just as He stipulated them for women there. This accords with His words in Sūrat al-Nūr:

“A man who commits illicit intercourse marries none but a woman who commits illicit intercourse or a polytheist, and a woman who commits illicit intercourse is married by none but a man who commits illicit intercourse or a polytheist. This has been forbidden to the believers.”

For whoever marries a woman who has illicit intercourse with other men does not keep his semen protected and safeguarded; rather, it becomes mixed with the semen of others, and the private parts with which he has intercourse are shared with others. This is illicit intercourse. Likewise, if a woman’s husband has illicit intercourse with other women, making no distinction between the lawful and the unlawful, his intercourse with her is of the same kind as an adulterer’s intercourse with the woman with whom he commits adultery, even if no other man has intercourse with his wife. Taking lovers is itself one form of illicit intercourse.

Scholars have differed over whether it is permissible to marry a woman who commits illicit intercourse before she repents, holding two well-known views. However, the Quran, the Sunnah, and reasoned consideration indicate that this is not permissible. As for those who interpret the verse in Sūrat al-Nūr as referring to the marriage contract and hold that this ruling was abrogated, the falsity of their view is evident on several grounds. Moreover, Muslims agree in condemning the toleration of sexual immorality in one’s household. By consensus, a man who marries a prostitute is a man who tolerates such immorality.

A hadith states:

“Neither a miser, nor a liar, nor a man who tolerates sexual immorality in his household will enter Paradise.”

Allah Most High says:

“Impure women are for impure men, and impure men are for impure women; pure women are for pure men, and pure men are for pure women.”

That is, pure men are for pure women, and impure men are for impure women; the same applies to women. If a woman is impure, her partner is impure; and if her partner is impure, she is impure. This is why the condemnation of those who slandered ‘Ā’ishah and others among the Mothers of the Believers was so severe. Were it not for the disgrace this brings upon the husband, there would not have been such stern condemnation.

For this reason, the early generations said:

“No prophet’s wife ever committed illicit intercourse.”

If marrying a prostitute were permissible, it would be necessary to shield