Background Information of Surah An-Nisa
Time of Revelation: Closely linked in time to the revelations following the Battle of Uhud, addressing the immediate social issues faced by the Muslim community. It consists of 176 verses.
Key Themes and Messages
Family and Social Laws:
Rights and Treatment: Focuses on the rights of women and orphans, establishing principles for family life, inheritance, and marriage.
Legal Framework: Includes family law and the importance of maintaining healthy social relations within the family as per Allah’s pleasure.
Women’s Rights: Highlights respectful treatment, fairness in dowry, provision and protection by husbands, and justice in divorce. Women are urged to protect their dignity and their husband’s property and reputation in his absence.
Community and Interactions:
Role of the Islamic Community: Defines the role of Muslims in both the early community of Al-Madina and broader Islamic society.
Addressing Hypocrisy and Hostility: Discusses the disruptive influences within the community, such as hypocrites and some Jewish residents of Medina, and condemns their actions.
Interfaith Relations and Corrections: Criticizes Jews for attempting to ridicule Allah’s teachings through wordplay and warns against evil and sorcery.
Ethical and Legal Instructions
Sanctity of Life: Stresses that human life is sacred, with strict prohibitions on murder and mandates for compensation in cases of accidental death.
Community Conduct: Muslims are advised to be ready for self-defense against enemies and hypocrites.
Fair Judgment: Emphasizes justice, even against oneself or family, and the importance of truthfulness and avoiding harm to others.
Religious Unity and Integrity: Calls for Muslims to accept all parts of Allah’s revelation without picking and choosing, as criticized among the “People of the Book”.
Migration and Living in Hostility
Guidance on Migration: Advises Muslims to migrate from hostile environments when feasible, asserting that Allah’s earth is vast and accommodating.
Prayer Modifications: Permits shortening prayers during travel or danger, emphasizing the need to maintain safety and readiness.
Special Focus on Discretion and Integrity
Financial Discretion: Encourages confidentiality in charity and fairness in judgments, emphasizing discretion in sensitive matters.
Unforgivable Sin: Identifies polytheism (shirk) as the only sin Allah will not forgive.
Consistent Faith Practice: Urges Muslims to consistently practice faith, eschew evil and hypocrisy, and uphold justice and truth across all aspects of life.
Critique of “People of the Book”
Errors and Righteous Among Them: The final part of the Surah discusses the errors of the “People of the Book” while recognizing honorable exceptions among them.
Topical Analysis of Rukus
Ruku 1: Verses 1-10
Allah is speaking about the way human beings were created, the rights of orphans and the sharing of inheritance.
Ruku 2: Verses 11-14
Allah explains the topic of inheritance sharing in detail.
Ruku 3: Verses 15-22
Allah talks about the punishment to be given if two women or two men commit fornication.
He is talking about the difference between accepted and unaccepted repentance and the subject of marriage.
Ruku 4: Verses 23-25
Allah explains the subject of marriage in detail.
Ruku 5: Verses 26-33
Allah talks about what He has done to save His servants.
Allah talks about how we should use our possessions; big and small sins; working without jealousy and wanting from Allah.
Ruku 6: Verses 34-42
God describes the roles of men and women in marriage.
He talks about the people we should do good to.
God talks about people He doesn’t like.
Ruku 7: Verses 43-50
Allah tells us in which situations we should stay away from prayer.
Allah talks about the blasphemy committed by the Jews and tells them to be among the believers before it is too late.
He talks about idolatry.
Ruku 8: Verses 51-59
Allah talks about the people of the book that He has cursed and the torment that awaits in hell for those who deny His verses.
Allah gives advice to the rulers and the people who elect those rulers.
Ruku 9: Verses 60-70
Allah speaks to His Prophet about the hypocrites.
He talks about the importance of believing in the prophets; the ease of applying the orders of Islam, and the rewards that await those who follow these orders.
Ruku 10: Verses 71-76
He talks about the importance of fighting for the sake of Allah and the insincerity of some Muslims who are in a state of war.
Ruku 11: Verses 77-87
Allah talks about the apostasy of some muslims, when war is made obligatory for them; the importance of obedience to the prophet and the tricks of hypocrites.
Allah also talks about the truthfulness of the Qur’an; the return for every good and bad thing, and the subtleties of receiving greetings.
Ruku 12: Verses 88-91
Allah tells muslims what to do and how to behave towards hypocrites in certain situations.
Ruku 13: Verses 92-96
Allah tells us what a believer should do if he kills another believer.
He tells the difference between muslims who struggle with their wealth and lives (in the way of Allah) and those who do nothing in that regard.
Ruku 14: Verses 97-100
The subject of emigration for the sake of Allah is explained.
Ruku 15: Verses 101-104
Allah teaches us how to pray while on a journey.
Ruku 16: Verses 105-112
Allah informs the Prophet (pbuh) about the unknown and gives him advice.
He is talking about sinners.
Ruku 17: Verses 113-115
Allah reminds of His grace to the Prophet (pbuh) and talks about the things that await those who do good and those who disbelieve.
Ruku 18: Verses 116-126
God is talking about idolatry.
Satan’s plan and what he said are revealed.
He talks about those who follow Satan and those who do good as if they see Allah.
Ruku 19: Verses 127-134
God explains his religious decrees about women and husband and wife.
God explains his own power.
Ruku 20: Verses 135-141
God explains the importance of giving a just witness.
Allah reveals what the hypocrites hide and gives them the glad tidings of Hell.
Ruku 21: Verses 142-152
Allah enumerates the characteristics of hypocrites and forbids believers to make friends with unbelievers.
He talks about those who do righteous deeds.
Allah speaks of three groups of infidels.
Ruku 22: Verses 153-162
God describes the curse that the Israelites earned at the time of Moses (pbuh) because of their arrogant attitude and their return from their promises.
Allah talks about the Israelites saying that they have killed Jesus (pbuh) and He explains what actually has happened.
Ruku 23: Verses 163-171
Allah enumerates the names of many of the prophets He sent and says that He sent revelations to them.
Allah also mentions the Qur’an which He sent down in the same way, and He warns those who deny the Qur’an with torment.
Allah informs christians about Jesus (pbuh) and the Trinity.
Ruku 24: Verses 172-176
While Allah gives glad tidings to those who worship Him, He also talks about things that awaits the disbelievers.
Finally, He informs people about the inheritance distribution of a childless person.
