An-Nisa (ٱلنِّسَاء)

Surah An-Nisa (سورة النساء, Sūratu an-Nisā) is the 4rth Surah or chapter of the Holy Quran. Its literal meaning is ‘The Women’ or ‘The Female’. However, the surah’s 176 verses and 24 Rukus cover a wide range of topics including women, unity of Muslims, inheritance law, etc. Surah Al-Nisa falls in both Juz 4 and 5 after Surah Aali-Imran. Since it was revealed after the Battle of Uhud, we may conclude that it is a Madni Surah. It was not revealed in a continuous pattern; rather, scholars estimate that its revelation was from the third Hijr to the fourth Hijr’s end. Some of the verses were part of the Prophet (ﷺ)’s last sermon during Hajj on the Day of Arafat.

There are also hints that parts of the Surah were revealed after The Battle of Uhud. During this battle, many Muslim men were martyred and their children were left orphaned. The matter of inheritance arose along with the rights of the orphans. Surah Al-Nisa has the answer to these questions in some detail. It also contains several other subjects, such as the admonishment of Jews, warnings to Muslims about their conduct, and the allowance of Tayammum under certain conditions. 

٤ - ٱلنِّسَاء

4 - An-Nisa

يٰۗاَيُّھَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوْا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَكُمْ مِّنْ نَّفْسٍ وَّاحِدَۃٍ وَّخَلَقَ مِنْھَا زَوْجَہَا وَبَثَّ مِنْہُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيْرًا وَّنِسَاۗءً۝۰ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللہَ الَّذِيْ تَسَاۗءَلُوْنَ بِہٖ وَالْاَرْحَامَ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ اللہَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيْبًا۝۱
Ya ayyuha alnnasu ittaqoo rabbakumu allathee khalaqakum min nafsin wahidatin wakhalaqa minha zawjaha wabaththa minhuma rijalan katheeran wanisaan waittaqoo Allaha allathee tasaaloona bihi waalarhama inna Allaha kana AAalaykum raqeeban

English

Ahmed Ali

O MEN, FEAR your Lord who created you from a single cell, and from it created its mate, and from the two of them dispersed men and women (male and female) in multitudes. So fear God in whose name you ask of one another (the bond of) relationships. God surely keeps watch over you.

1

وَاٰتُوا الْيَــتٰمٰۗى اَمْوَالَھُمْ وَلَا تَتَبَدَّلُوا الْخَبِيْثَ بِالطَّيِّبِ۝۰۠ وَلَا تَاْكُلُوْۗا اَمْوَالَھُمْ اِلٰۗى اَمْوَالِكُمْ۝۰ۭ اِنَّہٗ كَانَ حُوْبًا كَبِيْرًا۝۲
Waatoo alyatama amwalahum wala tatabaddaloo alkhabeetha bialttayyibi wala takuloo amwalahum ila amwalikum innahu kana hooban kabeeran

English

Ahmed Ali

Give to the orphans their possessions, and do not replace things of your own which are bad with things which are good among theirs, and do not intermix their goods with your own and make use of them, for this is a grievous crime.

2

وَاِنْ خِفْتُمْ اَلَّا تُقْسِطُوْا فِي الْيَتٰمٰى فَانْكِحُوْا مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِّنَ النِّسَاۗءِ مَثْنٰى وَثُلٰثَ وَرُبٰعَ۝۰ۚ فَاِنْ خِفْتُمْ اَلَّا تَعْدِلُوْا فَوَاحِدَۃً اَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ اَيْمَانُكُمْ۝۰ۭ ذٰلِكَ اَدْنٰۗى اَلَّا تَعُوْلُوْا۝۳ۭ
Wain khiftum alla tuqsitoo fee alyatama fainkihoo ma taba lakum mina alnnisai mathna wathulatha warubaAAa fain khiftum alla taAAdiloo fawahidatan aw ma malakat aymanukum thalika adna alla taAAooloo

English

Ahmed Ali

If you fear you cannot be equitable to orphan girls (in your charge, or misuse their persons), then marry women who are lawful for you, two, three, or four; but if you fear you cannot treat so many with equity, marry only one, or a maid or captive. This is better than being iniquitous.

3

وَاٰتُوا النِّسَاۗءَ صَدُقٰتِہِنَّ نِحْلَۃٍ۝۰ۭ فَاِنْ طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَنْ شَيْءٍ مِّنْہُ نَفْسًا فَكُلُوْہُ ہَنِيْۗـــــًٔـا مَّرِيْۗــــــًٔـا۝۴
Waatoo alnnisaa saduqatihinna nihlatan fain tibna lakum AAan shayin minhu nafsan fakuloohu haneean mareean

English

Ahmed Ali

Give to women their dowers willingly, but if they forego part of it themselves, then use it to your advantage.

4

وَلَا تُؤْتُوا السُّفَھَاۗءَ اَمْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِىْ جَعَلَ اللہُ لَكُمْ قِيٰـمًا وَّارْزُقُوْھُمْ فِيْھَا وَاكْسُوْھُمْ وَقُوْلُوْا لَھُمْ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوْفًا۝۵
Wala tutoo alssufahaa amwalakumu allatee jaAAala Allahu lakum qiyaman waorzuqoohum feeha waoksoohum waqooloo lahum qawlan maAAroofan

English

Ahmed Ali

Do not entrust (their) property God has given you to maintain (On trust), to those who are immature; but feed them and clothe them from it, and speak to them with kindness.

5

وَابْتَلُوا الْيَتٰمٰى حَتّٰۗي اِذَا بَلَغُوا النِّكَاحَ۝۰ۚ فَاِنْ اٰنَسْتُمْ مِّنْھُمْ رُشْدًا فَادْفَعُوْۗا اِلَيْھِمْ اَمْوَالَھُمْ۝۰ۚ وَلَا تَاْكُلُوْھَاۗ اِسْرَافًا وَّبِدَارًا اَنْ يَّكْبَرُوْا۝۰ۭ وَمَنْ كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ۝۰ۚ وَمَنْ كَانَ فَقِيْرًا فَلْيَاْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوْف۝۰ۭ فَاِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ اِلَيْھِمْ اَمْوَالَھُمْ فَاَشْہِدُوْا عَلَيْھِمْ۝۰ۭ وَكَفٰى بِاللہِ حَسِـيْبًا۝۶
Waibtaloo alyatama hatta itha balaghoo alnnikaha fain anastum minhum rushdan faidfaAAoo ilayhim amwalahum wala takulooha israfan wabidaran an yakbaroo waman kana ghaniyyan falyastaAAfif waman kana faqeeran falyakul bialmaAAroofi faitha dafaAAtum ilayhim amwalahum faashhidoo AAalayhim wakafa biAllahi haseeban

English

Ahmed Ali

And test (and try) the orphans until they are of marriageable age. If you find they have acquired sound judgement, then hand over their property to them; but devour not their wealth, nor use it up hastily out of fear that soon they will grow up (and demand it). And (the guardian) who is rich should abstain from spending much (of their wealth); and he who is poor should use only as much as is fair. And when you give back their possessions have this witnessed, (and remember) that God is sufficient to take all account.

6

لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيْبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدٰنِ وَالْاَقْرَبُوْنَ۝۰۠ وَلِلنِّسَاۗءِ نَصِيْبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدٰنِ وَالْاَقْرَبُوْنَ مِمَّا قَلَّ مِنْہُ اَوْ كَثُرَ۝۰ۭ نَصِيْبًا مَّفْرُوْضًا۝۷
Lilrrijali naseebun mimma taraka alwalidani waalaqraboona walilnnisai naseebun mimma taraka alwalidani waalaqraboona mimma qalla minhu aw kathura naseeban mafroodan

English

Ahmed Ali

Men have a share in what the parents and relatives leave behind at death; and women have a share in what the parents and relatives leave behind. Be it large or small a legal share is fixed.

7

وَاِذَا حَضَرَ الْقِسْمَۃَ اُولُوا الْقُرْبٰي وَالْيَتٰمٰى وَالْمَسٰكِيْنُ فَارْزُقُوْھُمْ مِّنْہُ وَقُوْلُوْا لَھُمْ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوْفًا۝۸
Waitha hadara alqismata oloo alqurba waalyatama waalmasakeenu faorzuqoohum minhu waqooloo lahum qawlan maAAroofan

English

Ahmed Ali

And when the relatives and orphans and the needy collect at the time of the division (of property) provide for them too, and talk kindly to them.

8

وَلْيَخْشَ الَّذِيْنَ لَوْ تَرَكُوْا مِنْ خَلْفِھِمْ ذُرِّيَّۃً ضِعٰفًا خَافُوْا عَلَيْھِمْ۝۰۠ فَلْيَتَّقُوا اللہَ وَلْيَقُوْلُوْا قَوْلًا سَدِيْدًا۝۹
Walyakhsha allatheena law tarakoo min khalfihim thurriyyatan diAAafan khafoo AAalayhim falyattaqoo Allaha walyaqooloo qawlan sadeedan

English

Ahmed Ali

Let people fear the day when they leave small children behind them unprovided, and how concerned they would be for them. So fear God and say the right things to them.

9

اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يَاْكُلُوْنَ اَمْوَالَ الْيَتٰمٰى ظُلْمًا اِنَّمَا يَاْكُلُوْنَ فِيْ بُطُوْنِھِمْ نَارًا۝۰ۭ وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيْرًا۝۱۰ۧ
Inna allatheena yakuloona amwala alyatama thulman innama yakuloona fee butoonihim naran wasayaslawna saAAeeran

English

Ahmed Ali

Those who devour the possessions of the orphans unjustly devour only fire, and will surely burn in Hell.

10

Themes and Subject Matter of Surah Al-Nisa

Along with women’s issues, this Surah also talks about important subjects such as how to deal with hypocrites, the People of the Book (Jews and Christians), and the danger of falling into shirk. The name of the Surah does not restrict its themes or topics. 

Since this is a Madni Surah, it’s more relevant to the occurrences during that period of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) life. Some of the main themes include the following:

  • The Matter of Inheritance

Many Hadith give details about inheritance laws in Islam. However, inheritance is one of the few matters where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ has given quite a bit of detail in the Quran. The laws of inheritance are laid out clearly and there are dire warnings to anyone who rejects or neglects these laws. By following these rules, Muslims can avoid various societal and family problems.

  • Family Dynamics and Law

Surah Al-Nisa also places importance on the role of each family member. The man is usually supposed to be the leader and caretaker of the family, with many responsibilities falling on his shoulders. Women and children, on the other hand, have their own responsibilities and duties. Following the rules laid out in the Quran will help Muslim families to become more stable and functional. 

  • The Matter of Orphans

This Surah places emphasis on orphans and how to deal with them. Orphans are a part of society and need someone responsible to take care of them until they’re adults. If they remain neglected and unsupported, their last resort might be a life of crime and exploitation. This will weaken the roots of society, so Muslims need to take extra care in this regard. 

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Al-Nisa

The main benefit of this Surah is the laws it outlines. Since it provides guidance about important topics like marriage, women’s rights, orphan rights, and inheritance, we get a proper insight into how a Muslim community should be. 

The timing of its revelation is the period after Hijrah, mainly because this was the point where the Muslims were settling down. They were still a fairly new community, with much to learn about how to lead their daily lives. 

Overall, Surah Al-Nisa guides Muslims about family life and consolidating their community through the family unit. Since the Muslims were losing several individuals due to war and famine, these issues started becoming more important in the Madni period. 

Ali bin Abu Talib عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ is reported to have said that the reciter of Surah Nisa (especially on Fridays) will gain protection ‘from the squeeze of the grave’. This signals that reciting this Surah might assist believers in reducing their trials after death.

Another benefit of this Surah is its revelation about how to deal with non-Muslim parties. When the Muslims were a boycotted group in Makkah, this matter did not come up. Most people were enemies of Islam, so the issue of friendships and collaborations did not come up. In Madinah, however, there was a lot of tension between the Jewish tribes and the newly-formed Muslim community. The Jews also offered their support in the Battle of Uhud. In Surah Al-Nisa, however, the Jews were admonished for their unsavory conduct. 

Finally, Surah Al-Nisa details the features of the hypocrites so that the Muslims may recognize them in their community. This information is also useful for Muslims to check their own intentions and correct their beliefs before they stray from the right path. All these lessons are still relevant and useful today, with the rulings forming an essential part of Islamic Law.