An-Nisa' (, ; The Women) is the fourth chapter (

sūrah A ''surah'' (; ; ) is an Arabic word meaning 'chapter' in the Quran. There are 114 ''suwar'' in the Quran, each divided into ayah, verses (). The ''suwar'' are of unequal length; the shortest ''surah'' (al-Kawthar) has only three verses, while ...

) of the

Quran The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...

, with 176 verses ( āyāt). The title derives from the numerous references to women throughout the chapter, including verse 34 and verses .Haleem, M. A. S. Abdel. The Qur'an. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print. Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation, it is a Medinan chapter, which means it is believed to have been revealed in

Medina Medina, officially al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (, ), also known as Taybah () and known in pre-Islamic times as Yathrib (), is the capital of Medina Province (Saudi Arabia), Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ...

rather than

Mecca Mecca, officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, is the capital of Mecca Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia; it is the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow valley above ...

Summary

*1 Man and his Creator *2

Orphans An orphan is a child whose parents have died, are unknown, or have permanently abandoned them. It can also refer to a child who has lost only one parent, as the Hebrew translation, for example, is "fatherless". In some languages, such as Swedis ...

, the duty of guardians to such *3–5 Treat your wives and those your right hands possess fairly *6–13 The law of

inheritance Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Offi ...

*14–15 The punishment of adulteresses *16–18 Repentance enjoined *19 Women's rights *20–27 Forbidden and lawful degrees in

marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

*28–30

Gambling Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of Value (economics), value ("the stakes") on a Event (probability theory), random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy (ga ...

, rapine, and

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Risk factors for suicide include mental disorders, physical disorders, and substance abuse. Some suicides are impulsive acts driven by stress (such as from financial or ac ...

forbidden *31–33 Men and women will be rewarded according to their deeds * 34 Reconcilement of man and wife *35–36 Parents, orphans, the poor etc. to be kindly treated *37–41 Hypocrisy in almsgiving condemned *42-43 Prayer forbidden to the drunken and polluted *44–45 Jewish mockers denounced *46–53

Idolatry Idolatry is the worship of an idol as though it were a deity. In Abrahamic religions (namely Judaism, Samaritanism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baháʼí Faith) idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than the Abrahamic ...

the unpardonable sin *54–55 The rewards of faith and unbelief *56 Trusts to be faithfully paid back *57–68 Disputes to be settled by God and his

Apostle An apostle (), in its literal sense, is an emissary. The word is derived from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος (''apóstolos''), literally "one who is sent off", itself derived from the verb ἀποστέλλειν (''apostéllein''), "to se ...

*69–74 Precautions etc., in warring for the faith *75–84 The disobedient and cowardly reproved *85 Salutations to be returned *86–90 Treatment of hypocrites and apostates *91–93 Believers not to be slain or plundered *94–99 Believers in heathen countries to fly to Muslim lands *100–102 Special order for prayer in time of war *103 Exhortation to zeal for Islam *104–114 Fraud denounced *115–125 Idolatry and Islam compared *126 Equity in dealing with women and orphans enjoined *127–129 Men are protectors of women *130–132 God to be feared *133 Fraud denounced *134–138 Muslims exhorted to steadfastness *139–143 Hypocrites to be shunned *144–151 The reward of hypocrisy and belief compared *152–154 Presumptuous and disobedient Jews destroyed *155–158 The Jews defame Mary and Jesus *159–160 Certain kinds of food forbidden to Jews as punishment *161–168

Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...

’s inspiration like that of other prophets *169–174

Christians A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the world. The words '' Christ'' and ''C ...

reproved for their faith in Jesus as the Son of God and in the doctrine of the Trinity *175–176 The law of inheritance for distant relatives This Medinan surah aims at protecting the newly formed Muslim community by outlining acceptable behavior for Muslims. It illustrates the Quran's role as an authoritative legal source and its ability to shape the community. The surah aims to eradicate the earlier practices of pagan, Arab communities that are no longer considered moral in the Muslim society. For example, the section of this surah about dealing fairly with orphan girls () addresses the pre-Islamic Arabic practice of marrying orphan girls to take their property.Haleem, M. A. S. Abdel. The Qur'an. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print. 50. Shirk (refer and ) is held to be the worst form of disbelief, and it is identified in the Quran as the only sin that God will not pardon. Thematically, "an-Nisā" not only addresses concerns about women, but also discusses

, marriage laws, how to deal with children and orphans, legal practices, jihād, relations between Muslim communities and People of the Book, war, and the role of Jesus as a prophet, rather than the son of God as Christians claimed. Furthermore, in discussing war, this surah encourages the Muslim community to fight for the vulnerable in war, as demonstrated by 4:75: "Why should you not fight in God's cause and for those oppressed men, women, and children who cry out, ‘Lord, rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors! By Your grace, give us a protector and give us a helper!’?" The surah addresses a multitude of issues faced by the early Muslim community and responds to the challenges the community faced. The wide variety of issues addressed in the surah and the length of the surah make it difficult to divide into literary structures. However, based on a study of themes present in each section of the Surah, Amīn Ahsan Islāhī divides the surah into three thematically-based sections: social reform, the Islamic community and its opponents, and a conclusion. Mathias Zahniser presents an alternative means of looking at the structure of this surah. He claims that the central theme of this surah is the address to the Christians. He has come to this conclusion based on examination of the structure of the surah based on such devices as parallels, repetition, and ring composition.Ernst, Carl W. How to Read the Qur'an : A New Guide, with Select Translations. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2011. Ebook Library. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. 190. However, Carl Ernst admits that more works needs to be done in this type of structural analysis to more fully understand the composition of such extensive suras. In ''Qur'an and Woman,'' Amina Wadud places interpretations of the Quran into three categories: traditional, reactive, and holistic. The type of interpretation one applies to surah 4 greatly influences one's perspective on the role of women within Muslim society. Taking the third approach, a holistic approach allows for a feminist reading of the Quran, which is particularly relevant to an-Nisā and can reshape the understanding of this surah.

Classification

Regarding the timing and contextual background of the believed revelation (''

Asbāb al-nuzūl Occasions or circumstances of revelation (in Arabic - ''al-nuzūl'') names the historical context in which Quranic verses were revealed from the perspective of traditional Islam. Though of some use in reconstructing the Qur'an's historicity, ''a ...

''), it is a

Medinan surah A Medinan surah () of the Quran is one that was revealed at Medina after Muhammad's hijrah from Mecca. They are the latest 28 Suwar. The community was larger and more developed, in contrast to its minority position in Mecca. The Medinan Surahs oc ...

as confirmed by Muhammad Husayn Tabataba'i, who states that the sura must have been revealed after the hijrah based on the subject matter. Although an-Nisā typically appears as the fourth surah, according to the Nöldeke classification of surahs, based on Islamic traditions, "The Women" was approximately revealed as the hundredth surah. Amir-Ali places it as the 94th surah, while Hz. Osman and Ibn`Abbas believe it is the 92nd.Smith, Clay Chip. "Revelation Order of the Qur'an According to 13 Sources." A Chronological Perspective of the Qur'an. N.p.. Web. 25 November 2012.
Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq places it as the 91st surah revealed. Based on the legislation concerning orphans, the surah was most likely revealed after many Muslims were killed at the

Battle of Uhud The Battle of Uhud () was fought between the early Muslims and the Quraysh during the Muslim–Quraysh wars in a valley north of Mount Uhud near Medina on Saturday, 23 March 625 AD (7 Shawwal, 3 AH). After the expulsion of Hijrah, Muslims from ...

, leaving numerous dependants in the new Muslim community. The revelation, therefore, began around the year three, according to the Islamic calendar, but was not completed until the year eight. Consequently, parts of this surah, the second-longest in the Quran, were revealed concurrently with portions of "The Examined Woman," sura 60.Qutb, Sayyid. In the Shade of the Qur'an. 3. eBook.
However, the surah shows some thematic coherence, despite its disjointed and ongoing revelation. Furthermore, as relates to the placement of this surah within the Quran as a whole, Neal Robinson notes what he refers to as the "dovetailing" of surahs.Robinson, Neal. Discovering the Qur'an: A Contemporary Approach to a Veiled Text. London: SCM Press LTD, 1996. Print. 266. Based on this idea of structure, one surah ends with a topic that is immediately picked up in the next surah. The Family of 'Imran, surah 3, includes a discussion of male and female near the end of the surah (). This theme continues at the beginning of surah 4: "People, be mindful of your Lord, who created you from a single

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

, and from it created its mate, and from the pair of them spread countless men and women far and wide; be mindful of God, in whose name you make requests of one another." This dovetailing may indicate a complex editorial process involved in ordering the surahs.

Exegesis

3 Institutions of Marriage and Slavery

A detailed explanation of this verse is given in the 'interpretation' (Tafsir) of

Ibn Kathir Abu al-Fida Isma'il ibn Umar ibn Kathir al-Dimashqi (; ), known simply as Ibn Kathir, was an Arab Islamic Exegesis, exegete, historian and scholar. An expert on (Quranic exegesis), (history) and (Islamic jurisprudence), he is considered a lea ...

, a scholar of the

Mamluk Mamluk or Mamaluk (; (singular), , ''mamālīk'' (plural); translated as "one who is owned", meaning "slave") were non-Arab, ethnically diverse (mostly Turkic, Caucasian, Eastern and Southeastern European) enslaved mercenaries, slave-so ...

era: Al-Jalalayn, says:

15–16 Unlawful sexual intercourse

In verses , the first, preliminary directives for the punishment for unlawful sexual intercourse are stated. The first verse deals with women. The punishment laid down was to confine them until further directives were revealed. The second verse (i.e. 16) relates to both sexes. The injunction lays down that they should be punished – that is, they should be kept refined to houses.

22–23 Incest

Verses 4:22-23 cover which classes of women within one's family with whom marriage or sexual intercourse would be considered

haram ''Haram'' (; ) is an Arabic term meaning 'taboo'. This may refer to either something sacred to which access is not allowed to the people who are not in a state of purity or who are not initiated into the sacred knowledge; or, in direct cont ...

. These relationships and limitations are defined and elaborated on within Tafsir al-Jalalayn.

34 Men are the protectors and maintainers of women

There are a number of interpretations of the original Arabic 4:34. ''The Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World'' terms Verse 4:34 the Quran's least

egalitarian Egalitarianism (; also equalitarianism) is a school of thought within political philosophy that builds on the concept of social equality, prioritizing it for all people. Egalitarian doctrines are generally characterized by the idea that all h ...

verse. Some Muslims, such as Islamic feminist groups, argue that Muslim men use the text as an excuse for

domestic violence Domestic violence is violence that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes r ...

48 Idolatry and polytheism

Tafsir Tafsir ( ; ) refers to an exegesis, or commentary, of the Quran. An author of a ''tafsir'' is a ' (; plural: ). A Quranic ''tafsir'' attempts to provide elucidation, explanation, interpretation, context or commentary for clear understanding ...

says, Allah said that He, "forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship)", meaning, He does not forgive a servant if he meets Him while he is associating partners with Him". The ''Enlightening Commentary into the Light of the Holy Qur'an'' says, "Polytheism is the worst form of sins and it is a barrier against the Divine forgiveness."

59 Obedience Verse

65 Verse

Muhammad al-Bukhari Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl ibn Ibrāhīm al-Juʿfī al-Bukhārī (; 21 July 810 – 1 September 870) was a 9th-century Persian Muslim '' muhaddith'' who is widely regarded as the most important ''hadith'' scholar in the histor ...

, Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj,

Ibn Majah Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Yazīd Ibn Mājah al-Rabʿī al-Qazwīnī (; (b. 209/824, d. 273/887) commonly known as Ibn Mājah, was a Middle Ages, medieval scholar of hadith of Persian people, Persian origin. He compiled the last of Sunni ...

and Nasa'i narrated a hadith transmitted by

Zubayr ibn al-Awwam Al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam ibn Khuwaylid al-Asadi (; ) was an Arab Muslim commander in the service of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the caliphs Abu Bakr () and Umar () who played a leading role in the Ridda Wars, Ridda wars against rebel tribes in ...

, that believed by some scholars as the

Asbab al-Nuzul Occasions or circumstances of revelation (in Arabic - ''al-nuzūl'') names the historical context in which Quranic verses were revealed from the perspective of traditional Islam. Though of some use in reconstructing the Qur'an's historicity, ''a ...

(cause of revelation) of the

Sura A ''surah'' (; ; ) is an Arabic word meaning 'chapter' in the Quran. There are 114 ''suwar'' in the Quran, each divided into verses (). The ''suwar'' are of unequal length; the shortest ''surah'' ( al-Kawthar) has only three verses, while the ...

of An Nisa verse 65. However, there are contemporary Fatwa that the revelation of this verse were attributed to az-Zubayr were weak, as the stronger Hadith which attributed to the revelation of this verse were instead attributed to the tradition of Umar, the second Rashidun Caliph
Fatwa center
/ref>

69 Martyrs, and the righteous

Muhammad ibn Sulayman recorded that al-Sadiq relayed to his elderly father, Abu Muhammad ibn Sulayman, concerning the following verse: "And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions." (4:69) stating, "The Messenger of Allah in this verse is from ''of the prophets'', and we (

Ahl al-Bayt () refers to the family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In Sunni Islam, the term has also been extended to all descendants of the Banu Hashim (Muhammad's clan) and even to all Muslims. In Shia Islam, the term is limited to Muhammad, his daugh ...

) in this subject are ''the truthful and the martyrs'' and you all, (our followers), are the ''righteous'', so adopt this name."

74–76 Fight for the cause of Allah

According to

: "Therefore, the believers fight in obedience to Allah and to gain His pleasure, while the disbelievers fight in obedience to Shaytan. Allah then encourages the believers to fight His enemies". Islam allows war in self-defense (Quran ), to defend Islam (rather than to spread it), to protect those who have been removed from their homes by force because they are Muslims (Q), and to protect the innocent who are being oppressed (Q).

89–90 Do not take hypocrites as allies or helpers

The verse discusses a group of people who nominally became Muslims and secretly supported the enemies of Muslims. For those hypocrites to prove their loyalty, they were commanded to emigrate and join the ranks of the believers, or they would be considered enemies. Muhammad advises his companions to avoid taking these individuals as helpers or guardians.

116 Shirk

says: " Shirk shall not be forgiven, in reality the idolators worship shaytan".

127–130 Female orphans, desertion by husband, and desirability of marital peace

These verses cover issues associated with female

orphans An orphan is a child whose parents have died, are unknown, or have permanently abandoned them. It can also refer to a child who has lost only one parent, as the Hebrew translation, for example, is "fatherless". In some languages, such as Swedis ...

; desertion by the husband and the desirability of marital peace.

145 Hypocrites

Kitab al-Kafi (, , literally 'The Sufficient') is a hadith collection of the Twelver tradition, compiled in the first half of the 10th century CE (early 4th century AH) by . It is one of the Four Books. It is divided into three sections: , ...

Ja'far al-Sadiq Ja'far al-Sadiq (; –765) was a Muslim hadith transmitter and the last agreed-upon Shia Imam between the Twelvers and Isma'ilis. Known by the title al-Sadiq ("The Truthful"), Ja'far was the eponymous founder of the Ja'fari school of Isla ...

writes a letter to his companions stressing the importance of obeying Allah, his Messenger, and the "Wali al Amr" (Progeny of Muhammad)- going so far as to say that those who disobey and deny their virtues are "liars and hypocrites". He asserts that these are the individuals described as "hypocrites" in the verse, "Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire – and never will you find for them a helper."

157 Islamic view on Jesus' death

An explanation of the Islamic view of Jesus as a prophet, rather than as the son of God as Christians claim, is given in

171 Islamic view of the Trinity

References

Sources

External links

*
"Qur'anic Verses (4: 103--6)"
is a digitized manuscript of ''an-Nisā'', dating from the 12th century, from the

World Digital Library The World Digital Library (WDL) is an international digital library operated by UNESCO and the United States Library of Congress. The WDL has stated that its mission is to promote international and intercultural understanding, expand the volume ...

Quran 4

Clear Quran translation Mustafa Khattab is a Canadian–Egyptian Muslim scholar, imam, and university chaplain. He holds a professional ijâzah in the Ḥafṣ style of recitation. He is known for his translation of the Quran in "The Clear Quran" series. Career He ...

Q4:111
50+ translations, islamawakened.com {{Authority control Islam and women Polygyny in Islam Jesus in Islam Sharia Marriage in Islam Jihad Nisa