لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيۡبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الۡوَالِدٰنِ وَالۡاَقۡرَبُوۡنَ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيۡبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الۡوَالِدٰنِ وَالۡاَقۡرَبُوۡنَ مِمَّا قَلَّ مِنۡهُ اَوۡ كَثُرَؕ نَصِيۡبًا مَّفۡرُوۡضًا
Word By Word —
Word By Word —
Lirrijali naseebun mimmataraka alwalidani wal-aqraboona walinnisa-inaseebun mimma taraka alwalidani wal-aqraboonamimma qalla minhu aw kathura naseeban mafrooda
What Does Surah An-Nisaa Ayah 7 Mean? - Common Questions & Answers
Explore the meaning, interpretation, and Islamic explanation of Surah An-Nisaa Ayah 7 from the Holy Quran. Find answers to frequently asked questions about this verse, its context, and significance in Islamic teachings.
❓What revolutionary inheritance rights did Islam establish for women according to An-Nisa 4:7?
An-Nisa 4:7 established the historic declaration: 'For men there is a share in what their parents and close relatives leave, and for women there is a share in what their parents and close relatives leave.' This was revolutionary because pre-Islamic Arab society completely denied inheritance rights to women and children, giving inheritance only to adult males who could fight and collect battle spoils. Islam became the first civilization to grant women automatic, legally protected inheritance rights.
❓What were the pre-Islamic Arab customs regarding inheritance that this verse addressed?
Pre-Islamic Arabs followed the principle that 'the one deserving of inheritance is the one who rides a horse, fights against enemies and collects battle spoils.' This meant only adult males inherited, while women were completely excluded regardless of age, and minor boys were also denied inheritance until they could participate in warfare. Women were considered property themselves rather than property owners, creating a system of severe gender-based discrimination.
❓What is the historical case that prompted the revelation of this verse about inheritance?
The verse was revealed after the case of Umm Kujjah (also called the widow of Aws ibn Thabit), who came to Prophet Muhammad complaining that her husband's cousins had seized his entire estate, leaving nothing for his wife, two daughters, and minor son. Following pre-Islamic custom, the cousins excluded all family members because women couldn't inherit and the boy was too young. This injustice prompted the divine revelation establishing equal inheritance rights.
❓What does 'determined share' (naseeban mafrooda) mean in Islamic inheritance law?
The phrase 'naseeban mafrooda' (determined share) emphasizes that inheritance portions are divinely ordained obligations fixed by Allah that cannot be altered by human opinion, analogical deduction, or personal preference. This makes inheritance transfer automatic and compulsory - it doesn't require heir consent and occurs even if someone declares they don't want their share. The heir becomes the rightful owner regardless of their acceptance.
❓Why does the Quran mention men and women in separate sentences rather than together?
The Quran deliberately mentions men's and women's inheritance rights in separate, independent sentences rather than combining them (like 'for men and women both there is a share') to emphasize that women's inheritance rights are completely independent and equally important as men's rights. This stylistic choice underscores that women's financial rights stand on their own merit, not as an afterthought or extension of male inheritance.
❓How does the principle of 'nearest in kinship' (al-aqrabun) determine inheritance priority?
The term 'al-aqrabun' (nearest relatives) establishes that inheritance is based on closeness of kinship rather than need or benefit. Nearer relatives exclude more distant ones from inheritance, even if the distant relatives are poorer or more needy. This creates a fixed, predictable system where parents and children take priority over cousins, and direct descendants exclude collateral relatives, ensuring inheritance law remains stable and unambiguous.
❓What does the phrase 'whether little or much' signify about Islamic inheritance principles?
The phrase 'whether little or much' (mimma qalla minhu aw kathura) corrects pre-Islamic customs where certain valuable items like horses or weapons could only be inherited by adult males. Islam declares that ALL property owned by the deceased - regardless of type, size, or value - is subject to inheritance law. Every heir has rights in the complete estate, and no inheritor can claim exclusive ownership of specific items before formal distribution.
❓How did this verse impact the broader development of women's rights in Islamic civilization?
An-Nisa 4:7 laid the foundation for comprehensive women's financial rights in Islamic civilization, establishing legal precedent that women could own, inherit, and control property independently. This created a legal framework where women became autonomous economic agents centuries before similar rights emerged in Western societies. The verse's principle of gender equality in inheritance extended to other areas of Islamic law, contributing to women's rights in business, education, and social participation.
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