Surah An-Nisa (The Women ٱلنِّسَاء) , the fourth Surah of Al-Qurʾān, is a comprehensive legislative chapter that focuses on social reform, particularly the rights and responsibilities of women, orphans, marriage, inheritance, justice, and community governance. It also deals with hypocrisy, the conduct of war and peace, and relations with non-Muslim communities. It was revealed after the Hijrah to Medina, when the Muslim community was evolving from a persecuted group into a governed society that required legal and ethical frameworks.
It may added for information of our readers that Qur'an spelled out rights of women and made them heir to the family property in the 7th century while it took almost double the time for Christian world to allow share from family property to women. That means Islam was more liberal in sharing properties to the women at the time of revelation of Qur'an, much against the traditions of Polytheists of Makkah and other non Muslim religions.
Major Objectives of Surah An-Nisa
- Social reform and moral rectitude
- Protection of vulnerable members of society (especially women and orphans)
- Establishment of fair laws
- Building a strong, ethical, and unified community
- Encouraging justice, obedience, and accountability
Summary of Key Themes and Subjects
1. Women’s Rights & Family Law
- Protects the rights of women, widows, and orphans.
- Sets marriage laws, including permission to marry up to four wives (with justice), and outlines conditions of fairness.
- Prohibits unjust treatment of women, forced inheritance, or marrying women against their will (4:19).
- Encourages kind treatment of wives and mutual respect.
2. Laws of Inheritance
- Detailed inheritance shares for men, women, children, spouses, and siblings (verses 11–12, 176).
- A revolutionary step in guaranteeing women a legal share, which was denied in pre-Islamic Arabia.
3. Justice, Community, and Governance
- Upholds justice even if it goes against one’s self or relatives (4:135).
- Commands believers to stand firmly for justice and to act with integrity.
- Encourages obedience to Allah, the Prophet, and those in authority (4:59), laying the foundation of Islamic governance.
4. Warfare and Hypocrisy
- Rules for fighting in the cause of Allah are given, particularly to defend the oppressed.
- Strong condemnation of hypocrites (munafiqoon)—those who pretend to be Muslim but secretly oppose the faith.
- Describes the traits of hypocrites in detail (e.g., 4:142–145).
5. Interfaith Relations
- Encourages respectful and just treatment of People of the Book (Jews and Christians).
- Warns against blind alliances with hostile non-Muslims while encouraging coexistence based on justice.
6. Spiritual and Ethical Teachings
- Instructions on prayer, including shortening prayer during travel or fear (4:101).
- Prohibits intoxicants and gambling (in steps).
- Stresses on repentance, charity, and ethical conduct.
Notable Verses
Verse Topic
4:1 Unity of humanity; creation from a single soul; ties of kinship
4:3 Permission to marry up to four women—only with justice
4:19 Kind and fair treatment of wives
4:32 Equity in male/female rights—"To men is a share of what they earn, and to women a share..."
4:58 Command to return trusts and judge with justice
4:59 Obedience to Allah, the Messenger, and authority
4:135 Stand firmly for justice, even against yourselves
4:140+ Condemnation of hypocrisy and duplicity
Surah An-Nisa is foundational for Islamic law, especially in the areas of family, inheritance, and governance. It responds to the needs of a growing Muslim society, balancing individual rights with collective responsibility, and urging believers to uphold justice, compassion, and faithfulness to Allah.
We have already published the tafseer / detailed explanation of the Surah An Nisa, which can be accessed from the link given below:
Herein under we share explanation /tafsir of some of the selected verses of Surah An Nisa:
- Beware! Allah is watching you very closely (verse 1)
- Usurping Property of Orphans is a Grievous Sin in Islam (verse 2)
- Share of women in what their parents and kinsfolk leave behind (verse 7)
- Allah accepts repentance soon after committing a sin - but not so late when angel of death arrives (verse 17)
- Allah's acceptance of repentance is only for those who commit evil and then soon repent (verses 17-18)
- Do not desire things in which God has given preference to others over you (verse 32)
- Do not covet what Allah has conferred more abundantly on some of you than others
- The Divine Justice: Allah Wrongs Not Even the Weight of a Speck of Dust (verse 40)
- Beware of Grave Consequences of Committing Shirk (Ascribing a Partner with Allah) (verse 48)
- Allah Commands: Return the Trusts and Judge with Justice (verse 58)
- Man laments: Satan's plot is too strong - Allah reassures: Feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan (verse 76)
- Intercession in a good cause shall return a good result (and vice versa) (verse 85)
- When greeted upon, greet back in a better worded greeting (verse 86)
- He who Willfully slays a believer his reward is Hell (verse 93)
- Judge in accordance with Allah's Commandments - and do not dispute on behalf of the dishonest (verse 105)
- And whoever does evil, but seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (verse 110)
- Choice of rewards: In this word or the world to come (verse 134)
In time, we will be adding more verses from Surah An Nisa to this page.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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