Interpretation of Sura an-Nisa - No.4

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Introduction to the Sura

This Sura, which contains 177 verses, was revealed in Medina. Next to Sura Al-Baqarah, it is the longest Sura of the Qur'an from the point of the number of words and letters. Its contents invite to Faith, justice, taking examples from the nations of the past, breaking the ties of friendship with the enemies of Allah, and supporting the orphans. In this Sura there are subjects such as marriage, equitable distribution of property after death, the necessity of obeying the divine leader, immigration, Holy War in the way of Allah, and so on.

This Sura is entitled An-Nisa, (the women) , since the first thirty five verses of it are about women and family affairs. (1)

The Virtue of Studying This Sura

According to a tradition, the Prophet of Islam (p.b.u.h.) said: "Whoever recites Sura An-Nisa, as if this person has spent property in the path of Allah as much as any Muslim inherits by virtue of the purport of this Sura, and also, a similar reward of a person who has freed a slave, will be given to him." 1

It is evident that the purpose in this tradition, and all of the similar traditions, is not a bare recitation of the verses, but recitation is a preparation for comprehension, the which is, in its turn, a preparation for action and behaving accordingly in personal and social life. Thus, it is certain that if Muslims take lessons from the contents of the verses of this Sura and apply them in their own lives, besides their worldly advantages, they will enjoy of all these rewards in the Hereafter.

Notes:

1. Majma'-ul-Bayan, vol. 3, p. 1

Adopted from the book : "The Light of the Holy Qur'an; Interpretation of Surah an-Nisa" by : "Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani and a Group of Muslim Scholars"