Surah An-Nisa 4:34
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ · Medinan · Verse 34 of 176
ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٰمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ ۚ فَٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ قَٰنِتَٰتٌ حَٰفِظَٰتٌۭ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَٱلَّٰتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضْرِبُوهُنَّ ۖ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلًا ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّۭا كَبِيرًۭا
Translation
Husbands should take good care of their wives, with [the bounties] God has given to some more than others and with what they spend out of their own money. Righteous wives are devout and guard what God would have them guard in their husbands’ absence. If you fear high-handedness from your wives, remind them [of the teachings of God], then ignore them when you go to bed, then hit them.If they obey you, you have no right to act against them: God is most high and great.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This powerful verse from Surah An-Nisa speaks directly about the dynamics within a marriage, setting out roles and responsibilities with precise wording that carries deep meaning.
Guardians of the Household
Allah begins by stating, "The men are qawwamun over the women." The word qawwamun (قَوَّٰمُونَ) is an intensive form, implying much more than simple authority. As scholars like al-Razi explain, it refers to someone who is extremely diligent in "standing over" or taking care of affairs, a supervisor and protector. It signifies a profound responsibility for leadership, care, and protection within the family, not mere dominance. This guardianship is established for two primary reasons. Firstly, "due to what Allah has favored some of them over others" (bima faddala Allahu ba'dahum 'ala ba'd, بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ). This refers to the natural distinctions in strength, intellect, and temperament that Allah has endowed, generally equipping men for certain roles. Secondly, it is "due to what they spend from their wealth" (wa bima anfaqu min amwālihim, وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنۡ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ). Men are responsible for the financial provision of the family, including dowries and maintenance. Ibn Ashur notes the use of the past tense in "anfaqu" to highlight this as a long-established societal norm, where men historically undertake the primary role of earning.
Virtues of a Righteous Wife
The verse then describes the qualities of righteous women: "So the righteous women are qanitat (قَانِتَٰتٌ), hafizatun lil-ghayb (حَٰفِظَٰتٌۭ لِّلْغَيْبِ), due to what Allah has preserved." Qanitat means obedient, specifically obedient to Allah, and by extension, to their husbands in matters that are not disobedient to Allah. Hafizatun lil-ghayb means "guardians of the unseen." Scholars like al-Razi explain this as women who protect their honor, their husband's wealth, and their home in his absence. Ibn Ashur beautifully observes that attaching "ghayb" (absence/unseen) to "hifdh" (guarding) is a subtle rhetorical choice, implying that this guarding is most crucial *during* the husband's absence, when temptations and opportunities for neglect are greater. The phrase "bima hafiza Allah" can mean both "by Allah's preservation of their rights" (by commanding their husbands to treat them well) and "by their preservation of Allah's commands" (by striving to uphold His limits).
Addressing Defiance
For wives whose defiance or disobedience (nushuz, نُشُوزَهُنَّ) is feared, the verse outlines a clear, sequential approach. Nushuz comes from a root meaning "to rise up," implying a rebellious disinterest or disdain towards the husband. Al-Razi explains that this could manifest in a change of behavior, such as a previous willingness to respond to his call changing to avoidance. The steps are:
1. Fa'izuhunna (فَعِظُوهُنَّ): Admonish them, advise them gently with kind words, reminding them of Allah.
2. Wahjuruhunna fil-madāji'i (وَٱهۡجُرُوهُنَّ فِي ٱلۡمَضَاجِعِ): Then forsake them in their beds. As al-Jadwal notes, this is a euphemism for abstaining from marital intimacy, though some scholars also include turning one's back.
3. Wadribuhunna (وَٱضۡرِبُوهُنَّ): And strike them. Scholars like al-Razi and al-Zamakhshari emphasize that this must be a light, non-harmful, and non-disfiguring strike, not intended for injury but as a symbolic gesture of disapproval and a last resort. Ibn Ashur further highlights that this permission was given for certain societal contexts where such an action was understood as a form of correction, not abuse, and cautions against its application if it causes harm or disrespect. All scholars agree that these steps are *sequential*, meaning one should only proceed to the next if the previous one fails to bring about reconciliation.
A Warning Against Injustice
The verse concludes with a powerful warning: "Then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them. Indeed, Allah is Ever-Exalted, All-Great" (Innallāha kāna 'Aliyyan Kabīrā, إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّا كَبِيرًۭا). This means that once a wife returns to obedience, a husband must not unjustly oppress her or seek further reasons to punish her. The Divine Names "Aliyy" (Exalted) and "Kabeer" (Great) serve as a profound reminder to husbands. As al-Razi and al-Zamakhshari explain, Allah is higher and more powerful than anyone. If a husband abuses his authority over his wife, Allah, Who is Exalted and Great, will be her protector and take account of injustice. It teaches humility to those in positions of authority, reminding them that their power is always superseded by Allah's ultimate sovereignty and justice.
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah An-Nisa 4:34 is discussed in 17 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
- Reconciliation (Islah) (key verse)
- Preservation (Hifz) (key verse)
- The Family (Usrah) (key verse)
- Women (Nisa') (key verse)
- The Unseen (Ghayb) (key verse)
- Divorce (Talaq) (key verse)
- Manliness (Rujulah)
- Freedom (Hurriyyah)
- Spending (Infaq)
- Kinship (Rahim)
- Gradualism (Tadarruj)
- Paradise (Jannah)
- Rights (Huquq)
- Wealth (Mal)
- Inheritance (Wirathah)
- Obedience (Ta'ah)
- Justice (Adl)
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah An-Nisa 4:34 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.