Sura 4 The Women (Al-Nisa)

In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.

[4:1] O people, reverence your Lord who created you from a single self and created from it its mate and spread from the two many men and women. Reverence God in whose name you implore one another and regard the blood-relatives. Indeed, God is Watchful over you.

[4:2] And give the orphans their money. Do not replace the good with the bad, and do not consume their money by adding it to yours; this is indeed a great sin.

[4:3] And if you fear that you may not be just to the orphans, then you may marry whom you please of the women, two, three, or four. But if you fear that you may not treat them equally, then only one, or what your right hand possesses. This is less than if you do not support orphans.

Footnote 4:3 – The words 'inn' (if) and the letter 'fa' (then) in the first sentence in 4:3 are conditional words. This makes the act of supporting orphans and fearing not being able to provide them with sufficient care a condition for polygamy. This condition is sadly overlooked by the majority of Muslim scholars. A second wife would indeed support the man in raising and caring for the orphans he supports. Should the man be supporting a large number of orphans, he may marry up to four wives for the same purpose. This affirms that the reason God allowed polygamy in the Quran is not for the personal pleasure of men but to safeguard the best interest of the orphans.

[4:4] And give the women their dowries willingly. If they gladly forfeit any of it to you, then you may consume it happily and with gratitude.

[4:5] And do not give the simple-minded the money that God has entrusted to you for their benefit. Provide for them therefrom and clothe them, and say kind words to them.

[4:6] And test the orphans when they reach the age of marriage, then if you sense sound judgment in them, hand over to them their money. Do not consume it wastefully or quickly before they have grown up. Those who are rich shall not charge any wage, and whoever is poor can charge equitably. When you hand over to them their money, have witnesses in their presence. God suffices as a Reckoner.

[4:7] The men have a share in what the parents and the close ones leave behind, and the women have a share in what the parents and close ones leave behind. Whether it is less or more than it, it is a decreed share.

[4:8] If the distribution is attended by the relatives, the orphans and the needy, provide for them from it and say kind words to them.

[4:9] Those who fear for their weak offspring, should they die and leave them behind, should show the same concern. Therefore, they shall reverence God and speak appropriate words.

Footnote 4:9 – The instruction in this verse is for the guardians and those in charge of orphans. They should show concern for the orphans in the same way that they would be concerned about their own children, who would be vulnerable if they were to die and leave them behind.

[4:10] Those who consume the orphans' money unjustly are only consuming fire in their bellies, and they will roast in a Blaze.

[4:11] God instructs you regarding your children: the male gets the share of two females. If they are only females and more than two, they get two-thirds of what he leaves behind. If she is a single daughter, she gets one-half. His parents get one-sixth each of what he leaves behind if he has any children. ****If he had no children, and his parents are the only inheritors, then one-third is for the mother. If he has siblings, then one-sixth is for the mother after the payment of a will that he may have left or a debt. Regarding your parents and your children, you do not know which of them is closer to you in benefit. This is a decreed obligation from God. Indeed, God is Knowledgeable, Wise.

[4:12] For you is half of what your wives leave behind if they had no children. If they had children, you get one-fourth of what they leave behind after the payment of a will that they may have left or any debt. To them is one-quarter of what you leave behind if you have no children. If you have children, they get one-eighth of what you leave behind after the payment of a will that you may have left or any debt. If the deceased man or woman has no parents or children but has a brother or sister, each of them gets one-sixth. If there are more siblings, then they all share one-third after the payment of a will that may have been left or any debt, without any prejudice. This is God's instruction. God is Knowledgeable, Forbearing.