text:
an-Nisa` (Women)
as rendered by Muhammad Taqi Usmani
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Muhammad Taqi Usmani rendition of Surah Women(an-Nisa`)
4:1 O men, fear your Lord who created you from a single soul, and from it created its match, and spread many men and women from the two. Fear Allah in whose name you ask each other (for your rights), and fear (the violation of the rights of) the womb-relations. Surely, Allah is watchful over you
4:2 Give the orphans their property, and do not substitute what is bad for what is good, and do not eat up their property along with your own. It is, surely, a great sin
4:3 If you fear that you will not do justice to the orphans, then, marry the women you like, in twos, in threes and in fours. But, if you fear that you will not maintain equity, then (keep to) one woman, or bondwomen you own. It will be closer to abstaining from injustice
4:4 Give women their dower in good cheer. Then, if they forego some of it, of their own will, you may have it as pleasant and joyful
4:5 Do not give the feeble-minded your property that Allah has made a means of support for you, and do feed them from it, and clothe them, and speak to them in fair words
4:6 Test the orphans until they reach the marriageable age. Then, if you perceive in them proper understanding, hand their property over to them, and do not consume it extravagantly and hastily, lest they should grow up. Whoever is rich should abstain (from using it for himself), and whoever is poor may have from it (to the extent of his necessary need) with fairness. So, when you hand their property over to them, make witnesses upon them. Allah is sufficient for reckonin
4:7 For men there is a share in what the parents and the nearest of kin have left. And for women there is a share in what the parents and the nearest of kin have left, be it small or large__a determined share
4:8 If the relatives (who are not heirs) and the orphans and the needy are present at the time of distribution, give them some of it, and speak to them in fair words
4:9 Those people should be fearful (in their behavior towards orphans) who, if they leave behind some helpless children, would remain anxious for them. So, they should fear Allah and say what is right
4:10 Surely, those who unjustly devour the property of the orphans do nothing but devour fire into their bellies, and soon they shall enter a blazing Hell
4:11 Allah directs you concerning your children: for a male there is a share equal to that of two females. But, if they are (only) women, more than two, then they get two-thirds of what one leaves behind. If she is one, she gets one-half. As for his parents, for each of them, there is one-sixth of what he leaves in case he has a child. But, if he has no child and his parents have inherited him, then his mother gets one-third. If he has some brothers (or sisters), his mother gets one-sixth, all after (settling) the will he might have made, or a debt. You do not know who, out of your fathers and your sons, is closer to you in benefiting (you). All this is determined by Allah. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise
4:12 For you there is one-half of what your wives leave behind, in case they have no child. But, if they have a child, you get one-fourth of what they leave, after (settling) the will they might have made, or a debt. For them (the wives) there is one-fourth of what you leave behind, in case you have no child. But, if you have a child, they get one eighth of what you leave, after (settling) the will you might have made, or a debt. And if a man or a woman is Kalalah (i.e. has neither parents alive, nor children) and has a brother or a sister, then each one of them will get one-sixth. However, if they are more than that, they will be sharers in one-third, after (settling) the will that might have been made, or a debt, provided that the will must not be intended to harm anyone. This is a direction from Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, Forbearing
4:13 These are the limits set by Allah. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, He will admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow, where he will live forever. That is a great success
4:14 Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses the limits set by Him, He shall admit him to the Fire, where he will remain forever. For him there is a humiliating punishment
4:15 Those of your women who commit the shameful act, have four witnesses (against them) from among you. So, if they testify, then confine those women to their homes until death overcomes them, or Allah prescribes a way for them
4:16 Those two of you who commit it, chastise both of them. However, if they repent and make amends, then, overlook them. Surely, Allah is Most- Relenting, Very-Merciful
4:17 The relenting taken by Allah upon Himself is for those who do evil in ignorance, then repent shortly thereafter. So, Allah relents towards them. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise
4:18 The relenting is not for those who do the evil deeds, until when the time of death approaches one of them, he says, .Now I repent., nor for those who die while they are still disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful punishmen
4:19 O you who believe, it is not lawful for you that you should forcibly take women as inheritance. Do not hold on to them so that you may take away some of what you have given them, unless they commit a clearly shameful act. Live with them in the recognized manner. If you dislike them, then it is quite likely that you dislike something and Allah has placed a lot of good in it
4:20 If you want to take a wife in place of the one (you have), and you have given her plenty of wealth, then do not take any of it back. Would you take it through imputation and open sin
4:21 How can you take it when you have had access to each other and they have taken a firm covenant from you
4:22 Do not marry those women whom your fathers had married except what has passed. It is indeed shameful and detestable, and it is an evil practice
4:23 Prohibited for you are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal aunts, your maternal aunts, daughters of brother, daughters of sister, your mothers who suckled you, your sisters through suckling, mothers of your wives and your step-daughters under your care who are born of your women with whom you have had intercourse,_though if you have not had intercourse with them, there is no sin on you,_and the wives of your sons from your loins, and that you combine two sisters (in wedlock), except what has passed. Surely, Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful
4:24 (Also prohibited are) the women already bound in marriage, except the bondwomen you come to own. It has been written by Allah for you. All (women), except these, have been permitted for you to seek (to marry) through your wealth, binding yourself, (in marriage) and not only for lust. So, to those of them whose company you have enjoyed, give their dues (dower) as obligated. There is no sin on you in what you mutually agree upon after the (initial) agreement. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise
4:25 If one cannot afford to marry the free Muslim women, then (he may marry) the one you people own of your Muslim girls. Allah knows best about your faith. You are similar to each other. So, marry them with the permission of their masters, and give them their dues, as recognized, they being bound in marriage, not going for lust, nor having paramours. So, once they have been bound in marriage, then, if they commit a shameful act, they shall be liable to half of the punishment prescribed for the free women. That is for those of you who apprehend to indulge in sin. But that you be patient is better for you. Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful
4:26 Allah intends (through this Qur'an) to explain to you (the rules) and to guide you to the ways of those (prophets who passed) before you, and to turn graciously towards you. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise
4:27 Allah intends to turn graciously towards you, while those who follow desires want you to deviate (from the right path), a huge deviation
4:28 Allah intends to make things easy on you. And man has been created weak
4:29 O you who believe, do not devour each other's property by false means, unless it is trade conducted with your mutual consent. Do not kill one another. Indeed, Allah has been Very-Merciful to you
4:30 Whoever does that out of aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire. This is an easy thing for Allah
4:31 If you abstain from the major (sins) out of what you have been forbidden from, We shall write off your minor sins, and shall admit you to a noble entrance
4:32 Do not covet something in which Allah has made some of you superior to others. For men there is a share of what they earned, and for women, a share of what they earned. Pray to Allah for His grace. Surely, Allah is All-Aware of everything
4:33 For everyone We have made heirs in what the parents and the nearest of kin have left. As for those with whom you have made a pledge, give them their shares. Surely, Allah is Witness over everything
4:34 Men are caretakers of women, since Allah has made some of them excel the others, and because of the wealth they have spent. So, the righteous women are obedient, (and) guard (the property and honor of their husbands) in (their) absence with the protection given by Allah. As for women of whom you fear rebellion, convince them, and leave them apart in beds, and beat them. Then, if they obey you, do not seek a way against them. Surely, Allah is the Highest, the Greatest
4:35 If you fear a split between them (the spouses), send one arbitrator from his people and one from her people. If they desire to set things right, Allah shall bring about harmony between them. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Awar
4:36 Worship Allah, and do not associate with Him anything, and be good to parents and to kinsmen and orphans and the needy and the close neighbor and the distant neighbor and the companion at your side and the wayfarer and to those (slaves who are) owned by you. Surely, Allah does not like those who are arrogant, proud
4:37 __those who are miserly and bid people to be miserly, and conceal what Allah has given them of His grace — and We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment
4:38 and (for) those who spend their wealth only to show people, and do not believe in Allah and the Last Day. Anyone for whom Satan is companion, evil he is as a companion
4:39 What harm was there for them if they had believed in Allah and the Last Day, and spent out of what Allah had given them. Allah knows all about them
4:40 Surely, Allah does not wrong (anyone), even to the measure of a particle. If it is a good deed, He multiplies it, and gives a great reward out of His Own pleasure
4:41 Then, how (awful a spectacle) would it be when We shall bring a witness from every community, and shall bring you over them as a witness
4:42 On that Day, those who have disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger shall wish that the earth were leveled with them. They shall not (be able to) conceal anything from Allah
4:43 O you who believe! Do not go near Salah when you are intoxicated, until you know what you say, nor in a state of 'major impurity'., __save when you are traversing a way__until you take a bath. If you are sick, or in travel, or if one of you has come after relieving himself, or you have had contact with women, and you find no water, go for some clean dust and wipe your faces and hands (with it). Surely, Allah is Most- Pardoning, Most-Forgiving
4:44 Have you not observed those who have been given a share from the Book? They buy misguidance and wish that you (too) lose the way
4:45 But Allah knows your enemies very well. Allah is enough as a friend, and Allah is enough as a supporter
4:46 Among the Jews there are some who distort the words against their contexts, and say, .We hear and disobey,. and .Hear. May you not be made to hear,. and .Ra'ina., twisting their tongues and maligning the Faith. If they had said, .We hear and obey,. and .Hear,. and .Look after us,. it would have been better for them, and more proper, but Allah has cast His curse on them due to their disbelief. So, they do not believe except a few
4:47 O you who have been given the Book, believe in what We have revealed confirming what is with you, before We rub off faces and turn them shaped like their backs, or lay a curse upon them, as We cursed the People of the Sabbath. Whatever Allah orders is destined to occur
4:48 Surely, Allah does not forgive that a partner is ascribed to Him, and He forgives anything short of that for whomsoever He wills. Whoever ascribes a partner to Allah commits a terrible sin
4:49 Have you not seen those who claim sanctity for themselves? In fact, Allah sanctifies whom He wills, and they shall not be wronged even to the measure of a thread of a date-stone
4:50 See how they fabricate a lie against Allah, and it is enough to be an open sin
4:51 Have you not seen those who have been given a share from the Book? They believe in Jibt and Taghut and say concerning those who disbelieve, .They are better guided in their way than those who believe
4:52 Those are the ones whom Allah has cursed, and the one whom Allah has cursed, for him you shall find no helper
4:53 Is it that they have a share in the kingdom? If so, they would give nothing to the people, not even to the measure of a tiny pit on the back of a date-stone
4:54 Or, is it that they are jealous of people over what Allah has given them of His bounty, while We have given to the House of Ibrahim the Book and the wisdom, and We have given to them a great kingdom
4:55 So, there were some among them who believed in it, and there were others among them who turned away from it. Enough (for the latter) is Jahannam, a fire ablaze
4:56 Those who have disbelieved in Our verses, We shall certainly make them enter a fire. Whenever their skins are burnt out, We shall give them other skins in their place, so that they may taste the punishment. Surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise
4:57 As for those who have believed and have done good deeds, We shall admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will live forever. For them there are wives purified. We shall admit them to an umbrageous shade
4:58 Surely, Allah commands you to deliver trusts to those entitled to them, and that, when you judge between people, judge with justice. Surely, excellent is the exhortation Allah gives you. Surely, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing
4:59 O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. Then, if you quarrel about something, revert it back to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is good, and the best at the end
4:60 Have you not seen those who claim that they have believed in what was revealed to you and what was revealed before you? They want to take their disputes to the Taghut, while they were ordered to reject it. Satan wants to mislead them to a remote wrong way
4:61 When it is said to them, .Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger,. you will see the hypocrites turning away from you in aversion
4:62 But, how (apologetic) they are when they suffer a calamity because of the acts of their own hands, and they come to you swearing by Allah, .We meant nothing but to promote good and bring about harmony
4:63 Those are the ones Allah knows what is in their hearts. So, ignore them, and give them good counsel, and speak to them about themselves in appealing words
4:64 We did not send any Messenger but to be obeyed by the leave of Allah. Had they, after having wronged themselves, come to you and sought forgiveness from Allah, and had the Messenger prayed for their forgiveness, they would certainly have found Allah Most-Relenting, Very- Merciful
4:65 So, never by your Lord! Never shall they become believers, unless they make you the judge in the disputes that arise between them, then find no discomfort in their hearts against what you have decided, and surrender to it in total submission
4:66 If We had prescribed for them that they should kill themselves or that they should migrate from their homeland, they would have not done it, except a few of them. If they had done what they were advised to do, it would have been better for them, and more effective in making (them) firm
4:67 In that case, We would certainly have given them a great rewar
4:68 and we would certainly have led them to a straight path
4:69 Those who obey Allah and the Messenger are with those whom Allah has blessed, namely, the prophets, the Siddiqin, the Shuhada' and the righteous. And excellent are they as companions
4:70 That grace is from Allah; and Allah is sufficient as being the One who knows
4:71 O you who believe, be on your guard, and march in groups, or march all together
4:72 Among you there is one who shall invariably fall back; then, if some calamity befalls you, he would say, .Allah has shown His favor to me, as I was not present with them
4:73 And if some bounty comes to you from Allah, he will certainly say,_as if there was no friendship between you and him_ .Oh, would that I had been with them; then I would have secured a handsome gain
4:74 So, those who sell the worldly life for the Hereafter should fight in the way of Allah. Whoever fights in the way of Allah, then gets killed or prevails, We shall give a great reward to him
4:75 What has happened to you that you do not fight in the way of Allah, and for the oppressed among men, women and children who say, .Our Lord, take us out from this town whose people are cruel, and make for us a supporter from Your own, and make for us a helper from Your own
4:76 The believers fight in the way of Allah, and the disbelievers fight in the way of Taghut. So, fight the friends of Satan. No doubt, the guile of Satan is feeble
4:77 Have you not seen those to whom it was said, .Hold your hands (from fighting) and be steadfast in Salah and pay Zakah. However, when fighting is enjoined upon them, then surprisingly, a group from them starts fearing people, as one would fear Allah, or fearing even more. They say, .Our Lord, why have you enjoined fighting upon us? Would you have not spared us for a little more time?. Say, .The enjoyment of the world is but a little, and the Hereafter is far better for the one who fears Allah, and you shall not be wronged, even to the measure of a fiber
4:78 Wherever you will be, Death will overtake you, even though you are in fortified castles. If some good comes to them, they say, .This is from Allah. But if some evil visits them, they say, .This is from you. Say, .All is from Allah. So, what is wrong with these people, they do not seem to understand anything
4:79 Whatever good comes to you, it is from Allah and whatever evil visits you, it comes from your own selves. We have sent you to be a Messenger for the people. Allah is enough to be a witness
4:80 Whoever obeys the Messenger obeys Allah, and whoever turns away, then, We did not send you to stand guard over them
4:81 They say, .Obedience (we observe). But when they go away from you, a group of them conspires at night contrary to what they say. Allah records what they conspire. So ignore them and put your trust in Allah. Allah is enough to trust in
4:82 Do they not, then, ponder about the Qur'an? Had it been from someone other than Allah, they would have found in it a great deal of discrepancy
4:83 When news concerning peace or fear comes to them, they go about spreading it. Had they referred it to the Messenger and to those having authority among them, the truth of the matter would have come to the knowledge of those of them who are able to investigate. But for Allah's grace upon you, and mercy, you would have followed the Satan, save a few
4:84 So, fight in the way of Allah. You are not responsible but for yourself, and persuade the believers (to fight in Allah's way). It is likely that Allah will prevent the mischief of those who disbelieve. Allah is the strongest in power and the mightiest in punishing
4:85 Whoever makes a good recommendation, there shall be for him a share from it (in the Hereafter), and whoever makes a bad recommendation, there shall be for him a share from it. Allah is powerful over everything
4:86 When you are greeted with a salutation, greet with one better than it, or return the same. Surely, Allah is the One who takes account of everything
4:87 Allah: There is no god but He. He shall certainly gather you towards the Day of Doom. There is no doubt about it. Who is more truthful in his word than Allah
4:88 So, what is the matter with you that you have become two groups about the hypocrites, while Allah has reverted them because of what they did. Do you want to guide the one whom Allah has let go astray? The one whom Allah lets go astray, you shall never find a way for him
4:89 They wish that you should disbelieve, as they have disbelieved, and thus you become all alike. So, do not take friends from among them unless they migrate in the way of Allah. Then, if they turn away, seize them, and kill them wherever you find them, and do not take from among them a friend or helper
4:90 Except those who join a group between whom and you there is a treaty, or who come to you with their hearts feeling discomfort in fighting either against you or against their own people. If Allah had so willed, He would have given them power over you, then they would have fought you — so, if they stay away from you, and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not given you any authority against them
4:91 You will find others who want to be secure from you, and secure from their own people. (But) whenever they are called back to the mischief, they are plunged into it. So, if they do not stay away from you, and do not offer peace to you, and do not restrain their hands, then seize them, and kill them wherever you find them, and, We have given you an open authority against them
4:92 It is not for a believer (Muslim) to kill any believer, except by mistake. Whoever kills a believer by mistake, then, a believing slave has to be freed, and the blood money must be paid to his family, unless they forgo it. If he (the victim) belongs to a people hostile to you and is a believer, then, a believing slave has to be freed. If he (the victim) belongs to a people between whom and you there is treaty, then, blood money is to be paid to his family, and a believing slave to be freed. Whoever does not find one has to fast for two consecutive months. This is repentance prescribed from Allah's side. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise
4:93 Whoever kills a believer deliberately, his reward is Jahannam (Hell) where he shall remain forever, and Allah shall be angry with him and shall cast curse upon him, and He has prepared for him a mighty punishment
4:94 O you who believe, when you go out in the way of Allah, be careful, and do not say to the one who offers you the Salam (salutation), .You are not a believer. to seek stuff of the worldly life. So, with Allah there are spoils in abundance. In the same state you were before; then Allah favored you. So, be careful. Surely, Allah is All-Aware of what you do
4:95 Those among the believers who sit back, except the handicapped, are not equal to those who fight in the way of Allah with their riches and their lives. Allah has raised the rank of those who fight with their riches and their lives, over those who sit; and to each, Allah has promised good. Allah has given precedence to those who fight over those who sit in giving them a great rewar
4:96 — high ranks from Him and forgiveness and mercy. Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful
4:97 Those whose souls the angels take while they had wronged themselves, the angels say (to them), .In what business were you (involved)?. They say, .We were oppressed in the earth. They say, .Was not the earth of Allah wide enough for you to emigrate to it?. Those people are such that their refuge is Jahannam . It is an evil place to return
4:98 except the oppressed men and women and children, who cannot have means (to emigrate), nor can find a way
4:99 As for such, it is likely that Allah would pardon them. Allah is Most-Pardoning, Most-Forgiving
4:100 Whoever migrates in the way of Allah shall find on the earth many a place to settle, and a wide dimension (of resources). Whoever leaves his home migrating for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, and death overtakes him, then, his reward is established with Allah. Allah is Most- Forgiving, Very-Merciful
4:101 When you travel on the earth, there is no sin on you in shortening your Salah, if you fear that the disbelievers would put you in trouble. Surely, the disbelievers are an open enemy for you
4:102 When you (O prophet) are in their midst, and arrange for them the Salah, then, a party from them should stand with you, and should take their arms along. Then, once they performed Sajdah, they should move away from you, and the other party, that has not yet performed Salah, should come and perform Salah with you, and should take their precautionary measures and their arms. Those who disbelieve would want you to become heedless to your arms and your belongings, so that they come down upon you in a single move. There is no sin on you, if you have some inconvenience due to rain, or you are sick, in putting your arms aside, but take your precautionary measures. Surely, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment
4:103 Once you have finished your Salah, then, remember Allah while standing, sitting and reclining. As soon as you are secure, perform Salah as due. Surely, Salah is an obligation on the believers that is tied up with time
4:104 Do not show weakness in pursuing these people. If you are suffering, they are suffering as you are suffering, while you hope from Allah what they do not hope. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise
4:105 Surely, We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, so that you may judge between people according to what Allah has shown you. Do not be an advocate for those who breach trust
4:106 Seek forgiveness from Allah. Surely, Allah is All-Forgiving, Very-Merciful
4:107 Do not argue on behalf of those who betray themselves. Surely, Allah does not like anyone who is a sinful betrayer
4:108 They feel shy before people, but do not feel shy before Allah. He (Allah) is with them when they make plans at night to give a statement He (Allah) does not like. Allah encompasses whatever they do
4:109 Look, this is what you are! You have argued for them in the worldly life, but who shall argue for them with Allah on the Day of Judgement, or who shall be their defender
4:110 Whoever acts evil or wrongs himself, then seeks forgiveness from Allah, shall find Allah Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful
4:111 Whoever commits a sin, commits it only against himself. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise
4:112 Whoever commits a vice or a sin, then shifts its blame to an innocent person, he indeed takes the burden of a false imputation and a glaring sin
4:113 If the grace of Allah and His mercy had not been with you, a group from them had resolved to mislead you, while they mislead none but themselves; and they can do you no harm. Allah has revealed to you the Book and the wisdom, and has taught you what you did not know. The grace of Allah on you has always been great
4:114 There is no good in most of their whisperings, unless one bids charity or a fair action, or reconciliation between people. The one who does this, to seek Allah's pleasure, We shall give him a great reward
4:115 Whoever breaks away with the Messenger after the right path has become clear to him, and follows what is not the way of the believers, We shall let him have what he chose, and We shall admit him to Jahannam, which is an evil place to return
4:116 Surely, Allah does not forgive that a partner is ascribed to Him, and forgives anything short of that for whomsoever He wills. Whoever ascribes a partner to Allah has indeed gone far astray
4:117 They invoke none, besides Him, but feminine objects; and they invoke none but Satan, the rebe
4:118 whom Allah has cursed. He (the Satan) said, .Surely I will take an appointed share from Your slaves
4:119 and I will lead them astray, and I will tempt them with false hopes, and I will command them, whereby they shall slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them, whereby they shall alter the creation of Allah. Whoever takes the Satan for friend, instead of Allah, incurs an obvious loss
4:120 He (the Satan) makes promises to them, and he tempts them with hopes. The Satan does not make a promise to them but to deceive
4:121 As for such people, their refuge is Jahannam, and they shall find no escape from it
4:122 Those who believe and do good deeds, We shall admit them to the gardens beneath which rivers flow. They shall live there forever, it being a real promise from Allah; and who is more truthful than Allah in his word
4:123 This is not (a matter of) your fancies or the fancies of the People of the Book. Whoever does evil shall be requited for it, and he shall find neither a friend for himself, besides Allah, nor a helper
4:124 Whoever, male or female, does good deeds and is a believer, then such people shall enter Paradise, and they shall not be wronged in the least
4:125 Who is better in Faith than one who has surrendered his self to Allah and is good in deeds, and has followed the creed of Ibrahim, the upright. Allah has made Ibrahim a friend
4:126 To Allah belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. Allah encompasses every thing
4:127 They ask you about women. Say, .Allah answers you about them, and so does what is recited to you from the Book regarding orphaned women whom you do not give what is prescribed for them and tend to marry them, and regarding the weak from the children, and that you should maintain justice for the orphans. Whatever good you do Allah is aware of it
4:128 If a woman fears ill treatment or aversion from her husband, then, there is no sin on them in entering into a compromise between them. Compromise is better. Avarice is made to be present in human souls. If you do good and fear Allah, then, Allah is All-Aware of what you do
4:129 You shall never be able to maintain real equality between wives, even though you are eager to. So, do not lean totally (towards one) and leave the other as suspended. If you act righteously and fear Allah, then, Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful
4:130 If they separate, Allah shall, through His capacity, make each of them need-free (of the other). Allah is All-Embracing, All-Wise
4:131 To Allah belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. We have ordered those who were given the Book before you, and (ordered) you yourselves to fear Allah. If you disbelieve, then, surely to Allah belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. Allah is All-Independent, Ever-Praised
4:132 To Allah belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and Allah is enough to trust in
4:133 If He so wills, He can remove you, O men, and bring others (in your place). Allah has the power to do that
4:134 Whoever seeks the reward of this world, then, with Allah is the reward of this world and of the Hereafter. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing
4:135 O you who believe, be upholders of justice - witnesses for Allah, even though against (the interest of) your selves or the parents, and the kinsmen. One may be rich or poor, Allah is better caretaker of both. So do not follow desires, lest you should swerve. If you twist or avoid (the evidence), then, Allah is all-aware of what you do
4:136 O you who believe, do believe in Allah and His Messenger and in the Book He has revealed to His Messenger and in the Books He has revealed earlier. Whoever disbelieves in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and the Last Day has indeed gone far astray
4:137 Surely, those who believed and then disbelieved, believed again and then disbelieved, then went on increasing in their disbelief - Allah is not to forgive them nor lead them on the path
4:138 Give the hypocrites the 'good news' that for them there is a painful punishmen
4:139 - those who take the disbelievers for friends rather than the believers. Are they seeking honor in their company? But, indeed, all honor belongs to Allah
4:140 and He has revealed to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah being disbelieved and ridiculed, you should not sit with them unless they enter into some other discourse. You, in that case, would be like them. Surely, Allah is to gather all hypocrites and disbelievers in Jahannam
4:141 - those who look for (a misfortune for) you, so, if there is a victory for you, they say, .Were we not with you?. But if there is a gain for the disbelievers, they say (to them), .Had we not overpowered you, still protected you from the believers?. So, A
4:142 Surely, the hypocrites (try to) deceive Allah while He is the One who leaves them in deception. And when they stand for Salah, they stand up lazily, only to show people, and do not remember Allah but a little
4:143 wavering between (this and) that, neither here nor there. Whomsoever Allah lets go astray, you shall never find a way for him
4:144 O you who believe, do not take the disbelievers for friends instead of the believers. Do you want to produce before Allah a clear evidence against yourselves
4:145 Surely, the hypocrites are in the lowest level of the Fire, and you shall never find for them a helpe
4:146 -except those who repent and correct themselves and hold on to Allah and make their Faith pure for Allah. so, those Are with the believers, and Allah will give the believers a great reward
4:147 What would Allah get by punishing you, if you are grateful and believe? Allah is Appreciating, All-Knowing
4:148 Allah does not like the evil words to be said openly except from anyone wronged. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing
4:149 If you do a good act openly or do it in secret, or forgive an evil deed, then, Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Powerful
4:150 Surely those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers, and wish to make division between Allah and His Messengers, and say, .We believe in some (messengers) and disbelieve in some others. and wish to take a way in between that,_
4:151 __ those are the disbelievers in reality, and We have prepared a humiliating punishment for the disbelievers
4:152 Those who have believed in Allah and His Messengers, and have made no division between any of them, to them He will give their rewards. Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful
4:153 The People of the Book ask you to bring down upon them a Book from the heavens, (which is not strange,) as they had asked Musa something greater than that when they said, .Make us see Allah openly. So, the thunderbolt took them for the wrong they did. Later, they took to themselves the calf, even after the clear signs had come to them. Then, We forgave them, and gave Musa an open authority
4:154 We raised the (Mount of) Tur high over them for binding them to the pledge, and We said to them, .Do not transgress in (the matter of) the Sabbath. We took from them a firm pledge
4:155 So, (they met their fate) for breaking their pledge, and for their disbelief in the verses of Allah, and for their slaying of the prophets unjustly, and for their saying, .Our hearts are sealed. - rather, Allah has set a seal over them for their disbelief, so they do not believe but a littl
4:156 - and for their disbelief and for what they said against Maryam as a grim imputation
4:157 and for their saying, .We have certainly killed the MasiH 'Isa the son of Maryam, the Messenger of Allah., while in fact they did neither kill him, nor crucify him, but they were deluded by resemblance. Those who disputed in this matter are certainly in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it, but they follow whims. It is absolutely certain that they did not kill him
4:158 but Allah lifted him towards Himself. Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise
4:159 No one will remain from among the People of the Book but will certainly believe in him before he dies, and on the Day of Doom, he shall be a witness against them
4:160 So, because of the transgression of those who became Jews, We prohibited for them good things which were made lawful for them earlier and for their preventing (people), very often, from the way of Allah
4:161 and for their charging Riba (usury or interest) while they were forbidden from it, and for their devouring of the properties of the people by false means. We have prepared, for the disbelievers among them, a painful punishment
4:162 But those well-grounded in knowledge among them, and the believers, believe in what has been revealed to you and what has been revealed before you, __as well as those observing Salah and paying Zakah, and those believing in Allah and the Last Day. To them we shall give a great reward
4:163 Surely, We have revealed to you as We have revealed to NuH and to the prophets after him; and We have revealed to Ibrahim, Isma'il, IsHaq, Ya'qub and their children, and to 'Isa, Ayyub, Yunus, Harun and Sulaiman, and We have given Zabur to Dawud
4:164 (We have sent) some Messengers We have already told you about, and some other Messengers We did not tell you about, and Allah has spoken to Musa verball
4:165 - Messengers giving good tidings and warning, so that people may have no plea against Allah after the Messengers (have come). Allah is All- Mighty, All-Wise
4:166 But Allah bears witness that what He has revealed to you, has revealed it with His knowledge. The angels too, bear witness, (though) Allah is sufficient as witness
4:167 Surely, those who disbelieved and prevented (people) from the way of Allah have gone far astray
4:168 Surely, those who disbelieved and transgressed, Allah is not going to forgive them, nor to lead them to a wa
4:169 other than the way of Jahannam where they are to remain for ever. That is easy for Allah
4:170 O people, the Messenger has come to you with the truth from your Lord. So, believe. That is good for you. If you disbelieve then, to Allah belongs what is in the heavens and the earth. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise
4:171 O people of the Book, be not excessive in your Faith, and do not say about Allah anything but the truth. The Masih 'Isa, the son of Maryam, is only a Messenger of Allah, and His Word that He had delivered to Maryam, and a spirit from Him. So, believe in Allah and His Messengers. Do not say "Three". Stop it. That is good for you. Allah is the only One God. He is far too pure to have a son. To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. And Allah is enough to trust in
4:172 The Masih shall never spurn to be a slave of Allah, nor shall the angels who are stationed near to Him. And whoever spurns to worship Him, and shows arrogance, ___then, He shall gather all of them before Himself
4:173 As for those who believe and do good deeds, He shall give them their reward in full, and give them more out of His grace. But, to those who spurn and show arroagance, He shall give a painful punishment, and they shall find for themselves neither a friend other than Allah, nor a helper
4:174 O people, a proof has come to you from you Lord, and We have sent down to you a vivid light
4:175 Now those who believe in Allah and hold on to Him - He shall admit them into Mercy from Him, and Grace, and shall lead to Himself through a straight path
4:176 They seek a ruling from you. Say, "Allah gives tou the ruling concerning Kalalah. If a person dies having no son, but he does have a sister, then she will get one half of what he leaves. (On the other hand) He will inherit her if she has no child. If there are two (sisters), they will get two third of what he leaves. If they are brothers and sisters, both male and female, then, the male will get a share equal to that of two females." Allah explains to you, lest you should go astray. Allah has full knowledge of everything


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Embracing the Jew-fro: lessons on beauty from Esther
Home | Embracing the Jew-fro: lessons on beauty from Esther
Purim is as much a story about gender persecution as it is about anti-Semitism. Some years ago, a rabbi gave a shiur suggesting that the oppression of women that emerges in chapter one of the Megillah is a foreshadowing of the hatred of Jews which takes up the story from chapter three.
ADINA ROTH
Our first encounter with women in the story is with the complex character, Vashti, who is invited to the feast of Achashverosh "with her royal crown". Our rabbis comment, "with her crown, and nothing else" – Vashti is invited to the feast without clothes to slavishly please the gaze of a horde of drunken men. By saying no, Vashti ruffles the king and his advisors. She is dismissed, and a totalitarian edict goes out to the entire Persian empire (foreshadowing the edict against the Jewish people): men must rule their homes, and women must speak the language of their husbands.
In the very next chapter, Achashverosh wants a new wife! This chapter describes an ancient beauty pageant which takes place in a royal harem where women anxiously and laboriously prepare their bodies to be gazed at and evaluated by the king. Guided by the king's eunuchs, the women are subjected to a rigorous beauty regime which puts our visits to Sorbet to shame: "six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and women's cosmetics". Only when they are deemed ready, are they called before the king, so that he can gaze at each woman and determine whether she is beautiful enough to become queen.
The reader is invited to see this rigorous beauty pageant as a pendulum swing against the disobedient Vashti. In chapter one, she refused to be looked at by the king and his friends. In chapter two, Achashverosh makes the point that he can look at any woman he chooses and more, and women will dedicate their every hour to preparing for the very moment when he will cast his gaze on them. Esther, a young Jewish woman, is forcefully taken into this demeaning finishing school for would-be queens, and has to navigate a double oppression, the fear of anti-Semitism and her subjection to the gaze and beauty standards of a harsh patriarchy. How does she navigate this space?
When each woman was called before the king, we are told "whatever she asked for would be given her to take with her from the harem to the king's palace". One imagines each woman going laden with bags of beauty adornments and cosmetics, nervous about her night with the king. Yet, when Esther is called before the king, we are presented with calm antithesis: "She did not ask for anything but what Hegai, the king's eunuch, guardian of the women, advised."
Esther adopts a minimalist approach to her beauty routine. Forsaking the intense use of accoutrements, she seems to go au naturelle. Yet, we are told, Esther won the admiration of all who saw her. The text subtly suggests that Esther preserves her dignity in these undignified circumstances. On the one hand, she conceals her core Jewish self, yet in refusing the tyranny of this beauty regime, it's possible that she doesn't disguise her Jewish features.
We are many centuries away from the story of Purim, yet we might easily recognise ourselves in this beauty pageant. From botox to diets to tummy tucks to high fashion, aren't we also somehow bound by our "six months of myrrh and six months of cosmetics?"
In the past few weeks, a video has been doing the rounds called Be A Lady They Said. The video critiques the pressure women are under to meet the beauty standards of Western culture. From being told that too much is wrong, and then being told that too little is wrong, the video explores the ways in which the dictates around women's bodies and women's appearance in our culture aren't that different from the harem of Achashverosh. Indeed, these beauty ideals can be even more crushing for minority groups whose stereotypical features don't conform to the dominant group culture. I'm thinking now of Jewish women.
Marc Oppenheimer and Stephanie Butnick, the hosts of the popular Jewish podcast, Unorthodox, reflected recently on the ways in which Jewish women can display their Jewishness visibly. Traditionally, men have the option of a kippah, but women don't have straightforward ways of displaying their Jewishness publicly. A hair covering denotes marriage. A long skirt denotes religiosity. But what of a woman who wants to simply show her Jewishness? At the end of the discussion, Oppenheimer came up with some unexpected words of advice: "How about if you have really, really curly hair and you are always straightening it or blowing it dry, then just stop, just look more Semitic. If you are somebody who is in some way toning down Semitic features, stop, just stop. I'm putting it out there – let your Jewfro fly."
In Oppenheimer's candid and clever manner, he was drawing on an irony which could cut deep for many Jewish women. We might aspire to wear Jewish symbols to celebrate our Jewishness, yet our beauty routines suggest an aspiration to "remove the Jew" from our look, whether it's by getting rid of our curls or straightening our noses. We aspire to look somewhat more, well, Scandinavian.
Oppenheimer's comment reminded me of a story my mother told me. She attended a government school in Johannesburg in the 1960s, and she described how she was teased mercilessly by girls with their perfect, straight, blonde hair, because her hair was dark, frizzy, and "Jewish looking". One can imagine Esther entering into a very similar kind of world in the Persian beauty contest. Yet, we are told by the text, "she didn't ask for a thing" (of beauty improvement). Is it possible that Esther might have opted for her Semitic features, even though she dared not say she was Jewish? In a world where black women fight dominant beauty standards with the notion of "black is beautiful", one wonders what would it look like to really celebrate and embrace the beauty of a Jewish woman.
I can't say for sure, but I want to believe that Esther was somehow able to do what Oppenheimer advises Jewish women to do. She couldn't tell anyone she was Jewish, yet she took pains not to disguise her Jewish features. Perhaps she flounced her fro. Thus, the Megillah of Esther is a Jewish feel-good story in more ways than one. The anti-Semitic Haman and his gang are thwarted, and the king falls in love with a Jewish girl who actually looks Jewish!
In reading about Esther this Purim, we modern Jewish women might want to reflect on beauty. Purim's message is certainly that beauty is about an internal sense of values, about acting with courage and authenticity. But an additional message might be that the externals of beauty are more about appearing as ourselves than minimising our Jewish features. For Jewish women, isn't it time to step out of the Western beauty pageant, and celebrate our Semitic inheritance, to "let our Jew-fro fly"?
Adina Roth runs B'tocham Education in Johannesburg, teaching courses to B'neimitzvah and Tanach and Midrash to adults. She is also a Melton educator, and a clinical psychologist in private practice. She is currently the national chairperson of Limmud SA.

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Bend, Oregon Weekend Entertainment Guide
Posted By The Source Staff on Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 10:19 PM
The options for entertainment this weekend may not be immense, but there are definitely a few shows worth checking out. Here are a few of our suggests for musical and comedic goodness this weekend.
Tony Smiley & The Bird
Portland's Tony Smiley calls himself a "Loop Ninja," by which he means that he uses technological gadgets (those are the best kind of gadgets) to make himself into a one-man band. He does everything from straight-ahead rock to beat boxing as well as some more experimental sounds, like Mongolian throat singing. Party time, excellent. 10pm. Bendistillery Martini Bar, 850 NW Brooks St.
friday-saturday 9-10
Typically, when Floater comes to town, they play a pair of shows, which is what they're doing this time around. But the difference here is that rather than playing the Midtown Ballroom or the Domino Room, they're appearing at a much cozier sports bar in Mountain's Edge. Friday night is fully rocking and electric while Saturday features the band going unplugged. 9pm both nights. Mountain's Edge Bar, 61131 S. Highway 97.
Doug Benson, Graham Elwood
The star of Super High Me and VH1's Best Week Ever comes to Bend for a special one-night theater show in which he'll dazzle you with jokes about pop culture, movies and of course, the reefer. The show is opened by the equally funny Graham Elwood. Read all about Benson in this week's Culture feature. $20/adv, $25/door. 7pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St.
Fix-ation IPA Launch Party
How many beers are named specifically in support of a spay and neuter project? Well, at least one, and that's Silver Moon's Fix-ation IPA which arrives in honor of the Bend Spay and Neuter Project. Omnipresent folk rocker Leif James provides the music. Sliding scale donation of $5-10. 8pm. Silver Moon Brewing Co. 24 NW Greenwood Ave.
Another option, which we might be checking out ourselves is Electric Moccasin Party at the M&J Tavern. The local band, which blends rock and a bit of reggae, has us itching to see them based on their wicked-awesome name alone.
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