of someone calling to the faith,
‘Believe in your Lord,’
and we do believe. Our Lord,
forgive us our sins, and absolve
us of our evil deeds, and let us die
in the company of the righteous.
194“Our Lord, grant us what
You promised us
through Your messengers,
and do not shame us
on the day of resurrection.
You never fail in Your promise.”
195Their Lord answered them,
“I shall not allow the deeds
of any of you—whether you are
male or female—to be lost;
you are from one another. As for those
who migrated, or were driven from,
their homes, or suffered hurt
in My cause, or fought or were killed,
I will absolve you of your
bad deeds, and I will usher you
into gardens, beneath which
rivers flow—a reward from
God Himself, for with God
is the most excellent reward.”
196Do not be deluded by
the unbelievers, strutting about
throughout the land—
197a brief enjoyment—then
hell will become their home—
a woeful place of repose.
198But those who are mindful
of their Lord shall have gardens,
beneath which rivers flow,
abiding there forever, a gift from
God Himself—for whatever God has
is better for those who are righteous.
199And there are those among
the people of the Book
who believe in God, in what
has been revealed to you—and what
was revealed to them; they bow
humbly before God. They do not sell
the signs of God for a paltry price;
they shall have a reward
from their Lord Himself,
for God is Swift in Reckoning.
200You who believe, be patient—
compete in patience, be constant;
and be mindful of God,
that you might flourish.
SURA 4
Women (Al-Nisa)
Late Medinan, this sura numbers 176 verses and concerns women, first those afflicted by war, widowhood, or raising orphans, then those faced with challenges of fornication, divorce, or inheritance. The Prophet’s authority as God’s emissary and arbiter is extolled, while those deemed hypocrites and people of the Book are reminded of God’s transcendence and self-sufficiency: Jesus is the messiah, but also servant of the One with angels stationed near Him (vv. 171–72).
In the Name of God, the All Merciful, Ever Merciful
SECTION 1
1Humankind, be mindful
of your Lord, Who created you
from a single soul, and from this
created its mate, multiplying them
into multitudes of men and women.
Be mindful of God, in whose Name
you ask one another about your rights
and those of your relatives—
God is Ever Watchful over you.
2Give to orphans whatever wealth
is left to them, and don’t substitute
worthless things for things of value;
nor consume their wealth
along with yours—
for that would be a grave sin.
3If you fear that
you can’t be fair to orphan girls,°
then marry other women
who seem suitable to you
—two, or three, or four—
but if you fear that
you can’t treat them justly,
then marry only one, or those
you own.° This way, you’ll be
less prone to mistreating them.
4Give women their bridal gift
with goodwill, but if they choose
to forgo a portion, by all means
enjoy it at your pleasure.
5And don’t entrust your property°
to simpletons—for God made it
a means of support for you;
but feed them and clothe them,
and speak to them with kind words.
6Monitor° orphans until they reach
the age of marriage; then if you find
them to be of sound judgment,
disburse their wealth to them,
and don’t consume it wastefully,
or in haste before they come of age.
Let a rich guardian refrain from
using any part of it, while
a poor one can use a fair portion.
When you disburse their wealth,
summon witnesses before them—
for God suffices as Reckoner.
7There is a portion
for both men and women
from what parents
and near relatives leave
—whether small or large—
a specified portion.
8And if other relatives or orphans
or the poor are present during
the distribution, give them a portion
and speak to them with kind words.
9And let them show the same
solicitude [for orphans] as for any
vulnerable offspring of their own
that they might leave behind.
Let them be mindful of God,
and speak words that are fitting.
10Those who wrongfully devour
the wealth of orphans shall devour
fire into their bellies—burning
in a blazing fire.
SECTION 2
11As for your children—in your will,
God directs you to leave the male
a portion equal to that of two females.
If there are only daughters—
two or more—two-thirds
of the inheritance goes to them;
if there is only one, she gets half.
Parents get a sixth share each
if [the deceased] leaves children;
but if he leaves no child,
and the parents are his sole heirs,
then his mother gets a third,
unless he has brothers and sisters,
then his mother gets a sixth.
[The distribution of any will
shall be made] after payment of
any bequests or debts.
You do not know which
of your parents or children
will be of more benefit to you—
hence the obligation
laid down by God.
God is All Knowing, All Wise.
12From what your wives leave,
your portion is a half, if they leave
no child. But if they leave a child,
then yours is a fourth, after payment
of bequests and debts.
And from what you leave,
their share is a fourth, if you leave
no child. But if you leave a child,
then theirs is an eighth, after payment
of bequests and debts.
As for the inheritance
of a man or woman
who has no direct heir
[neither child nor parents]
but has a brother or sister,
each of the two shall get a sixth;
but if more than two,
they will share a third, after payment
of bequests and debts
so that no one suffers loss.
This is the ordinance from God—
God is All Knowing, Most Kind.
13These are the limits laid down
by God. Those who obey
God and His messenger
shall be brought by Him into gardens
with rivers flowing beneath,
residing there forever—
that is the supreme triumph.
14But those who disobey
God and His messenger,
and transgress His limits
shall be thrust by Him into fire,
abiding there forever,
in shameful torment.
SECTION 3
15If any of your women
commits indecency, summon
four witnesses against them
from among you. And if these
attest to their guilt, then
confine them within their home
until death comes to them, or
God finds another way for them.°
16If two people among you
commit indecency, punish
them both. But if they
repent and amend their ways,
then turn away from them;
for God is Ever Relenting,
Ever Merciful.
17God accepts the repentance
only of those who do evil
through ignorance and soon
repent. God will turn
to them in forgiveness,
for God is All Knowing, All Wise;
18but not the repentance
of those who do evil deeds
until death approaches them,
and then say, “Now I repent”;
nor the repentance of those
who die as disbelievers.
For these, We have prepared
a painful punishment.
19You who believe,
it is unlawful for you to inherit
women against their will, or
to treat them harshly,
hoping to take back part of
the bridal gift you gave them, unless
they commit open indecency.
Rather, live with them in kindness,
for if you dislike them, perhaps
you dislike something in which
God imbues much good.
20But if you intend to take
one wife in place of another,
don’t take back any of the bridal gift
you gave to the former,
even if it was a substantial sum.
Would you take it by slander
and blatant sinning?
21For how could you take it
when you have been intimate,
and she has taken from you
a solemn oath?
22And do not marry
any of the women
your fathers married—
though its past practice
is excused—for it is
an indecency, loathsome,
a wicked custom.
SECTION 4
23It is forbidden for you
to marry your mothers,
your daughters, your sisters,
your father’s sisters,
your mother’s sisters,
daughters of brothers,
daughters of sisters,
the foster mothers who nursed you,
the foster sisters nursed with you,
mothers of your wives,
the stepdaughters
in your custody, [born] of the wives
with whom you were intimate
—though if you were not intimate,
there is no blame on you—
the wives of your sons
who are from your loins,
and two sisters at once.
However, the past practice
of all these things is excused—
God is Forgiving, Ever Merciful.
24Also prohibited are
women already married,
except those you own—this
is what God has decreed for you.
Apart from these, others
are lawful to you, provided
you seek them in marriage,
not in lust, and give them
something of your wealth.
Give the bridal gifts
to those you enjoy thereby,
as an obligation,
but there is no blame on you
if you mutually agree upon
something modifying this obligation°—
God is All Knowing, All Wise.
25And those among you
who can’t afford to marry
free chaste believing women,
can marry believers
among your maidservants.°
God best knows your faith;
you belong to one another.
Wed them with permission
of their families, and be fair
in giving them their bridal due.
They should be chaste, not
immoral, taking secret lovers.
Once they are married,
if they commit indecency,
their punishment should be
half of that for free women.
This option is for those of you
who fear falling into sin
by remaining unmarried.
But it is better for you
to be patient—God
is Forgiving, Ever Merciful.
SECTION 5
26God wants to make
His laws clear to you,
and to guide you in the ways
of those before you. And He
turns toward you, for He
is All Knowing, All Wise.
27God wants to turn
toward you, but those
who follow their own desires
want you to deviate—
going far astray.
28God wants to ease
the burdens upon you,
for humans were created weak.
29You who believe,
do not devour one another’s
property wrongfully—
rather, let there be trade
by mutual consent.
Nor kill one another.°
God is Ever Merciful to you.
30And whoever does this,
spitefully and unjustly,
We shall thrust them
into the fire—
this is easy for God.
31If you avoid the major sins
that are forbidden to you,
We shall absolve you
of your minor sins,
and let you enter with honor.
32And do not covet the favors
that God has granted to some
more than others. Men will have
their due share of what they earned,
and women will have
their due share of what they earned.
So entreat God for His favor—
God Knows all things.
33And for everyone,
We have appointed heirs
to what is left behind by parents
and relatives; so give those
to whom you have pledged
your hand
their due portion—
God is Witness to all things.
SECTION 6
34Men are maintainers of women,
for God has thereby advantaged one
over the other—and they
support them from their means.°
So righteous women are devout,
guarding [their husband’s means
and honor], even in their absence,
what God has guarded.
But if you suspect misconduct
from them, first counsel them,
then withdraw from their beds, then
resort to [harmless] force.° But if
they now obey you, seek no
further course against them—
God is Most High, Most Great.
35If you fear a rift between husband
and wife, appoint arbiters,
one from his family and one from hers.
If they desire to reconcile,
God will bring accord between them
for God is All Knowing, All Aware.
36Worship God—and do not
associate partners with Him.
Be kind to parents and relatives,
to orphans, and the poor,
to neighbors—both kin and strangers,
to the companions by your side,
to travelers, and to those you own.
God does not love
