Word حَٰفِظَٰتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُ - Quran Morphology

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

Men are guardians over women because Allah has made some of them excel others, and because they (men) spend of their wealth. So virtuous women are those who are obedient, and guard the secrets of their husbands with Allah’s protection. And as for those on whose part you fear disobedience, admonish them and leave them alone in their beds, and chastise them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Surely, Allah is High, Great.

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

مرد عورتوں پر نگران ہیں اس فضیلت کی وجہ سے جو اللہ نے ان میں سے بعض کو بعض پر بخشی ہے اور اس وجہ سے بھی کہ وہ اپنے اموال (ان پر) خرچ کرتے ہیں۔ پس نیک عورتیں فرمانبردار اور غیب میں بھی ان چیزوں کی حفاظت کرنے والی ہوتی ہیں جن کی حفاظت کی اللہ نے تاکید کی ہے۔ اور وہ عورتیں جن سے تمہیں باغیانہ رویے کا خوف ہو تو ان کو (پہلے تو) نصیحت کرو،پھر ان کو بستروں میں الگ چھوڑ دو اور پھر (عند الضرورت) انہیں بدنی سزا بھی دو۔ پس اگر وہ تمہاری اطاعت کریں تو پھر ان کے خلاف کوئی حجت تلاش نہ کرو۔ یقیناً اللہ بہت بلند (اور) بہت بڑا ہے۔

French

Les hommes sont les gardiens des femmes, parce qu’Allāh a fait que les uns surpassent les autres et parce qu’ils dépensent de leurs biens. Ainsi les femmes vertueuses sont celles qui sont obéissantes et gardent les secrets de leurs maris avec la protection d’Allāh. Et quant à celles dont vous craignez la désobéissance, admonestez-les, et laissez-les seules dans leur lit et si besoin en est châtiez-les. Alors si elles vous obéissent, ne cherchez pas de moyen contre elles. Assurément, Allāh est Très-Elevé et est Grand sans comparaison.

German

Die Männer sind die Verantwortlichen über die Frauen, weil Allah die einen vor den anderen ausgezeichnet hat und weil sie von ihrem Vermögen hingeben. Darum sind tugendhafte Frauen die Gehorsamen und die (ihrer Gatten) Geheimnisse mit Allahs Hilfe wahren. Und jene, von denen ihr Widerspenstigkeit* befürchtet, ermahnt sie, lasst sie allein in den Betten und straft sie. Wenn sie euch dann gehorchen, so sucht keine Ausrede gegen sie; Allah ist hoch erhaben, groß.

Chinese

因为[b]安拉在男女间使一些人优於另一些人, 而且他们 (男子为女子) 消费自己的财富, 所以[c]男子 (被定) 为女子的监护人[326]。善良的妇女是服从的, 是赖安拉的护佑保守 (丈夫的) 秘密事务的。你们所担心的不服从的[327]妇女, 你们就劝诫她们, 让她们分床[328] 独居和 (依循需要), 身体地惩罚她们, [329]如果他们听从了你们, 就不要借故反对她们。安拉确是至高尚的, 至伟大的。

Italian

Gli uomini sono guardiani sulle donne, perché Allah ha fatto eccellere alcuni di essi sugli altri, e perché loro spendono dai loro beni per esse. Così donne virtuose sono quelle che sono obbedienti e proteggono anche nella loro assenza quello che Allah ha comandato di proteggere. E quanto a quelle da cui temete disobbedienza, ammonitele e lasciatele sole nei loro letti e punitele. Poi, se vi obbediscono, non cercate un'altra via contro di loro. Certamente, Allah è Eccelso, Grande.

Spanish

Los hombres son protectores de las mujeres porque Al-lah ha hecho que algunos de ellos sobresalgan sobre otros y porque ellos (los hombres) gastan de sus bienes. Así pues, las mujeres virtuosas son las que son obedientes y guardan los secretos de sus maridos con la protección de Al-lah. En cuanto a aquéllas de las que temáis desobediencia, amonestadlas, dejadlas solas en sus lechos y castigadlas. Pero si después os obedecen, no busquéis otro camino contra ellas. Ciertamente, Al-lah es Excelso, Grande.

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

مرد عورتوں پراس فضیلت کے سبب سے جو اللہ نے ان میں سے بعض کو دوسروں پر دی ہے اوراس سبب سے کہ وہ اپنے مالوں میں سے (عورتوںپر) خرچ کر چکے ہیں نگران (قرار دیئے گئے) ہیں۔ پس نیک عورتیں فرمانبرداراوراللہ کی مدد سے پوشیدہ امورکی محافظ ہوتی ہیں اورجن کی نافرمانی[2] کا تمہیں خوف ہو (تم) انہیں نصیحت کرواورانہیں خواب گاہوں میں اکیلا چھوڑ دواورانہیں مارو۔ پھراگروہ تمہاری اطاعت کرنے لگیں تو ان کے خلاف کوئی بہانہ نہ تلاش کرو۔ اللہ یقیناً بہت بلند (اور) بڑا ہے۔

English - Short Commentary Translation

[a]Men are guardians[598] over women because [b]Allah has made some of them excel others, and because men spend on them of their wealth. So virtuous women are obedient, and guard the secrets of their husbands with Allah’s protection. And as for those on whose part you fear disobedience,[599] admonish them and keep away from them in their beds[600] and chastise[601] them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Surely, Allah is High and Great.

English - Five Volume Translation

[b]Men are guardians over women because [c]Allah has made some of them excel others, and because they (men) spend of their wealth. So virtuous women are those who are obedient, and guard the secrets of their husbands with Allah’s protection. And as for those on whose part you fear disobedience, admonish them and leave them alone in their beds, and chastise them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Surely, Allah is High and Great.[512]

2:229.

2:238; 4:33.

Important Words:

قوامون (guardians) is derived from قام i.e. he stood. They say قام علیه i.e. he tended or took care of it or him. قام بالیتم means, he maintained the orphan. قام علی المرأة means, he undertook the maintenance of the woman; he undertook or managed her affairs; he protected her, or became her guardian. قوم الشیء (qawwama) means, he set the thing right, or made it straight or even. قوام therefore means, one who manages affairs well; a ruler or governor; one in a position to issue orders (Lane & Aqrab).

قانتات (obedient) is the plural of قانتة being the active participle from قنت. They say قنت لله i.e. he was obedient to God. امرأة قنوت means, a woman humble, submissive and obedient to her husband (Lane). See also 2:117.

نشوز (disobedience) is the noun-infinitive from نشز i.e. he rose or raised himself. نشزت المرأة علی زوجھا means, the woman rose against, or was disobedient to her husband and exalted herself against him and resisted him and was an evil companion to him. نشز المرء علی زوجته means, the husband treated his wife unjustly and was unkind to her or forsook her or hated her and was an evil companion to her (Lane & Aqrab).

اھجروھن (leave them alone). ھجر means, he cut him off from friendly or loving communion or intercourse; he forsook or abandoned him; he "cut" him, i.e. he boycotted him and ceased to speak to him or to associate with him. ھجر الشیء means, he forsook, or abandoned the thing; he shunned or avoided it. ھجر زوجته means, he separated himself from his wife or kept away from her (Lane & Mufradat).

اضربوھن (chastise them) is derived from ضرب. They say ضربه i.e. he beat, struck, smote or hit him (with hand, stick, etc.); hence, he chastised him.

علیا (High) is derived from علا i.e. he or it was or became high, elevated, lofty or exalted. تعالی means, he was or became high, elevated, exalted or supremely exalted or extolled. علی means high, elevated or lofty in rank, condition or state. العلیwhich is one of the attributive names of God (e.g. 2:256) means, the High; the Most High; He above Whom is nothing. المتعالی is also an attributive name of God (e.g. 13:10) meaning, He Who is Great or Supremely Great, the High or the Most High; One Higher than every other high one. تعال means, come thou, as if said by a man in a high place when calling upon a man in a low place, but is also used generally (Lane).

Commentary:

The verse gives two reasons why man has been made the head of the family: (a) his superior mental and physical powers; (b) his being bread-earner and maintainer of the family. It is natural and fair that he who earns and supplies the money should have the final say in the disposal of affairs.

The word قانتات (obedient) spoken of wives may mean either obedient to God, or to husbands.

The expression, guard the secrets of their husbands, means that when the husbands are at home, they are obedient to them and guard their secrets; and when they are away, they not only guard their secrets but take care of their property and guard their own chastity.

The clause, leave them alone in their beds, may mean: (a) abstention from conjugal relations with them; (b) sleeping in separate beds; or (c) ceasing to talk to them. The use of the word "beds" also incidentally implies that the disobedient wives are to stay at home and are not to be allowed to leave or be turned out of their homes.

The measures mentioned in the verse are not to remain in force for an indefinite period, for wives are not to be left like a thing suspended (4:130). Four months, according to the Quran, is the utmost limit for abstention from conjugal relations, i.e. for practical separation (2:227).

If the husband deems the affair to be sufficiently grave, he will have to observe the conditions mentioned in 4:16.

Regarding "chastisement" mentioned as a last resort in the verse under comment a Companion reports the Holy Prophet to have said that if at all a Muslim has to beat his wife, the beating should not be such as to leave any mark on her body (Tirmidhi, ch. on Rida‘). According to Abu Dawud and Nasa’i, the Holy Prophet forbade the beating of women at all, but when ‘Umar complained that they had become refractory, he gave the permission with the aforementioned condition; but on complaint of ill-treatment of women by their husbands he indignantly said that the husbands who beat their wives were not the best among men (Kathir, iii). On another occasion the Holy Prophet is reported to have said: "The best among you is he who treats his wife best and I am the best of you in this respect" (Tirmidhi).

The Divine attributes of "High and Great" mentioned at the end of the verse are also intended to warn husbands that the chastisement of their wives, if at all resorted to should not be unjust or vindictive or highhanded; for if they are high and great above their wives, there is One Who is High and Great above all and He shall call husbands to account for any improper use of the qualified authority given to them over their wives.

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

مرد عورتوں پر قوام ہیں، اس بنا پر کہ اللہ نے اُن میں سے ایک کو دوسرے پر فضیلت دی ہے، اور اس بنا پر کہ مرد اپنے مال خرچ کرتے ہیں پس جو صالح عورتیں ہیں وہ اطاعت شعار ہوتی ہیں اور مردوں کے پیچھے اللہ کی حفاظت و نگرانی میں اُن کے حقوق کی حفاظت کرتی ہیں اور جن عورتوں سے تمہیں سرکشی کا اندیشہ ہو انہیں سمجھاؤ، خواب گاہوں میں اُن سے علیحدہ رہو اور مارو، پھر اگر تم وہ تمہاری مطیع ہو جائیں تو خواہ مخواہ ان پر دست درازی کے لیے بہانے تلاش نہ کرو، یقین رکھو کہ اوپر اللہ موجود ہے جو بڑا اور بالا تر ہے

English - Sahih

Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

مرد عورتوں پر حاکم ہیں اس واسطے کہ الله نے ایک کو ایک پر فضیلت دی ہے اور اس واسطے کہ انہوں نے اپنے مال خرچ کیے ہیں پھر جو عورتیں نیک ہیں وہ تابعدار ہیں مردوں کے پیٹھ پیچھے الله کی نگرانی میں (ان کے حقوق کی) حفاظت کرتی ہیں اور جن عورتو ں سےتمہیں سرکشی کا خطرہ ہو تو انہیں سمجھاؤ اور سونے میں جدا کر دو اور مارو پھر اگر تمہارا کہا مان جائیں تو ان پر الزام لگانے کے لیے بہانے مت تلاش کرو بے شک الله سب سے اوپر بڑا ہے

English - Talal Itani

[The] men (are) protectors of the women because (has) bestowed Allah some of them over others and because they spend from their wealth. So the righteous women (are) obedient, guarding in the unseen that which (orders) them to guard (by) Allah. And those (from) whom you fear their ill-conduct then advise them, and forsake them in the bed and [finally] strike them. Then if they obey you then (do) not seek against them a way. Indeed, Allah is Most High, Most Great.

Chinese Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

b

2:238; 4:33.

c

2:229.

326

قَوّٰمُوْن (Qawwamun) 源自 قَامَ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ (Qama ‘Alal-Mar’ati) 意指他负责赡养妇女; 他保护她。因此, قَوّٰمُوْن (Qawwamun) 意指赡养者, 事务管理人; 保护人 (لِسَانْ, Lisan)。经文对男人为什么一直作为家庭之主, 说明了两条道理: (a) 他优越的智力与体力; (b) 他是家庭中谋生者和赡养人。因此, 为赡养家庭而谋生计并给钱的他, 处理家事中享有监管的地位, 这是自然而公正的。

327

نَشَزَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ عَلٰی زَوْجِهَا (Nashazatil-Mar’atu ‘ala Zauji-ha) 意指妇女起来反对她的丈夫; 反抗他; 遗弃他 (Lane & تَاجْ, Taj)。

328

这一句话可以解释为 (a) 违避夫妻关系; (b) 分床睡觉; (c) 不与她们讲话。这些办法并不是无限期实行的方法, 因为妻子不可能像东西那样悬挂起来。(4:130) 按照 «古兰经» 戒绝夫妻关系即实际分离, 最长期限为四个月。(2:227) 如果丈夫认为事情很严重, 他将必须奉行4:16中所提到的各项条件。

329

据传穆圣说过, 如果一个穆斯林既然非得打他妻子不可, 也不能在她身上打出伤痕来。(تِرْمِذِی, Tirmidhi & مُسْلِمْ, Muslim) 但打妻子的丈夫总不是你们男人中最好的。(كَثِيْر, Kathir, iii)

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

2

نافرمانی سے اس جگہ زنا مرادنہیں بلکہ اس سے اتر کر گناہ مراد ہے جن سے ہمسایوں میں انسان کی بے عزتی ہوتی ہے۔ اس لئے ایسی سزا مقرر کی جس سے عورت عام طور پر محلہ میں نہ پھر سکے۔ ہاں اگر اس میں مرد ظلم سے کام لے تو عورت کو قاضی کے پاس شکایت کرنے کی اجازت ہے۔

English - Arberry

Men are the managers of the affairs of women for that God has preferred in bounty one of them over another, and for that they have expended of their property. Righteous women are therefore obedient, guarding the secret for God's guarding. And those you fear may be rebellious admonish; banish them to their couches, and beat them. If they then obey you, look not for any way against them; God is All-high, All-great.

English - Maududi

Men are the protec-tors and maintainers of women because Allah has made one of them excel over the other, and because they spend out of their possessions (to support them). Thus righteous women are obedient and guard the rights of men in their absence under Allah's protection. As for women of whom you fear rebellion, admonish them, and remain apart from them in beds, and beat them. Then if they obey you, do not seek ways to harm them. Allah is Exalted, Great.

English - Ahmed Ali

Men are the support of women as God gives some more means than others, and because they spend of their wealth (to provide for them). So women who are virtuous are obedient to God and guard the hidden as God has guarded it. As for women you feel are averse, talk to them suasively; then leave them alone in bed (without molesting them) and go to bed with them (when they are willing). If they open out to you, do not seek an excuse for blaming them. Surely God is sublime and great.

English - Yusuf Ali

Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

b

2:229.

c

2:238; 4:33.

512