Surah An-Nisa Overview — The Women (Chapter 4)

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Surah · 4 of 114
النساء An-Nisa The Women
Medinan◉ Juz 4 · 5 · 6176 verses12 Concepts
About This Surah

Surah An-Nisa (النساء) is the 4th chapter of the Qur'an, with 176 verses revealed in Medina. Its main themes are theology, spirituality, and ethics. It prominently features Ibrahim and Isa.

Topical Breakdown

Verses 1–2023
  • 1Creation from a single soul
  • 1, 45, 108Divine watchfulness
  • 1, 9God-consciousness
  • 1Kinship and family ties
  • 2, 10Prohibition of consuming orphan property
  • 2, 6, 127Safeguarding orphan wealth
  • 3, 9Guardianship of orphans
  • 3, 129Polygyny and justice
  • 4, 19, 20, 24, 25Bridal gift (Mahr)
  • 5Financial management and guardianship
  • 6Testing and maturity of orphans
  • 7Universal rights to inheritance
  • 8Kindness during estate division
  • 10, 30, 55, 56, 121, 140…Punishment of the Hellfire
  • 11Shares of children and parents
  • 12, 176Shares of spouses and siblings (Kalalah)
  • 13, 26, 28Observing Divine limits
  • 13, 67, 68, 152Reward for obedience
  • 14Punishment for transgression
  • 15, 16Moral transgressions and penalties
  • 16, 17, 26, 27, 110Conditions of accepted repentance
  • 18Unacceptable repentance at death
  • 19, 20Treating wives with kindness

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Verses 21–4016
  • 21Marital covenant
  • 22, 23, 24Prohibited degrees of marriage
  • 25Marriage to bondwomen
  • 29Prohibition of unlawful consumption of wealth
  • 29, 30Sanctity of human life
  • 29Trade by mutual consent
  • 31Avoidance of major sins
  • 32Prohibition of envy and covetousness
  • 33Appointed heirs and pledges
  • 34, 35, 128Marital discord and reconciliation
  • 34Marital leadership and financial support
  • 36Benevolence to parents and vulnerable groups
  • 36Worship of God and rejection of Shirk
  • 37Condemnation of miserliness
  • 38, 39Condemnation of ostentation (Riya)
  • 40Divine justice and multiplier of deeds

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Verses 41–6016
  • 41Witnessing of prophets on Judgment Day
  • 42Regret of Disbelievers
  • 43Prohibition of prayer while intoxicated
  • 43Ritual bathing (Ghusl) and Tayammum
  • 44, 46, 47Distortion of Scripture
  • 48, 116Unforgivable nature of Shirk
  • 49, 50False self-praise and fabrication
  • 51, 52Belief in false idols (Jibt and Taghut)
  • 53, 54Envy against the Prophet and believers
  • 54, 55Legacy of Abraham's household
  • 57, 122, 173Bliss of Paradise
  • 58Fulfilling trusts (Amanah)
  • 58, 105, 135Judging with justice
  • 59Obedience to God, Messenger, and leaders
  • 59Referring disputes to Quran and Sunnah
  • 60Rejection of arbitration by Taghut

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Verses 61–8016
  • 61, 62Hypocritical aversion to Divine law
  • 63Counseling and dealing with hypocrites
  • 64Seeking the Messenger's intercession and forgiveness
  • 65True faith requires total submission to judgment
  • 66Steadfastness in Divine commandments
  • 69, 70Companionship of the righteous in Paradise
  • 71, 102Military precaution and readiness
  • 72, 73Hypocrisy and reluctance in struggle
  • 74Selling worldly life for the Hereafter
  • 75Defending the oppressed and vulnerable
  • 76Fighting for God vs fighting for Taghut
  • 77Fear of men vs fear of God
  • 78, 79Good from God and misfortune from self
  • 78Inevitability of Death
  • 79, 80Prophetic responsibility without coercion
  • 80Obedience to the Messenger is obedience to God

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Verses 81–10026
  • 81, 132Reliance upon God (Tawakkul)
  • 81, 108Secret plotting of hypocrites
  • 82Consistency and divine preservation of the Quran
  • 82Contemplation of the Quran
  • 83Referring matters to leadership and people of understanding
  • 83Verification of news and avoiding rumors
  • 84Individual responsibility in struggle
  • 84Relying on God to restrain enemy power
  • 85Good and bad intercession
  • 86Returning Islamic greeting (Salam)
  • 87Certainty of the Day of Resurrection
  • 87, 122Truthfulness of Divine speech
  • 88Stance towards hypocrites
  • 89Disloyalty of hypocrites and Hijrah
  • 89Rules of engagement with treacherous hypocrites
  • 90Treaties and neutral parties in conflict
  • 91Combating opportunistic enemies
  • 92Accidental killing and blood money (Diyah)
  • 92Expiation for manslaughter (Kaffarah)
  • 93Severity of intentional murder of a believer
  • 94Rejecting worldly motives in war
  • 94Verification in combat and accepting peace
  • 95, 96Virtue and higher ranks of striving (Mujahidin)
  • 97Obligation of Hijrah from oppressive lands
  • 98, 99Exemption of the truly weak from Hijrah
  • 100Reward and abundance for the emigrant

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Verses 101–12018
  • 101Shortening prayer during travel and fear (Qasr)
  • 102The Prayer of Fear (Salat al-Khawf)
  • 103Obligation of prayer at prescribed times
  • 103Remembrance of God after prayer
  • 104Perseverance and hoping for God's reward in battle
  • 105, 107Prohibition of defending the treacherous
  • 106, 110Seeking God's forgiveness (Istighfar)
  • 109Futility of defending sinners on Judgment Day
  • 111Individual moral responsibility for sin
  • 112Prohibition of slander and framing the innocent (Buhtan)
  • 113Divine protection of the Prophet
  • 113Revelation of the Book and Wisdom (Hikmah)
  • 114Ethics of secret counsel and reconciliation
  • 115Danger of opposing the Messenger and consensus of believers
  • 117Futility of idolatry and Satanic worship
  • 118Satan's pledge to mislead humanity
  • 119Satanic misguidance and altering God's creation
  • 120False promises and delusion of Satan

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Verses 121–14019
  • 123Recompense based on deeds not wishful thinking
  • 124Equal spiritual reward for men and women
  • 125Abraham chosen as intimate friend (Khalil)
  • 125Creed of Abraham and devotion to God
  • 126, 132, 170Divine sovereignty and encompassment
  • 127Fair treatment of orphan women and vulnerable children
  • 128Peaceful settlement and overcoming selfishness
  • 129Limits of human capacity in emotional equality
  • 130Divorce and God's provision for both parties
  • 131Divine self-sufficiency (Ghaniy)
  • 131Universal Divine injunction of piety
  • 133Divine power to replace creations
  • 134Seeking reward of both worlds from God
  • 135Upright testimony without bias or favoritism
  • 136, 162Faith in God, Scriptures, Messengers, and Angels
  • 137Perpetual apostasy and sealing of hearts
  • 138Warning of painful punishment for hypocrites
  • 139, 144Prohibition of taking disbelievers as allies for false honor
  • 140Prohibition of sitting in gatherings mocking religion

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Verses 141–16017
  • 141Opportunism and dual loyalty of hypocrites
  • 142Traits of hypocrites: laziness in prayer and showing off
  • 143Wavering and lack of steadfastness in hypocrites
  • 145Lowest depth of Hellfire for hypocrites (Al-Dark al-Asfal)
  • 146Sincere repentance and reform for hypocrites
  • 147Gratitude and faith as protection from punishment
  • 148Publicizing evil speech permitted only for the wronged
  • 149Virtue of pardoning and concealing evil
  • 150, 151, 152Prohibition of discriminating between Messengers
  • 153Transgressions of the Children of Israel against Moses
  • 154Breaching covenants and violating the Sabbath
  • 155Killing prophets and sealing of hearts
  • 156Slander against Mary (Maryam)
  • 157Refutation of the crucifixion and killing of Jesus
  • 158Ascension of Jesus to Heaven
  • 159Future faith of People of the Book in Jesus and his witness
  • 160Prohibition of good things due to transgression

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Verses 161–17618
  • 161Taking usury (Riba) and unlawful wealth by People of the Book
  • 162Righteous scholars of People of the Book who embrace faith
  • 163Scriptures given to prophets (Zabur of David)
  • 163Unity of prophetic revelation from Noah to Muhammad
  • 164Direct speech of God to Moses
  • 164Mentioned and unmentioned Messengers
  • 165Role of Messengers in establishing proof (Hujjah)
  • 166Divine and angelic witness to the Quran
  • 167Severe misguidance of obstructing God's path
  • 168Deprivation of guidance for persistent oppressors
  • 170Universal call to believe in the Messenger
  • 171Refutation of the Trinity and Divine Sonship of Jesus
  • 171True status of Jesus as Messenger and Word of God
  • 172Accountability for arrogance against worshiping God
  • 172Servanthood of Jesus and near angels to God
  • 174The Quran as conclusive proof and clear light
  • 175Holding fast to God and guidance to the Straight Path
  • 176Clarity of Divine legislation on inheritance

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Thematic Domains
Prophethood — 55%Theology — 20%Ethics — 10%Worship — 10%Law & Fiqh — 5%
Verse Tone Progression
Command (verses 1–1)Warning (verses 2–4)Promise (verses 5–5)Command (verses 6–6)Promise (verses 7–8)Warning (verses 9–11)Command (verses 12–12)Promise (verses 13–13)Command (verses 14–14)Promise (verses 15–15)Consolation (verses 16–16)Warning (verses 17–17)Command (verses 18–18)Warning (verses 19–20)Promise (verses 21–21)Warning (verses 22–25)Consolation (verses 26–27)Warning (verses 28–30)Consolation (verses 31–31)Promise (verses 32–33)Command (verses 34–34)Promise (verses 35–35)Command (verses 36–36)Warning (verses 37–38)Promise (verses 39–39)Praise (verses 40–40)Promise (verses 41–42)Command (verses 43–44)Warning (verses 45–45)Promise (verses 46–46)Command (verses 47–48)Promise (verses 49–49)Warning (verses 50–50)Promise (verses 51–51)Warning (verses 52–52)Command (verses 53–53)Promise (verses 54–54)Warning (verses 55–56)Promise (verses 57–57)Warning (verses 58–58)Command (verses 59–62)Warning (verses 63–63)Command (verses 64–66)Praise (verses 67–67)Consolation (verses 68–68)Promise (verses 69–69)Praise (verses 70–70)Warning (verses 71–71)Promise (verses 72–74)Consolation (verses 75–75)Warning (verses 76–76)Command (verses 77–81)Narrative (verses 82–82)Consolation (verses 83–83)Command (verses 84–84)Promise (verses 85–85)Consolation (verses 86–86)Promise (verses 87–87)Warning (verses 88–91)Consolation (verses 92–92)Promise (verses 93–93)Warning (verses 94–94)Promise (verses 95–95)Consolation (verses 96–96)Warning (verses 97–97)Narrative (verses 98–98)Promise (verses 99–100)Warning (verses 101–102)Command (verses 103–105)Consolation (verses 106–106)Warning (verses 107–108)Command (verses 109–109)Consolation (verses 110–110)Command (verses 111–111)Praise (verses 112–113)Promise (verses 114–114)Warning (verses 115–115)Command (verses 116–118)Warning (verses 119–121)Promise (verses 122–122)Warning (verses 123–123)Praise (verses 124–125)Promise (verses 126–126)Warning (verses 127–127)Consolation (verses 128–128)Warning (verses 129–129)Praise (verses 130–130)Promise (verses 131–131)Praise (verses 132–132)Warning (verses 133–133)Promise (verses 134–134)Warning (verses 135–135)Command (verses 136–136)Warning (verses 137–137)Command (verses 138–139)Warning (verses 140–140)Promise (verses 141–141)Command (verses 142–144)Warning (verses 145–145)Promise (verses 146–146)Praise (verses 147–147)Warning (verses 148–148)Consolation (verses 149–149)Warning (verses 150–151)Promise (verses 152–152)Command (verses 153–155)Warning (verses 156–157)Praise (verses 158–158)Promise (verses 159–159)Warning (verses 160–161)Promise (verses 162–162)Command (verses 163–163)Consolation (verses 164–164)Command (verses 165–166)Warning (verses 167–168)Command (verses 169–171)Promise (verses 172–172)Warning (verses 173–174)Consolation (verses 175–175)Warning (verses 176–176)022446688110132154176
Command
Narrative
Promise
Warning
Consolation
Praise
Top Concept Co-Occurrences
Allahknowledge350
Allahfaith306
people of the bookthe scripture253
Allahdisbelief200
Allahmessenger188
knowledgethe all knowing161
Allahdivine mercy125
Allahthe self123
Allahthe all knowing114
Allahpeople of the book109
Semantic Opposites Present
disbelief
↔ opposes
faith
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Surah An-Nisa?
Surah An-Nisa (النساء) is the 4th chapter of the Qur'an, comprising 176 verses revealed in Medina.
What are the main themes of Surah An-Nisa?
The main themes of Surah An-Nisa are theology, spirituality, and prophethood.
Which key figures are mentioned in Surah An-Nisa?
Surah An-Nisa prominently features Arafat and Ibrahim.
Is Surah An-Nisa Meccan or Medinan?
Surah An-Nisa is Medinan; it was revealed in Medina and contains 176 verses.
Read An-Nisa — All 176 Verses
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