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Have any scholars interpreted the verse: "The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist" to mean that a male fornicator usually marries a female fornicator like himself, and does this mean that a fornicator marries a woman who has committed fornication previously, even if he was unaware of it at the time of marriage?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

"The fornicator does not marry except a fornicatress or an idolatress" is a condemnation of fornication. It implies that a fornicator is not suitable to marry a chaste, believing woman; rather, a fornicatress or an idolatress is suitable for him. Similarly, a fornicatress is not suitable to be married except by a fornicator or an idolater. As for the chaste Muslim, his sense of honor would reject such a union.

As for the second meaning, it is not necessary for a fornicator to marry a woman who has committed fornication, especially if he has repented from fornication. However, for one who has not repented, there is a concern that even if his wife is chaste, she might commit fornication, because a woman's nature inclines her towards other men if she sees her husband going to other women.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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