Surah An-Nisa, meaning 'The Women,' is the fourth chapter of the Quran with 176 verses. This Medinan surah is renowned for its comprehensive guidance on women's rights, family laws, inheritance, marriage, and social justice. It addresses the rights and responsibilities of various members of society, with particular emphasis on protecting the vulnerable, including women, orphans, and the oppressed.
Surah An-Nisa was revealed in Medina over several years, addressing the evolving needs of the Muslim community. Much of it was revealed after the Battle of Uhud when many Muslims were martyred, leaving widows and orphans who needed protection and care. The surah provided detailed guidance for these social challenges and established a comprehensive framework for Islamic family law.
Key themes include women's rights and dignity, detailed inheritance laws, marriage and divorce regulations, protection of orphans' rights, guidelines for just governance, and the prohibition of injustice. The surah establishes the principle that men and women are equal in spiritual worth while having complementary roles in society. It also addresses hypocrites within the Muslim community and emphasizes the importance of justice in all dealings.
Reciting Surah An-Nisa brings awareness of social responsibility and justice. It helps believers understand their duties toward family members, especially women and children. Regular recitation increases consciousness of fair treatment, proper inheritance distribution, and the importance of protecting the rights of the vulnerable in society.
Style: Murattal
Mishary Rashid Alafasy is a Kuwaiti reciter and imam. He is known for his unique vocal control and deeply moving recitation style, which has made him one of the most recognized reciters globally.
Surah An-Nisa establishes fundamental rights for women including inheritance rights, protection from exploitation, the right to own property, and dignified treatment in marriage. It was revolutionary for its time, granting women legal and financial rights that weren't recognized in many societies until centuries later.
The surah provides detailed inheritance laws ensuring fair distribution of wealth among family members. It specifies shares for parents, spouses, children, and other relatives, preventing arbitrary decisions and protecting the rights of all inheritors, especially women and orphans who were often deprived of inheritance in pre-Islamic times.
The surah strongly emphasizes protecting orphans' rights, warning against consuming their wealth unjustly, ensuring proper care until they reach maturity, and testing their judgment before handing over their inheritance. It considers the protection of orphans a sacred trust and a test of righteousness.
The surah provides comprehensive guidance on marriage including choosing suitable spouses, treating wives with kindness, the conditions for polygamy (limited to four wives with strict justice requirements), divorce procedures, waiting periods, and reconciliation efforts. It emphasizes mutual respect and fairness in marital relationships.
The surah defines justice as fairness in all dealings, protection of the weak, honest testimony even against relatives, proper distribution of wealth, and following divine guidance rather than personal desires. It emphasizes that justice is a prerequisite for a healthy society and individual success in the afterlife.
An-Nisa