سورة النساء   

Surah Name: An-Nisa' Meaning:The Women

  • Revealed at Madinah
  • The evolution of a society is based upon the determination of rights and duties. It is the responsibility of the ruler or the State to ensure compliance by the people and to punish the negligent. Since the duty of one is the right of another, any failure in the performance will surely lead to the extortion of people's rights. This is the basic concept of every social system though we may not like its particular manner of determination of duties. Islam far surpasses others in this regard. It begins by fixing the rights and duties of people. It reminds the State of its responsibilities. It goes still further and makes an individual stand before Allah-SWT , and motivates him to perform his duties to gain His-SWT Pleasure, He-SWT , Whose-SWT Providence he enjoys every moment and Who-SWT knows him inside out; Whose-SWT Nearness is his destination; Whose-SWT Pleasure is his aim of life; and Whose-SWT Grace is his ambition and desire.

    Abiding by the rules and regulations is one thing, and feelings of the Qalb is another. Spending on parents, wives, children and orphans is a noble act; but emotions, such as respect, love, kindness, cannot be measured by any scale, nor can be commanded. Therefore, the reward for such noble feelings will be Allah-SWT's Pleasure. Since this Surah deals especially with the rights of women, it has been named An-Nisa'
  • Total Number of Rukū / Sections 24
  • Total Number of Āyāt / Parts 176
  • Sūrah / Chapter number 4
  • Rukū / Section 7 contains Āyāt / Parts 8
  • Siparah/ Volume 4, 5 & 6

bismillah

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَقْرَبُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَارَى حَتَّىَ تَعْلَمُواْ مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلاَ جُنُبًا إِلاَّ عَابِرِي سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىَ تَغْتَسِلُواْ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَى أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاء أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّن الْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لاَمَسْتُمُ النِّسَاء فَلَمْ تَجِدُواْ مَاء فَتَيَمَّمُواْ صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُواْ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا

Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo la taqraboo a(l)ssalata waantum sukara hattataAAlamoo ma taqooloona wala junuban illa AAabiree sabeelin hatta taghtasiloo wain kuntum marda aw AAala safarin aw jaa ahadun minkum mina alghaiti aw lamastumu a(l)nnisaa falam tajidoo maan fatayammamoo saAAeedan tayyiban fa(i)msahoo biwujoohikum waaydeekum inna Allaha kana AAafuwwan ghafoora(n)

O’ you who believe! Do not approach Salat while you are drunken until you understand what you say, nor while you are polluted, save when you are wayfaring, till you have washed yourselves. And if you are ailing or on a journey or one of you comes from the privy or you have touched women, and you do not find water, then betake yourselves to clean earth and wipe your faces and your hands with it. Verily Allaah-SWT is ever Pardoning. Forgiving.

(4:43)

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ نَصِيبًا مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ يَشْتَرُونَ الضَّلاَلَةَ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن تَضِلُّواْ السَّبِيلَ

Alam tara ila allatheena ootoo naseeban mina alkitabi yashtaroona a(l)ddalalata wayureedoona an tadilloo a(l)sabeel(a)

Have you not observed those to whom was given a portion of the Book purchasing error, and intending that you would err as regards the way?

(4:44)

وَاللّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِأَعْدَائِكُمْ وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ وَلِيًّا وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ نَصِيرًا

Wa(A)llahu aAAlamu biaAAdaikum wakafa bi(A)llahi waliyyan wakafa biAllahi naseera(n)

And Allah-SWT is Knower of your enemies; suffices Allah-SWT as a Friend, and suffices Allah-SWT as a  Helper.

(4:45)

مِّنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُواْ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَاسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ وَرَاعِنَا لَيًّا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًا فِي الدِّينِ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَاسْمَعْ وَانظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَكِن لَّعَنَهُمُ اللّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً

Mina allatheena hadoo yuharrifoona alkalima AAan mawadiAAihi wayaqooloona samiAAna waAAasayna wa(i)smaAA ghayra musmaAAin waraAAina layyan bialsinatihim wataAAnan fee a(l)ddeeni walaw annahum qaloo samiAAnawaataAAna wa(i)smaAA wa(o)nthurna lakana khayran lahum waaqwama walakin laAAanahumu Allahu bikufrihim fala yuminoona illa qaleela(n)

Among those who are Judaised are some who pervert words from their meanings and say we have heard and we disobey and "hear you without being made to hear, and Ra'ina twisting their tongues and scoffing at the faith. And had they said: we have heard and obey and: "hear you, and Unzurna. It surely would have better for them and more upright. But Allaah-SWT has cursed them for their infidelity. So they shall not believe, save a few.

(4:46)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ آمِنُواْ بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّطْمِسَ وُجُوهًا فَنَرُدَّهَا عَلَى أَدْبَارِهَا أَوْ نَلْعَنَهُمْ كَمَا لَعَنَّا أَصْحَابَ السَّبْتِ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ اللّهِ مَفْعُولاً

Ya ayyuha allatheena ootoo alkitaba aminoo bima nazzalna musaddiqan limamaAAakum min qabli an natmisa wujoohan fanaruddaha AAala adbariha aw nalAAanahum kama laAAanna ashaba a(l)ssabti wakana amru Allahi mafAAoola(n)

O’ you who are given the Book believe in what We-SWT have sent down confirming what is with you, before We-SWT change faces, and turn them upon their backs, or We-SWT might curse them even as We-SWT cursed the people of the Sabt and Allah-SWT's Command is ever carried out.

(4:47)

إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاء وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللّهِ فَقَدِ افْتَرَى إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا

Inna Allaha la yaghfiru an yushraka bihi wayaghfiru ma doona thalika liman yashao waman yushrik bi(A)llahi faqadi iftara ithman AAatheema(n)

Surely Allah-SWT will not forgive that anything be joined with Him-SWT and He-SWT will forgive all else to whom He-SWT will. And whoever joined anything with Allah-SWT , he has certainly fabricated a mighty sin.

(4:48)

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ بَلِ اللّهُ يُزَكِّي مَن يَشَاء وَلاَ يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً

Alam tara ila allatheena yuzakkoona anfusahum bali Allahu yuzakkee man yashao wala yuthlamoona fateela(n)

Have you not observed those who hold themselves to be pure? Nay it is Allaah-SWT Who-SWT purifies whom He-SWT will, and they shall not he wronged a whit.

(4:49)

انظُرْ كَيفَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللّهِ الكَذِبَ وَكَفَى بِهِ إِثْمًا مُّبِينًا

Onthur kayfa yaftaroona AAala Allahi alkathiba wakafa bihi ithman mubeena(n)

Look! How they fabricate a lie against Allah-SWT, and enough is that as a manifest sin.

(4:50)

In The Name of Allah-SWT the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
SECRETS OF REVELATION:

O’ you who believe ... Allah-SWT is ever Pardoning, Forgiving

Islam was revealed gradually in stages. And in twenty-three years, a complete Code of Life was given to the Ummah. The Arabs were habitual drunkards, except for a few pious people. This habit was a major reason of their defiance towards Allah-SWT and His-SWT Prophet--SW . Allah-SWT wanted to protect the Muslim nation from this vice since one cannot think straight when intoxicated and. therefore, cannot watch his interest. So to start with, Allah-SWT ordered them not to offer Salat while drunk. One should only perform Salat when he is in senses and knows what he is reciting. Most of the people quit drinking at the revelation of this Ayah. A little later, it was completely forbidden in Surah al-Ma'idah. The intake of alcoholic drinks and other intoxicants was thus prohibited. Similarly Mut'a was a pre-Islamic custom of the Arabs, which was forbidden. Many scholars have discouraged the offering of Salat while one is too sleepy lo discern what is being recited. It is recommended to sleep for some time and offer the Salat later.

 

One should take a bath when in a state of pollution and only then attend the Salat. But if one is travelling and cannot find water. Tayemmum should be done. If a person needs to clean himself, or do ablution, but cannot find water, or if he is suffering from some ailment which can worsen by the use of water, he should do Tayemmum. The method of Tayemmum is to place both hands (palm downwards) on clean ground or clay, dust them together to remove any extra dust and move them over the face and arms (from wrist to elbow), Tayemmum is the substitute for bath and ablution both, and is one of the three distinctive features of the Muslim Ummah. Firstly, for this Ummah the whole earth has been declared a masjid: secondly, they have been granted the permission to use dust for Tayemmum: and lastly, then ranks in Salat have been arranged like those of the angles--AS. Details of Tayemmum have been mentioned in books and must be seen, since main people do not know them. This is a great blessing from Allah-SWT , bestowed upon the Muslims through the noble family of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq-RAU .It so happened that during a journey, Hadhrat ‘Ayeshah Siddiqah-RAU who was accompanying the Holy Prophet--SW lost her necklace. The Holy Prophet--SW ' ordered its search. The place was arid and there was no water available. When the time for Salat drew near, the Companions-RAU approached Hadhrat Abu Bakr-RAU informing him that there was no arrangement for ablution. He was annoyed with his daughter Hadhrat Ayeshah'-RAU and went to her. He saw the Holy Prophet'--SW sleeping with his head in her lap. In whispers, he admonished his daughter for causing the Holy Prophet--SW and the Companions"-RAU to break their journey at a spot where there was no water. She neither moved nor uttered a word, lest she should disturb the Holy Prophet--SW . Hadhrat Abu Bakr'-RAU was still angry and whispering, when the Holy Prophets--SW started receiving the Divine Revelation. When he woke up, he announced the permission of Tayemmum. The Companion'-RAU exclaimed that the family of Abu Bakr'-RAU had been a source of Barakah for the entire Ummah,as this concession had been granted because of them.

 

Have you not observed ... so they shall not believe save a few

Allah-SWT draws the attention of the Holy Prophet'--SW to the condition of those who were once blessed with Divine Revelations; i.e. the Jews and the Christians. They failed to follow the Commandments they had received and became slaves of their desires. They claimed to believe in the Books, but did not follow them in their practical lives. To justify their own opinions and desires, they even mutated the Holy Scriptures, resulting in catastrophe. The Book, which was a source of guidance, was changed. So they all went astray and lost the path of obedience. They had, by choice, opted for this deviation: it was not imposed on them. Now they wish that the others, too. Should adopt the same behaviour towards guidance and become like them. They want to mislead the Muslims, but Allah-SWT is well Aware of such enemies and He-SWT Alone is sufficient for the Muslims as a Helper. The point highlighted here is that people who have gone astray always try to influence others to join them, but those who have been blessed with Allah-SWT's obedience and who sincerely strive in His-SWT Way receive His-SWT Protection. Evil surroundings and society cannot harm them. The wrongdoers are the victims of their own misdeeds, which make them alter their Books to provide excuses for their misconduct. They thus clash with the teachings of the Holy Prophet--SW and are impudent towards him the Jews used such words in the presence of the Holy Prophet--SW which would carry double meanings, both noble and evil therefore, Allah-SWT deprived them of His-SWT blessings, and only those who refrained from this blasphemous practice were blessed with faith and belief It would have been better for the Jews if they had opted for obedience and used words with clear meanings, but they suffered because of their misdeeds.

 

The whole argument brings out the fact that the rules laid down for us regarding piety, the legitimate and the unlawful, morals and dealings, are for our own benefit, and must, therefore, be adhered to. Merely believing in and not following them in our practical lives would eventually lead to a point where we would not even refrain from criticizing the Holy Prophet--SW just like the non-practicing Muslims of today, who fearlessly comment on Allah-SWT's Commands and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet--SW .Such behaviour is indeed ignorance. The intellectuals amongst these people use the term 'fundamentalism' and declare Allah-SWT's laws as inapplicable in this modern world. Whereas it is Islam's miracle that it is practicable for every nation, country and for all times, with the condition that the Quran should be understood through the teachings of the Holy Prophet--SW and learnt from the conduct of his Companions-RAU . Interpretation of the Quran based on personal opinion will not only be difficult but also inapplicable and undue insistence on it may lead a person to a stage where he might end up criticizing even the sayings of the Holy Prophet--SW and the Companions"-RAU. This will drive him away from Allah-SWT's Mercy and invoke His-SWT Curse. The respect for the Holy Prophet--SW demands that one must never utter even such words that may carry a dual connotation, let alone criticize the Prophetic sayings, as it may lead to annulment of faith.

 

O’ you who are given the book ... is ever carried out

People of the Book should have no difficulty in believing what has been revealed to the Holy Prophet--SW . Since it testifies all beliefs revealed in their Books, Belief in the Unity of Allah-SWT , the Hereafter. Reward and Punishment, and Angels--AS are same, with the additional belief in the Holy Prophet--SW , and that, too, having been explicitly mentioned in their Books. If they still turn away, Allah-SWT may mutilate their faces or chastise them for this heinous crime, like He-SWT punished the people of Sabbath. They too justified the pursuance of their desire with lame excuses, but could not deceive Allah-SWT ; they got in trouble and were eventually destroyed. If the same mistakes are repeated today, similar punishments will be indicted since no one can defy Allah-SWT's Commands. Whatever He-SWT plans is always executed. Today, men portray a feminine face and the women try to look masculine It is just another form of mutilation, which is the outcome of our wrongdoing. Even the Muslims of today indulge in this malpractice, and instead of reforming their conduct they try to justify it. May Allah-SWT protect us from His-SWT wrath!

 

Surely Allah-SWT will not forgive ... and enough is that as a manifest sin

Allah-SWT does not forgive those who take partners with Him-SWT . Either in His-SWT Oneness or Attributes. Their agony will never end once they are awarded punishment, since it is the gravest of sins and extremely unjust. Believing others to possess knowledge of the unseen like Allah-SWT , or believing someone else to be responsible for bringing good or bad .fortune, or worshipping someone other than Allah-SWT are those misdeeds which result in a permanent denial of salvation. Sometimes, rather most of the times, we renounce Allah-SWT's Commands and start obeying other people. Such behaviour stems out of fear or a hope of benefiting from them. This is the very basis of polytheism. Yet obedience to Prophets--AS and noble people is not polytheism, since they only convey the injunctions of Allah-SWT ; following their word is in fact Allah-SWT's obedience.

 

If someone dies as a polytheist, he is condemned to an eternal torment, but if someone is granted the chance to repent and becomes a believer, he is no longer a polytheist. It is astonishing to see that people believe themselves to be extremely righteous and also express such notions, whereas a noble deed is the one, which has been declared so by Allah-SWT , and is based on faith. If the basic beliefs are not right the capacity of noble deeds is not given. Many people appear to be noble, but the real motive behind their nobility is not Allah-SWT's Pleasure, but some vested mundane interests. Therefore, their actions do not attain the status of noble deeds. Similarly, when we claim to believe in Allah-SWT and do not obey His-SWT Commands in our practical lives, falsifies our claims, Besides, self-praise leads to the development of arrogance and conceit in us. People start associating holiness with the pious, just as the image of deities in Hinduism. Humans are, after all, human, and only Prophets--AS are innocent. Human beings are liable to commit mistakes; so it is imperative to ask for Allah-SWT's Forgiveness and watch one's own weaknesses. If someone, for the sake of recounting Allah-SWT's blessings, says that Allah-SWT has granted him the capability to perform a noble task, this statement shall not be considered as self-praise it may encourage other people to work hard for similar noble achievements. Otherwise, indulgence in conceit and self-adoration is a prelude to destruction, as it abases people in this world and in the Hereafter. It affects their intelligence and sagacity, and they lose their power to discern right from wrong; they are no longer attracted to righteousness, and prefer falsehood over truth.

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