Surah An-Nisa Verse 34 Translation (4:34) and Analysis

Mathematical

According to the Hafs Mushaf order, this verse is verse 527 from the beginning and verse 5710 from the end; it is in surah 4 and is verse 34 of Surah An-Nisa. The word count of verse 34 of Surah An-Nisa is 40, its letter count is 190, and its total Abjad value has been calculated as 17426. The total Abjad value of Surah An-Nisa has been calculated as 1117221. Abjad counts include the letter ء (Hamza) where present.

Arabic Text

الرجال قوامون على النساء بما فضل الله بعضهم على بعض وبما انفقوا من اموالهم فالصالحات قانتات حافظات للغيب بما حفظ الله والتي تخافون نشوزهن فعظوهن واهجروهن في المضاجع واضربوهن فان اطعنكم فلا تبغوا عليهن سبيلا ان الله كان عليا كبيرا

Letter Count

SHF

الرجالقوامونعلىالنساءبمافضلاللهبعضهمعلىبعضوبماانفقوامناموالهمفالصالحاتقانتاتحافظاتللغيببماحفظاللهوالتيتخافوننشوزهنفعظوهنواهجروهنفيالمضاجعواضربوهنفاناطعنكمفلاتبغواعليهنسبيلااناللهكانعلياكبيرا

Transliteration in Latin Letters

Erricâlu kavvâmûne ‘alâ annisâ-i bimâ faddala(A)llâhu ba’dahum ‘alâ ba’din vebimâ enfekû min emvâlihim(c) fe-ssâlihâtu kânitâtun hâfizâtun lilġaybi bimâ hafiza(A)llâh(u)(c) vellâtî teḣâfûne nuşûzehunne fe’izûhunne vehcurûhunne fî-lmedâci’i vadribûhun(ne)(s) fe-in eta’nekum felâ tebġû ‘aleyhinne sebîlâ(en)(k) inna(A)llâhe kâne ‘aliyyen kebîrâ(n)

M. Pickthall (English)

Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath men the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High Exalted, Great.

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Yusuf Ali (English)

Men are the protectors(545) and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband´s) absence what Allah would have them guard.(546) As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first),(547) (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly);(547-A) but if they return to obedience, seek not against them(548) Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).*

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Explanation

545 Qawwam: one who stands firm in another's business, protects his interests, and looks after his affairs; or it may be, standing firm in his own business, managing affairs, with a steady purpose ( Cf. 4:135 and 2:228). 546 Or the sentence may be rendered: "and protect (the husband's interests) in his absence, as Allah has protected them. If we take the rendering as in the text, the meaning is: the good wife is obedient and harmonious in her husband's presence, and in his absence guards his reputation and property and her own virtue, as ordained by Allah. If we take the rendering as in the note, we reach the same result in a different way: the good wife, in her husband's absence, remembering how Allah has given her a sheltered position, does everything to justify that position by guarding her own virtue and his reputation and property. 547 In case of family jars four steps are mentioned, to be taken in that order: (1) perhaps verbal advice or admonition may be sufficient; (2) if not, sex relations may be suspended; (3) if this is not sufficient, some slight physical correction may be administered; but Imam Shafi'i considers this inadvisable, though permissible, and all authorities are unanimous in deprecating any sort of cruelty, even of the nagging kind, as mentioned in the next clause; (4)-if all this fails, a family council is recommended in 4:35 below. 547-A . The word "daraba" is used in the Qur'an with about 17 different meanings including avoid, separate, leave, travel etc. The Qur'an is best interpreted through the deeds and sayings of the Prophet. The fact that the Prophet never battered or spanked any wife and detested any such action, gives credence that the meaning intended here by "wadribuhunna" is to stay away from a discordant wife in the hope that this will let her realize an impending separation and divorce. (Eds.) 548 Temper, nagging, sarcasm, speaking at each other in other people's presence, reverting to past faults which should be forgiven and forgotten-all this is forbidden. And the reason given is characteristic of Islam. You must live all your life as in the presence of Allah, Who is high above us, but Who watches over us. How petty and contemptible will our little squabbles appear in His presence!