Surah Al-Baqarah
وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا عَرَّضْتُم بِهِۦ مِنْ خِطْبَةِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ أَوْ أَكْنَنتُمْ فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ سِرًّا إِلَّآ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا ۚ وَلَا تَعْزِمُوا۟ عُقْدَةَ ٱلنِّكَاحِ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ أَجَلَهُۥ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ فَٱحْذَرُوهُ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ
Wa lā junāḥa ‘alaikum fīmā ‘arraḍtum bihī min khiṭbatin-nisā'i au aknantum fī anfusikum, ‘alimallāhu annakum satażkurūnahunna wa lākil lā tuwā‘idūhunna sirran illā an taqūlū qaulam ma‘rūfā(n), wa lā ta‘zimū ‘uqdatan-nikāḥi ḥattā yablugal-kitābu ajalah(ū), wa‘lamū annallāha ya‘lamu mā fī anfusikum faḥżarūh(u), wa‘lamū annallāha gafūrun ḥalīm(un).
There is no blame upon you for that to which you [indirectly] allude concerning a proposal to women or for what you conceal within yourselves. Allah knows that you will have them in mind. But do not promise them secretly except for saying a proper saying. And do not determine to undertake a marriage contract until the decreed period reaches its end. And know that Allah knows what is within yourselves, so beware of Him. And know that Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing.
📝 Footnotes
72) Women who may be proposed to indirectly (by insinuation) are those within their iddah (waiting period) due to being widowed or due to an irrevocable divorce (talaq ba'in); whereas women who are in the iddah of a revocable divorce (talaq raj'i) cannot be proposed to, even indirectly.