4. Sura an-Nisa
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَيَسْتَفْتُونَكَ
فِي
النِّسَاء...
4: 127. They ask thy instruction concerning the women.
... قُلِ اللّهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ فِيهِنَّ وَمَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ...
Say: Allah doth instruct you about them:
and (remember) what hath been rehearsed unto you in the Book,
C636. Again and again is it impressed on the community of Islam to be just in their dealings with women, orphans, children, and all whose weakness requires special consideration.
The law about widows and orphans, inheritance, dower, and marriage had already been declared in 4:2-35 and further instructions are now given on a further reference.
It was not right that anyone should take advantage of their helpless position to deprive them of dower or of their portion in inheritance.
... فِي يَتَامَى النِّسَاء الَّلاتِي لاَ تُؤْتُونَهُنَّ مَا كُتِبَ لَهُنَّ وَتَرْغَبُونَ أَن تَنكِحُوهُنَّ...
concerning the orphans of women to whom ye give not the portions prescribed, and yet whom ye desire to marry,
... وَالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الْوِلْدَانِ وَأَن تَقُومُواْ لِلْيَتَامَى بِالْقِسْطِ ...
as also concerning the children who are weak and oppressed: that ye stand firm for justice to orphans.
Both widows and orphans are to be helped because they are ordinarily weak, ill-treated, and oppressed.
In communities which base their civil rights on brute strength, the weaker go to the wall, and public opinion expects nothing else. In Nietzsche's philosophy of the Superman that doctrine is stressed strongly, and some of the militarist nations in our own time seem inclined to support this reversion to our primitive instincts. Even in modern democracies of the saner sort, we are often told that it is the fate of minorities to suffer; strength of numbers here becomes the passport to power and privilege.
Islam, while upholding sane manly views in general, enjoins the most solicitous care for the weak and oppressed in every way-in rights of property, in social rights, and in the right to opportunities of development.
Spiritual strength or weakness does not necessarily go with physical or numerical strength.
... وَمَا تَفْعَلُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ بِهِ عَلِيمًا ﴿١٢٧﴾
There is not a good deed which ye do, but Allah is well-acquainted therewith.
وَإِنِ امْرَأَةٌ خَافَتْ مِن بَعْلِهَا نُشُوزًا أَوْ إِعْرَاضًا فَلاَ جُنَاْحَ عَلَيْهِمَا أَن يُصْلِحَا
Asad’s Version:
4: 127
Asad
And they will ask you to enlightened them about the laws concerning women [note 145]. Say: “God [Himself] enlightens you about the laws concerning them” – for [His will is shown] in what is being conveyed unto you through this divine writ about orphan women [in your charge], to whom – because you yourselves may be desirous of marrying them – you do not give that which has been ordained for them [note 146];
and about helpless children; and about your duty to treat orphans with equity. And whatever good you may do – behold, God has indeed full knowledge thereof.
Pickthall They consult thee concerning women. Say: Allah give to you decree concerning them, and the Scripture which hath been recited unto you (giveth decree), concerning female orphans unto whom ye give not that which is ordained for them though ye desire to marry them, and (concerning) the weak among children, and that ye should deal justly with orphans. Whatever good ye do, lo! Allah is ever Aware of it.
Transliteration Wa yastaftu_naka fin nisa_'(i), qulilla_hu yuftikum fihinn(a), wa ma_ yutla_ 'alaikum fil kita_bi fi yata_man nisa_'il la_ti la_ tu'tu_nahunna ma_ kutiba lahunna wa targabu_na an tankihu_hunna wal mustad'afina minal wilda_n(i), wa an taqu_mu_ lilyata_ma_ bil qist(i), wa ma_ taf'alu_ min khairin fa innalla_ha ka_na bihi 'alima_(n).
[[ Asad’s note 145 – I.e., the relating t marital relations, women’s share in inheritance, etc. A ‘fatwa’ or ‘ifta’ denotes the “classification of a legal injunction” given
in reply to a question; correspondingly, the verb ‘istaftahu’ means “he asked him to give a legal decision”, or “to enlighten him about a [particular] law”.
Since, the laws alluded to in the above passage have already been dealt with early in this surah, the repeated reference to them is meant to stress the great importance of the problems involved, as well as the responsibility which men bear towards their physiologically weaker counterparts.
IN accordance with the system prevailing throughout the Quran, a lengthy passage dealing with purely moral or ethical questions is usually – as in the present case – followed by verses relating to social legislation, and this with a view to bringing out the intimate connection between man’s spiritual life and his social behavior.]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 636 Again and again is it impressed on the community of Islam to be just in their dealings with women, orphans, children, and all whose weakness requires special consideration. The law about widows and orphans, inheritance, dower, and marriage had already been declared in iv. 2-35 and further instructions are now given on a further reference. It was not right that anyone should take advantage of their helpless position to deprive them of dower or of their portion in inheritance. (4.127) ]]