Sura al-Nisa: Difference between revisions

'''Sūra al-Nisā’''' (Arabic: {{ia|سورَة النِساء}}) is the 44th [[Sura]] of the [[Qur'an]] in the 4th to 6th [[juz'|juz's]]. It is a [[Madani]] Sura. It is called “al-Nisa'” (women) because many [[fiqh|jurisprudential]] rulings concerning women are stated in this Sura. Sura al-Nisa' is mainly concerned with the rulings of [[marriage]] and [[inheritance]]. It is also concerned with some rulings of the [[prayer]], [[jihad]] and [[martyrdom]]. It also contains contents about the [[People of the Book]] and the fates of past nations. The Sura also contains warnings against [[munafiq|hypocrites]].

A well-known verse in this Sura is the verse 59, known as [[Uli l-Amr Verse]] in which God orders Muslims to obey the “Uli l-Amr” (people of authority). According to [[hadiths]], “Uli l-Amr” refers to Shiite [[Imams (a)]]. Other well-known verses of Sura al-Nisa' are verses of [[Verse of Tayammum|Tayammum]] and [[Verse of Maharim|Maharim]]. [[The Prophet (s)]] is quoted as saying of the virtues of Sura al-Nisa' that if one recites this Sura, it will be as if he gave [[sadaqa]] as much as the heritages of all believers and he will be given a reward equivalent to that of emancipating a slave. He will be pure from [[polytheism]], and in God’s providence, he will be one of the people forgiven by God.

Naming: the Sura is called “al-Nisa'” (women) because the word, “nisa'” occurs more than 20 times in it and many jurisprudential rulings of women appear therein. It is also known as “Sura al-Nisa' al-Kubra” (literally: the major Sura of women), because [[Sura al-Talaq]] is also known as “Sura al-Nisa' al-Sughra” (literally: the minor Sura of women) or “Sura al-Nisa' al-Qusra” (literally: the short Sura of women).

Place and order of revelation: Sura al-Nisa' is a Madani Sura. In its order of revelation, it is the 92nd Sura revealed to the Prophet (s). And in the traditional order of compilation, it is the 4th Sura of the [[Qur'an]] in 4th to 6th juz's.

Number of verses and other features: Sura al-Nisa' has 176 verses, 3764 words, and 16328 letters. With respect to its size, it counts as one of [[Sab' Tiwal]] (the seven long Suras), and it is the second longest Sura of the Qur'an after [[Sura al-Baqara]]. Sura al-Nisa' occupies about 1 and a half juz's of the Qur'an.

According to ''[[al-Mizan]]'', Sura al-Nisa' is concerned with the rulings of marriage, such as the number of wives a man can marry and people whom one cannot marry. It also states the rulings of inheritance as well as other issues, such as the rulings of prayer, jihad, martyrdom, and very briefly, the [[People of the Book]]. Other issues in this Sura include: calling to faith and justice, stories of past nations, mutual rights and obligations of people in the society, jihad against unbelievers, and warnings against hypocrites.

The verse 23 of Sura al-Nisa' states the prohibition of marrying some relatives. “Maharim” (plural form of “[[mahram]]”) is a jurisprudential term referring to relatives it is forbidden to marry. With respect to the grounds of being mahram (blood relation, marriage, and [[rida']] or breastfeeding), Maharim are distinguished to “nasabi” (by blood), “sababi” (by marriage), and “rida'i” (by breastfeeding).

Verse 43 of Sura al-Nisa' states the rulings of [[tayammum]]. According to this verse, if water is harmful for one’s body or if water is not accessible to one, one can perform tayammum instead of [[wudu]] or [[ghusl]].

Verse 59 of this Sura orders believers to obey God, the [[Messenger of God]], and “Uli l-Amr”. Shiite exegetes as well as some [[Sunni]] exegetes, such as [[al-Fakhr al-Razi]], believe that the verse implies the [[infallibility]] of Uli l-Amr. There are many [[hadiths]] in Shiite sources to the effect that “Uli l-Amr” are the [[Infallible]] [[Imams (a)]].

===Verses of “Nushuz”===

Verses 34 and 128 of Sura al-Nisa' are known as Verses of Nushuz. “Nushuz” is a jurisprudential term mainly referring to a wife’s disobedience of her husband in things like sexual requests and leaving the house without his permission. It is also used for a man when he disrespects her and does not observe her rights. In some hadiths, a man’s “nushuz” is interpreted as his decision to [[divorce]] his wife.

Over 30 verses in Sura al-Nisa' are known as “[[Ayat al-Ahkam]]” (jurisprudential verses). A large number of these verses state the rulings of [[marriage]] (such as verses 3, 20-25, 34-35, and 128) and the rulings of inheritance (such as verses 7, 15-16, 25, 33, and 176). For example, verse 3 says that men are permitted to have four wives, and verses 23-24 are concerned with relatives who count as [[maharim]], that is, the ones it is forbidden to marry. The shares of inheritance for sons and daughters (two shares for sons and one share for daughters), as well as fathers, mothers, husbands, and wives, are specified in some verses.

Other rulings stated in this Sura include: saying [[prayer]] while one is drunken (verse 43), crossing a [[mosque]] while one is [[junub]] (verse 43), [[tayammum]] (verse 43), rulings of the prayer (verses 101-103), returning a trust (verse 58), rulings concerning orphans and mad people (verses 5-6), rulings of unintentional killing (verse 92), hypocrisy (verse 38), rulings of greeting (verse 86), rulings of the dominance of unbelievers over believers (verse 141), avoiding [[polytheism]] (verse 36), doing good to one’s parents (verse 36), and men being in charge of women (verse 34).

* Satan’s swearing to mislead human beings (verses 118-120).

* The disobedience of the [[Israelites]] (asking [[Moses]] to show God to them, worshiping a calf, covenant of the Mount Sinai, the covenant of no transgression on the sabbath, murdering some [[prophets]], saying a great slander against [[Mary]], and the claim that they killed [[Jesus]]) (verses 153-157).

[[The Prophet (s)]] is quoted as saying that if one recites Sura al-Nisa', it would be as if he gave [[sadaqa]] as much as the heritages of all believers and he will be given the reward equivalent to that of someone who emancipated a slave and will be pure from polytheism, and in God’s providence, he will be one of those who are forgiven by God. [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] is also quoted as saying that if one recites Sura al-Nisa' on [[Friday]]s, he will be protected from the [[pressure of the grave]].  

There are virtues for the recitation of this Sura mentioned in sources of [[hadith]]s, such as the removal of fear (if it is washed with rain water and drunk) and finding lost things. According to [[al-Shaykh al-Tusi]]’s ''[[Misbah al-mutahajjid]]'', it is recommended to recite Sura al-Nisa' after the [[morning prayer]] on Fridays.