Tafsir Ibn Kathir -> Surah An-Nisa -> The Permission to Marry All Other Women

Allah said,

﴿وَأُحِلَّ لَكُمْ مَّا وَرَاءَ ذَلِكُمْ﴾

(All others are lawful) meaning, you are allowed to marry women other than the prohibited types mentioned here, as `Ata' and others have stated. Allah's statement,

﴿أَن تَبْتَغُواْ بِأَمْوَلِكُمْ مُّحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَـفِحِينَ﴾

(provided you seek them (with a dowry) from your property, desiring chastity, not fornication,) meaning, you are allowed to use your money to marry up to four wives and for (the purchase of) as many female slaves as you like, all through legal means,

﴿مُّحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَـفِحِينَ﴾

((desiring) chastity, not fornication.) Allah's statement,

﴿فَمَا اسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْهُنَّ فَـَاتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً﴾

(So with those among them whom you have enjoyed, give them their required due,) means, to enjoy them sexually, surrender to them their rightful dowry as compensation. In other Ayat, Allah said,

﴿وَكَيْفَ تَأْخُذُونَهُ وَقَدْ أَفْضَى بَعْضُكُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ﴾

(And how could you take it (back) while you have gone in unto each other),

﴿وَءَاتُواْ النِّسَآءَ صَدُقَـتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً﴾

(And give to the women (whom you marry) their dowry with a good heart), and,

﴿وَلاَ يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَأْخُذُواْ مِمَّآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ شَيْئًا﴾

(And it is not lawful for you (men) to take back (from your wives) any of what (dowry) you gave them)