Peace to you Andya,
The verse that you are referring to is verse 6 and the one that I am referring to should be right after that one, God willing. Hope you find it this time?

Nadia

Peace to you Andya,

Yes I am reading it correctly, but our Qu'ranic verses are numbered differently. (There are two numbering systems) What you refer to as Sura V, verse 7 is actually Sura V, verse 10, therefore the verse that I refer to should be Sura V, verse 4 in your Qu'ran...

I hope that helps.

Asalaam-O-Alaikum,

I was wondering if anyone could help me. I am trying to study the Qu?ranic verses but as I do not speak Arabic or understand Arabic, I read an English-Translated Qu?ran (Unfortunately, not as good as if I understood Arabic, but I do the best I can.) Anyway, I am studying women and marriage at the moment and having problem understanding Sura V, The Table, verse 7

? And you are permitted to marry virtuous women, who are believers, and virtuous women of those who have received the Scriptures before you, when you shall have provided them their portions, living chastely with them, without fornication and without taking concubines.?

Understanding
To me this verse says men are allowed to marry (1) Virtuous women who are believers. The question that arises is , Who are believers? I think believers in this case are those who are believers in the last day and that Muhammad (pbuh) is God?s messenger (In other words, Muslim women) What do you think?

(2) The verse also goes on to say, ? and virtuous women of those who have received the Scriptures before you.?

I believe, that men are also allowed to marry women who are virtuous, good and righteous and of the faiths that are ascribed to those who got the Scriptures before the Qu?ran was revealed. Scriptures were revealed to the people of Moses, Israel, David, Solomon (pbut) etc, these people who received the Scriptures before are Christians, Jews and others. Therefore, I think this line says Men are allowed to marry Christians, Jews etc (People of the Book), once they are virtuous, good, judicious and righteous.

I know this is a controversial interpretation, as it goes against a lot of views of many muslims, with respect to marrying within the religion.

Please refer to Sura V, verse 18, which states
? O people of the Scriptures ! Now is our apostle come to you, to clear up to you much that ye concealed of those Scriptures, to pass over many things.?

I would like you to take clear notice of the use of the term , People of the Scriptures . I think they refer undoubtedly to the Jews and Christians etc.
Would love to hear your thoughts

Finally, the verse ends with (3)
?When you shall have provided them their portions, living chastely with them, without fornication and without taking concubines.?

On trying to understand this verse, I could not understand why ?WHEN? was used and not lets say ?THAT? but as I re-read it made sense that ?WHEN? should be put there, as the verse to me reads , ?You are allowed to marry certain women , when or after you have provided them their portions, living chastely with them, without fornication and without concubines.?
Therefore before marriage a man must.
. Provide his wife-to-be with her portion , that is her dowry.
. Live Chastely with her , without Fornication , that is without pre- marital sex.
. Not take Concubines? The dictionary says concubines means (Colliers Dictionary) (1) Cohabitation out of wedlock. (2)A wife of inferior rank of a secondary wife.
Therefore, without concubines means, do not take other women.

Would like to know the root meaning of the word Concubine, in its Arabic form. I think that would help my understanding. I understand my hands are proverbially tied as I do not understand Arabic, so any help you can offer me in understanding the Qu?ran better is much appreciated. If there is a website that helps in Arabic translation of the Qu?ran, that is root meaning of words, that would be great.