An-Nisa

Background Info

• When & Where: Revealed in Medina, primarily in the years following the Battle of Uhud (which took place in 625 CE, the 3rd year after Hijrah). Like most lengthy Medinan chapters, its revelation spanned a period, not a single instance.
• The Situation: The Muslim community had suffered significant casualties at Uhud, leaving behind many widows and orphans. This created pressing social issues regarding their care, protection, and inheritance rights. The community was also defining its legal and social structure more formally, dealing with internal matters like hypocrisy, and clarifying relationships with other communities.
• The Need: There was an urgent need for divine guidance on how to justly manage the consequences of the battle losses. Specifically, laws were needed to:
  • Ensure the fair treatment and financial security of orphans and widows.
  • Establish clear rules for inheritance.
  • Define rights and responsibilities within marriage and family.
  • Address issues of social justice, fairness, and community cohesion.
• Purpose of the Chapter: Named "The Women" (An-Nisa), this chapter provides crucial social and legal guidance for the community. It focuses heavily on:
  • Protecting the rights of the vulnerable, especially women and orphans.
  • Laying down detailed laws regarding marriage, family life, and inheritance.
  • Emphasizing justice (adl) and kindness (ihsan) in social interactions.
  • Providing guidelines on dealing with disputes, hypocrisy, and relations with People of the Book.
• In short: Surah An-Nisa was revealed in Medina during a period of social restructuring, particularly after the losses at Uhud. It addresses the community's need for clear laws on family, inheritance, and the rights of women and orphans, emphasizing justice and establishing a sound social framework.

Core Message

To establish social justice (Adl and Qist, e.g., 4:135, equity, and compassion within the nascent Muslim community, outlining specific rights, responsibilities, and laws governing family life (especially concerning women and orphans, e.g., 4:2-12, 4:127, inheritance (e.g., 4:11-12, 4:176, conflict resolution (e.g., 4:94, and community cohesion, while warning against hypocrisy (e.g., 4:138-146 and disobedience to Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) (e.g., 4:13-14, 4:59, 4:80.

Summary

Surah An-Nisa begins by reminding humanity of its origin from a single soul (Adam) and emphasizing the importance of kinship (arham) and caring for the vulnerable, particularly orphans (yatama), ensuring their property is protected 4:2, 4:6, 4:10 and they are treated justly 4:127. It lays down foundational laws concerning marriage, including the conditional allowance of polygyny (limited to four wives with the strict requirement of justice, 4:3, the importance of the marriage gift (mahr, 4:4, and detailing prohibited degrees of kinship for marriage 4:22-24. A significant portion is dedicated to detailed rules of inheritance (fara'id), clearly specifying the shares for various male and female relatives 4:7, 4:11-12, ensuring women receive a designated share, a revolutionary concept at the time.

The Surah addresses marital relations, outlining roles and responsibilities within a marriage 4:34, and provides guidance on handling discord (nushuz), emphasizing reconciliation and arbitration 4:35. It strongly warns against hypocrisy (Nifaq), describing the characteristics of hypocrites (Munafiqun, e.g., their deception, wavering, seeking honour from disbelievers - 4:60-63, 4:138-143 and their detrimental effect on the community 4:145-146. Guidance is given regarding warfare (jihad), emigration (Hijrah, 4:97-100, and conduct during conflict 4:71-84, 4:94, including the concession for shortening prayers (qasr as-salah) during travel or fear 4:101.

The chapter also addresses the People of the Book (Jews and Christians), correcting their beliefs about Prophet Isa (Jesus, AS), affirming his prophethood while rejecting the concepts of his divinity or crucifixion 4:157-159, 4:171. It concludes by reiterating key inheritance laws, specifically "Kalalah" (cases where the deceased has no descendants or ascendants, 4:176, and emphasizing Allah's encompassing knowledge and wisdom 4:176.

Reason for the Name

Named "The Women" because a significant portion of the chapter deals extensively with matters concerning women, including marriage (e.g., 4:3, 4:4, 4:19-25, orphans' rights (e.g., 4:2, 4:6, 4:10, 4:127, inheritance laws (e.g., 4:7, 4:11-12, 4:176, and family relationships (e.g., 4:34-35, establishing their rights and responsibilities within the Islamic framework.

Unique Features

• Most detailed exposition of Islamic inheritance law ('Ilm al-Fara'id') 4:7, 4:11-12, 4:176.
• Extensive focus on legal/social rights of women and orphans (e.g., 4:2-12, 4:19, 4:32, 4:127.
• Contains the verse permitting 'Tayammum' 4:43.
• Explicitly addresses and warns against hypocrisy ('Nifaq') extensively (e.g., 4:60-146 passim).
• Provides clear Islamic theology on Jesus (AS) 4:157-159, 4:171-172.
• Verse 4:58 emphasizes returning trusts ('amanat') and judging justly.
• Verse 4:135 stands as a powerful call for unwavering justice.

Themes

• Social Justice (Adl) and Equity (Qist) (e.g., 4:3, 4:58, 4:105, 4:127, 4:135
• Rights and Status of Women (e.g., 4:4, 4:7, 4:11-12, 4:19, 4:32, 4:127-130
• Protection and Rights of Orphans (e.g., 4:2, 4:6, 4:10, 4:127
• Family Law (Marriage: 4:3, 4:19-25; Divorce/Discord: 4:35, 4:128-130; Mahr: 4:4, 4:20
• Inheritance Laws (Detailed Shares: 4:7, 4:11-12, 4:176
• Importance of Kinship Ties (Silat ar-Rahim) (e.g., 4:1
• Obedience to Allah and His Messenger (SAW) (e.g., 4:13-14, 4:59, 4:64-65, 4:69, 4:80
• Warning against Hypocrisy (Nifaq) (e.g., 4:60-63, 4:88-91, 4:137-146
• Rules concerning Conflict (Jihad) and Emigration (Hijrah) (e.g., 4:71-84, 4:94-104
• Relations with the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab) (e.g., 4:44-55, 4:153-173
• Clarification of the status of Prophet Isa (Jesus, AS) (e.g., 4:157-159, 4:171-172
• Financial Integrity (Prohibition of unjustly consuming wealth: 4:2, 4:10, 4:29-30, 4:161
• Community Cohesion and Unity (e.g., 4:1, 4:58-59, 4:135

Key Verses

• 4:1 "O mankind! Be mindful of your Lord Who created you from a single soul..." - Significance: Establishes human unity and the basis for mutual rights.
• 4:3 "...marry those that please you... two or three or four. But if you fear you will not be just, then [marry only] one..." - Significance: Sets conditional permission/limit for polygyny, tied to justice.
• 4:11-12 & 4:176 These verses detail the specific shares of inheritance for various relatives. - Significance: Foundational texts for Islamic inheritance law ('Ilm al-Fara'id').
• 4:34 "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women..." - Significance: Outlines Qiwamah (guardianship/maintenance), linking male responsibility to provision/leadership, and guides on marital discord.
• 4:59 "O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you..." - Significance: Establishes hierarchy of obedience and sources for resolving disputes.
• 4:135 "O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice ('qist'), witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves..." - Significance: Powerful command for absolute justice, central to faith.
• 4:171 "O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion... The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah..." - Significance: Defines the Islamic view of Jesus (AS), rejecting divinity claims.

Stories

• Context of post-Uhud Madinah (implied): Need for laws regarding orphans 4:2, 6, 10, 127) and inheritance 4:11-12, 176) due to martyrs.
• Dealing with hypocrites ('Munafiqun') in Madinah (e.g., their reluctance to fight: 4:77-78; seeking judgment from sources other than Allah/Messenger: 4:60-61; their eventual fate: 4:145.
• Interactions with Jewish communities (e.g., their altering words: 4:46; demands made on Musa: 4:153; claims regarding Jesus: 4:157 and Christians (excesses in religion regarding Jesus: 4:171.
• Implicit reference to Adam (AS) and Hawa (Eve) in 4:1.

Personalities

• Adam (AS): Referenced indirectly as the "single soul" 4:1.
• Isa (Jesus) (AS): Discussed significantly 4:157-159, 4:171-172 clarifying his role as a Prophet, refuting crucifixion 4:157 and divinity 4:171.
• Musa (Moses) (AS): Mentioned briefly 4:153 regarding demands of Bani Israel; 4:164 regarding Allah speaking to him directly).
• Other Prophets: Mentioned collectively (e.g., Nuh, Ibrahim, Isma'il, Ishaq, Ya'qub, Ayub, Yunus, Harun, Sulaiman, Dawud) as recipients of revelation 4:163-165.
• Muhammad (SAW): Central figure as the Messenger to be obeyed (e.g., 4:59, 4:64-65, 4:80 and the judge in disputes 4:65, 4:105.

Practical Guidance

• Uphold justice ('qist') in all dealings 4:135, especially with orphans 4:2, 4:127 and spouses 4:3, 4:129.
• Protect and manage orphans' property honestly until they reach maturity 4:2, 4:6; avoid consuming it unjustly 4:10.
• Learn and apply the specific inheritance laws 4:7, 4:11-12, 4:176 to ensure fairness as ordained by Allah.
• Understand the mutual rights and responsibilities in marriage 4:19, 4:34.
• Prioritize reconciliation ('sulh') in marital discord 4:35, 4:128.
• Maintain financial integrity; avoid interest ('riba', implicitly via 4:161 and consuming others' wealth wrongfully 4:29.
• Be sincere in faith and beware of hypocrisy's signs 4:137-146.
• Refer disputes to Allah (Quran) and the Messenger (Sunnah) 4:59.
• Perform 'Tayammum' (dry ablution) if water is unavailable or harmful 4:43.

Points of Reflection

• How does the command to stand firm for justice, even against oneself or loved ones 4:135, challenge my personal integrity and social interactions?
• Considering the detailed laws for orphans and women's inheritance 4:2-12, 127, 176), what does this reveal about Allah's concern for the vulnerable and the societal norms Islam aimed to reform?
• What lessons can be drawn from the descriptions of the hypocrites (e.g., 4:60-63, 138-143) to help safeguard one's own faith and the community's well-being today?

Connection to Chapters

• Previous (Al-Imran - Chapter 3): Follows Al-Imran's focus on faith consolidation, lessons from Uhud, and theological discussion by providing the necessary social legislation (family law, inheritance 4:11-12, 176, orphan care 4:2, 6, 10) required for the community's practical functioning and justice, especially relevant after the losses at Uhud.
• Next (Al-Ma'idah - Chapter 5): While An-Nisa focuses heavily on family and community structure/justice, Al-Ma'idah shifts towards broader societal laws, covenants 5:1, dietary regulations 5:3-5, penal laws ('Hudud', e.g., 5:38, and further defining interactions with other communities, reinforcing the theme of fulfilling obligations established within the framework set by An-Nisa.