ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Al Mizan an Exegesis of the Quran (volume Seven) Volume 7: Surah An-nisaa, Verse 1 In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. O people!

fear your Lord, Who created you from a single being and created its mate of the same (kind) and spread from these two, many men and women; and fear Allah, by Whom you demand one of another (your rights), and (be mindful of) relationship; surely Allah is vigilant over you (1) COMMENTARY The chapter aims - as may be seen from this opening verse - describing matrimonial laws, like the number of wives allowed, the women with whom marriage is forbidden and things like that; together with the laws of inheritance.

It also touches some other matters, e.g., some rules of prayer, jihad, evidence, commerce, etc., and some comments on the People of the Book. The subject matters indicate that it is a Medinite chapter revealed after hijrah. Apparently it was revealed piecemeal, not all at one time, although we find in most of the verses some sort of connection with one another.

This verse (as well as a few following ones which touch the subject of orphans and women) are a sort of prologue to prepare the minds for the rules of inheritance and marriage. The permissible number of wives that comes in the third verse - although an important subject - has been mentioned here just as a side-line, taking advantage of the talk preceding it, as we shall describe in its Commentary. QUR'AN: O people!

fear your Lord, Who created you from a single being and created its mate of the same (kind) and spread from these two, many men and women: The verse calls them to the fear of their Lord, to the piety, concerning their selves, as they all are human beings, identical in their humanity; there is no difference among them in this reality; man and woman, big and small, old and young, weak and strong, all are the same in their humanity.

Therefore, man should not oppress woman, nor should a big and strong person trample on his smaller or weaker fellow, neither in their society to which Allah has guided them for completion of their happiness, nor in the laws or rules adopted by them which Allah has inspired them to.

They have been given the laws in order that they may live easy life, their existence may be protected and they may continue in this world, as individuals and as members of society; This explains why the verse is addressed to the "the people", and not only to the believers.