Quranic Sciences

19. " O' you who have Faith! It is not lawful for you to inherit the women against their will, and do not straiten them in order that you may take a part of what you have given them, unless they are guilty of manifest lewdness; but deal kindly with them, and if you hate them, it may be that you dislike a thing while Allah has placed abundant good in it".

Occasion of Revelation

It is narrated from Imam Baqir (a.s.) that the above verse was revealed about the men who used to keep their wives without treating with them as a spouse, waiting for their death in order to possess their properties.

Commentary

The verse may hint to the fact that only the wealth is heritable, and the wife of a man after his death does not belong to any one as heritage. After the death of her first husband, a woman can choose another husband with her own decision.

Explanations

1. Islam is the defender of the rights of women.

" O' you who have Faith! It is not lawful for you to inherit the women against their will, ..."

2. Women have the right of possession.

"... to inherit the women...."

3. Conjugal life should be based on mutual love, not on taking possession of wealth.

4. Taking back the dower forcefully is unlawful.

"... and do not straiten them in order that you may take a part of what you have given them, ..."

"... unless they are guilty of manifest lewdness, ..."

5. Women should be treated well.

"... but deal kindly with them ..."

6. Many of goodnesses lie among the unpleasant things.

"... and if you hate them, it may be that you dislike a thing while Allah has placed abundant good in it."

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"