Surah 4: The Women

Surah 4: The Women - Overview

Verses	Description
4:1-14	Unity of mankind; Sacredness of sex and family relationships; Women and orphans; Distributions of property after death
4:15-42	Crimes against sex to be rooted out; Marriage and women's rights; Live in faith, charity, and kindness
4:43-70	Cleanliness, purity, truth, obedience, and other virtues lead to glorious spiritual Fellowship
4:71-91	Rights and duties of Brotherhood: fear nothing, maintain the right, and guard against Hypocrites and Deserters
4:92-104	Sacredness of life: migrate from places hostile to Islam: precautions in prayer in time of danger
4:105-126	Treachery and secrecy to be avoided: firmness and faith to be encouraged
4:127-152	Justice to women and orphans and to all: be true and considerate
4:153-176	Where the People of the Book went wrong; Revelation continued in the Qur'an

Introduction

This Surah is closely connected chronologically with Surah 3. Its subject matter deals with the social problems which the Muslim community had to face immediately after Uhud. While the particular occasion made the necessity urgent, the principles laid down have permanently governed Muslim Law and social practice.

Broadly speaking, the Surah consists of two parts:

that dealing with women, orphans, inheritance, marriage, and family rights generally, and
that dealing with the recalcitrants in the larger family, the community at Madinah, viz., the Hypocrites and their accomplices

Summary

1- It begins with an appeal to the solidarity of mankind, the rights of women and orphans, and the implications of family relationship, including an equitable distribution of property after death. (4:1-14)

Mutual Respect [4:1-14] All mankind are one, an mutual rights must be respected; the sexes must honor, each the other; sacred are family relationships that rise through marriage and women bearing; children; orphans need especial loving care; in trust is held all property, with duties well-defined; and after death, due distribution should be made in equitable shares to all whose affection, duty, and trust shed light and joy on this our life below.

2- While the decencies of family life should be enforced, women should be held in honor and their rights recognized, in marriage, property, and inheritance; and this principle of goodness should be extended to all beings, great and small. (4:15-42)

Cherishing Women & Marriage [4:15-42] What can be a holier cement to Society than that women should be chaste and pure, and crimes against sex rooted out? Let decency, kindness, and justice prevail in all sex relationships; let marriage be cherished and carefully guarded; women's rights secured; family jars adjusted, and all life lived in faith, charity, and kindness sincere to all our fellow creatures.

3- The sections in Madinah, not yet in the Muslim community, should not go after false gods, but should accept the authority of the Prophet, and obey him. Then it will be their privilege to be admitted to a great and glorious Fellowship. (4:43-70)

Hypocrisy & Falsehood [4:43-70] Be clean and pure and seek not occasions for quibbles, nor go after sorcery or false gods. Be faithful in your trusts, learn obedience, and settle your quarrels under the guidance of God's Messenger. Ever keep away from hypocrisy and every kind of falsehood, then will you be admitted to a glorious Fellowship with the highest an noblest in the spiritual world.

Fight the Good Fight [4:71-91] Keep together in your noble Brotherhood; share its joys and sorrows; strive and fight the good fight and never fear: For this life is short, and the Hereafter Eternal. Allow not yourselves to be drawn into unbelief and cowardice; maintain the Right. Protect yourselves against Hypocrites and Deserters, but pursue them not unrelentingly.

5- Caution about the taking of life; recommendations for leaving places inimical to Islam; religious duties in the midst of war. (4:92-104)

Personal Safety [4:92-104] The lives of those who believe are sacred; if one is slain by mistake, full compensation should be made. Nor should a strange, even in time of war, be treated as an enemy, without the fullest investigation. Live not in places hostile to Islam, if ye are able to migrate -- an spacious is God's earth. Devotion and prayer may be shortened in times of danger. Take every precaution for safety, but be bold and undaunted in fight.

6- Treachery and the lure of evil. (4:105-126)

Honesty is the Best Policy [4:105-126] Beware of treachery, that would use the good and pious for its wicked ends; its plots will but recoil on its own head. The righteous have no cause for secrecy, except in doing good. 'Tis evil that misleads, deceives, and even dares deface fair Nature, as by God created. Shun all evil and be firm in righteousness and faith in God.

7- Women and orphans to be justly dealt with; Faith must go with justice, sincerity, and moderation in speech. (4:127-152)

Justice & Truth [4:127-152] Justice to women and orphans is part of religion and the fear of God. Stand out firmly for justice to all, even against yourselves or your nearest of kin. Remain firm in faith, and consort not with evil or hypocrisy. Be true in speech, and wound not others; nor distinguish between Teachers of Truth, for God's Truth is one and should be believed.

8- Where People of the Book went wrong, with honorable exceptions. (4:153-176)

Manifest Proof [4:153-176] The People of the Book went wrong: the Jews in breaking their Covenant; and slandering Mary and Jesus, and in their usury and injustice; and the Christians in raising Jesus the Messenger to equality with God. God's revelation is continued in the Qur'an, which comes with the manifest proof and a clear light to those who understand.