The Holy Quran 4:19 — Surah An-Nisa

Arabic text

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَرِثُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ كَرْهًا ۖ وَلَا تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ لِتَذْهَبُوا۟ بِبَعْضِ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَـٰحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ ۚ وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِن كَرِهْتُمُوهُنَّ فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَيَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا

Translation

Oh you who have Imaan! It is not permissible for you to forcefully inherit women (as was the practice before Islaam when the wives of deceased people became the property of their heirs). Do not hold them (your wives) back (in your marriage) with (no other reason but with) the intention of taking back (forcing them to give you back) some of that (dowry) which you gave them (in exchange for a divorce); except (you may accept payment for a divorce) if they have carried out open (acts of) immorality (adultery or gross rudeness to you). Live with them in kindness (treating them well). If you dislike (anything in) them, then (be tolerant because) perhaps you dislike something whereas Allaah places abundant good in it. (A spouse's bad habits should not prompt one to behave harshly.)

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

Rulings on family life: having, as stated earlier, given the command to discipline and punish women for their misdeeds, now the oppression and transgression of the people of the Jahiliyyah (the pre-Islamic Age of Ignorance), which they used to inflict on women in various ways, are being stopped.

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