Surah Nisa ayat 34 Tafsir Quran 4:34

﴿الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنفَقُوا مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ ۚ فَالصَّالِحَاتُ قَانِتَاتٌ حَافِظَاتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَاللَّاتِي تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَاهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ۖ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلًا ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّا كَبِيرًا﴾
[ النساء: 34]

4:34 Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.

Men are in charge of they have authority over women disciplining them and keeping them in check because of that with which God has preferred the one over the other that is because God has given them the advantage over women in knowledge reason authority and otherwise and because of what they expend on them the women of their property. Therefore righteous women among them are obedient to their husbands guarding in the unseen that is guarding their private parts and otherwise during their spouses’ absence because of what God has guarded for them when He enjoined their male spouses to look after them well. And those you fear may be rebellious disobedient to you when such signs appear admonish them make them fear God and share not beds with them retire to other beds if they manifest such disobedience and strike them but not violently if they refuse to desist from their rebellion after leaving them in separate beds. If they then obey you in what is desired from them do not seek a way against them a reason to strike them unjustly. God is ever High Great so beware of Him lest He punish you for treating them unjustly.

Men are the tutelary guardians of womens interests and welfare by consequence of, the inherent constitutional qualities and attributes Allah has invested in one, above the other, and by virtue of the expenditure they incur. Virtuous women are obedient and responsible, morally accountable for their deeds and capable of fulfilling an obligation and trust in their husbands absence; virtues that accord well with divine principles. As to those of them whom you consider pervasive and you have a cause to fear, you simply exhort them and urge them by kind words to laudable conduct. Should they turn a deaf ear then absent yourselves from their society in bed. If they still sleep in the bed they have made, then beat them. But if they submit to your good will at any stage and surrender themselves to correction, then do not crush their feelings, their minds or their spirits; nor keep them under tyrannical exercise of power or burden them with cruel and unjust impositions or restraints; Allah is ever the Unique Whose attributes belong to the highest regions of thought and reality, the Unique Who is ever eminently entitled to the designation: The Supreme

الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَآءِ ( Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, ) meaning, the man is responsible for the woman, and he is her maintainer, caretaker and leader who disciplines her if she deviates. بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ ( because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, ) meaning, because men excel over women and are better than them for certain tasks.
This is why prophethood was exclusive of men, as well as other important positions of leadership.
The Prophet said,
«لَنْ يُفْلِحَ قَوْمٌ وَلَّوْا أَمْرَهُمُ امْرَأَة»
( People who appoint a woman to be their leader, will never achieve success. ) Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith.
Such is the case with appointing women as judges or on other positions of leadership. وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُواْ مِنْ أَمْوَلِهِمْ ( and because they spend from their means. ) meaning the dowry, expenditures and various expenses that Allah ordained in His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger for men to spend on women.
For these reasons it is suitable that he is appointed her maintainer, just as Allah said, وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ ( But men have a degree (of responsibility ) over them). Qualities of the Righteous Wife Allah said, فَالصَّـلِحَـتُ ( Therefore, the righteous ) women, قَـنِتَـتٍ ( are Qanitat ), obedient to their husbands, as Ibn `Abbas and others stated. حَـفِظَـتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ ( and guard in the husband's absence ) As-Suddi and others said that it means she protects her honor and her husband's property when he is absent, and Allah's statement, بِمَا حَفِظَ اللَّهُ ( what Allah orders them to guard. ) means, the protected husband is the one whom Allah protects.
Ibn Jarir recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«خَيْرُ النِّسَاءِ امْرَأَةٌ إِذَا نَظَرْتَ إِلَيْهَا سَرَّتْكَ، وَإِذَا أَمَرْتَهَا أَطَاعَتْكَ، وَإِذَا غِبْتَ عَنْهَا حَفِظَتْكَ فِي نَفْسِهَا وَمَالِك»
( The best women is she who when you look at her, she pleases you, when you command her she obeys you, and when you are absent, she protects her honor and your property. ) Then, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited the Ayah, الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَآءِ ( Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, ) until its end.
Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«إِذَا صَلَّتِ الْمَرْأَةُ خَمْسَهَا، وَصَامَتْ شَهْرَهَا، وَحَفِظَتْ فَرْجَهَا، وَأَطَاعَتْ زَوْجَهَا، قِيلَ لَهَا: ادْخُلِي الْجَنَّةَ مِنْ أَيِّ الْأَبْوَابِ شِئْت»
( If the woman prayed her five daily prayers, fasted her month, protected her chastity and obeyed her husband, she will be told, 'Enter Paradise from any of its doors you wish.' ) Dealing with the Wife's Ill-Conduct Allah said, وَاللَّـتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ ( As to those women on whose part you see ill conduct, ) meaning, the woman from whom you see ill conduct with her husband, such as when she acts as if she is above her husband, disobeys him, ignores him, dislikes him, and so forth.
When these signs appear in a woman, her husband should advise her and remind her of Allah's torment if she disobeys him.
Indeed, Allah ordered the wife to obey her husband and prohibited her from disobeying him, because of the enormity of his rights and all that he does for her.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَوْ كُنْتُ آمِرًا أَحَدًا أَنْ يَسْجُدَ لِأَحَدٍ، لَأَمَرْتُ الْمَرْأَةَ أَنْ تَسْجُدَ لِزَوْجِهَا، مِنْ عِظَمِ حَقِّهِ عَلَيْهَا»
( If I were to command anyone to prostrate before anyone, I would have commanded the wife to prostrate before her husband, because of the enormity of his right upon her. ) Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«إِذَا دَعَا الرَّجُلُ امْرَأَتَهُ إِلى فِرَاشِهِ فَأَبَتْ عَلَيْهِ، لَعَنَتْهَا الْمَلَائِكَةُ حَتَّى تُصْبِح»
( If the man asks his wife to come to his bed and she declines, the angels will keep cursing her until the morning. ) Muslim recorded it with the wording,
«إِذَا بَاتَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ هَاجِرَةً فِرَاشَ زَوْجِهَا، لَعَنَتْهَا الْمَلَائِكَةُ حَتَّى تُصْبِح»
( If the wife goes to sleep while ignoring her husband's bed, the angels will keep cursing her until the morning. ) This is why Allah said, وَاللَّـتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ ( As to those women on whose part you see ill conduct, admonish them (first )).
Allah's statement, وَاهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِى الْمَضَاجِعِ ( abandon them in their beds, ) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said "The abandonment refers to not having intercourse with her, to lie on her bed with his back to her." Several others said similarly.
As-Suddi, Ad-Dahhak, `Ikrimah, and Ibn `Abbas, in another narration, added, "Not to speak with her or talk to her." The Sunan and Musnad compilers recorded that Mu`awiyah bin Haydah Al-Qushayri said, "O Allah's Messenger! What is the right that the wife of one of us has on him" The Prophet said,
«أَنْ تُطْعِمَهَا إِذَا طَعِمْتَ، وَتَكْسُوَهَا إِذَا اكْتَسَيْتَ، وَلَا تَضْرِبِ الْوَجْهَ، وَلَا تُقَبِّحْ، وَلَا تَهْجُرْ إِلَّا فِي الْبَيْت»
( To feed her when you eat, cloth her when you buy clothes for yourself, refrain from striking her face or cursing her, and to not abandon her, except in the house. ) Allah's statement, وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ( beat them ) means, if advice and ignoring her in the bed do not produce the desired results, you are allowed to discipline the wife, without severe beating.
Muslim recorded that Jabir said that during the Farewell Hajj, the Prophet said;
«وَاتَّقُوا اللهَ فِي النِّسَاءِ، فَإِنَّهُنَّ عِنْدَكُمْ عَوَانٍ، وَلَكُمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ أَنْ لَا يُوطِئْنَ فُرُشَكُمْ أَحَدًا تَكْرَهُونَهُ،فَإِنْ فَعَلْنَ ذَلِكَ فَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ضَرْبًا غَيْرَ مُبَرِحٍ، وَلَهُنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوف»
( Fear Allah regarding women, for they are your assistants.
You have the right on them that they do not allow any person whom you dislike to step on your mat.
However, if they do that, you are allowed to discipline them lightly.
They have a right on you that you provide them with their provision and clothes, in a reasonable manner. ) Ibn `Abbas and several others said that the Ayah refers to a beating that is not violent.
Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that it means, a beating that is not severe. When the Wife Obeys Her Husband, Means of Annoyance Against Her are Prohibited Allah said, فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلاَ تَبْغُواْ عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلاً ( but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance ),) meaning, when the wife obeys her husband in all that Allah has allowed, then no means of annoyance from the husband are allowed against his wife.
Therefore, in this case, the husband does not have the right to beat her or shun her bed.
Allah's statement, إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيّاً كَبِيراً ( Surely, Allah is Ever Most High, Most Great. ) reminds men that if they transgress against their wives without justification, then Allah, the Ever Most High, Most Great, is their Protector, and He will exert revenge on those who transgress against their wives and deal with them unjustly.

(4:34) Men are the protec-tors and maintainers of women *56 because Allah has made one of them excel over the other, *57 and because they spend out of their possessions (to support them). Thus righteous women are obedient and guard the rights of men in their absence under Allah's protection. *58 As for women of whom you fear rebellion, admonish them, and remain apart from them in beds, and beat them. *59 Then if they obey you, do not seek ways to harm them. Allah is Exalted, Great.

Men are in charge of women by meaning

*56).
A qawwam or qayyim is a person responsible for administering and supervising the affairs of either an individual or an organization, for protecting and safeguarding them and taking care of their needs.

*57).
The verb used here - a derivative of the root fdl - is not used to mean that some people have been invested with superior honour and dignity.
Rather it means that God has endowed one of the sexes ( i.e.
the male sex ) with certain qualities which He has not endowed the other sex with, at least not to an equal extent.
Thus it is the male who is qualified to function as head of the family.
The female has been so constituted that she should live under his care and protection.

*58).
It is reported in a tradition from the Prophet ( peace be on him ) that he said: 'The best wife is she who, if you look at her, will please you; who, if you bid her to do something, will obey; and who will safeguard herself and your property in your absence.' ( Cited by Ibn Kathir, and reported by Tabari and Ibn Abi Hatim.
See Mukhtasar Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 3 vols., ed.
Muhammad 'All al-Sabuni, 7th edition, Beirut, 1402 A.H./1981 C.E.; vol.
1, p.
385 and n.
1 - Ed. ) This tradition contains the best explanation of the above verse.
It should be borne in mind, however, that obedience to God has priority over a woman's duty to obey her husband.
If a woman's husband either asks her to disobey God or prevents her from performing a duty imposed upon her by God, she should refuse to carry out his command.
Obedience to her husband in this case would be a sin.
However, were the husband to prevent is wife from performing either supererogatory Prayer or Fasting - as distinct from the obligatory ones - she should obey him, for such acts would not be accepted by God if performed by a woman in defiance of her husband's wish.
( See Abu Da'ud, 'Sawm', 73; Ibn Majah, 'Siyam', 53 - Ed. )
*59).
This does not mean that a man should resort to these three measures all at once, but that they may be employed if a wife adopts an attitude of obstinate defiance.
So far as the actual application of these measures is concerned, there should, naturally, be some correspondence between the fault and the punishment that is administered.
Moreover, it is obvious that wherever a light touch can prove effective.one should not resort to sterner measures.
Whenever the Prophet ( peace be on him ) permitted a man to administer corporal punishment to his wife, he did so with reluctance, and continued to express his distaste for it.
And even in cases where it is necessary, the Prophet ( peace be on him ) directed men not to hit across the face, nor to beat severely nor to use anything that might leave marks on the body.
( See Ibn Majah, 'Nikah', 3 - Ed. )
 

الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَآءِ ( Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, ) meaning, the man is responsible for the woman, and he is her maintainer, caretaker and leader who disciplines her if she deviates. بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ ( because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, ) meaning, because men excel over women and are better than them for certain tasks.
This is why prophethood was exclusive of men, as well as other important positions of leadership.
The Prophet said, «لَنْ يُفْلِحَ قَوْمٌ وَلَّوْا أَمْرَهُمُ امْرَأَة» ( People who appoint a woman to be their leader, will never achieve success. ) Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith.
Such is the case with appointing women as judges or on other positions of leadership. وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُواْ مِنْ أَمْوَلِهِمْ ( and because they spend from their means. ) meaning the dowry, expenditures and various expenses that Allah ordained in His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger for men to spend on women.
For these reasons it is suitable that he is appointed her maintainer, just as Allah said, وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ ( But men have a degree (of responsibility ) over them). Qualities of the Righteous Wife Allah said, فَالصَّـلِحَـتُ ( Therefore, the righteous ) women, قَـنِتَـتٍ ( are Qanitat ), obedient to their husbands, as Ibn `Abbas and others stated. حَـفِظَـتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ ( and guard in the husband's absence ) As-Suddi and others said that it means she protects her honor and her husband's property when he is absent, and Allah's statement, بِمَا حَفِظَ اللَّهُ ( what Allah orders them to guard. ) means, the protected husband is the one whom Allah protects.
Ibn Jarir recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «خَيْرُ النِّسَاءِ امْرَأَةٌ إِذَا نَظَرْتَ إِلَيْهَا سَرَّتْكَ، وَإِذَا أَمَرْتَهَا أَطَاعَتْكَ، وَإِذَا غِبْتَ عَنْهَا حَفِظَتْكَ فِي نَفْسِهَا وَمَالِك» ( The best women is she who when you look at her, she pleases you, when you command her she obeys you, and when you are absent, she protects her honor and your property. ) Then, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited the Ayah, الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَآءِ ( Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, ) until its end.
Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِذَا صَلَّتِ الْمَرْأَةُ خَمْسَهَا، وَصَامَتْ شَهْرَهَا، وَحَفِظَتْ فَرْجَهَا، وَأَطَاعَتْ زَوْجَهَا، قِيلَ لَهَا: ادْخُلِي الْجَنَّةَ مِنْ أَيِّ الْأَبْوَابِ شِئْت» ( If the woman prayed her five daily prayers, fasted her month, protected her chastity and obeyed her husband, she will be told, 'Enter Paradise from any of its doors you wish.' ) Dealing with the Wife's Ill-Conduct Allah said, وَاللَّـتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ ( As to those women on whose part you see ill conduct, ) meaning, the woman from whom you see ill conduct with her husband, such as when she acts as if she is above her husband, disobeys him, ignores him, dislikes him, and so forth.
When these signs appear in a woman, her husband should advise her and remind her of Allah's torment if she disobeys him.
Indeed, Allah ordered the wife to obey her husband and prohibited her from disobeying him, because of the enormity of his rights and all that he does for her.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَوْ كُنْتُ آمِرًا أَحَدًا أَنْ يَسْجُدَ لِأَحَدٍ، لَأَمَرْتُ الْمَرْأَةَ أَنْ تَسْجُدَ لِزَوْجِهَا، مِنْ عِظَمِ حَقِّهِ عَلَيْهَا» ( If I were to command anyone to prostrate before anyone, I would have commanded the wife to prostrate before her husband, because of the enormity of his right upon her. ) Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِذَا دَعَا الرَّجُلُ امْرَأَتَهُ إِلى فِرَاشِهِ فَأَبَتْ عَلَيْهِ، لَعَنَتْهَا الْمَلَائِكَةُ حَتَّى تُصْبِح» ( If the man asks his wife to come to his bed and she declines, the angels will keep cursing her until the morning. ) Muslim recorded it with the wording, «إِذَا بَاتَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ هَاجِرَةً فِرَاشَ زَوْجِهَا، لَعَنَتْهَا الْمَلَائِكَةُ حَتَّى تُصْبِح» ( If the wife goes to sleep while ignoring her husband's bed, the angels will keep cursing her until the morning. ) This is why Allah said, وَاللَّـتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ ( As to those women on whose part you see ill conduct, admonish them (first )).
Allah's statement, وَاهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِى الْمَضَاجِعِ ( abandon them in their beds, ) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said "The abandonment refers to not having intercourse with her, to lie on her bed with his back to her." Several others said similarly.
As-Suddi, Ad-Dahhak, `Ikrimah, and Ibn `Abbas, in another narration, added, "Not to speak with her or talk to her." The Sunan and Musnad compilers recorded that Mu`awiyah bin Haydah Al-Qushayri said, "O Allah's Messenger! What is the right that the wife of one of us has on him" The Prophet said, «أَنْ تُطْعِمَهَا إِذَا طَعِمْتَ، وَتَكْسُوَهَا إِذَا اكْتَسَيْتَ، وَلَا تَضْرِبِ الْوَجْهَ، وَلَا تُقَبِّحْ، وَلَا تَهْجُرْ إِلَّا فِي الْبَيْت» ( To feed her when you eat, cloth her when you buy clothes for yourself, refrain from striking her face or cursing her, and to not abandon her, except in the house. ) Allah's statement, وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ( beat them ) means, if advice and ignoring her in the bed do not produce the desired results, you are allowed to discipline the wife, without severe beating.
Muslim recorded that Jabir said that during the Farewell Hajj, the Prophet said; «وَاتَّقُوا اللهَ فِي النِّسَاءِ، فَإِنَّهُنَّ عِنْدَكُمْ عَوَانٍ، وَلَكُمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ أَنْ لَا يُوطِئْنَ فُرُشَكُمْ أَحَدًا تَكْرَهُونَهُ،فَإِنْ فَعَلْنَ ذَلِكَ فَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ضَرْبًا غَيْرَ مُبَرِحٍ، وَلَهُنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوف» ( Fear Allah regarding women, for they are your assistants.
You have the right on them that they do not allow any person whom you dislike to step on your mat.
However, if they do that, you are allowed to discipline them lightly.
They have a right on you that you provide them with their provision and clothes, in a reasonable manner. ) Ibn `Abbas and several others said that the Ayah refers to a beating that is not violent.
Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that it means, a beating that is not severe. When the Wife Obeys Her Husband, Means of Annoyance Against Her are Prohibited Allah said, فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلاَ تَبْغُواْ عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلاً ( but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance ),) meaning, when the wife obeys her husband in all that Allah has allowed, then no means of annoyance from the husband are allowed against his wife.
Therefore, in this case, the husband does not have the right to beat her or shun her bed.
Allah's statement, إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيّاً كَبِيراً ( Surely, Allah is Ever Most High, Most Great. ) reminds men that if they transgress against their wives without justification, then Allah, the Ever Most High, Most Great, is their Protector, and He will exert revenge on those who transgress against their wives and deal with them unjustly.

( Men are in charge of women ) they are in charge of overseeing the proper conduct of women, ( because Allah hath made the one of them ) the men through reason and the division of booty and estates ( to excel the other ) the women, ( and because they spend of their property (for the support of women )) through paying the dowry and spending on them, which the women are not required to do. ( So good women ) He says: those wives who are kind to their husbands ( are the obedient ) they are obedient to Allah regarding their husbands, ( guarding ) their own persons and the wealth of their husbands ( in secret ) when their husbands are not present ( that which Allah hath guarded ) through Allah’s protection of them in that He gave them the success to do so. ( As for those from whom ye fear ) know ( rebellion ) their disobedience to you in bed, ( admonish them ) by means of sacred knowledge and the Qur’an ( and banish them to beds apart ) turn your faces away from them in bed, ( and scourge them ) in a mild, unexaggerated manner. ( Then if they obey you ) in bed, ( seek not a way against them ) as regards love. ( Lo! Allah is ever High Exalted ) above every single thing, ( Great ) greater than every single thing. Allah has not burdened you with that which you cannot bear, so do not burden women with that which they cannot bear of affection.

Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah 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 Allah and to their husbands), and guard in the husband's absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband's property, etc.). 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, Allah is Ever Most High, Most Great.

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