And whoever of you cannot afford to marry free believing women may marry those believing slave girls who are in your possession (under Islamic Law). And Allah knows best (the state of) your belief. You (all) are one from another. So, marry these (slave girls) with the permission of their masters, and pay them their dowers according to custom, provided they are wedlocked (being chaste), neither committing illegal sex nor taking secret lovers. If they commit fornication after they have entered into wedlock, their punishment will be the half of that (appointed) for free (unmarried) women. This permission is for him among you who fears (indulging in) sin and if you practise self-restraint that is better for you. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.