- 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.
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)
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