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English Translation of the Meanings of Some Holy Qur'anic Verses

Surat An-Nisa
(The Women)

Verses 1 - 10

Verse 1: O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa' (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women; and fear Allah through Whom you demand (your mutual rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you.

Verse 2: And give to the orphans their property and do not exchange (your) bad things for (their) good ones; and devour not their substance (by adding it) to your substance. Surely, this is a great sin.

Verse 3: And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan-girls, then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (the slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice.

Verse 4: And give to the women (whom you marry) their Mahr (obligatory bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) with a good heart; but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, take it, and enjoy it without fear of any harm (as Allah has made it lawful).

Verse 5: And give not to the foolish your property which Allah has made a means of support for you, but feed and clothe them therewith, and speak to them workds of kindness and justice.

Verse 6: And try the orphans (as regards their intelligence) until they reach the age of marriage; if then you find sound judgement in them, release their property to them, but consume it not wastefully and hastily, fearing that they should grow up, and whoever (amongst guardians) is rich, he should take no wages, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable (according to his labour). And when you release their property to them, take witness in their presence; and Allah is All-Sufficient in taking account.

Verse 7: There is a share for men and a share for women from what is left by parents and those nearest related, whether the property be small or large - a legal share.

Verse 8: And when the relatives and the orphans and Al-Masakin (the needy) are present at the time of division, give them out of the property, and speak to them words of kindness and justice.

Verse 9: And let those (executors and guardians) have the same fear in their minds as they would have for their own, if they had left weak offspring behind. So let them fear Allah and speak right words.

Verse 10: Verily, those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, they eat up only fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in the blazing Fire!

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HADITH

Narrated Al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah Radiyallahu Anh: The Prophet PBUH said, "Allah has forbidden for you: (1) To be undutiful to your mothers, (2) to bury your daughters alive, (3) not to pay the rights of the others (e.g. Zakat, charity) and (4) to beg of men (i.e. begging). And Allah has hated for you; (1) Sinful and useless talk like backbiting or that you talk too much about others, (2) to ask too many questions, (in disputed religious matters) and (3) to waste the wealth (by extravagance with lack of wisdom and thinking). (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.3 Hadith No.591)

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Verses 11 - 18

Verse 11: Allah commands you as regards your children's (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females; if (there are) only daughters, two or more, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is a half. For parents, a sixth share of inheritance to each if the deceased left children; if no children, and the parents are the (only)heirs, the mother has a third; if the deceased left brothers (or sisters), the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies he may have bequeathed or debts. You know not which of them, whether your parents or your children, are nearest to you in benefit; (these fixed shares) are ordained by Allah. And Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.

Verse 12: In that which your wives leave, your share is a half if they have no child; but if they leave a child, you get a fourth of that which they leave after payment of legacies that they may have bequeathed or debts. In that which you leave, their (your wives) share is a fourth if you leave no child; but if you leave a child, they get an eighth of that which you leave after payment of legacies that you may have bequeathed or debts. If the man or woman whose inheritance is in question has left neither ascendants nor descendants, but has left a brother or a sister, each one of the two gets a sixth; but if more than two, they share in a third, after payment of legacies he (or she) may have bequeathed or debts, so that no loss is caused (to anyone). This is a Commandment from Allah; and Allah is Ever All-Knowing, Most-Forbearing.

Verse 13: These are the limits (set by) Allah (or ordainments as regards laws of inheritance), and whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad PBUH) will be admitted to Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise), to abide therein, and that will be the great success.

Verse 14: And whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad PBUH), and transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the Fire, to abide therein; and he shall have a disgraceful torment.

Verse 15: And those of your women who commit illegal sexual intercourse, take the evidence of four witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them (i.e. women) to houses until death comes to them or Allah ordains for them some (other) way.

Verse 16: And the two persons (man and woman) among you who commit illegal sexual intercourse, hurt them both. And if they repent (promise Allah that they will never repeat, i.e. commit illegal sexual intercourse and other similar sins) and do righteous good deeds, leave them alone. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Forgiving (the One Who forgives and accepts repentance), (and He is) Most Merciful.

Verse 17: Allah accepts only the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and foolishness and repent soon (i.e. afterwards); it is they whom Allah will forgive and Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.

Verse 18: And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: "Now I repent;" nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful torment.

 

Verses 19 - 28

Verse 19: O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will; and you should not treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the Mahr you have given them, unless they commit open Fahishah (illegal sexual intercourse or disobey their husbands); and live with them honourably. If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good.

Verse 20: But if you intend to replace a wife by another and you have given one of them a Qintar (of gold i.e. a great amount as Mahr) take not the least bit of it back; would you take it wrongfully without a right and (with) a manifest sin?

Verse 21: And how could you take it (back) while you have gone in unto each other, and they have taken from you a firm and strong covenant?

Verse 22: And marry not women whom your fathers married, except what has already passed; indeed it was shameful and most hateful, and an evil way.

Verse 23: Forbidden to you (for marriage) are: your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father's sisters, your mother's sisters, your brother's daughters, your sister's daughters, your foster mothers who gave you suck, your foster milk suckling sisters, your wives' mothers, your step-daughters under your guardianship, born of your wives to whom you have gone in, but there is no sin on you if you have not gone in them (to marry their daughters), the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins, and two sisters in wedlock at the same time, except for what has already passed; verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Verse 24: Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Thus has Allah ordained for you. All others are lawful, provided you seek (them in marriage) with Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) from your property, desiring chastity, not committing illegal sexual intercourse, so with those of whom you have enjoyed sexual relations, give them their Mahr as prescribed; but if after a Mahr is prescribed, you agree mutually (to give more), there is no sin on you. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Verse 25: And whoever of you have not the means wherewith to wed free, believing women, they may wed believing girls from among those (slaves) whom your right hands possess, and Allah has full knowledge about your Faith; you are one from another. Wed them with the permission of their own folk (guardians, Auliya' or masters) and give them their Mahr according to what is reasonable; they (the above said captive and slave-girls) should be chaste, not committing illegal sex, nor taking boy-friends. And after they have been taken in wedlock, if they commit illegal sexual intercourse, their punishment is half that for free (unmarried) women. This is for him among you who is afraid of being harmed in his religion or in his body; but it is better for you that you practise self-restraint, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Verse 26: Allah wishes to make clear (what is lawful and what is unlawful) to you, and to show you the ways of those before you, and accept your repentance, and Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.

Verse 27: Allah wishes to accept your repentance, but those who follow their lusts, wish that you (believers) should deviate tremendously away (from the Right Path).

Verse 28: Allah wishes to lighten (the burden) for you; and man was created weak (cannot be patient to leave sexual intercourse with women).

Verses 29 - 39

Verse 29: O you who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves unjustly except it be a trade amongst you, by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you.

Verse 30: And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire, and that is easy for Allah

Verse 31: If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden to do, We shall expiate from you your (small) sins, and admit you to a Noble Entrance (i.e. Paradise).

Verse 32: And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others. For men there is a reward for what they have earned, and (likewise) for women there is a reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything.

Verse 33: And to everyone, We have appointed heirs of that (property) left by parents and relatives. To those also with whom you have made a pledge (brotherhood), give them their due portion (by Wasiyyah - wills). Truly, Allah is Ever a Witness over all things.

Verse 34: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allah and to their husbands), and guard in the husband's absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband's property). As to those women on whose part you see ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly, if it is useful); but if they obey you, seek not against them means (of annoyance). Surely, Allah is Ever Most High, Most Great.

Verse 35: If you fear a breach between them twain (the man and his wife), appoint (two) arbitrators, one from his family and the other from hers; if they both wish for peace, Allah will cause their reconciliation. Indeed Allah is Ever All-Knower, Well-Acquainted with all things.

Verse 36: Worship Allah and join none with Him (in worship); and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masakin (the needy), the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and boastful.

Verse 37: Those who are miserly and enjoin miserliness on other men and hide what Allah has bestowed upon them of His Bounties. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a disgraceful torment.

Verse 38: And (also) those who spend of their substance to be seen of men, and believe not in Allah and the Last Day [they are the friends of Shaitan (Satan)] as an intimate; then what a dreadful intimate he has!

Verse 39: And what loss have they if they had believed in Allah and in the Last Day, and they spend out of what Allah has provided them? And Allah is Ever All-Knower of them.

HADITH

1. Narrated Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu Anh: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Everyday two angels come down from heaven and one of them says, 'O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in Your Cause,' and the other (angel) says, 'O Allah! Destroy every miser." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.2, Hadith No.522)

Seeing Allah on the Day of Resurrection

2. Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri Radiyallahu Anh: During the lifetime of the Prophet PBUH some people said, "O Allah's Messenger! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?" The Prophet PBUH said: "Yes; do you have any difficulty in seeing the sun at midday when it is bright and there is no cloud in the sky?" They replied, "No." He said, "Do you have any difficulty in seeing the moon on a fullmoon night when it is bright and there is no cloud in the sky?" They replied, "No." The Prophet PBUH said "(Similarly) you will have no difficulty in seeing Allah (SWT) on the Day of Resurrection, as you have no difficulty in seeing either of them." On the Day of Resurrection, a call-maker will announce, "Let every nation follow that which they used to worship." Then none of those who used to worship anything other than Allah like idols and other deities, but will fall in Hell (Fire), till there will remain none but those who used to worship Allah, both those who were obedient (i.e. good) and those who were disobedient (i.e. bad) and the remaining party of the people of the Scripture. Then the Jews will be called upon and it will be said to them, "Who did you use to worship?" They will say, "We used to worship 'Uzair (Ezra), the son of Allah". It will be said to them, "You are liars, for Allah has never taken anyone as a wife or a son. What do you want now?" They will say, "O our Lord! we are thirsty, so give us something to drink." They will be directed and addressed thus, "Will you drink" whereupon they will be gathered unto Hell (Fire) which will look like a mirage whose different sides will be destroying each other. Then they will fall into the Fire. Afterwards the Christians will be called upon and it will be said to them, "Who did you use to worship?" They will say, "We used to worship 'Isa (Jesus), the son of Allah." It will be said to them, "You are liars, for Allah has never taken anyone as a wife or a son." Then it will be said to them, "What do you want now?" They will say what the former people have said ( and will be thrown in the Hell-fire like the Jews). Then, when there remain (in the gathering)none but those who used to worship Allah [Alone; the real Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)], whether they were obedient or disobedient. Then Allah, [the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)], will come to them in a shape nearest to the picture they had in their minds about Him. It will be said, "What are you waiting for? Every nation has followed what it used to worship." They will reply, "We left the people in the world when we were in great need of them and we did not take them as friends. Now we are waiting for our Lord Whom we used to worship." Allah will say, "I am your Lord." They will say twice or thrice, "We do not worship anything besides Allah." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.6, Hadith No. 105).

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Verses 40 - 52

Verse 40: Surely! Allah wrongs not even of the weight of an atom (or a small ant), but if there is any good (done), He doubles it, and gives from Him a great reward.

Verse 41: How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad PBUH) as a witness against these people?

Verse 42: On that day those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger (Muhammad PBUH) will wish that they were buried in the earth, but they will never be able to hide a single fact from Allah.

Verse 43: O you who believe! Approach not As-Salat (the prayer) while you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning) of what you utter, nor while you are in a state of Janaba, (i.e. in a state of sexual impurity and have not yet taken a bath) except while traveling on the way (through a mosque), till you wash your whole body (Ghusl). And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes from the Gha'it (toilet), or you have been in contact with women (by sexual relations) and you find no water, perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands (Tayammum). Truly, Allah is Ever Oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving.

Verse 44: Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Book (the Jews), purchasing the wrong path, and wish that you should go astray from the Right Path?

Verse 45: Allah has full knowledge of your enemies, and Allah is Sufficient as a Wali (Protector), and Allah is Sufficient as a Helper.

Verse 46: Among those who are Jews, there are some who displace words from (their) right places and say: "We hear your word (O Muhammad PBUH) and disobey," and "Hear and let you (O Muhammad PBUH) hear nothing." And Ra'ina with a twist of their tongues and as a mockery of the religion (Islam). And if only they had said: "We hear and obey", and "Do make us understand," it would have been better for them, and more proper; but Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not except a few. (1)

Verse 47: O you who have been given the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Believe in what We have revealed (to Muhammad PBUH) confirming what is (already) with you, before We efface faces (by making them like the back of necks; without nose, mouth, eyes) and turn them hindwards, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers And the Commandment of Allah is always executed. (**)

Verse 48: Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allah (in worship), he has indeed invented a tremendous sin. (***)

Verse 49: Have you not seen those (Jews and Christians) who claim sanctity for themselves? Nay, but Allah sanctifies whom He wills, and they will not be dealt with injustice even equal to the extent of a scalish thread in the long slit of a date-stone.

Verse 50: Look, how they invent a lie against Allah, and enough is that as a manifest sin.

Verse 51: Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture? They believe in Jibt and Taghut and say to the disbelievers that they are better guided as regards the way than the believers (Muslims). (****)

Verse 52: They are those whom Allah has cursed, and he whom Allah curses, you will not find for him (any) helper.

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HADITH

*. Ra'ina: means in Arabic "Be careful, listen to us, and we listen to you", whereas in Hebrew, it means an insult.

**. This verse is a severe warning to the Jews and Christians, and an absolute obligation that they must believe in Allah's Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) and in his Message of Islamic Monotheism and in this Qur'an. (Verse 47)

Narrated Anas Radiyallahu Anh: The Prophet PBUH said, "Allah will say to that person of the (Hell) Fire who will receive the least punishment, 'If you had everything on the earth, would you give it as a ransom to free yourself (i.e. save yourself from this Fire)?' He will say, 'Yes'. Then Allah will say, 'While you were in the backbone of Adam, I asked you much less than this, (i.e. not to worship others besides Me), but you insisted on worshipping others besides Me.'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.4, Hadith No.551)

The words "Jibt and Taghut" cover wide meanings: They mean anything worshipped other than the Real God (Allah) i.e. all the false deities, it may be an idol, satan, graves, stone, sun, star, angel, saints, or any human being. (Verse 51)

 

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Verses 53- 63

Verse 53: Or have they a share in the dominion? Then in that case they would not give mankind even a speck on the back of a date-stone.

Verse 54: Or do they envy men (Muhammad SAW and his followers) for what Allâh has given them of His Bounty? Then We had already given the family of Ibrâhim (Abraham) the Book and Al¬Hikmah (As¬Sunnah - Divine Revelation to those Prophets not written in the form of a book), and conferred upon them a great kingdom

Verse 55: Of them were (some) who believed in him (Muhammad PBUH ), and of them were (some) who averted their faces from him (Muhammad PBUH); and enough is Hell for burning (them).

Verse 56: Surely! Those who disbelieved in Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) We shall burn them in Fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that they may taste the punishment. Truly, Allâh is Ever Most Powerful, All¬Wise.

Verse 57: But those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) and do deeds of righteousness, We shall admit them to Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), abiding therein forever. Therein they shall have Azwâjun Mutahharatun [purified mates or wives] and We shall admit them to shades wide and ever deepening (Paradise).

Verse 58: Verily! Allâh commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due; and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allâh) gives you! Truly, Allâh is Ever All¬Hearer, All¬Seer.

Verse 59: O you who believe! Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger (Muhammad PBUH), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allâh and His Messenger (PBUH), if you believe in Allâh and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination.

Verse 60: Have you seen those (hyprocrites) who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Tâghût (false judges) while they have been ordered to reject them. But Shaitân (Satan) wishes to lead them far astray.

Verse 61: And when it is said to them: "Come to what Allâh has sent down and to the Messenger (Muhammad PBUH)," you (Muhammad PBUH) see the hypocrites turn away from you (Muhammad PBUH) with aversion

Verse 62: How then, when a catastrophe befalls them because of what their hands have sent forth, they come to you swearing by Allâh, "We meant no more than goodwill and conciliation!"

Verse 63: They (hypocrites) are those of whom Allâh knows what is in their hearts; so turn aside from them (do not punish them) but admonish them, and speak to them an effective word (i.e. to believe in Allâh, worship Him, obey Him, and be afraid of Him) to reach their innerselves