As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 4, An-Nisâ or the Women, Verses 127-147. These verses command us to establish justice for women, orphan girls and helpless children. Be humble and featful in your dealings with God. Stand firm for justice, believe wholeheartedly, and remember that the hypocrites have double standards.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.They ask your decision concerning the women. Tell them: Allah makes His decision concerning them and along with it reminds you about those commandments, recited to you in the Book (The Qur’an), relating to orphan girls to whom you do not give their lawful rights and to whom you do not wish to marry. He also reminds you regarding the helpless children, and to stand firm for justice to orphans. Whatever good you do, Allah surely knows it.[127] If a woman fears cruelty or desertion from her husband, there is no blame if both of them agree to reconcile by means of a compromise, after all compromise is better. Human souls are prone to narrow-mindedness, but if you show generosity and fear Allah in your dealings, surely Allah is well aware of your actions.[128] It is not possible for you to do justice between your wives even if you wish to do so; therefore, in order to comply with Divine Law, do not lean towards one wife to the extent that you leave the other hanging in air. If you work out a friendly understanding and fear Allah, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.[129] If the spouses do separate, Allah will make each one independent of the other out of His own limitless resources, Allah is Giving, Wise.[130] 4:[127-130]
To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth. We directed the People of the Book before you and now direct you also, to fear Allah in your dealings with one another. But if you disobey (you will do so at your own risk) for Allah owns all that is in the Heavens and in the Earth and Allah is Self-sufficient, Praiseworthy.[131] Yes! To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth and Allah is sufficient as a Protector.[132] If He wanted He could destroy you all, O mankind, and bring others. Allah has the power to do so.[133] Anyone who desires the reward of this world should know that Allah possesses the rewards of both, this world and the hereafter. Allah hears all and sees all.[134] 4:[131-134]
O believers! Stand firm for justice and bear true witness for the sake of Allah, even though it be against yourselves, your parents or your relatives. It does not matter whether the party is rich or poor – Allah is well wisher of both. So let not your selfish desires swerve you from justice. If you distort your testimony or decline to give it, then you should remember that Allah is fully aware of your actions.[135] 4:[135]
O believers! Believe in Allah, His Messenger, the Book which He has revealed to His Messenger, and every Book which He previously revealed. He who denies Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers and the Last Day has gone far astray.[136] As for those who accept the faith then renounce it, who again embrace it and again deny it, and go on increasing in unbelief, Allah will neither forgive them nor guide them to the Right Way.[137] Announce the painful punishment to those hypocrites[138] who choose the unbelievers to be their protectors rather than believers. Are they seeking honor in being with them? Whereas all honor belongs to Allah Alone.[139] He has already revealed for you in the Book that when you hear Allah’s revelations being denied or ridiculed by people, you must not sit with them unless they change the topic of their talk, otherwise you shall be considered guilty like them. Rest assured that Allah is going to gather the hypocrites and the unbelievers all together in hell.[140] These hypocrites are the ones who wait and watch to see how the wind blows. If Allah grants you a victory, they say: “Were we not with you?” And if the unbelievers gain success, they will say to them: “Were we not strong enough to fight against you? Yet we protected you from the believers (Muslims).” Allah will judge between you and them on the Day of Resurrection. Allah will not leave the way for the unbelievers to triumph over the believers.[141] 4:[136-141]
Surely the hypocrites try to deceive Allah, whereas, in fact, He has reverted their deception to them; when they stand up for Prayers, they stand reluctantly, merely to be seen by people and do not remember Allah but a little[142] – wavering between belief and disbelief, belonging neither to this nor to that. Whom Allah lets go astray, you cannot find a Way for him.[143] O believers! Do not choose unbelievers to be your protecting friends instead of believers. Would you like to furnish Allah a clear proof against yourselves?[144] Surely the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth of hell-fire; and you will not find any helper for them.[145] However, those who repent and mend their ways, hold fast to Allah, and become sincere in their devotion to Allah – they are considered to be with the believers. Allah will soon grant the believers a mighty reward.[146] Why should Allah punish you if you are grateful and a true believer? Allah knows the grateful.[147] 4:[142-147]
Ameen.
This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.
Thank you and be well.