[828] These are female captives of war. It has to be made sure, however, that those of them who had husbands are not pregnant before marriage is consummated. (Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī)
[829] To shelter and save yourselves and your wives from falling into lewdness. (al-Ṭabarī, al-Wāḥidī, al-Saʿdī)
[830] The husband and wife can agree between themselves to increase the dowry, decrease it, waive it altogether or postpone it; that is after the woman’s due has been fully acknowledged and committed to. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī)
[831] Such a man, who has no financial means to marry a free Believing woman, is allowed to marry a slave Believing woman should he fear distress from restraining his bodily needs. Given this allowance, he need not feel qualms about this union on the basis of the reality of the woman’s true Belief, which God only knows about, or her social standing because all people are born equal, being the descendants of the same parents, and whereby Believers are Muslim brothers and sisters. This marriage is also solidified by basing it on vows of chastity, handing over the woman’s dues to her, her knowledge that she should remain faithful on pain of punishment, and that their marriage is declared and approved of by her owner.
[832] Commit adultery.
[833] al-ʿAnat is extreme hardship and distress due to restraining one’s self from fulfilling sexual needs.
[834] Although such a hard pressed man is allowed to marry a slave Believing woman, it is better for him to control his urges and forbear, because such a scenario could lead to his children being enslaved by the mother’s owner, or even she being sold off, which would lead to greater distress and heartbreak (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[835] The detailing of these rules and prohibitions.
[836] Sunan (sing. sunnah) are the laws, course and the followed path (cf. al-Iṣfahānī, al-Mufradāt; al-Kafawī, al-Kulliyāt). “The laws of those who came before you,” is the most laudable course that earlier honouarble Prophets of God (عليهم السلام) and their rightly-guided followers took in life (cf. 42: 13; al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī).