LessonsFurther Conditional Rhetoric: In, Idha, Tense and Indirect ImplicationQuiz

«وَلَا تُكْرِهُوا فَتَيَاتِكُمْ عَلَى الْبِغَاءِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَ تَحَصُّنًا»
Do not compel your bondwomen to prostitution if they seek chastity.

A superficial inference might be that coercion is prohibited only when an explicit wish for chastity is present. In this type of Qur’anic construction, the wording of the condition must be distinguished from the actual scope of the prohibition.

The discussion does not treat the clause as permission to coerce anyone otherwise. Its use of the condition serves a distinct rhetorical or situational function and cannot be converted into authorization for coercion.

Opening interactive controls...

Conditional wording in the prohibition of coercion

Further Conditional Rhetoric: In, Idha, Tense and Indirect Implication

«وَلَا تُكْرِهُوا فَتَيَاتِكُمْ عَلَى الْبِغَاءِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَ تَحَصُّنًا»
Do not compel your bondwomen to prostitution if they seek chastity.

A superficial inference might be that coercion is prohibited only when an explicit wish for chastity is present. In this type of Qur’anic construction, the wording of the condition must be distinguished from the actual scope of the prohibition.

The discussion does not treat the clause as permission to coerce anyone otherwise. Its use of the condition serves a distinct rhetorical or situational function and cannot be converted into authorization for coercion.