The Holy Quran 4:21 — Surah An-Nisa

Arabic text

وَكَيْفَ تَأْخُذُونَهُۥ وَقَدْ أَفْضَىٰ بَعْضُكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَأَخَذْنَ مِنكُم مِّيثَـٰقًا غَلِيظًا

Translation

How can you take it (what you gave her in any manner whatsoever) when you have had intimate relations with each other (fulfilled your desires) and they (your wives) have taken a strong pledge from you (when you married them, you accepted Allaah's command to treat them well and to care for them. How can you now take their wealth with you when it is you who is breaking the pledge to live together?)

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The command to pay the mahr: that is, when the man and the woman have come together after the marriage and intimacy has taken place, then in return for it payment of the entire mahr (bridal gift) has become wajib (obligatory) upon the man. So on what grounds can the man take that mahr back, and how can he withhold her mahr if he has not paid it?

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