سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 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 ﴿34﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
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.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱلرِّجَالُ
al-rijālu
[The] men
قَوَّٰمُونَ
qawwāmūna
(are) protectors
عَلَى
ʿalā
of
ٱلنِّسَآءِ
l-nisāi
the women
بِمَا
bimā
because
فَضَّلَ
faḍḍala
(has) bestowed
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
بَعْضَهُمْ
baʿḍahum
some of them
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
بَعْضٍۢ
baʿḍin
others
وَبِمَآ
wabimā
and because
أَنفَقُوا۟
anfaqū
they spend
مِنْ
min
from
أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ ۚ
amwālihim
their wealth
فَٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ
fal-ṣāliḥātu
So the righteous women
قَـٰنِتَـٰتٌ
qānitātun
(are) obedient
حَـٰفِظَـٰتٌۭ
ḥāfiẓātun
guarding
لِّلْغَيْبِ
lil'ghaybi
in the unseen
بِمَا
bimā
that which
حَفِظَ
ḥafiẓa
(orders) them to guard
ٱللَّهُ ۚ
l-lahu
(by) Allah
وَٱلَّـٰتِى
wa-allātī
And those (from) whom
تَخَافُونَ
takhāfūna
you fear
نُشُوزَهُنَّ
nushūzahunna
their ill-conduct
فَعِظُوهُنَّ
faʿiẓūhunna
then advise them
وَٱهْجُرُوهُنَّ
wa-uh'jurūhunna
and forsake them
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ
l-maḍājiʿi
the bed
وَٱضْرِبُوهُنَّ ۖ
wa-iḍ'ribūhunna
and [finally] strike them
فَإِنْ
fa-in
Then if
أَطَعْنَكُمْ
aṭaʿnakum
they obey you
فَلَا
falā
then (do) not
تَبْغُوا۟
tabghū
seek
عَلَيْهِنَّ
ʿalayhinna
against them
سَبِيلًا ۗ
sabīlan
a way
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
كَانَ
kāna
is
عَلِيًّۭا
ʿaliyyan
Most High
كَبِيرًۭا
kabīran
Most Great
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 34) ➊ {اَلرِّجَالُ قَوّٰمُوْنَ …:} The Shariah has appointed the man as the caretaker (guardian, responsible one) of the household for the management and administration of the home, and has placed the woman under his authority. The Qur’an has stated two reasons for this: one is that the man has a natural distinction that qualifies him to be the administrator, and the second is that all the household expenses, including the wife’s maintenance, are the man’s responsibility. On this basis, the right to be the caretaker of the home belongs to the man, not the woman. The same applies to governmental affairs: a woman cannot be the caliph or leader of the Muslims; rather, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ لَنْ يُفْلِحَ قَوْمٌ وَلَّوْا أَمْرَهُمُ امْرَأَةً ] “A people who appoint a woman as their ruler will never succeed.” [ بخاری، المغازی، باب کتاب النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم إلی کسریٰ و قیصر : ۴۴۲۵ ]
➋ {فَالصّٰلِحٰتُ قٰنِتٰتٌ …:} The explanation of this verse is given by the hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The best wife is the one who, if you look at her, pleases you; if you command her in something, she obeys you; and when you are absent, she guards your wealth and her own self.” Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse: «{ اَلرِّجَالُ قَوّٰمُوْنَ عَلَى النِّسَآءِ }» [ مسند أبی داوٗد الطیالسی : ۲۴۴۴۔ ابن جریر : 62/4، و صححہ صاحب ہدایۃ المستنیر ]
➌ { حٰفِظٰتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللّٰهُ:} That is, since Allah Almighty has secured the rights of wives by commanding husbands to live with them in kindness, in return, they guard their husbands’ wealth and honor in their absence. [ دیکھیے نسائی، النکاح، باب أی النساء خیر : ۳۲۳۳ ] Or, according to Allah’s command, they protect their husbands’ wealth, honor, and rights, and do not act treacherously. (Shawkani)
➍ { وَ الّٰتِيْ تَخَافُوْنَ نُشُوْزَهُنَّ …:} The literal meaning of nushuz is “to rise up, to ascend,” and the meaning of a woman’s nushuz is “to harbor aversion toward her husband and to consider herself above obeying him.” (Mufradat) The man has a very great right over the woman; the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If I were to command anyone to prostrate to another besides Allah, I would have commanded the woman to prostrate to her husband.” [ ترمذی، الرضاع ، باب ما جاء فی حق… : ۱۱۵۹، عن أبی ہریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ۔ أبو داوٗد : ۲۱۴۰ ]
If a woman adopts a disobedient attitude, the husband is given the option, according to the situation, of three things, which may be done one after the other or together: to advise her, to separate beds while remaining in the house, and to strike them. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted striking in some unavoidable circumstances, but said: “Do not strike the face, do not call her ugly, and do not leave her except in the house.” [ أبو داوٗد، النکاح، باب فی حق المرأۃ علی زوجھا : ۲۱۴۲، عن حکیم بن معاویۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ] Similarly, he forbade striking in such a way that causes severe injury. [ مسلم، الحج، باب حجۃ النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : ۱۲۱۸، عن جابر رضی اللہ عنہ ] And he said: “None of you should beat his wife as he beats a slave, and then have intercourse with her at the end of the day.” [ بخاری، النکاح، باب ما یکرہ من ضرب النساء :۵۲۰۴ ]
➎ { فَلَا تَبْغُوْا عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيْلًا :} That is, if they become obedient to you, then do not seek a way to wrong them, such as divorcing them, harassing them to force them into khul‘, etc.
➋ {فَالصّٰلِحٰتُ قٰنِتٰتٌ …:} The explanation of this verse is given by the hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The best wife is the one who, if you look at her, pleases you; if you command her in something, she obeys you; and when you are absent, she guards your wealth and her own self.” Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse: «{ اَلرِّجَالُ قَوّٰمُوْنَ عَلَى النِّسَآءِ }» [ مسند أبی داوٗد الطیالسی : ۲۴۴۴۔ ابن جریر : 62/4، و صححہ صاحب ہدایۃ المستنیر ]
➌ { حٰفِظٰتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللّٰهُ:} That is, since Allah Almighty has secured the rights of wives by commanding husbands to live with them in kindness, in return, they guard their husbands’ wealth and honor in their absence. [ دیکھیے نسائی، النکاح، باب أی النساء خیر : ۳۲۳۳ ] Or, according to Allah’s command, they protect their husbands’ wealth, honor, and rights, and do not act treacherously. (Shawkani)
➍ { وَ الّٰتِيْ تَخَافُوْنَ نُشُوْزَهُنَّ …:} The literal meaning of nushuz is “to rise up, to ascend,” and the meaning of a woman’s nushuz is “to harbor aversion toward her husband and to consider herself above obeying him.” (Mufradat) The man has a very great right over the woman; the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If I were to command anyone to prostrate to another besides Allah, I would have commanded the woman to prostrate to her husband.” [ ترمذی، الرضاع ، باب ما جاء فی حق… : ۱۱۵۹، عن أبی ہریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ۔ أبو داوٗد : ۲۱۴۰ ]
If a woman adopts a disobedient attitude, the husband is given the option, according to the situation, of three things, which may be done one after the other or together: to advise her, to separate beds while remaining in the house, and to strike them. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted striking in some unavoidable circumstances, but said: “Do not strike the face, do not call her ugly, and do not leave her except in the house.” [ أبو داوٗد، النکاح، باب فی حق المرأۃ علی زوجھا : ۲۱۴۲، عن حکیم بن معاویۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ] Similarly, he forbade striking in such a way that causes severe injury. [ مسلم، الحج، باب حجۃ النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : ۱۲۱۸، عن جابر رضی اللہ عنہ ] And he said: “None of you should beat his wife as he beats a slave, and then have intercourse with her at the end of the day.” [ بخاری، النکاح، باب ما یکرہ من ضرب النساء :۵۲۰۴ ]
➎ { فَلَا تَبْغُوْا عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيْلًا :} That is, if they become obedient to you, then do not seek a way to wrong them, such as divorcing them, harassing them to force them into khul‘, etc.
