Quran chapter: Chapter 4: Women (Al-Nesa’)

O people, observe your Lord; the One who created you from one being, and created from it its mate, then spread from the two many men and women. You shall regard God, by whom you swear, and regard the parents. God is watching over you.*

يٰأَيُّهَا النّاسُ اتَّقوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذى خَلَقَكُم مِن نَفسٍ وٰحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنها زَوجَها وَبَثَّ مِنهُما رِجالًا كَثيرًا وَنِساءً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذى تَساءَلونَ بِهِ وَالأَرحامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كانَ عَلَيكُم رَقيبًا

yaaa aiyuhan naasut taqoo Rabbakumul lazee khalaqakum min nafsinw waahidatinw wa khalaqa minhaa zawjahaa wa bas sa minhumaa rijaalan kaseeranw wa nisaaa’aa; wattaqul laahallazee tasaaa ‘aloona bihee wal arhaam; innal laaha kaana ‘alaikum Raqeeba

*4:1 This is the second longest sura, and the title indicates that it aims at defending the women’s rights. Any interpretation must favor the women’s rights, not the other way around.

(Regard the Orphans)

You shall hand over to the orphans their rightful properties. Do not substitute the bad for the good, and do not consume their properties by combining them with yours. This would be a gross injustice.

وَءاتُوا اليَتٰمىٰ أَموٰلَهُم وَلا تَتَبَدَّلُوا الخَبيثَ بِالطَّيِّبِ وَلا تَأكُلوا أَموٰلَهُم إِلىٰ أَموٰلِكُم إِنَّهُ كانَ حوبًا كَبيرًا

wa aatul yataamaaa amwaalahum wa laa tatabad dalul khabeesa bittaiyibi wa laa ta’kulooo amwaalahum ilaaa amwaalikum; innahoo kaana hooban kabeeraa

(Grounds For Polygamy*)

If you deem it best for the orphans, you may marry their mothers – you may marry two, three, or four. If you fear lest you become unfair, then you shall be content with only one, or with what you already have. Additionally, you are thus more likely to avoid financial hardship.

وَإِن خِفتُم أَلّا تُقسِطوا فِى اليَتٰمىٰ فَانكِحوا ما طابَ لَكُم مِنَ النِّساءِ مَثنىٰ وَثُلٰثَ وَرُبٰعَ فَإِن خِفتُم أَلّا تَعدِلوا فَوٰحِدَةً أَو ما مَلَكَت أَيمٰنُكُم ذٰلِكَ أَدنىٰ أَلّا تَعولوا

wa in khiftum allaa tuqsitoo fil yataamaa fankihoo maa taaba lakum minan nisaaa’i masnaa wa sulaasa wa rubaa’a fa’in khiftum allaa ta’diloo fawaahidatan aw maa malakat aimaanukum; zaalika adnaaa allaa ta’ooloo

*4:3 See Appendix 30 for a detailed discussion on polygamy.

You shall give the women their due dowries, equitably. If they willingly forfeit anything, then you may accept it; it is rightfully yours.

وَءاتُوا النِّساءَ صَدُقٰتِهِنَّ نِحلَةً فَإِن طِبنَ لَكُم عَن شَىءٍ مِنهُ نَفسًا فَكُلوهُ هَنيـًٔا مَريـًٔا

wa aatun nisaaa’a sadu qaatihinna nihlah; fa in tibna lakum ‘an shai’im minhu nafsan fakuloohu hanee’am mareee’aa

Do not give immature orphans the properties that God has entrusted with you as guardians. You shall provide for them therefrom, and clothe them, and treat them kindly.

وَلا تُؤتُوا السُّفَهاءَ أَموٰلَكُمُ الَّتى جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُم قِيٰمًا وَارزُقوهُم فيها وَاكسوهُم وَقولوا لَهُم قَولًا مَعروفًا

wa laa tu’tus sufahaaa’a amwaalakumul latee ja’alal laahu lakum qiyaamanw-warzuqoohum feehaa waksoohum wa qooloo lahum qawlam ma’roofaa

You shall test the orphans when they reach puberty. As soon as you find them mature enough, give them their property. Do not consume it extravagantly in a hurry, before they grow up. The rich guardian shall not charge any wage, but the poor guardian may charge equitably. When you give them their properties, you shall have witnesses. God suffices as Reckoner.

وَابتَلُوا اليَتٰمىٰ حَتّىٰ إِذا بَلَغُوا النِّكاحَ فَإِن ءانَستُم مِنهُم رُشدًا فَادفَعوا إِلَيهِم أَموٰلَهُم وَلا تَأكُلوها إِسرافًا وَبِدارًا أَن يَكبَروا وَمَن كانَ غَنِيًّا فَليَستَعفِف وَمَن كانَ فَقيرًا فَليَأكُل بِالمَعروفِ فَإِذا دَفَعتُم إِلَيهِم أَموٰلَهُم فَأَشهِدوا عَلَيهِم وَكَفىٰ بِاللَّهِ حَسيبًا

wabtalul yataamaa hattaaa izaa balaghun nikaaha fa in aanastum minhum rushdan fad fa’ooo ilaihim amwaalahum wa laa ta’ kuloohaaa israafanw wa bidaaran ai yakbaroo; wa man kaana ghaniyyan falyasta’ fif wa man kaana faqeeran fal ya’ kul bilma’roof; fa izaa dafa’tum ilaihim amwaalahum fa ash-hidoo ‘alaihim; wa kafaa billaahi Haseeba

(Women’s Inheritance Rights)

The men get a share of what the parents and the relatives leave behind. The women too shall get a share of what the parents and relatives leave behind. Whether it is a small or a large inheritance, (the women must get) a definite share.

لِلرِّجالِ نَصيبٌ مِمّا تَرَكَ الوٰلِدانِ وَالأَقرَبونَ وَلِلنِّساءِ نَصيبٌ مِمّا تَرَكَ الوٰلِدانِ وَالأَقرَبونَ مِمّا قَلَّ مِنهُ أَو كَثُرَ نَصيبًا مَفروضًا

lirrijaali naseebum mimmaa tarakal waalidaani wal aqraboona wa lin nisaaa’i naseebum mimmaa tarakal waalidaani wal aqraboona mimmaa qalla minhu aw kasur; naseebam mafroodaa

During distribution of the inheritances, if relatives, orphans, and needy persons are present, you shall give them therefrom, and treat them kindly.

وَإِذا حَضَرَ القِسمَةَ أُولُوا القُربىٰ وَاليَتٰمىٰ وَالمَسٰكينُ فَارزُقوهُم مِنهُ وَقولوا لَهُم قَولًا مَعروفًا

wa izaa hadaral qismata ulul qurbaa walyataamaa walmasaakeenu farzuqoohum minhu wa qooloo lahum qawlam ma’roofaa

Those who are concerned about their own children, in case they leave them behind, shall observe God and be equitable.

وَليَخشَ الَّذينَ لَو تَرَكوا مِن خَلفِهِم ذُرِّيَّةً ضِعٰفًا خافوا عَلَيهِم فَليَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَليَقولوا قَولًا سَديدًا

walyakhshal lazeena law tarakoo min khalfihim zurriyyatan di’aafan khaafoo ‘alaihim falyattaqul laaha walyaqooloo qawlan sadeedaa

Those who consume the orphans’ properties unjustly, eat fire into their bellies, and will suffer in Hell.

إِنَّ الَّذينَ يَأكُلونَ أَموٰلَ اليَتٰمىٰ ظُلمًا إِنَّما يَأكُلونَ فى بُطونِهِم نارًا وَسَيَصلَونَ سَعيرًا

innal lazeena ya’kuloona amwaalal yataamaa zulman innamaa ya’kuloona fee butoonihim Naaranw-wa sayaslawna sa’eeraa