Surah An-Nisa (النساء) • The Women

Quran 4:34

4:34

ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٰمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ ۚ فَٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ قَـٰنِتَـٰتٌ حَـٰفِظَـٰتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَٱلَّـٰتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضْرِبُوهُنَّ ۖ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلًا ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّا كَبِيرًا

al-rijālu qawwāmūna ʿalā l-nisāi bimā faḍḍala l-lahu baʿḍahum ʿalā baʿḍin wabimā anfaqū min amwālihim fal-ṣāliḥātu qānitātun ḥāfiẓātun lil'ghaybi bimā ḥafiẓa l-lahu wa-allātī takhāfūna nushūzahunna faʿiẓūhunna wa-uh'jurūhunna fī l-maḍājiʿi wa-iḍ'ribūhunna fa-in aṭaʿnakum falā tabghū ʿalayhinna sabīlan inna l-laha kāna ʿaliyyan kabīran

Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allāh has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allāh would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them [lightly]. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allāh is ever Exalted and Grand.

— Saheeh International

Husbands should take good care of their wives, with [the bounties] God has given to some more than others and with what they spend out of their own money. Righteous wives are devout and guard what God would have them guard in their husbands’ absence. If you fear high-handedness from your wives, remind them [of the teachings of God], then ignore them when you go to bed, then hit them.If they obey you, you have no right to act against them: God is most high and great.

— M. A. S. Abdel Haleem

Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allâh 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 Allâh and to their husbands), and guard in the husband’s absence what Allâh 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 return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance). Surely, Allâh is Ever Most High, Most Great.

— Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

Juz 5Page 84medinan

Word by Word

ٱلرِّجَالُal-rijālu[The] men
قَوَّٰمُونَqawwāmūna(are) protectors
عَلَىʿalāof
ٱلنِّسَآءِl-nisāithe women
بِمَاbimābecause
فَضَّلَfaḍḍala(has) bestowed
ٱللَّهُl-lahuAllah
بَعْضَهُمْbaʿḍahumsome of them
عَلَىٰʿalāover
بَعْضٍۢbaʿḍinothers
وَبِمَآwabimāand because
أَنفَقُوا۟anfaqūthey spend
مِنْminfrom
أَمْوَٰلِهِمْۚamwālihimtheir wealth
فَٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُfal-ṣāliḥātuSo the righteous women
قَـٰنِتَـٰتٌqānitātun(are) obedient
حَـٰفِظَـٰتٌۭḥāfiẓātunguarding
لِّلْغَيْبِlil'ghaybiin the unseen
بِمَاbimāthat which
حَفِظَḥafiẓa(orders) them to guard
ٱللَّهُۚl-lahu(by) Allah
وَٱلَّـٰتِىwa-allātīAnd those (from) whom
تَخَافُونَtakhāfūnayou fear
نُشُوزَهُنَّnushūzahunnatheir ill-conduct
فَعِظُوهُنَّfaʿiẓūhunnathen advise them
وَٱهْجُرُوهُنَّwa-uh'jurūhunnaand forsake them
فِىfīin
ٱلْمَضَاجِعِl-maḍājiʿithe bed
وَٱضْرِبُوهُنَّۖwa-iḍ'ribūhunnaand [finally] strike them
فَإِنْfa-inThen if
أَطَعْنَكُمْaṭaʿnakumthey obey you
فَلَاfalāthen (do) not
تَبْغُوا۟tabghūseek
عَلَيْهِنَّʿalayhinnaagainst them
سَبِيلًاۗsabīlana way
إِنَّinnaIndeed
ٱللَّهَl-lahaAllah
كَانَkānais
عَلِيًّۭاʿaliyyanMost High
كَبِيرًۭاkabīranMost Great