4. Al-Nisa’/The Women

I/We begin by the Blessed Name of Allah

The Immensely Merciful to all, The Infinitely Compassionate to everyone.

04:01
O The People!
Be mindful of your Rabb - The Lord WHO created you from a single soul,
and out of it created its spouse, and then out of the two of them, WE scattered countless males and females throughout the world.
Be mindful of Allah through WHOM you ask of one another and be mindful of the bond of family relationships.
Indeed, Allah watches over you.

04:02
And return to the orphans their possessions, and
do not exchange your inferior things with their superior valuables, and
do not consume their possessions by co-mingling with your possessions and using them as yours.
Surely that would be an outrageous crime.

04:03
However, in case you fear that you might not be fair towards the orphan girls in your care, or misuse their persons, then,
you may marry the women from amongst the widows or their daughters, whom you see fit
for marriageable age, up to two, or three, or four of them.
But if you apprehend that in your marital obligations, you might not be able to deal with them justly at a time and all the time, then marry only one;
or, marry someone from amongst those whom your right hand possesses in qital/battle.
Thus it will help keep you away from committing injustice.

04:04
And give your wives in marriage their bridal money happily as a free gift.
However, if they willingly offer you a part of it, you may, then, accept it wholeheartedly
and with pleasure.

04:05
And do not entrust those amongst the young orphans, who are immature or mentally
deficient, your possessions which Allah has made a source of maintenance for you.
However, make provision for them out of it and clothe them appropriately.
And speak to them words of kindness.

04:06
And keep evaluating the level of maturity of the orphans until they reach the marriageable age.
When you perceive in them the capability of sound judgment, then hand over their possessions to them.
And do not deliberately consume it – their wealth - wastefully, or hastily fearing that they will soon attain maturity.
And whoever is rich should refrain from taking any reward for his services of looking after their wealth,
but whoever is poor should take compensation according to the norms of society.
And when you hand over their possessions to them, take witnesses in their presence.
Otherwise, Allah is Sufficient to take account of your intentions and actions.

04:07
Males will have a share in what their parents and family leave behind at death,
and females will have a share in what their parents and family leave behind - be it a little or a lot.
This sharing is divinely ordained.

04:08
If other more distant relatives, and orphans, and the needy are present at the time of the distribution of inheritance,
then give them something of it as well.
And speak to them words of kindness.

04:09
Let those who are charged with the inheritance fear the time that if they are left behind
financially weak dependents, and how concerned they would be for them.
So fear Allah!
And speak to them words of comfort.

04:10
Indeed, those who consume the possessions of the orphans unjustly, they are in fact
consuming nothing but fire in their bellies.
And for their callousness, they will be scorched by a raging blaze of the Hellfire.

04:11
Allah Commands you the following directions concerning the inheritance of your children:
to the male/son, a share equal to two females/daughters,
if there are only two females/daughters, or more than two, then to them two-third of
the inheritance he leaves,
if there is only one daughter, then she will inherit the half.
And to his parents, to each of them, a sixth of what he leaves behind if he left children.
Should he leave no children, and his parents are his only heirs, then to his mother a third
and the father two-third.
And if he has brothers and sisters, then to his mother a sixth, and to his father too a sixth after adjustments for any expenditures to be incurred in pursuance of his bequest, or any outstanding dues and debts of the deceased.
You do not know whether it is your parents, or your children who are more deserving of their share.

Therefore, this is a decision from Allah.
Surely, Allah is All-Knowing of your affairs, and what may cause you benefit or harm, and HE is All-Wise.

04:12
And to you, as husbands, a half of whatever your wives leave behind if they have no children.
If they leave behind children, then to you a quarter after adjustments for any expenditure to be incurred in pursuance of their bequest, or any outstanding dues and debts.
And to your widows a quarter if you die childless after adjustments for any expenditure to be incurred in pursuance of his bequest, or any outstanding dues and debts.
In case you leave behind children, then the eighth to widows after adjustment for any expenditure to be incurred in pursuance of his bequest, or any outstanding dues and debts.
And in the absence of these relatives or if a husband or a wife has no heir in the direct line, but has a brother or a sister, then to each of the two the sixth.
However, if there be more than two, then they will equally share the third after adjustment for any expenditures to be incurred in pursuance of the bequest, or any outstanding dues and debts, without any harm to the rights of the lawful heirs.
This is a decision from Allah.
Indeed, Allah is All-Aware of your intentions and actions and is All-Forbearing.

04:13
These are the limits/rules set by Allah.
And whoever obeys Allah and The Prophet in this law of inheritance will be admitted to Paradise with rivers/streams flowing by, therein to remain forever – never to leave, never to die.
And this will be the greatest success.

04:14
But whoever disobeys Allah and The Prophet in the law of inheritance and oversteps the limits will enter the Fire - therein to remain - never to leave, never to die.
And for him is going to be a humiliating suffering.

04:15
As for those of your wives who are accused of committing immorality,
call four among you to witness against them.
If they testify in a court of law against them to the truth of an allegation,
then confine them in their houses until:
either death overtakes them,
or Allah provides some other way of dealing with them.

04:16
And if two males among you commit such an act of indecency,
then punish them both, as well.
But if they repent and reform, then let them be -
for Allah is always Acceptor of Repentance and Compassionate to the repentant.

04:17
The criterion for Allah’s acceptance of repentance becomes binding of HIM only for those who commit evil unwittingly, and
then turn to HIM in repentance soon afterward.

Then Allah will also turn to them in forgiveness.
Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing and All-Wise.

04:18
But the repentance of habitual wrongdoers, however, will not be accepted,
even until death approaches when one of them, he says:
‘I now repent!’
And repentance will also not be accepted from those who spend their lifetime in disbelief and die as disbelievers.
Those – for them, WE have prepared a dreadful punishment.

04:19
O The Faithful!
It is not lawful for you to inherit widows of your deceased relatives against their will,
nor is it allowed that after you marry them you coerce them so as to prevent them from remarrying, or, make their lives difficult, to give up a part of what had been given to them as bridal money – except in cases where they commit a flagrant indecency.
And make sure you live with them in kindness.
However, even if you become disenchanted with them do not forsake them, for
it may well be that you are disenchanting something in which Allah may have placed an abundance of good for you.

04:20
However, if you intend to replace one wife with another wife, then,
do not take from the departing wife anything of her bridal money or other gifts that you had given her, even if it were a huge mound of gold.
Would you take it back by slandering her while it will be clearly sinful?

04:21
And how can you take it back when you had gone into each other in passionate intimacy,
and they had taken from you a solemn pledge of honoring their rights?

04:22
And do not marry those women whom your fathers had married -
except for whatever happened in the past is now past.
Surely it was shameful and despicable and deplorable custom.

04:23
You are also forbidden to marry:
your mothers, and
your daughters, and
your sisters, and
sisters of your fathers, and
sisters of your mothers, and
daughters of your brothers, and
daughters of your sisters, and
mothers who breastfed you, and
sisters born of the mothers who breastfed you, and
mothers of your wives, and
stepdaughters borne of your wives from their previous husbands and are now in your charge, and

wives of your sons that are from your own loins/seed. and
two sisters at one and the same time, with the exception of whatever is past.
Surely, Allah is All-Forgiving of whatever was done in the past, and All-Compassionate to those who will not repeat despicable practices of the past.

04:24
O The Faithful!
You are also forbidden to marry the women who are already married, except those whom your right hands possess in qital/battle.
This is Allah’s Decree for you.
And women other than this are lawful for you to marry provided you:
offer them from your wealth, i.e., bridal money, etc,
marry them as Islamic law demands, and
do not take them in lust/immorality.
The women with whom you desire to marry, give them the bridal money as part of their
marital right.
However, there will be no blame on you if you give them anything else, by mutual agreement, beyond this bridal money.
Surely, Allah is All-Aware, All-Wise in what HE has ordained for them.

04:25
And whoever of you does not have the means to marry free believing women, then let him marry believing young women from those whom your right hand possesses in qital/battle.
Allah is Fully-Aware of your faith, for you are one and all alike.
So marry them with the consent of their families,
and give them their rightful bridal-money as is fair.
Take them as respectable wives, and not as fornicators or in secret relationships.
However, if they commit immorality after they are married, they will be liable to half of the punishment of free women.
This provision is for those of you who fear sin,
though it is better for you that you persevere.
And Allah is Ever-Forgiving and Ever-Merciful.

04:26
Allah wishes to make it clear to you and to guide you through the example of those
believing people before you - so that you might follow them,
and thus wishes that He may forgive you too,
for Allah is All-Knowing and All-Wise in what He has ordained for you.

04:27
And Allah wishes to forgive you,
but those who pursue their passions wish to turn you far away from what has been forbidden so that you might be like them.

04:28
Yet Allah wishes to lighten burdens for you,
for the human being was created weak to temptation.

04:29
O The Faithful!
Do not consume one another’s possessions falsely,

except that it be a business deal by mutual agreement to mutual advantage.
And disputes regarding wealth can lead to bitter enmities, so void these disputes, and do not destroy yourselves and each other.
Truly, Allah is All-Compassionate to you.

04:30
As for one who does so with malicious motives and out of animosity and injustice,
WE will soon cast him into the Fire.
And, indeed, that is easy for Allah to do.

04:31
If you shun the major sins you are forbidden to do,
then WE will erase your other minor sinful trespasses, and
WE will admit you through an Entrance of Honor leading to Paradise.

04:32
And do not long for what Allah has favored some of you over others.
To the men belongs a portion of what they earn, and likewise to the women belongs a portion of what they earn.
Thus instead of envying others and avoiding efforts, ask Allah to favor you out of His Favors.
Surely, Allah has the knowledge of everything including your efforts and your merit to deserve it.

04:33
For the benefit of all, WE have appointed the heirs in inheritance for everyone - males and females - to what his/her parents and family leave behind;
and also give them their portion of the inheritance to whom you swore bonds of brotherhood.
Surely, Allah is a Witness to everything.

04:34
The husbands are responsible for the socio-economic and emotional needs of their wives as Allah has made some of them more advantaged than others,
and because of what they spend of their income and wealth to maintain them.
Therefore, the virtuous wives are:
devoutly obedient to their husbands, and
safeguard their private matters and chastity in the absence of their husbands that Allah has ordained to be safeguarded.
As for those wives from whom you fear highhandedness or aggressive defiance,
remind them of Allah’s teachings and caution them first to make them aware of the
consequences of their behavior; and
if it does not work, then ignore them while in bed, and if they still continue to persist,
then smack them without being vicious.
If they accede to you, then do not seek other way against them.
Be ever mindful that Allah is All-Exalted, All-Supreme, lest HE punishes you for mishandling the situation and treating your wives unjustly and viciously.

04:35
And if any of you have a cause to fear - not just an apprehension - a breach of mutual trust
between the married couple,
then appoint an arbiter from among his family, and, an arbiter from among her family - provided they both desire reconciliation,

then Allah will bring about reconciliation between the two again.
Surely, Allah is All-Knowing and Ever-Aware of your situations and intentions.

04:36
And submit to Allah in worship, awe, and piety!
And do not ascribe any entity in worship to HIM.
And be good to:
the parents, and the family, and
the orphans, and the needy, and
the neighbor who is near, and
the neighbor who is far, and
the friend by your side,
the stranded traveler, and
what your right hands possess.
Surely Allah has no love for the swaggering and the conceited;

04:37
and HE also has no love for those who are miserly and urge others to be miserly and
hide what Allah has granted them of His Bounty.
WE have prepared a degrading punishment for all those who thus disregard this Divine Injunction.

04:38
Nor Allah has any love for those who spend their wealth on charity or other good causes only to show off before the people,
while neither believing in Allah nor in the coming of the Last Hour and its Correlatives.
Whoever has taken Satan for a companion -
then what a wretched companion he has!

04:39
What harm would it do to them if they believed in
Allah, and
coming of the Last Hour and its Correlatives, and
spend out of what has been given them by Allah?
And Allah is Ever-Aware of them.

04:40
Indeed, Allah is never unfair to anyone even by as much as a speck’s weight of wrong,
while if there be a good deed that one has done, HE will multiply its reward, and
on top of this, HE will also grant an immense reward from HIMSELF beyond what one may have merited.

04:41
How will be the predicament of the disbelievers at the Time of Final Judgment when We bring forward witnesses from within every community to testify for/against them and that Allah’s Religion was communicated to them, and
We bring you - O The Prophet - as a witness for/against them?

04:42
At that Time of Final Judgment whoever had denied and belied the Prophet, will wish the earth were leveled over them -
and they will not be able to hide any account from Allah.

04:43
O The Faithful!
Do not come anywhere near performing the Salat/Prayers while you are intoxicated until you understand what you are reciting.
And also do not perform Salat in a state of ritual impurity except when you are traveling until you have taken a bath.
But in case you are
ill, or
traveling, or
relieved yourself from the toilet, or
cohabited with spouses,
and you cannot find any water,
then seek clean dry soil, strike it twice with both hands and pass it lightly over your faces and your hands.
Surely Allah is Ever-Pardoning and Ever-Forgiving of any of your shortcomings and oversights.

04:44
Have you not noticed those who were given a portion of the Scripture?
They bartered misguidance for guidance, and
they want you too to go astray from the Right Path.

04:45
But Allah knows best all about your enemies,
and Allah is Sufficient for you as a Patron,
and Allah is Sufficient for you as a Helper.

04:46
Some among those who are Judaized distort the words of revelation taking them out of context, and saying in place of the right words:
‘We hear your saying and we disobey,’ and,
‘Listen, may you not hear,’ and
‘Ra’ina,
twisting with their tongues – thereby altering the pronunciation or tone of the command and thus speaking abusively in disrespect of the religion - Islam.
But had they said:
‘We hear your saying and we obey,’ and,
‘Listen,’ and
‘Unzurna’ - favor us with your attention, O The Prophet -’
that would indeed have been far better for them, and more appropriate.
But Allah has cursed them for their willful disbelief, so
they do not have any faith, except for a few.

04:47
O Followers of Former Scriptures!
Believe in what WE are revealing to The Prophet by way of The Qur’an.
It confirms what is left with you of the Torah -
believe in it before WE cast down faces and turn them back, or else curse them, as WE cursed the People of the Sabbath.
And Allah’s Command is always executed.

04:48
They think they will enter Paradise irrespective of what their beliefs are.
They should know that surely, Allah does not forgive the ascribing of any entity to HIM -
though HE may forgive for whatever is less than that to whoever HE may want.
And whoever ascribes any entity to Allah has committed a sin most grievous – blasphemy!
04:49
Have you not noticed those Jews who claim purity for themselves?
No way!
It is Allah WHO purifies whoever HE wants.
And they will never be wronged even by as much as fiber on a date-stone.

04:50
So look how do they fabricate falsehood against Allah?
That by itself is a flagrant sin!

04:51
Have you not observed those who have been given a portion of the Scripture?
Yet they believe in idols and Satan.
And tell those who disbelieve:
‘They were better guided on the Path than those who believe’ - Followers of Muhammad.

04:52
It is they whom Allah has cursed!
And whoever Allah curses will never find anyone to support him.

04:53
Or do they think they have a share in the Sovereignty of Allah?
If they had it, in that case, they would have never given the people even something as worthless as a speck of a date-stone.

04:54
Or is it that they envy people for what Allah has now given them of HIS Grace?
If that is the case, then they should know that WE have already given the Scripture and the Law to the Family of Abraham, and
given them a great kingdom too.

04:55
So, among them, some believed in it, and some turned away their faces from it;
and Hell is sufficient as a Blazing Fire for them in punishment.

04:56
Indeed, those who deny and belie OUR Messages in The Qur’an, WE are going to cast them in Fire.
And as often as their skins are charred,
WE will replace them with other new skins,
so that they may go on tasting the severity and intensity of punishment.
Indeed, Allah is Ever-Powerful as nothing is beyond HIS Power and All-Wise.

04:57
As for those who believe and practice righteousness,
WE will admit them to Paradise with rivers/streams flowing by, remaining therein forever.

There they will have purest of companionship.
And WE will admit them to overspreading shades – serene and solace.

04:58
Allah Commands you
to return all that with which you have been entrusted to their rightful owners, and
when you pass judgment between people in judicial matters as well as judging other peoples’ motives, attitudes, and conduct, always judge with justice.
Indeed, noble is that cause to which Allah exhorts you and thus guides you along the paths leading to HIM.
Surely, Allah is always Listening, always Observing.

04:59
O The Faithful!
Obey Allah, and
obey the Messenger Muhammad, and
follow those embedded with authority among you.
In case you happen to be in dispute or at variance over any matter, refer it for a resolution to Allah and the Messenger - if you truly believe in Allah’s Supremacy and the Last Hour when you are going to be questioned about matters of faith.
This is better and more beneficial also in consequences.

04:60
O The Prophet/The Faithful!
Are you not aware of those who claim that they believe in what has been sent down on to you – The Qur’an, and what was revealed before you – the Torah?
Yet they wish to go to the idols for judgment, even though they were ordered to reject them.
So Satan wishes to lead them astray - a far straying into total misguidance.

04:61
And when they are told:
‘Come to what Allah has sent down – The Qur’an, and to the Messenger’ Muhammad,
you would see the hypocrites turning away from you in disgust.

04:62
How will it be when they suffer misfortunes on account of what their own hands have sent forward, i.e., their past misdeeds?
Then they will come rushing to you, swearing:
‘By Allah!
We wished nothing but harmony and reconciliation.’

04:63
These are the people - Allah knows what lies in their hearts of hypocrisy.
So turn aside from them -
but keep admonishing them, and
speak to them with words that seep deep into their souls.

04:64
WE have not assigned any Messenger, except that he should be obeyed by the Will of Allah.
If they - hypocrites – would have come to you after having wronged themselves, and sought Allah’s forgiveness,

while you too, O The Messenger, would have sought forgiveness for them,
they would surely find Allah All-Forgiving and All-Merciful.

04:65
But no – O The Prophet.
By your Rabb - The Lord!
They can have no faith until they make you a judge of what they dispute, i.e., accept you and The Qur’an as the sole arbiter.
Only then they would find no inhibition in themselves regarding what you judge/decide, and
accept them with full conviction and without any hesitation.

04:66
Had WE ordered them to ‘Lay down your lives’ in the Cause of Allah, or
to ‘Leave your homes’ for the Cause of Allah,
they would not have done so, except for a few of them.
However, if they had followed what they had been ordered to do, it would have been better for them as well as strengthened their resolve.

04:67
a. And, in consequence, WE would have granted them a glorious reward from Ourselves,

04:68
a. and, of course, WE would have guided them along a Right Path.

04:69
And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger Muhammad will be along with those whom Allah has blessed with favor from among
the Prophets, and
the truthful, and
the martyrs, and
the virtuous.
And what a splendid companionship!

04:70
This is Allah’s Favor.
And Sufficient is Allah, the All-Knowing.

04:71
O The Faithful!
Take your precautions against the enemy and be vigilant.
And mobilize for the battle, either go in groups or go all together in a body.

04:72
There are certainly some among you who will surely try to linger behind in joining the battle to see what happens to you, and
then if misfortune – defeat or death - befalls you, he will say:
‘Allah has been Gracious to me in that I was not present with them’ and slayed.

04:73
However, if some success – victory and booty – befalls you from Allah, he will surely say
in regret,

just as if there had been no affection between you and him:
Oh, ‘I wish I were with them, then I would have certainly achieved great success’ and a good share of booty.

04:74
So let all those who prefer to sell the pleasure and comforts of life in this terrestrial world for blessings of the Hereafter, fight for the Cause of Allah.
And whoever fights for the Cause of Allah, whether slain or victorious, in both cases, WE are going to grant him a glorious reward.

04:75
O The Faithful!
And what has happened to you?
Why is it that you do not fight for the Cause of Allah, and for the weak and oppressed men, and women, and children, who cry out:
‘O Our Rabb - The Lord!
Salvage us from this land of the evildoers where the social environment and political administration are autocratic, corrupt, and oppressive.
Grant us, out of YOUR Grace, a protector, and grant us with YOUR Grace, the one who will help’ us to freedom.

04:76
Those who believe, fight for the Cause of Allah;
whereas those who disbelieve, fight for the Cause of Satan.
Therefore, fight against the Allies of Satan.
Surely, Satan’s cunning against the believers is weak and ever ineffective.’

04:77
Are you not aware of those who were told:
restrain your hands from attacking,
establish the Salat/Prayers, and
pay out the Zakat/annual charity?
However, finally, when fighting was ordered for them, a group among them who feared the people battling against them as much as they were to fear Allah, or with greater fear, were crying out:
‘O Our Rabb - The Lord!
Why have YOU ordered fighting upon us?
Why not allow us time for a short while?’
Tell them:
‘The enjoyment of this terrestrial world is indeed brief,
whereas the enjoyment of the realm of the Hereafter is far better for those who guard themselves against Divine disobedience and evil.
And you will not be wronged even by as much as the string of a date-stone.’

04:78
Death will find you wherever you may be, even if you were in the towers, fortified.
Whenever some good fortune befalls them, they say:
‘This is from Allah.’
And when it is a bad fortune that befalls them, they say:
‘This is from you O Muhammad.’
Tell them:

‘All - good or bad - is from Allah.’
What has happened to these people?
They do not grasp the truth of anything said.

04:79
Whatever comes to you of good is from Allah;
while whatever comes to you of bad/evil is from your own self – your misdeeds.
WE have assigned you - O The Messenger - as a Messenger to all humankind.
And Allah is Sufficient as a Witness to the truth of your Divine Mission.

04:80
Whoever obeys the Messenger Muhammad thereby obeys Allah,
while whoever turns away, let him be so, for WE have not assigned you as a caretaker over them to prevent their misdeeds and be accountable for them.

04:81
They profess:
‘Our obedience is to you O The Prophet!’
But when they leave you, a section of them contrives by night to do things other than you had told them,
though Allah is writing down what they contrive.
So turn aside from them.
And trust Allah.
Indeed, Allah is Sufficient for you as Worthy of all trust.

04:82
Will they not contemplate The Qur’an so as to understand its Message and be convinced about its Divine Descent?
Had it been from any other source than Allah, they would have surely found many
discrepancies, contradictions, and variations within it.
04:83
And whenever a report relating to public safety or impending danger comes to them – the hypocrites - they spread it publicly without ascertaining its authenticity and create panic.
Whereas if they would only refer it to the Messenger and/or to those in authority among
them, the best fitted to know about it - would have ascertained it.
If it were not for Allah’s Favor toward you and HIS Mercy, you would have indeed followed Satan, all but a few of you.

04:84
O The Prophet!
‘Then fight in the Cause of Allah.
You are not accountable to anyone except yourself;
but inspire the believers to overcome the fear of death and rally around you to fight.
It may well be that Allah will restrain the might of those who disbelieve.
Indeed, Allah is Strongest in Might and Strongest in HIS Ability to deter.’

04:85
Whoever rallies for a good cause, will receive a share of its blessings together with its collateral moral and social good.
And whoever rallies for an evil cause, will receive a share of its liability together with its collateral moral and social damage.
And surely, Allah is Over-Powering over everything.

04:86
When you are out for battle and you are greeted with a greeting of peace and goodwill,
then, reciprocate it with a greeting that is more gracious, or, at least, return it with the same greeting.
Surely, Allah will hold everything of your social behavior to account.

04:87
Allah!
There is no entity of worship but HE!
HE is certainly going to gather you together at the Time of Resurrection - there is absolutely
no doubt about it.
And who could be more truthful in saying this than Allah?
No one!

04:88
How is it that you are double-minded and divided into two groups of opinion about the status of hypocrites?
Allah has already turned them away from the Right Path for what they have earned.
Do you wish to guide those whom Allah has left astray?
Whoever Allah leaves astray, you will never find a way of guidance for him.

04:89
They only wish you to become disbelievers as they disbelieve so that you be like them.
Therefore, do not take them for friends until they believe again and emigrate in the Cause
of Allah.
But if they turn on you with open hostility, then seize them, and slay them wherever you encounter them.
Do not take them as allies or supporters of your religion …..

04:90
…… except for those who join a people between whom you have a treaty of peace or alliance,
or those who come over to you with their hearts restrained at the very thought of fighting
you or their own people.
If Allah had so willed, HE would surely have given them an advantage over you, and they would have certainly fought against you.
Therefore, if they stay away from you, and do not fight against you, but offer you
reconciliation and peace,
then Allah has not made a way for you to fight against them.

04:91
Beside them, you will also find others wishing to live in peace with you as well as with their
own people.
However, every time they are back in a situation where they are instigated to fight you, they will plunge into it headlong.
So if they do not keep away from you, and offer you peace by means of a treaty, and restrain their hands from hostility, then you seize them, and slay them wherever you encounter them.
And for these - WE give you clear permission to fight against them for their treachery.

04:92
And it is not lawful for a believer to slay another believer unless it is by mistake/accident.

And whoever slays a believer by mistake/accident, the penalty is
- freeing a believer captive, and
pay blood-money to the victim’s family/legal heirs, unless the later choose to reduce or forgo it by way of goodwill and charity.
If the victim is a believer from a family/community hostile to you, the penalty will only be freeing of a believer captive;
whereas, if the victim belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty, then
blood-money must be paid to the victim’s family/legal heirs, and
freeing a believer captive.
Whoever does not have the means to do so, must, then, Fast for two lunar months sequentially by way of repentance to Allah.
And Allah is Ever-Knowing of him who slays by mistake, and Ever-Wise in that which he ought to do.

04:93
But whoever - any believer - slays a believer deliberately and willfully, his reward will be Hell - there to remain forever.
And Allah’s Wrath and curse will be upon him,
and grievous suffering will be prepared for him.

04:94
O The Faithful!
When you go out to fight in the Cause of Allah, be careful and discreet.
And do not say to someone who offers you a greeting of peace: ‘You are not a believer!’
You aspire for gains of the worldly life, while with Allah are gains plentiful and eternal.
You too were like that before – weak and underdog - but Allah has been gracious to you.
So be careful and discreet!
Surely, Allah is Ever-Aware of whatever you do and will call you to account for it.

04:95
Those of the believers who remain passive towards the Cause, except the injured or disabled, are not equal to those who strive/fight in the Cause of Allah with their possessions and their persons.
Allah exalts in rank those who strive/fight with their possessions and their persons over those who remain passive.
Even though to each believer Allah has promised the ultimate good reward due to his faith, Allah favors with a great reward to the ones who strive/fight over the ones who remain passive.

04:96
For them are higher ranks with HIM as well as forgiveness and mercy that saves from suffering.
Surely, Allah is always Forgiving and Merciful to those who remain in His obedience.

04:97
When the angels will take them – their souls at the time of death - who were wrongdoing themselves, they - the angels - will wonder:
‘What was the matter with you
They will answer:
‘We were weak and oppressed in the land’ and could not find a way to true faith.
And they - the angels - will ask:

‘Was not Allah’s world vast enough for you to move away’ to some other place?
It is they whose place will be in Hell.
And it is a miserable place!

04:98
Except for the truly weak and oppressed among the men, and the women, and the children, who could
neither could they plan anything,
nor could find a way to flee,

04:99
… as for those about whom it is expected that Allah may not hold them accountable and
forgive them;
for Allah is always Pardoning - always Forgiving.

04:100
Whoever emigrates for the Cause of Allah will find in the terrestrial world enough space and safe places of refuge and an abundance of provisions.
And whoever leaves his homeland and becomes a refugee for the Cause of Allah and HIS Messenger, and then death overtakes him while still on the way - his reward is due with Allah -
for Allah is Ever-Forgiving and Ever-Compassionate.

04:101
O The Faithful!
When you set out on an expedition in the land in the Cause of Allah, you will not be at fault to shorten Salat/ Prayer, especially if you fear that those who disbelieve may attack you.
Surely, the disbelievers are clearly your enemies.

04:102
O The Prophet!
And when you are among them and stand to lead the Salat/Prayer for them:
let a group of them stand by you, keeping their arms while the others stand vigilant against the enemy.
After they have prostrated themselves let them withdraw to the rear, behind you and stand vigilant,
and let the other group, which has not yet offered their Salat/Prayer, come forward and pray with you, taking precaution and their arms.
Those who disbelieve would wish to find you neglectful of your arms and your provisions/
equipment – so that they could attack you unaware.
However, it will not be wrong of you if you put aside your arms when
you are troubled by heavy rain and the ground impedes your movement,
or when you are ill/wounded.
But still do take every precaution for yourselves and be vigilant against any surprise attack.
Indeed, Allah has prepared a humiliating punishment for the disbelievers.

04:103
‘When you are late in performing the Salat/Prayer remember Allah in your hearts,
standing, or
sitting, or
even lying on your sides.

And once you feel secure, perform the complete Salat/Prayer befittingly.
Indeed, the Salat/Prayer, at its prescribed times, is a duty upon the believers.

04:104
And do not slacken or grow weak in pursuit of those people – the enemy.
If you are aching from fatigue and wounds, surely they too are aching as you are aching.
While you have hope for success and Paradise from Allah they cannot hope for anything.
And Allah is Ever-Knowing of your suffering, and All-Wise to enjoin you to go in pursuit of the enemy.

04:105
O The Prophet!
WE have revealed on to you the Book – The Qur’an - in all Truth.
This empowers you to arbitrate/judge among people as Allah has enlightened you with in the form of its Divine Law.
So do not plead for those who betray their trust.

04:106
Rather seek Allah’s forgiveness.
Indeed, Allah is Ever-Forgiving and Ever-Compassionate.

04:107
Do not plead on behalf of those who betray themselves through acts of disobedience and hypocrisy.
Surely, Allah has no love for anyone who is a betrayer, sinner.

04:108
They seek to hide their actions and utterances from the people, but they cannot hide it from Allah,
though HE was in their midst at night while they were conspiring to spread rumors and slanders with vile words displeasing to HIM.
And Allah is Ever-Encompassing whatever they do.

04:109
There you are - pleading on their behalf in the life of this world!
But who will plead on their behalf with Allah at the Time of Resurrection?
Or who will be their pleader then?

04:110
Yet, whoever commits an offense, or otherwise wrongs himself, but then repents later and
seeks Allah’s forgiveness,
he will find Allah to be All-Forgiving and All-Compassionate.

04:111
And whoever earns a sin, he only earns it against himself.
Allah is Ever-Aware and All-Wise.

04:112
And whoever earns an offence or a sin, and then attributes it to an innocent person, i.e., by falsely accusing someone else,
He would have burdened himself with slander and brazen sin by such a false accusation.

04:113
O The Prophet!
If it were not for Allah’s Favor towards you and HIS Mercy, a section of them was certainly determined to mislead you by deception -
but they are misleading no one but themselves,
nor they can harm you in any way.
How can they even do so when Allah has revealed onto you the Book – The Qur’an - and the Wisdom, and taught you what you did not know before?
And Allah’s Favors on you – O The Prophet - have been immeasurable indeed.

04:114
There is no good in most of their secret deliberations unless
it be someone encouraging:
almsgiving to the poor, or
mutual kindness, or
reconciliation among the people.
And whoever does this while seeking Allah’s Pleasure,
WE will award him a glorious reward.

04:115
While whoever opposes and works against the Messenger Muhammad and remains hostile to him,
even after the Guidance has been clearly conveyed to him, and
follows a way other than the way of the believers,
WE will lead him to what he has leaned to, and take him to Hell -
and it will be a wretched destination!

04:116
And that is exactly what happened.
In their insistence on opposing The Prophet, they had sided with the polytheists – not realizing that
Allah will never forgive the sin of ascribing any entity to HIM in Unity and Worship - but may forgive other than that for whoever HE Wants.
In fact, whoever ascribes any entity to Allah has indeed strayed a far straying.

04:117
In fact, they invoke nothing but Satan/female entities apart from HIM,
thus invoking Satan, the defiant rebel,

04:118
… Allah has cursed him.
And he - Satan - said:
‘I will certainly take a definite share of YOUR servants’ by their following me,

04:119
‘…. and I will mislead them,
and I will arouse vain expectations, temptations, and superstitious fancies in them,
and I will entice them and they will slit the ears of the livestock,
and I will command them, and they will deface Allah’s creation.’
Whoever takes Satan for a master, apart from Allah, then, will have surely suffered a clearest loss!

04:120
He makes promises to them, and creates in them vain expectations and temptations,
whatever Satan promises them is nothing but deception.

04:121
It is they – those deceived by Satan - whose dwelling is going to be Hell,
and they will never find an escape from it.

04:122
As for those who believe and practice righteousness,
WE will admit them to Paradise through which rivers/streams flow.
Therein to remain forever - never to die, never to leave.
Allah’s Promise is the Truth.
And whose words could be more truthful than Allah’s?

04:123
No indeed!
It will not happen through your wishful thinking, nor the wishful thinking of the Followers of Former Scriptures.
Rather whoever does evil/wrong will be paid back for it,
and he will find for himself neither any protector nor a helper apart from Allah.

04:124
And whoever practices righteousness, be it a male or a female, and is a believer,
it is they who will be admitted to Paradise -
and they will not be wronged - even by so much as the speck on a date-stone.

04:125
Who could be better in religion than the one:
- who submits himself to Allah
- seeking excellence in doing so, and
- follows the Faith of Abraham, Haneef?
Indeed, Allah took Abraham as Khalil - a friend, close and trusted - an epithet of Abraham.

04:126
And to Allah belongs whatever is within the celestial realm and whatever is within the terrestrial world.
And Allah encompasses everything.

04:127
O The Prophet!
And they are asking you for a Divine Pronouncement about the women.
Tell them:
Allah makes a pronouncement about them:
‘Follow what is recited to you in the Book – The Qur’an
about the orphans of women in your charge, from whom you do not want to pay their decreed shares of inheritance, and yet wish to marry them out of greed to get their charms or to continue benefiting from their inheritance, and
concerning the helpless among the children, and
that you treat the orphans with fairness.
And whatever good you do by being kind and fair to them, surely Allah knows about it and will reward you for it.

04:128
If a wife fears aversion or negligence from her husband, or desertion, there is no harm on both of them to reconcile between themselves.
Reconciliation is better than aversion or negligence, even though people are swayed by
greed and selfishness.
O Husbands!
If you do good and act in reverence for HIM and piety in observing the rights of your wives, HE will surely reward you –
for surely Allah is Ever-Aware of whatever you do: aversion, negligence, or reconciliation.

04:129
In the case of plural marriages, you will never be able to deal fairly among the wives, regardless of how eager you may be to do so.
But do not turn away from one wife altogether, leaving her hanging: excluding her from all attention and compassion.
Yet, if you act righteously between them and in piety - mindful of Allah’s Injunctions in this regard, then,
Allah will surely be All-Forgiving and All-Merciful to you.

04:130
However, despite every effort for reconciliation, if they decide to separate by way of a divorce, then let it be so.
Allah will enrich each of them out of His Abundance.
Indeed, Allah is always Infinite in Abundance and All-Wise.

04:131
And to Allah belongs whatever is within the celestial realm and whatever is within the terrestrial world.
WE had enjoined those who received the Scripture before you, and We enjoin you too:
‘Be mindful of Allah!
Even if you disobey remember that to Allah belongs whatever is within the celestial realm and whatever is within the terrestrial world.
And Allah is Ever-Sufficient - beyond the need of His creation or their worship, and The All-Praised.’

04:132
Again, know that to Allah belongs whatever is within the celestial realm and whatever is within the terrestrial world.
And Allah is Sufficient to take care of all affairs!

04:133
If HE ever wanted, HE could do away with you – O People!
And bring others in your place who are better and more obedient than you:
and Allah is All-Powerful to do so.

04:134
Whoever seeks the reward of this terrestrial world should know that with Allah are the rewards of this terrestrial world as well as of the Hereafter and its Correlatives.
And Allah is always Listening to what you say, and always Watching what you do.

04:135
O The Faithful!
Stand out firmly as upholders of justice.
Bear true witnesses before Allah, even if it - testimony –
be against yourselves, or
against your parents, and
against your family.
Whether he - whose case it is - be rich or poor, it should not matter for Allah has a greater right on both that HIS law be followed.
So do not follow your own whims lest you avoid justice.
And remember if you distort the truth or turn away from your testimony,
then, indeed, Allah is always Well-Aware of whatever you do.

04:136
O The Faithful!
Believe in:
Allah, and
His Messenger Muhammad, and
the Book – The Qur’an – which He has sent down onto His Messenger Muhammad, and
the Scripture (s) revealed before this.
But whoever does disbelieve in:
Allah, and
His Angels, and
His Books, and
His Messengers, and
the Last Hour,
then he has surely strayed a far straying from the truthful reality.

04:137
Indeed, those who
believe,
but then disbelieve,
then believe again,
and then disbelieve again,
and then go on increasing in disbelief -
Allah will neither forgive them as long as they remain disbelievers,
nor will He guide them along the Right Path.

04:138
O The Prophet!
Give the good news to such hypocrites that for them will be an agonizing punishment.

04:139
These are the people who take disbelievers as allies in preference to the believers, are they seeking honor among the comity of nations and political power through them?
Let them know that honor truly belongs to Allah, altogether.

04:140
O The Faithful!
It has already been revealed to you in the Book – The Qur’an - that whenever you hear Allah’s Messages being blasphemed and ridiculed by individuals, or groups, or media,

you must not sit with them, watch and listen - until they move on to some other discourse.
Otherwise, in that case, you will become like them in sinfulness.
Allah is definitely going to gather these hypocrites and the disbelievers in Hell, altogether.

04:141
The hypocrites are the ones who wait to see what befalls you.
When victory comes to you from Allah, they say:
‘Were we not with you all along?’
But if a portion of the success and good fortune befall the disbelievers, they say to them:
‘Did we not have the upper hand over you and yet protected you from the believers?’
But Allah will judge between you and them at the Time of Resurrection.
And Allah will never make a way of victory for the disbelievers over the believers.

04:142
Indeed, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but in reality, HE makes them to be deceived.
And when they stand up sluggishly and reluctantly for performing the Salat/Prayer only to have people see them.
They do not remember Allah except a little,

04:143
…. they are distracted all through their Salat, wavering between this and that – belief and disbelief, neither with these – believers - nor with those - disbelievers.
And whoever Allah leaves astray - you will never find the Way for him.

04:144
O The Faithful!
Do not take disbelievers as allies and protectors in preference to the believers.
Do you wish to give Allah clear proof of your hypocrisy against yourselves?

04:145
Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire,
and you will not find any helper for them,

04:146
they will all be doomed except for those who
repent hypocrisy, and
reform themselves, and
hold on firmly to Allah, and
sincerely devote their religion to Allah - free from any pretense.
If they do all of that, then, they will be among the believers.
And Allah will grant a glorious reward to the believers.

04:147
What would Allah get by punishing you for past hypocrisy and overindulgence, if you become grateful and believe?
Allah is always Appreciative of Gratitude and is All-Knowing of your motives and intentions.

04:148
As part of the conscience purification process at the individual and societal levels,
Allah does not like the public utterance of bad words by anyone, except when uttered by the one who has suffered injustice.

And, Allah is always Listening to whatever is said, and always Knowing of whatever is done.

04:149
Whether you do some good – deed, speech and dealings - openly or you hide it, or forgive an offence done to you, you do the right thing,
for, Allah is surely All-Forgiving, All-Powerful.

04:150
As for those who disbelieve in Allah and HIS Messengers, and
seek to stir up division between Allah and HIS Messengers, and say:
‘We believe in some and disbelieve in others’ -
and they seek a way in-between – disbelief and belief.

04:151
It is they who are the true disbelievers.
And it is for such disbelievers that WE have prepared a humiliating punishment.

04:152
As for those who believe in Allah and HIS Messengers, and
do not stir up division between any of them,
it is they whom HE will surely award their rewards.
And Allah is Ever-Forgiving and Ever-Merciful to those who obey Him.

04:153
Followers of Former Scriptures demand of you – O The Prophet - to have a book descend upon them from the higher realm/heaven.
There is nothing surprising about it for surely they had asked Moses for something even more outrageous than this.
They demanded:
‘Show us Allah face-to-face’!’
Whereupon the thunderbolt seized them as a punishment and they were rendered unconscious for their wickedness.
Yet they took up the like of a calf for worship – even after the clear miracles had come down to them through Moses.
Even still WE accepted their repentance, and forgave them for that -
and WE granted Moses a clear mandate to lead them.

04:154
And for their covenant, WE exalted them on the Mount Sinai,
and WE said to them:
‘Enter the city’s gate bowing humbly to Allah!’
And WE also told them:
‘Do not violate the Sabbath!’
And took from them a solemn pledge to this effect.

04:155
So they were punished for
their renouncing the pledge, and
their disbelieving the Signs – miracles and revelations - of Allah, and
their assassinating certain the Prophets without right or reason, and
their saying: ‘Our hearts are shrouded’ –

No - it is not as they say.
Allah has set a seal on their hearts for their persistence in disbelief,
so they cannot believe, except for a few -

04:156
…. and for their persistence in disbelief, and
their uttering a great slander against Mary;

04:157
… and for their saying, boastfully:
‘Surely, we assassinated the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.’
However, the fact is that they neither assassinated him, nor did they crucify him,
but the matter was made muddled for them.
Surely those who disputed it – Jesus’ death - are indeed full of doubts about him.
They have no concrete information about it.
They only follow speculations.
They did not assassinate him for sure,

04:158
…. but Allah raised him up to HIMSELF -
for Allah is Ever-Mighty and Ever-Wise in His actions.

04:159
Yet there is not one among the Followers of Former Scriptures who will indeed believe in him before his death,
and at the Time of Resurrection he – Jesus - will be a witness against them.

04:160
So for the wickedness of those who have Judaized and for their deterring many from the Path of Allah, repeatedly -
WE made certain good things – foods - forbidden to them, which were permitted to them
before.

04:161
And their taking interest-money even though forbidden to do so;
and their consuming the wealth of the people falsely.
Thus, WE have prepared for such disbelievers among them an awful punishment.

04:162
As for the learned Jews among them, as well as the believers, they all believe in
what has been sent down on to you, O The Prophet, and
what had been sent down on to those before you.
And those who
establish the Salat/Prayers,
pay out the Zakat/annual charity, and
believe in Allah, and
believe in the Last Hour and its correlatives,
it is they - WE shall award them a glorious reward.

04:163
O The Prophet!
Do not be influenced what these Followers of the Former Scriptures.

Indeed, WE are sending down to you OUR Last Scripture in the same way as
WE revealed on to Noah and the Prophets who came after him, and
WE revealed on to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the clans of Jacob, and
WE revealed to Jesus, and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon, and
to David WE gave the Psalms,

04:164
…. and to the Messengers WE have narrated to you before, as well as Messengers WE have not narrated to you -
and to Moses Allah spoke directly.

04:165
Those Messengers, who were assigned to be heralds of good news and givers of warnings were assigned,
so that the people would have no plea of ignorance before Allah - at the Time of Final Judgment, after the coming of the Messengers.
Indeed, Allah is All-Powerful, All-Wise.

04:166
Even if no one else testifies to the truth of Muhammad’s Prophet-hood and his mission, but
Allah testifies to both and what has been revealed to you in The Qur’an.
HE has revealed it with HIS Knowledge, and
the angels bearing witness to it too;
though Allah is Sufficient as a Witness.

04:167
Yet those who disbelieve and keep others away from the Path of Allah - in defiance of that
testimony,
they have certainly strayed a far straying.

04:168
Indeed, those who have disbelieved and thus have been unfair to themselves –
Allah will neither forgive them nor will HE guide them to the Way of guidance ….

04:169
…. except their way to Hell,
therein to remain forever – never to leave, never to die.
And this is a matter easy for Allah!

04:170
O The People!
The Messenger Muhammad has come to you bringing the Truth from your Rabb - The Lord.
So believe in his mission and his message!
This will be better for you.
However, even if you disbelieve, then remember that to Allah belongs whatever is within the celestial realm and within the terrestrial world.
And Allah is always Knowing of those who believe as well as those who do not, and is All- Wise in what HE does with them.

04:171
O Followers of Former Scriptures!
Do not overstep the limits set in your religion.
And do not say about Allah anything except the truth.
Indeed, the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a Messenger of Allah, and His Creative
Word, bestowed upon the Virgin Mary, and a spirit sent from Him.
So believe in Allah and His Messengers.
And do not say:
‘Allah is Trinity.’
Stop this assertion!
That will be best for you.
Indeed, Allah is the One and Only Allah - without a son or a partner.
Exalted be HE!
Far be it - that HE should have a son.
To HIM belongs whatever is within the celestial realm and within the terrestrial world.
And Allah is Sufficient as the One to be relied on.

04:172
The Messiah never disdained to be a servant of Allah, nor are the angels - the nearest to Him.
And whoever disdains to submit to Him as a servant in worship, awe, and piety, and is too proud -
HE will gather them to HIMSELF - all of them together for Final Judgment.

04:173
As for those who believe and practice righteousness,
HE will award them their rewards in full, and even more out of HIS Grace.
But as for those who disdain submitting to Allah and are proud,
HE will punish them with an awful punishment.
And they will find no protector or helper for themselves apart from Allah.

04:174
O The People!
A manifestation of the truth has now come to you from your Rabb - The Lord.
And this WE have sent down to you as a Guiding Light - to enlighten your souls and guide you along The Right Path.

04:175
So as for those who believe in Allah, and
hold firmly on to HIM,
HE will admit them to HIS Mercy and HIS Grace,
and HE will certainly guide them onto HIMSELF along a Right Path.

04:176
They are seeking from you - O The Prophet - a divine pronouncement about inheritance from someone who dies without a descendant or an ascendant, but is survived by siblings instead.
Tell them:
‘Allah makes the following pronouncement about inheritance from someone who dies without a descendant or an ascendant:
- If a man dies and leaves behind no children, and no parent, but has a sister, for her is the half of what he leaves behind of his property and assets;

If the sister dies and leaves behind no children, her brother will inherit from her;
If there are only two sisters, then for them will be two-thirds between them of what he leaves behind of his property and assets;
If there are brothers and sisters, then – like if there were sons and daughters - for the male will be a share equal to that of two females.
Thus, Allah makes HIS pronouncement clear to you lest you go astray - make mistakes.
And Allah has Knowledge of everything.