004:035

The Holy Qor-aan                                                                                                              004:035

اَلرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُوۡنَ عَلَى النِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللّٰهُ بَعۡضَهُمۡ عَلٰى بَعۡضٍ وَّبِمَاۤ اَنۡفَقُوۡا مِنۡ اَمۡوَالِهِمۡ‌ ؕ فَالصّٰلِحٰتُ قٰنِتٰتٌ حٰفِظٰتٌ لِّلۡغَيۡبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللّٰهُ‌ ؕ وَالّٰتِىۡ تَخَافُوۡنَ نُشُوۡزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوۡهُنَّ وَاهۡجُرُوۡهُنَّ فِى الۡمَضَاجِعِ وَاضۡرِبُوۡهُنَّ‌ ۚ فَاِنۡ اَطَعۡنَكُمۡ فَلَا تَبۡغُوۡا عَلَيۡهِنَّ سَبِيۡلًا‌ ؕاِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّا كَبِيۡرًا

Aur-ray-jaa-lo  qauw-waa-moo-na  aa-la  un-nay-saa-aiy
Bay-maa  faudz-dza-la  ul-laa-ho  bau-dzo  hoom  aa-la  bau-dzin
Wa  bay-maa  aun-fa-qoo  min  aum-waa-lay  him

Fa  us-saa-lay-haa-to  qaa-nay-taa-toon
Haa-fay-zaa-toon  lay  l-ghai-bay  bay-maa  ha-fay-za  ul-laa-ho
Wa  ul-laa-tee  ta-khaa-foo-na  na-shoo-za  hoon-na
Fa  aiy-zoo  hoon-na  wa  uh-jo-roo  hoon-na  fee  il-ma-zaa-jay-aiy
Wa  udz-ray-boo  hoon-na

Fa  in  aa-tau-na  koom
Fa  laa  taub-ta-ghoo  aa-lai  hin-na  sa-be-laa
In-na  ul-laa-ha  kaa-na  aa-lee-yaun  ka-be-raa

Men are burdened over and above women
Because Allah has blessed some of them (men) over others
And because they (men) spent from their assets.  

So the righteous women are the Content women,
Protectors of the unseen because Allah entrusted them to keep secret.
And those women you fear their defiance
Then you advise them and depart from them in the beds.
And you improve them.

So, if they follow you
Then take no action on them.
Indeed Allah has always been the Highest, the Greatest.

• ال — Au(r) — The (= This article turns a common noun into a proper noun)
• رِّجَالُ — Ray-jaa-lo — Men (= n., pl., Male of the Mankind)
• قَوَّامُوۡنَ — Qauw-waa-moo-na — Are burdened (= v., pres., pl., 3^rd person. With responsibility are  burdened, commanded, decreed, directed, established, firmed up, imposed, mandated, obligated, ordered, set up or strengthened. At/a, ‘authority,’  ‘maintainers,’ ‘guardians,’ ‘appointed guardian,’ ‘in charge,’ ‘full maintainers of’ and ‘protectors and maintainers’)
• عَلَى — Ala … (un) — Over (= Above; against; before; for; in preference; on; on top of; over; to)
• النِّسَآءِ — Nay-saa-aiy — Women (= n., pl., Female of the Mankind. See the Commentary Woman’s Role in Evolution for various meanings)
• بِمَا — Bay-maa — Because (= Combination of two words. بِ  means ‘with / in’ and مَاۤ   means ‘all that, whatever, whatsoever or whenever.’ The combination بِمَا  (bay-maa) means ‘because of; due to; for the reason that; in all that; on account of; owing to, with all that. A/t/a, ‘because’ and ‘because of that in respect of which’)
• فَضَّلَ — Faudz-dza-la … (ul) — Blessed (= v., past., s., 3^rd person. Benefited; bestowed; conferred; empowered; endowed; gave; granted; gifted; ‘preferred by being given abundance or plenteousness. A/t/a, ‘made … excel,’ ‘given the one more strength than the other’ and ‘made superior’)
• اللّٰهُ — Laa-ho — Allah (= The One and the Only One Almighty God)

{Next 4 words resemble those in 003:196, 004:033, etc}

• بَعۡضُ — Bau-dzo — Some (= A few; a fraction, part, piece or portion; less than all. A/t/a, ‘the one’)
• هُمۡ‌ — Hoom — Them (= pro., pl., m., 3 ^rd person. Refers to aforesaid men)
• عَلٰى — Aa-laa — Over (= Above; against; before; during; for; on; on top of; over; upon. A/t/a ‘more … than’)
• بَعۡضٍ — Bau-dzin — Some others (= A few; a fraction, part; piece; portion. See بَعۡضُ above. A/t/a, ‘the other’)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., Links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but also; more over; though; when; while; whereupon; yet)
• بِمَا — Bay-maa — Because (= That, what, whatever or whatsoever. See بِمَا above)
• اَنۡفَقُوۡا — Aun-fa-qoo — They spent (= v., past., m, pl., 3^rd person. Contributed;  donated, gave; expended; invested, laid out, put or used. The Holy Qor-aan has used this word for all above acts done for any charity, good cause, noble purpose or poor person. A/t/a, ‘gave alms.’ But ‘men spend on them,‘ ‘they spend to support them,’ ‘they spend of their property (for the support of women)’ and ‘they have to support them’ in the present tense are no translations of the Holy Qor-aan text in the past tense)
• مِنۡ — Min — From (= Among, from or out of the class or category of several  articles, counts, kind, things, persons or phenomenon. A/t/a, ‘of’)
• اَمۡوَالِ — Aum-waa-lay — Assets (= n., pl., Assets, gains, goods, lands, money, property, possessions, resources, riches, substances, valuables or wealth. Can the ostensible means or signs of affluence, contacts or influence be included? See Note 002:262. A/t/a, ‘their means,’ ‘wealth,’ ‘their wealth on,’ ‘their wealth to maintain them’ and ‘their means’)
• هِمۡ — Him — Them (= pro., pl., m., 3 ^rd person. This Refers to aforesaid men)
• فَ — Fa .. (us) — So / Then  (= After all this; as a result; at the end; but; consequently;  hence; in conclusion; so; then; thereafter; therefore; thus; yet. See 002:027)
• الصّٰلِحٰتُ  — Saa-lay-haa-to — Righteous women (= n., pl., f. Good, noble, pious, righteous or virtuous women. A/t/a, ‘virtuous women are those who are,’ ‘virtuous women’ and ‘good women’)
• قٰنِتٰتٌ — Qaa-nay-taa-toon — Content women (= n., pl., f. Ladies happily settled with what God gave and who make no demands on husbands to cross lines into doing illegal, improper or unjustified things. Non-demanding women. A/t/a, ‘obedient,’ ‘devoutly obedient (to Allah and their husbands),’ ‘devoutly obedient’ and ‘obedient (to Allah’)
•  حٰفِظٰتٌ — Haa-fay-zaa-toon — Protectors (= n., pl., f. Women who are protecting and saving their family concerns, issues, matters or secrets. This divine  command laid down in the 7^th Century A.D. is the same as the Legal Doctrine of Spousal Privilege that today disallows one spouse to testify against the other unless the other has first allowed that by express permission or implied conduct. A/t/a, ‘safeguard’ and ‘guard’ but such verbs are no translations of the noun in the Holy Qor-aan text)
• لِّ — Lay … (il) — For (= Concerning, regarding; relative to; intended for; to; towards)
• الۡغَيۡبِ — Ghai-bay — The Unseen (= n., s., Beyond human eyes or vision. Hidden. Invisible. Reality hitherto unknown. Secret. Unknown. Unseen. Refers to the non-public matters, realities or situations of the family and matrimonial life. A/t/a, ‘secrets of their husbands with Allah’s protection,’ ‘with Allah’s help, matters the knowledge of which is shared by them with their husbands,’ ‘(their own chastity as well as the rights and secrets of their husbands even) in (their) absence,’ ‘husband’s absence,’ ‘the  unseen,’ ‘unseen parts’ and ‘in the husband’s absence that Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity and their husband’s property)’
• بِمَا — Bay-maa — Because (= That, what, whatever or whatsoever. See بِمَا above. A/t/a, ‘that which’)
• حَفِظَ — Ha-fay-za … (ul) — Entrusted to keep secret (= v., past., m., pl., 3^rd person. Concealed, guarded, hid, protected or kept secret from the public eye. A/t/a, ‘has guarded,’ ‘has guarded (the women’s rights)’ and ‘that which God would have her guard.’ But the (a) noun in ‘help’ and ‘protection,’ and (b) verb in the present tense as in ‘orders them to guard’ are no translations of the Holy Qor-aan text with the verb in the past tense. One author translated this section as ‘They guard their unseen parts because Allah has guarded them’)
• اللّٰهُ — Laa-ho — Allah (= The One and the Only One Almighty God)
• وَ — Wa … (ul) — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above. A/t/a, ‘(as to)’ and ‘As for’)
• ٱلَّتِى — Aul-la-tee — Those women  (= s., f., pl., 3^rd person. Refers to wives. A/t/a,  ‘those on whose part’ (1917, 1969), ‘those of them on whose part’ (1975), ‘those women on whose part’ (1990) and ‘those women (on whose part)’ (1996)
• تَخَافُوۡنَ — Ta-khaa-foo-na — You fear (= v., pres., pl., 2^nd person. Fear. Feel afraid, alarmed, anxious, concerned, dread, scared or worried. Suspect. A/t/a, ‘you see’)
• نُشُوۡزَ — No-shoo-za — Defiance (= n., pl., Aggressive, fierce, forceful, furious, intense or violent behavior, differences, disagreements, discords, dissents, fights, hostilities, oppositions or passionate sadism. A/t/a, ‘desertion,’ ‘disobedience,’ ‘rebellion,’ ‘disobedience and bad behavior,’ ‘ill conduct’ and ‘disloyalty and ill-conduct’)
• هُنَّ — Hoon-na — Their (= pron., pl., f., 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid women, the wives)
• فَ — Fa — Then (= Hence; so; thus; after all this; at the end.  See فَ above)
• عِظُوۡ — Aiy-zoo — You advise (= v., pres., pl., 2^nd person. Admonish, advise, counsel, direct, impress, inform, notify, recommend or talk to them and make them realize the value of keeping all family affairs within the family instead of publicly broadcasting them all over. A/t/a, ‘admonish,’ ‘may admonish … (first lovingly)’ and ‘first admonish, then if they persist’)
• هُنَّ — Hoon-na — Them (= pron., pl., f., 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid women, the wives)
• وَ — Wa … (uh) — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
• اهۡجُرُو — Auh-jo-roo — You depart (= v., pres., pl., 2^nd person. Break up; break away; detach;  disconnect; leave; migrate; part; secede; separate; split; withdraw. A/t/a, ‘banish … apart,’ ‘leave … alone,’ ‘keep away,’ ‘refuse to share’ and ‘send … apart)’
• هُنَّ — Hoon-na — Them (= pron., pl., f., 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid women, the wives)
• فِى — Fee … (il) — In / On (= About; concerning; in reference to; pursuant to; regarding; relative to. See Note 002:028)
• الۡمَضَاجِعِ — Ma-dzaa-jay-aiy — The beds (= n., pl., Resting places. Sleeping places. A/t/a, ‘the beds,’ ‘their beds’ and ‘their beds with them’)
• وَ — Wa … (udz) — And (= Conj., Links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
• اضۡرِبُو — Audz-ray-boo — You improve (= v., pres., m., pl., 2^nd person. Coin, create, make, mint, improve, present, set up, strike, state, use as example. See Note 004:035 below. A/t/a, ‘beat,’ ‘chastise,’ ‘scourge,’ ‘(as a last resort) punish … (mildly),’ ‘(and last) beat … (lightly, if it is useful)’ and ‘if they still persist, hit in a gentle (in no way physically harming’)
• هُنَّ — Hoon-na — Them (= pron., pl., f., 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid women, the wives)
• فَ — Fa — So (= Hence; then; thus; after all this; at the end. See فَ above)
• اِنۡ — In — If (= In case; under the circumstances; when; whenever)
• اَطَعۡنَ — Aa-tau-na — They follow (= v., pres., f., pl., 3^rd person. Abide; conform; do as told; carry out instructions; fall in line; stay on course. A/t/a, ‘return to obedience and loyalty’ and ‘obey. ‘ The above-mentioned word  قٰنِتٰتٌ  and the next word  كُمۡ  clearly show that the ‘disobedience to Allah’ is an incorrect translation)
• كُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2^nd person. You men)
• فَ — Fa — Then (= Hence; so; thus; after all this; at the end. See فَ above)
• لَا — Laa — Do not (= Naught; neither; never; none; nor; not at all; absolute denial and total negation without exception)
• تَبۡغُوۡا –Tub-ta-ghoo — You take (= v., pres., m., pl., 2^nd person. Aspire; attempt; crave; desire; pursue; seek; take; want; wish. Also, pursue. A/t/a, ‘take .. action’)
• عَلَيۡ — Aa-lai — On (= Above; against; before; during; for; on; on top of; over; to; upon)
• هِنَّ — Hin-na — Them (= pron., pl., f., 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid women, the wives)
• سَبِيۡلًا — Sa-be-laa — Action (= n., s., Action; alternative; cause, course; escape; line; means; measure; method; path; pretext; remedy; road; way. See Note 004:089  & Phrase fee-sa-be-lil-laa-hay.  A/t/a, ‘pretext,’ ‘further action’ and ‘any means of annoyance’)
• اِنَّ — In-na … (ul) — Certainly (= Absolutely; definitely; doubtlessly; earnestly; indeed;      positively; really; seriously; surely; truly; verily)
• ٱللَّهَ — Aul-laa-ha — Allah (= The One and the Only One Almighty God
• كَانَ — Kaa-na — He has been (= v., past., s., m., 3^rd person., Continually had been; used to; were, went on doing. Indicates the continuity from the past to the present and leading into the future)
• عَلِيًّا — Ali-yaun — The Highest (= superlative form indicates the greatest, the tops, the supreme, the uppermost, and highlights none more than Him is above. Above all anyone can imagine. A/t/a, ‘ever’ Exalted’ and ‘ever High Exalted’)
• كَبِيۡرًا — Ka-be-raa — The Greatest  (= superlative form indicates the Best, the Supreme, the Utmost, and highlights that none more than Him is Greater. Greater than anyone can imagination. A/t/a, ‘Great,’ ‘the Great, above you all’ and ‘Most Great’)

** Note 004:035. The word اضۡرِبُو (audz-ray-boo) has many meanings.

1. Contextually it means to improve wife to realize, recognize and respect the essence of the Commandment stated in the first four words of this verse.
2. Professionally it means to strike a valuable coin from any metal or cut a priceless diamond from an ordinary-looking stone.
3. Maliciously and violently as when fighting with enemy it can mean beat, bang, crash, thrash, censure, chastise, discipline, harm, insult, pound, punch, punish, rebuke, reprimand, reprove, scourge, tell off, etc.
4. Inaccurately as done by several translators of who some are mentioned above.

Almost every translation on the market we have seen has drawn the ugliest malicious, malevolent and militant meanings of this verse. Except for the one mentioned below, they all directly contradict the Commandment in 002:230 that mandates that a wife must be kept in a becoming manner implying with love, respect and tender care or sent away with kindness.

The accurate explanation of the opening words  اَلرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُوۡنَ عَلَى النِّسَآءِ  of this verse is that ’men must mend masters’ i.e., themselves before attempting to mend others and women. The founder of the Ahmadiyya community Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a.s., explained this concept clearly and at length. Many sensible persons practice that proper phenomenon in their lives.

This site maintains that every inaccurate translation with different meanings being  currently marketed must be rejected on this short ground.

In 1990’s about twenty pious men attended an interactive daurs (discussion) of the Holy Qor-aan) after the Fajr (morning) prayer in a Philadelphia mosque. When asked if they (a) had lived with their wives long enough to become grandparents, (b) had enjoyed at home peace by respecting wives’ total autonomy in domestics and (c) had wives who recognized and respected their rights, obligations and duties out of homes. By show of hands they replied yes and deserve  every compliment for being the living examples and showing true meanings of this verse.

Some interpreters have claimed authority to label some verses of the Holy Qor-aan as abrogated because in their mind they thought it contradicted other verses. Our Commentaries Abrogation Theory and Islam and Sect Recognition clearly show why everyone of such claims is unjustified, unwarranted and uncalled for.