Believers! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah

Al-Qurʾān is that Divine Scripture from Allah that gives out a complete conduct of life to the mankind. It dwells at length on all facets of human life including Justice. In fact, Al-Qurʾān spells out detailed framework of jurisprudence which if implemented today in true letter and spirit would change the life of every human being, for it speaks of equality in justice for everyone without any inclinations.

We have already published a number of posts on Justice in Islam and the Justice on the Day of Judgement which can be accessed from the links given below:

• Selected verses from Al Qur'an on Justice / Rules of Islamic Laws
• Rules of Divine Court on Day of Judgement

Today, we share another ayat / verse to add to the already published posts by us on Justice in Islam. This verse is the 135th verse of Surah an-Nisā’ (4:135) which is one of the most powerful verses of the Qur’an on justice. Let’s carefully unpack it with context, other Qur’anic references, and the Prophet’s ﷺ Sunnah.

1. The Verse (4:135)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ ۚ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوَىٰ أَن تَعْدِلُوا ۚ وَإِن تَلْوُوا أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا

Translation (Yusuf Ali):

“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even if it be against yourselves, your parents, or your relatives. Be they rich or poor, Allah is nearer to them both. So follow not desires, lest you swerve, and if you distort or refuse to give testimony, then indeed Allah is ever Acquainted with what you do.”

Here we see the wise Qur’ānic method of educating the Muslim community in standing for justice. The trust they have been assigned is to maintain justice, in its absolute sense, in every situation. It is the sort of fairness which prevents aggression and oppression anywhere on earth. It guarantees justice between people, giving everyone, Muslim or non-Muslim, their rights. In their entitlement to justice, all people, believers and unbelievers, are equal in God’s sight, as we have seen in the incident involving the Jewish man in Madinah. Similarly, relative and stranger, friend and foe, poor and rich are treated with absolute equality. 

2. Context (Why it was revealed)

Surah an-Nisā’ deals with social justice, inheritance laws, rights of orphans, fairness in family and society. This verse came to emphasize that justice must not bend for personal ties—whether against oneself, parents, relatives, the rich (out of respect), or the poor (out of pity). 

The verse came at a time when the tribal/kin favoritism, in the pre-Islamic Arabia, at its peak and justice was meted out only to the rich and affluent or on basis of the strength/status of the tribe of strong kinship lineage. People were afraid to stand as witness against the powerful and thus sword of justice always fell on the meek and poor.

This verse thus came to correct the faulty and highly favoured system of Justice and to make Justice available to everyone, whether poor or rich.

3. Key Principles in the Verse

The above quote verse of justice gives out basics of justice in Islam:

• Justice is a duty of faith: “O you who believe…” makes justice a condition of true īmān / faith.
• Witnesses for Allah: Testimony is not just a legal duty but a form of worship, since it’s done for Allah’s sake.
• Against yourself/parents/relatives: 
• No favoritism, even toward the closest relations.
• At this point, the Qur’ānic method of education tries to place a person firstly in opposition to himself and secondly against his feelings towards his parents and kin. This is a very difficult task, much more difficult than stating it verbally or understanding its significance theoretically. To put this into practice is totally different from having a mental picture of what it involves. It is only the person who tries to do it practically that can understand its difficulty. Nevertheless, the Qur’ānic method prepares the hearts of believers for this hard task, because it must be put into effect: the rule must be stated and human individuals must abide by it.
• Rich or poor: Economic status cannot influence fairness.
• Avoid desires: 
• Greed, fear, tribal loyalty, love, or hatred must not sway judgment.
• Desires are of different types, some of which have already been mentioned. Love of oneself, one’s immediate family and other relatives is one type of desire, as is sympathy with a poor person when giving testimony or arbitrating. Being courteous or hostile to a rich person is another type of desire. In a situation of being a witness or making judgement, taking sides with one’s clan, tribe, community, nation or motherland is one desire, as is taking sides against one’s enemies, even though they are enemies to our faith. Desires have many other forms and God prohibits that we be influenced by any one of them in such a way that we deviate from truth and justice.
• Allah is All-Aware: No one escapes accountability for injustice.

The verse concludes with a clear warning against twisting the truth in one’s testimony: “If you distort [the truth] or decline to do justice, then [know that] God is indeed aware of all that you do.” It is sufficient for a believer to remember that God sees what he does to realise the seriousness of this warning and to tremble at what it means. We must not forget that this is addressed to people who really do believe.

4. Cross-References in the Qur’an

• Justice as a universal command “Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality, bad conduct, and oppression.” (16:90)
• Justice even with enemies “Do not let the hatred of a people cause you to swerve from justice. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.” (5:8)
• Fulfill trusts and judge fairly “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due, and when you judge between people to judge with justice.” (4:58)
• Against bribery and distortion “Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly nor use it to bribe authorities in order to consume a portion of others’ wealth sinfully while you know.” (2:188)

5. Justice in the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ

• Justice is one of the heaviest responsibilities: The Prophet ﷺ said, “The most beloved of people to Allah on the Day of Judgment will be the just leader, and the most hated of people to Allah on the Day of Judgment will be the oppressive leader.” (al-Nasā’ī 5379, Ṣaḥīḥ)
• Warning against favoritism: When a woman from a noble tribe committed theft and people wanted the Prophet ﷺ to pardon her, he declared: “By Allah, if Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, stole, I would cut off her hand.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3475, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1688)
• This is a direct reflection of 4:135—justice must apply even against one’s own family.
• Justice as a condition of leadership: “Any leader appointed over ten people will be brought on the Day of Resurrection in shackles until justice brings him freedom or injustice brings about his ruin.” (Aḥmad 23408, authentic)

6. Lessons for Today

The Divine commandment in the above quoted verses is as applicable today as was 1400 years ago when Islam was being founded. The situation is no better, r should we say worse than the previous times and the strings of justice are pulled by the affluent and powerful and in most cases they are absolved of their misdoings and axe of justice falls on the poor and the defenseless.

We must learn from the verse and ensure:

• Justice against nepotism & corruption: Leaders, judges, and officials must not favor family or the rich.
• Fair economic systems: Neither pity for the poor nor reverence for the rich should distort justice.
• Neutral Courtrooms & testimonies: Witnesses must uphold truth even if self-incriminating.
• Implementation of fairness in our Personal life: Even in family disputes, inheritance, business, and daily dealings, a Muslim must be fair, even if it harms personal interest.
• Modern application: In politics, workplace, and law, Muslims should be role models of impartial justice.

Summary:

Surah an-Nisā’ (4:135) is a universal declaration of justice in Islam. It demands impartiality even against self-interest, family, or social pressure. This principle is reinforced by other Qur’anic verses (4:58, 5:8, 16:90) and the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, who warned against favoritism and upheld justice even with his closest family. For today, it challenges us to stand against corruption, nepotism, tribalism, and discrimination, and to practice justice as a form of true faith.

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 4. An Nisa (The Women) already published.

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.

You may also 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. .

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Resource References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

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.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Islam protects rights of women over the allowable polygamy - know how

Many non Muslims taunt and ridicule Muslims for being "commanded" to marry more than one wife. This allegation is generally aimed at letting down Islam and making caricatures showing Muslim men with four wives and a hoard of children following them. And in this connection they quote the 3rd verse from Surah 4. An Nisa (The Women) which allows men to marry up to four wives. Interesetingly, most of opponent of the substance of this verse are generally unaware of the reference to the context and the condition attached if one elects for polygamy. And they also fail to differentiate between CAN and SHOULD.

Let's explore both the verse and the ambiguity or conditionality that it presents.

Surah An-Nisa (4:3) – The Verse in Focus

وَاِنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ اَلَّا تُقۡسِطُوۡا فِى الۡيَتٰمٰى فَانْكِحُوۡا مَا طَابَ لَـكُمۡ مِّنَ النِّسَآءِ مَثۡنٰى وَثُلٰثَ وَرُبٰعَ​ ​ۚ فَاِنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ اَلَّا تَعۡدِلُوۡا فَوَاحِدَةً اَوۡ مَا مَلَـكَتۡ اَيۡمَانُكُمۡ​ ؕ ذٰ لِكَ اَدۡنٰٓى اَلَّا تَعُوۡلُوۡا ؕ‏ 

(4:3) If you fear that you might not treat the orphans justly, then marry the women that seem good to you: two, or three, or four. If you fear that you will not be able to treat them justly, then marry (only) one, or marry from among those whom your right hands possess. This will make it more likely that you will avoid injustice.

Clarifying the Ambiguity: What Does the Verse Actually Say?

1. Historical Context: Orphans and War Widows:  Before criticising the verse and the allowance so given in the verse, we must understand the context under which this verse was revealed.

• This verse was revealed after the Battle of Uhud, where many men were killed, leaving behind widows and orphans.
• Some men were marrying multiple widows to protect and provide for them—but may have feared injustice in handling orphaned inheritances or spousal fairness.
• The views of A'isha, Ibn 'Abbas and Sa'id b. Jubayr:
• There is the view of 'A'ishah, the revered wife of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, who says that men tended to marry orphan girls who were under their guardianship out of consideration for either their property, beauty or because they thought they would be able to treat them according to their whims, as they had no one to protect them. After marriage such men sometimes committed excesses against these girls. It is in this context that the Muslims are told that if they fear they will not be able to do justice to the orphan girls, then they should marry other girls whom they like. 
• The second view is that of Ibn 'Abbas and his disciple 'Ikrimah who expressed the opinion that in the Jahiliyah period there was no limit on the number of wives a man could take. The result was that a man sometimes married as many as ten women and, when expenses increased because of a large family, he encroached on the rights either of his orphan nephews or other relatives. It was in this context that God fixed the limit of four wives and instructed the Muslims that they may marry up to four wives providing they possessed the capacity to treat them equitably.
• Sa'id b. Jubayr, Qatadah and some other commentators say that while the Arabs of the Jahiliyah period did not approve of subjecting orphans to wrong, they had no concept of justice and equity with regard to women. They married as many women as they wanted and then subjected them to injustice and oppression. It is in this context that people are told that if they fear perpetrating wrongs on orphans they ought to be equally worried about perpetrating them on women. In the first place they should never marry more than four, and of those four, they should marry only as many as they can treat fairly.
• Each of the three interpretations is plausible and all three may possibly be correct. Moreover, the verse could also mean that if a person does not find himself able to treat orphans in a fair manner, then he might as well marry the women who are looking after those orphans.
• Thus this verse addresses social justice and ethical marital responsibility, not personal desire.

2. Not a Command, But a Conditional Permission

• AS generally understood, rather misunderstood, the verse does not command men to marry multiple women, rather have been "allowed" to marry more than one wife with conditions attached.
• The verse thus mean: Men CAN marry more than one women as agaisnt men SHOULD marry more than one women.
• The default recommendation is monogamy, not polygamy.

3. Justice Is a Strict Condition

• The phrase: "But if you fear that you will not be just, then marry only one" is crucial.
• In fact this is the catch point. Justice takes presedence over personal desires and wants. Unless one can treat all wives equally with justice, one is restrained to marry just one woman. For many, ensuring justice between all four wives, or even two wives, is generally not possible. 
• It limits the permission to cases where a man is absolutely confident he can treat multiple wives equally in:
• Spending
• Time
• Housing
• Emotional balance (to a degree)
• Justice is not a light requirement. Allah Himself states in verse 4:129: "You will never be able to be perfectly just between wives, even if you strive to do so…" So, there is built-in caution and even skepticism from the Qur’an itself.
• This verse stipulates that marrying more wives than one is permissible on the condition that one treats his wives equitably. A person who avails himself of this permission granted by God to have a plurality of wives, and disregards the condition laid down by God to treat them equitably has not acted in good faith with God. In case there are complaints from wives that they are not being treated equitably, the Islamic state has the right to intervene and redress such grievances.
• And if a man marries more than one women and is unable to ensure equal justice to everyone, then he will be liable to Divine admonishment and wrath for disobeying commandment of Allah. 

4. The Ambiguity: How Is “Justice” Defined and Enforced? The verse leaves "justice" undefined in absolute terms, which opens interpretation:

• Can emotional justice be achieved?
• What constitutes inequality?
• How is justice measured between subjective experiences?

Justice is a value that has to be maintained at all costs and cannot be sacrificed even for such a noble cause.

Because of this, many scholars argue that the practical ability to fulfill the condition is so difficult that monogamy is effectively encouraged.

Contemporary Interpretations:

Many modern scholars and reformers argue this verse is actually a limitation on the unlimited polygamy of pre-Islamic Arabia—not an open invitation to marry four women.

Classical & Contemporary Scholarly Views

• Ibn Kathir notes the justice condition as a strict limit; polygamy must not cause harm.
• Imam Al-Shafi’i emphasized the practical impossibility of perfect justice.
• Modern jurists Some say the justice clause discourages polygamy except in rare, clear need.
• Muhammad Abduh (Modernist) argued the verse intended to phase out polygamy by making justice practically unachievable.

Key Takeaway: Is Polygamy an Islamic Ideal?

No. Polygamy is permitted but not encouraged. The Qur’anic conditions make it morally, financially, and emotionally demanding—to the point that many scholars view the permission as highly conditional and in many cases, practically discouraged. " Marry only one" is the only explicit command in the verse, triggered by the likelihood of injustice."

Final Reflection

The "ambiguity" in Surah An-Nisa:3 lies not in contradiction, but in conditionality—the permission to marry up to four women is clearly tied to a near-impossible standard of justice, making it a social solution, not a license for desire.

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.

For more posts on status of women in Islam, please refer to our exclusive page: Women in Islam. You may also refer to our reference page on Selected verses women exclusive Surah An Nisa (The Women)

You may also 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. .

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

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.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Rights of women in Islam

Islam came at a time when the world was utterly patriarchal where women had no rights, both as individuals and as part of a family, specially in matters related to inheritance. That is women's rights globally were limited and inconsistent, often dependent on social class, religion, and culture. The women had no rights at all in some of the major civilizations of the time and their rights ranged from very minimal to naught in many cases, wherein:

• Inheritance: Women typically did not inherit property.
• Marriage: They could be inherited as part of a man’s estate.
• Infanticide: Female infanticide was practiced in some tribes.
• Divorce and Custody: Women had no control over divorce or child custody.
• Property: Women could not own or control wealth independently.

Under such dark age of women's rights, the adevent of Islam brought sunshine to rights of women and by a rational analysis, the Qur'anic reforms—especially in Surah An-Nisa—were considered progressive and transformative, granting women rights that were rare or nonexistent in most other parts of the world at the time. In fact the rights of women mentioned in Qur'an paved way for the initiation of steps for the betterment of Muslim rights around the world.

The proponents of the allegations that Islam suppresses rights of women should know that asking women to wear Hijab is not suppression but adds dignity to women. They should instead focus on the status, repect, dignity and rights that Islam commands to be given to the women.

Today we share the 19th verse from Surah An Nisa (The Women) which mentions allowing women respect, status and rights never have been given before:

يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا يَحِلُّ لَـكُمۡ اَنۡ تَرِثُوا النِّسَآءَ كَرۡهًا​ ؕ وَلَا تَعۡضُلُوۡهُنَّ لِتَذۡهَبُوۡا بِبَعۡضِ مَاۤ اٰتَيۡتُمُوۡهُنَّ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ يَّاۡتِيۡنَ بِفَاحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ​ ۚ وَعَاشِرُوۡهُنَّ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ​ ۚ فَاِنۡ كَرِهۡتُمُوۡهُنَّ فَعَسٰۤى اَنۡ تَكۡرَهُوۡا شَيۡـئًـا وَّيَجۡعَلَ اللّٰهُ فِيۡهِ خَيۡرًا كَثِيۡرًا‏ 

(4:19) Believers! It is not lawful for you to become heirs to women against their will. It is not lawful that you should put constraint upon them that you may take away anything of what you have given them; (you may not put constraint upon them) unless they are guilty of brazenly immoral conduct. Live with your wives in a good manner. If you dislike them in any manner, it may be that you dislike something in which Allah has placed much good for you.

Let us review the meaning of this verse:

"Believers! It is not lawful for you to become heirs to women against their will." This means that the relatives of the husband should not treat the widow of the deceased as if she were a part of the inheritance and begin imposing their will on her. Upon the death of her husband a woman becomes independent. As soon as her legally-prescribed period of waiting ends, she is free to go to wherever she likes and to marry anyone she wishes.

• This prohibited the pre-Islamic Arabian practice where a man would "inherit" his deceased relative's widow (i.e., treat her like property).
• Islam abolished this abuse, affirming a woman's autonomy and consent in marriage.

"It is not lawful that you should put constraint upon them that you may take away anything of what you have given them; (you may not put constraint upon them) unless they are guilty of brazenly immoral conduct." This permission is intended not in order to provide them with an excuse to misappropriate her property but to exercise a restraint on her conduct and prevent her from lewdness.

• That is Men are forbidden from pressuring or mistreating their wives to force them to return the mahr (dowry) or other marital gifts.
• This applies especially in divorce, where financial abuse or coercion is prohibited.
• The only exception where some marital rights may be withheld is in case of clear, proven immorality (e.g., adultery).

"Live with your wives in a good manner. If you dislike them in any manner, it may be that you dislike something in which Allah has placed much good for you." This means that if the wife is either not beautiful or has some shortcoming because of which she does not seem attractive enough to her husband, the latter should not suddenly decide, in a fit of rage and disgust, to part with her. Rather he should act with patience and forbearance. It often happens that a woman lacks physical attraction but has other qualities which are of much greater value for the success of married life. Hence if such a woman finds the opportunity to express her qualities, the same husband who initially felt revulsion towards her becomes captivated by her attractive conduct and character. Sometimes in the early stages of married life a husband dislikes certain things in his wife, and this initial dislike may even grow to revulsion. Were a man to be patient and allow all the potentialities of the woman to be realized, it would become evident to him that her merits outweighed her weaknesses. Hence a man's haste in taking the decision to rupture the matrimonial bond is not praiseworthy. Repudiation of marriage should be a man's last resort, a resort towards which he should turn only in unavoidable circumstances. 

• “Live with them honorably (عَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ)”: Islam commands respectful, kind, and just treatment of wives. This includes emotional care, fair financial support, and dignity in interaction.
• “If you dislike them… Allah may place much good in it.” A reminder that dislike is not sufficient reason to mistreat or divorce a spouse. Sometimes patience leads to unexpected blessings.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has said: 

• For God, divorce is the most reprehensible of all lawful things.' (Abu Da'ud, Talaq', 3; Ibn Majah, 'Talaq', 1 - Ed.) 
• In another tradition the Prophet (peace be on him) said: 'Marry and do not go about divorcing. For God does not like men and women who keep on changing partners merely for a change of taste.' (al-Tabrani, cited by 'Ajluni in Kashf al-Khifa. vol. 1, p. 304 - Ed.)

Let us now share some Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which add explanation to the above quoted verse:

1. Marriage Requires Consent

• The Prophet ﷺ said: “A previously married woman should not be married until she is consulted, and a virgin should not be married until her permission is sought.”
• The companions asked: “How is her permission given?” He replied: “By her silence.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5136; Sahih Muslim)
• This supports the Qur’anic prohibition of forcing women into marriage or treating them as inherited property.

2. Kindness Toward Women

• The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best of you are those who are best to their wives, and I am the best among you to my wives.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 3895 – Hasan Sahih)
• This echoes "live with them honorably" from 4:19.

3. Avoid Divorce Without Good Reason

• The Prophet ﷺ said: “Among lawful things, divorce is the most hated by Allah.” — (Sunan Abu Dawood, 2178 – Hasan)
• Supports the verse’s guidance on not rushing into divorce due to dislike alone.

4. Justice and Mahr (Dowry)

• The Prophet ﷺ said: “If a man gives a woman a heap of gold as dowry and then divorces her, he is not allowed to take anything back.” (Reported by al-Bukhari in practice and confirmed by Qur’an 4:20)
• Aligns with the verse’s warning against taking back what was given unfairly.

Lessons from Surah An-Nisa:19

• Marriage is based on consent, not coercion.
• Women have dignity, legal rights, and protection from abuse.
• Men are commanded to treat their wives with fairness and kindness.
• Patience in marriage can lead to unexpected blessings.
• Financial rights of women (like dowry) are inviolable.

Let us understand Islam in its totality, rather than collecting bits and pieces from here and there without looking in to the context and creating misunderstandings.The non Muslim women should be thankful to Islam for its laws and concessions about women that paved way for their independence and rights they had never known before.

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.

Photo | references: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

For more posts on status of women in Islam, please refer to our exclusive page: Women in Islam. You may also refer to our reference page on Selected verses women exclusive Surah An Nisa (The Women)

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Al-Qurʾān: Selected verses from Surah An Nisa (The Women)

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:

• Oveview
• Exegesis: | Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V |

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)
• Islam protects rights of women over the allowable polygamy - know how (verse 3)
• 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)
• Rights of women in Islam (Surah An Nisa - the Women, verse 19)
• 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)
• Verse 135: Believers! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah

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. .

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Resource References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

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.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Beware! Allah is watching you very closely (Selected verses from Qur'an)

Man, aways performs well when being watched or supervised. Likewise, drivers drive very carefully when being aware of speed cameras on the road. Imagine the chaos if speed cameras were not there or if there were no checks and balances in the offices to judge the performance of the employees. 

The same is true for the presence of Divine Surveillance.

Yes, our Creator, fully cognizant of our inborn habit of cheating, stealing and laziness, has an overwatch over every one of us. Those who please Him by following His path, whether being watched or otherwise, are the ones who will ultimately succeed. But those who disregard the Divine Surveillance and continue to violate Divine as well as man-made laws, should know that their every move is being watch and recorded and they will be asked and punished for the violations they commit.

This has been repeated at many a place in Qur'an and man has been cautioned to take stock of his actions lest his violative attitude makes him liable to be penalized. A violator may escape the justice of the world, but he will be held accountable for every single act of violation of Divine Laws and will be duly persecuted.

Herein under we share the very first verse of Surah 4. An Nisa (The Women) about the Divine Caution to abstain from every wrong and evil thing for they are ever been watched:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَآءً ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى تَسَآءَلُونَ بِهِۦ وَٱلْأَرْحَامَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا

[Surah 4 An Nisa (The Women):1] O mankind, fear your Lord, Who created you of a single soul, and of the same created his mate, and from that pair spread countless men and women over the earth;1 fear that Allah in Whose name you demand your rights from one another, and abstain from violating relations between kinsfolk; note it well that Allah is watching you very closely.

It means that this world has not come into existence of its own accord; it has been created by God Who is the Creator as well as the Lord of all. It is therefore unseemly for a person to regard this world to be a wandering herd which has no shepherd to attend to it and make it a target of his oppression and tyranny; on the contrary, it is his obligation to adhere to justice and clemency in its affairs; for he should know that God is very powerful, mighty and just. Those who oppress His creation will not escape His anger and wrath. He is watching over everything.

Allah calls Himself Ar-Raqeeb (الرقيب) — The Watchful, The All-Observing, The Witness — on three occasions in the Quran. Ar-Raqeeb is the One Who sees what is hidden in the hearts and He is the One Who charges your soul for what it has earned. He is the All-and-Ever-Watchful, observing everyone’s actions, thoughts, and feelings. Ar-Raqeeb is also The Controller; preserving and organizing the affairs of creation with perfect planning!

A beautiful example of belief in Ar-Raqeeb. Narrated `Abdullah ibn Zayd ibn Aslam, from his father, from his grandfather, who said: When I was accompanying `Umar ibn al-Khattab on his patrol of Madinah at night, he felt tired, so he leant against a wall. It was the middle of the night, and (we heard) a woman say to her daughter, “O my daughter, get up and mix that milk with some water.” The girl said, “O Mother, did you not hear the decree of Amir al-Mu’minin (chief of the believers) today?” The mother said, “What was that?” The girl said, “He ordered someone to announce in a loud voice that milk should not be mixed with water.” The mother said, “Get up and mix the milk with water; you are in a place where `Umar cannot see you.” The girl told her mother, “I cannot obey Him (Allah) in public and disobey him in private.” [Sifat al-Safwah and Wafiyat al-A’yan and cited by Ibn al-Jawzi in Ahkam Al-Nisa’]

Imagine how a poor girl understood the meaning of everyone being watched by Allah, and we continue to commit sins of every nature blatantly, from hurting people, hiding truth so that it does not against our favour and harming others by injustice or supporting those who do injustice.

Now let us take an unbiased personal appraisal and see how many times a day we violate the Divine Commandments and shrug off the consequences. If everyone inculcates just this small part of the complete verse: " إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا note it well that Allah is watching you very closely" how much change can come into our inner and outer behaviour and mindset. For this, always listen to your conscious, if it rings a bell, stop whatever you intend or about to do, for our conscious is part of the mechanism installed in our body to prevent us from doing something not allowed.

So, my brothers and sisters, let us be cognizant of the Divine Eye and let us keep ourselves away from actions and thoughts that may be observed and recorded for which we will be questioned on the Day of Judgement. May Allah forgive us all. Ameen

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.

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.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

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.

You may refer to our Reference page: Selected Verses from Qur'an: Slandering and False Accusations  on topics related to slandering and false accusations. 

You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Al Qur'an guides and helps those who sincerely seek Divine Guidance and Help.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān 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 order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 

• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Yusuf Ali Translation
• Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Qur'an Wiki
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
• Towards Understanding the Quran

In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

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.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Allah accepts repentance soon after committing a sin - but not so late when angel of death arrives

Every maker of a machine knows what faults it inherently possesses and how these are to be rectified as faults occur in the due course of its usage. Likewise, when Lord of the universe created man, He was cognizance of the inherent weakness of His creation - falling prey to evil. And this ability was soon demonstrated when Adm and Eve disobeyed the Divine Command of not eating the fruit of a forbidden tree enticed by the Devil. 

And Allah had fixed a chip inside to instantly recognize their folly of committing a sin and immediately, not waiting a second later for one never knows when the angel of death may arrive. And so did Adam and Eve did and immediately repented and were forgiven. In the backdrop of this inherent weakness of man, Qur'an abounds in verse in which Allah promises man to repent their sins no sooner these are committed and seek Divine forgiveness, so that they may be forgiven. Many of these verses are shared under the heading: Forgiveness/Repentance in our series of posts on Selected verses from Qur'an.

Today we share another verse from Qur'an, the 17th verse of Surah 4. An Nisa (The Women), with a add on verse that makes the two verses complimenting.

إِنَّمَا ٱلتَّوْبَةُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِجَهَـٰلَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَتُوبُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا

(4:17) Allah accepts only the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and foolishness and repent soon afterwards; it is they to whom Allah will forgive and Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.

Muhammad Asad is of the view that the expression min qarib, which here implies nearness in time, could also be rendered as "soon", i.e., soon after having committed the evil deed; most of the classical commentators however, hold that in this context it denotes the time before the actual approach of death. This interpretation is borne out by the next verse.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi explains that the actual word is: جَهَالَة. Though it also means “ignorance” it is predominantly used to mean committing a sin or some mischief while being overwhelmed by emotions. Thus, in Arabic it generally occurs as an opposite of self-control (ḥilm) instead of knowledge (‘ilm).

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: (Repentance is accepted until one faces death)

Allah states that He accepts repentance of the servant who commits an error in ignorance and then repents, even just before he sees the angel who captures the soul, before his soul reaches his throat. Mujahid and others said, "Every person who disobeys Allah by mistake, or intentionally is ignorant, until he refrains from sin.' Qatadah said that Abu Al-`Aliyah narrated that the Companions of the Messenger of Allah used to say, "Every sin that the servant commits, he commits out of ignorance.' `Abdur-Razzaq narrated that, Ma`mar said that Qatadah said that, the Companions of the Messenger of Allah agreed that every sin that is committed by intention or otherwise, is committed in ignorance.' Ibn Jurayj said, "Abdullah bin Kathir narrated to me that Mujahid said, `Every person who disobeys Allah (even willfully), is ignorant while committing the act of disobedience.'' Ibn Jurayj said, "`Ata' bin Abi Rabah told me something similar.' Abu Salih said that Ibn `Abbas commented, "It is because of one's ignorance that he commits the error.' 

`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said about the Ayah, (ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ and repent soon (afterwards)), "Until just before he (or she) looks at the angel of death.''

Ad-Dahhak said, "Everything before death is `soon (afterwards).'''

Al-Hasan Al-Basri said about the Ayah, (ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ and repent soon afterwards), "Just before his last breath leaves his throat.'' `Ikrimah said, "All of this life is `soon (afterwards).''

 Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger said, (إِنَّ اللهَ يَقْبَلُ تَوْبَةَ الْعَبْدِمَالَمْ يُغَرْغِر Allah accepts the repentance of the servant as long as the soul does not reach the throat.) This Hadith was also collected by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, and At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Gharib''. By mistake, Ibn Majah mentioned that this Hadith was narrated through `Abdullah bin `Amr. 

However, what is correct is that `Abdullah bin `Umar bin Al-Khattab was the narrator. Allah said, (فَأُوْلَـئِكَ يَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيماً حَكِيماً It is they to whom Allah will forgive and Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.) Surely, when hope in continued living diminishes, the angel of death comes forth and the soul reaches the throat, approaches the chest and arrives at the state where it is being gradually pulled out, then there is no accepted repentance, nor a way out of that certain end. 

Hence Allah's statements (the 18th verse): 

وَلَيْسَتِ التَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَـتِ حَتَّى إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّى تُبْتُ الاٌّنَ

(And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: "Now I repent,'') 

As also:

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ

(So, when they saw Our punishment, they said: "We believe in Allah Alone...'') [40:84]

Allah decided that repentance shall not be accepted from the people of the earth when the sun rises from the west, as Allah said,

يَوْمَ يَأْتِى بَعْضُ ءَايَـتِ رَبِّكَ لاَ يَنفَعُ نَفْسًا إِيمَانُهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ ءَامَنَتْ مِن قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِى إِيمَـنِهَا خَيْرًا

(The day that some of the signs of your Lord do come, no good will it do to a person to believe then, if he believed not before, nor earned good through his faith.) [6:158] 

Allah said, (وَلاَ الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ nor of those who die while they are disbelievers.) Consequently, when the disbeliever dies while still a disbeliever and polytheist, his sorrow and repentance shall not avail him. If he were to ransom himself, even with the earth's fill of gold, it would not be accepted by him.

Ibn `Abbas, Abu Al-`Aliyah and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said that the Ayah: (وَلاَ الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ nor of those who die while they are disbelievers), was revealed about the people of Shirk. 

Imam Ahmad recorded that Usamah bin Salman said that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah said, (إِنَّ اللهَ يَقْبَلُ تَوْبَةَ عَبْدِهِ أَوْ يَغْفِرُ لِعَبْدِهِ مَالَمْ يَقَعِ الْحِجَاب Allah accepts the repentance of His servant, or forgives His servant, as long as the veil does not drop.) They asked, "And what does the drop of the veil mean '' He said, (أَنْ تَخْرُجَ النَّفْسُ وَهِيَ مُشْرِكَة When the soul is removed while one is a polytheist.) 

Allah then said, (أُوْلَـئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَاباً أَلِيماً (For them We have prepared a painful torment), torment that is severe, eternal and enormous.

The purpose of sharing the 17th and the 18th verses of Surah An Nisa is to stress upon the need of committing a sin, and then repenting AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE for no one knows when his time is up in this world. The warning is stern that when when the time of death arrives then no repentance shall be accepted and from then on one will plunge into darkness and finally the hellfire. 

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.

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.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

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.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān 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 order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 

• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Yusuf Ali Translation
• Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Qur'an Wiki
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
• Towards Understanding the Quran

In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

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