they cast off their outer garments without making display of their charms. But even so, it is better for them to abstain from this. God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And (as to the elderly spinsters who are past child-bearing age and) who do not hope for sexual intercourse, it is no offence for them to lay aside their outer garments provided they do not do it to display their beauty. But if they abstain (even from that) it is much better for them. Indeed Allâh is All-Hearing, All- Knowing.

English Literal

And the menopausal/non child bearing from the women, those who do not hope/expect marriage, so an offense/guilt/sin is not on them (F) that they put (on) their clothes/garments not showing off beauty/decoration with decoration/ornament , and that they be chaste/pure (is) best for them, and God (is) hearing/listening, knowledgeable.

Faridul Haque

And the old women residing in houses who do not have the desire of marriage - it is no sin upon them if they discard their upper coverings provided they do not display their adornment; and avoiding even this is better for them; and Allah is All Hearing, All Knowing.

Hamid S. Aziz

And when your children reach puberty let them ask leave as those before them asked leave. Thus does Allah explain to you His revelations, for Allah is Knower, Wise.

Hilali & Khan

And as for women past child-bearing who do not expect wed-lock, it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment. But to refrain (i.e. not to discard their outer clothing) is better for them. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And when the children among you attain to puberty, let them seek permission as those before them sought permission. Thus does Allah make clear to you His messages. And Allah is Knowing, Wise.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And (as for) women advanced in years who do not hope for a marriage, it is no sin for them if they put off their clothes without displaying their ornaments; and if they restrain themselves it is better for them; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

As for women past child-bearing, who have no hope of marriage, it is no sin for them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show adornment. But to refrain is better for them. Allah is Hearer, Knower.

Muhammad Sarwar

Elderly women who have no hope of getting married are allowed not to wear the kind of clothing that young woman must wear, as long as they do not show off their beauty. It is better for them if they maintain chastity. God is All-hearing and All-knowing.

Qaribullah & Darwish

(As for) women that are past childbearing who have no hope of marriage there is no fault in them that they discard their cloaks provided they do not reveal their adornments, but it is better if they abstain. Allah is the Hearer, the Knower.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And the Qawa`id among women who do not hope for marriage, it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment. But to refrain is better for them. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Wahiduddin Khan

There is no blame on elderly women who are past the age of marriage, if they take off their outer clothing, without revealing their adornments. But it would be better for them to guard themselves. God is all hearing, all knowing.

Talal Itani

Women past the age of childbearing, who have no desire for marriage, commit no wrong by taking off their outer clothing, provided they do not flaunt their finery. But to maintain modesty is better for them. God is Hearing and Knowing.

Tafsir jalalayn

And as for menopausal women, who have ceased to menstruate or to bear children because of old age, who do not expect to marry, for that reason, they would not be at fault if they put off their clothes, such a robe, a cloak, or the facial mask over a head veil, in such a way as not to display adornment, that is hidden, such as a necklace, a bracelet or an anklet; but to refrain [from doing so], by not putting them off, is better for them; and God is Hearer, of what you say, Knower, of what is in your hearts.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَالْقَوَاعِدُ مِنَ النِّسَاء

And the Qawa`id among women.

Sa`id bin Jubayr, Muqatil bin Hayyan, Ad-Dahhak and Qatadah said that;

these are the women who no longer think that they can bear children,

اللَّتِي لَا يَرْجُونَ نِكَاحًا

who do not hope for marriage,

meaning, they no longer have any desire for marriage,

فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جُنَاحٌ أَن يَضَعْنَ ثِيَابَهُنَّ غَيْرَ مُتَبَرِّجَاتٍ بِزِينَةٍ

it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment.

meaning, they do not have to cover themselves in the same way that other women have to.

Abu Dawud recorded that Ibn Abbas said that;

the Ayah;
وَقُل لِّلْمُوْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ
(And tell the believing women to lower their gaze) (24;31), was abrogated and an exception was made in the case of;
وَالْقَوَاعِدُ مِنَ النِّسَاء اللَّتِي لَاا يَرْجُونَ نِكَاحًا
(the past childbearing among women who do not hope for marriage).

فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جُنَاحٌ أَن يَضَعْنَ ثِيَابَهُنَّ

it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing,

Ibn Mas`ud said about (outer) clothing,

"The Jilbab or Rida'."

A similar view was also narrated from Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Ash-Sha`tha', Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Az-Zuhri, Al-`Awza`i and others.

غَيْرَ مُتَبَرِّجَاتٍ بِزِينَةٍ

in such a way as not to show their adornment.

Sa`id bin Jubayr said,

"They should not make a wanton display of themselves by removing their outer garment so that their adornment may be seen."

وَأَن يَسْتَعْفِفْنَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُنَّ

But to refrain is better for them.

means, not removing their outer garment, even though that is permissible for them, is better for them.

وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ



And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower