Does "except what has already occurred" in the verse concerning forbidden women mean the continuation of marriage to two sisters or an aunt if it took place before the revelation of the verse of prohibition, or does it mean the nullification of the marriage? And what is the difference in meaning between the two readings of "wa uhilla lakum" (and it has been made lawful for you) and "wa ahalla lakum" (and He has made lawful for you) in the same Surah, and what is the purpose of the difference in the two readings?

Al-Shanqeeti mentioned that the more apparent meaning of the exception "except for what has already passed" is that it is disconnected (munqati'), and its meaning is forgiveness for what passed before the prohibition was revealed. This forgiveness ceases once a person learns of the legal ruling. It is obligatory to separate spouses married in a prohibited union once this becomes known, and this is by the consensus of the scholars. As for Allah's saying: "And lawful for you are what is beyond that," it has been recited with a dammah on the hamza and a kasra on the ha' (أُحِلَّ), and also with both a fat-ha (أَحَلَّ). The difference in recitations of the verse has no effect on the legal rulings.