But let them who find not [the means for] marriage abstain [from sexual relations] until Allāh enriches them from His bounty. And those who seek a contract [for eventual emancipation] from among whom your right hands possess - then make a contract with them if you know there is within them goodness and give them from the wealth of Allāh which He has given you. And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire chastity, to seek [thereby] the temporary interests of worldly life. And if someone should compel them, then indeed, Allāh is [to them], after their compulsion, Forgiving and Merciful.
Sahih International
وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ
walyastaʿfifi
And let be chaste
Word breakdown
و
Harf · Conjunctionand
لْ
Harf · Imperative particlelet
يسْتعْفف
Fi'l · VerbAnd let be chaste
to be chaste, restrain oneself
4× in the Quran · Rare
Grammar rules
وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ (And let be chaste) is in the jussive mood — it comes after لم ("did not") or a conditional word, which shortens its ending.
We translate it as "did not [verb]" or as part of a condition.
Lesson 10 · Commands & Futureوَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ (And let be chaste) uses form X (إِسْتَفْعَلَ) — it means seeking or asking for the action.
We translate it as "to seek [action]" or "to ask for [action]".
Lesson 13 · Verb Families V–Xوَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ (And let be chaste) starts with وَ, the most common Arabic word — it means "and".
We add "and" to connect this to what came before.
Lesson 4 · Particles