They differed over the meaning of the term rendered here as “chaste women.” Most scholars held that what is meant is free women. Accordingly, they permitted marriage to every free woman—whether she is a believer or from the People of Scripture, and whether she is immoral or chaste. This was also the view of Mujahid.

Those who held this view said: It is not permissible for a Muslim to marry a slave woman from the People of Scripture, because of His saying, exalted is He: “Then marry from among the believing slave women whom your right hands possess” (al-Nisa, 25). Thus, He permitted marriage to a slave woman on the condition that she be a believer. Most of them permitted marriage to a slave woman from the People of Scripture who belonged to hostile territory. Ibn Abbas said that it is not permissible, and recited: “Fight those who do not believe in Allah ... until they pay the jizyah willingly while they are humbled” (al-Tawbah, 29). Thus, the women of those who pay the jizyah are lawful for us, whereas the women of those who do not pay it are not lawful for us.

Another group held that what is meant by “chaste women” in the verse is women who are chaste from both groups, whether free women or slave women. They permitted marriage to a slave woman from the People of Scripture and prohibited prostitutes among both believing women and women from the People of Scripture. This was the view of al-Hasan. Al-Sha'bi said: “The chastity of a woman from the People of Scripture consists in her refraining from fornication and performing the ritual bath after major sexual impurity.”

“When you have given them their bridal gifts”: that is, their dowries. “Seeking chastity, not committing fornication”: that is, not openly engaging in fornication. “Nor taking secret lovers”: that is, secretly committing fornication. Al-Zajjaj said: Allah has forbidden sexual relations in the manner of open fornication and in the manner of taking a mistress, while He has made them lawful through marriage.

“Whoever rejects faith—his deeds have come to nothing, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.” Muqatil ibn Hayyan said: This means that the Muslims’ marrying such women does not remove them from disbelief or avail them in any way. This statement is general for all people: “Whoever rejects faith—his deeds have come to nothing, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.”

Ibn Abbas and Mujahid said regarding the meaning of His saying, exalted is He, “Whoever rejects faith”: that is, in Allah, in whom one is required to place