Sura-2 [Al-Baqara medina 87]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

Transliteration Wa la_ taj'alulla_ha 'urdatal li aima_nikum an tabarru_ wa tattaqu_ wa tuslihu_ bainan na_s(i), walla_hu sami'un 'alim(un).

نِسَآؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌ لَّكُمْ فَأْتُواْ حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّى شِئْتُمْ وَقَدِّمُواْ لأَنفُسِكُمْ ...

2: 223. Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will. But do some good act for your souls beforehand;

C249. Sex is not a thing to be ashamed of, or to be treated lightly, or to be indulged to excess.

It is as solemn a fact as any in life. It is compared to a husbandman's tilth; it is a serious affair to him; he sows the seed in order to reap the harvest. But he chooses his own time and mode of cultivation. He does not sow out of season nor cultivate in a manner which will injure or exhaust the soul. He is wise and considerate and does not run riot.

Coming from the simile to human beings, every kind of mutual consideration is required, but above all, we must remember that even in these matters there is a spiritual aspect. We must never forget our souls, and that we are responsible to Allah.

It was carnal-minded men who invented the doctrine of original sin:

"Behold," says the Psalmist, "I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalms 51:5).

This is entirely repudiated by Islam, in which the office of father and mother is held in the highest venerations. Every child of pure love is born pure. Celibacy is not necessarily a virtue, and may be a vice.

... وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّكُم مُّلاَقُوهُ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٢٢٣﴾

and fear Allah, and know that ye are to meet Him (in the Hereafter), and give (these) good tidings to those who believe.

C250. Our highest spiritual ambition should be the hope of meeting Allah. To uphold such a hope is to give glad tidings to people of faith. It would only be unrepentant sinners who would fear the meeting.

Note how the most sensuous matters are discussed frankly, and immediately taken up into the loftiest regions of spiritual upliftment.

Asad’s version

2: 223

Your wives are your tilth; go, then, unto your tilth as you may desire, but first provide something for your souls [note 211], remain conscious of God, and know that your are destined to meet Him. And give glad tidings unto those who believe.

Pickthall Your women are a tilth for you (to cultivate) so go to your tilth as ye will, and send (good deeds) before you for your souls, and fear Allah, and know that ye will (one day) meet Him. Give glad tidings to believers, (O Muhammad).

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[[ Asad’s note - 21 1 In other words, a spiritual relationship between man and woman is postulated as the indispensable basis of sexual relations. ]]