About Surah An-Nisa

Distinguished as Sūrat al-Nisā’ al-Kubrā (The Greater Chapter of Women), this foundational Madinan text emerged gradually as the Muslim polity solidified its strength. It gathers verses from across several years—incorporating earlier rules for dry ablution alongside commands revealed after the Conquest of Makkah in 8 AH. The name reflects its extensive legislation detailing the rights of women, building upon the broader principles of Sūrat al-Baqarah.

The text moves outward from the household to the community, starting with mankind's common origin and the protection of orphans. It establishes laws for marital harmony before demanding absolute justice without favoritism. As Islam spread toward Byzantine Syria, the verses increasingly challenge hypocrites and Jews in Madinah while addressing Christians, leaving only brief mention of the waning Makkan polytheists.

Rulings for worship during hardship and commands for emigration support a society actively protecting the oppressed. This legal framework leaves no family tie undefined, establishing exact mathematical shares for the inheritance of relatives—a precise ruling some scholars identify as the very last verse of the Quran to be revealed.

Surah 4 of 114Madinan

An-Nisa

النساء The Women

Verses: 176
Revelation: Madinan
Juz: 4
Pages: 77–106

Surah Info Reflections Layers

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

4:1

People, be mindful of your Lord, who created you from a single soul, and from it created its mate, and from the pair of them spread countless men and women far and wide; be mindful of God, in whose name you make requests of one another. Beware of severing the ties of kinship: God is always watching over you.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

4:2

Give orphans their property, do not replace [their] good things with bad, and do not consume their property with your own- a great sin.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

4:3

If you fear that you will not deal fairly with orphan girls, you may marry whichever [other] women seem good to you, two, three, or four. If you fear that you cannot be equitable [to them], then marry only one, or your slave(s): that is more likely to make you avoid bias.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

4:4

Give women their bridal gift upon marriage, though if they are happy to give up some of it for you, you may enjoy it with a clear conscience.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

4:5

Do not entrust your property to the feeble-minded. God has made it a means of support for you: make provision for them from it, clothe them, and address them kindly.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

4:6

Test orphans until they reach marriageable age; then, if you find they have sound judgement, hand over their property to them. Do not consume it hastily before they come of age: if the guardian is well off he should abstain from the orphan’s property, and if he is poor he should use only what is fair. When you give them their property, call witnesses in; but God takes full account of everything you do.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

4:7

Men shall have a share in what their parents and closest relatives leave, and women shall have a share in what their parents and closest relatives leave, whether the legacy be small or large: this is ordained by God.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

4:8

If other relatives, orphans, or needy people are present at the distribution, give them something too, and speak kindly to them.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

4:9

Let those who would fear for the future of their own helpless children, if they were to die, show the same concern [for orphans]; let them be mindful of God and speak out for justice.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem