ٱلنُّور : ٣

  • ٱلزَّانِي The fornicator
  • لَا (will) not
  • يَنكِحُ marry
  • إِلَّا except
  • زَانِيَةً a fornicatress
  • أَوۡ or
  • مُشۡرِكَةٗ a polytheist woman
  • وَٱلزَّانِيَةُ and the fornicatress
  • لَا (will) not
  • يَنكِحُهَآ marry her
  • إِلَّا except
  • زَانٍ a fornicator
  • أَوۡ or
  • مُشۡرِكٞۚ a polytheist man
  • وَحُرِّمَ And is forbidden
  • ذَٰلِكَ that
  • عَلَى to
  • ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ the believers
The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator1 or a polytheist, and that [i.e., marriage to such persons] has been made unlawful to the believers.
Footnotes
1 - Included in this ruling is the adulterer as well. Such persons cannot be married to believers unless they have repented and reformed.
The fornicator shall not marry anyone but a fornicatress or an idolatress, and the fornicatress shall be married by none except a fornicator or an idolator, in other words, what is suitable for each of the two [for the purposes of marriage] is the above-mentioned; and that, namely, marrying of fornicators, is forbidden to believers, who are better [than those]. This was revealed when the poor among the Emigrants resolved to marry the wealthy whores of the idolaters, so that they [the women] would provide for them. Thus it is said that the prohibition applies specifically to them; but it is also said to apply in general; but it was abrogated by God's words: Marry off the spouseless among you [Q. 24:32].