Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Men are responsible for women by what God has favoured one of them over another, and by what they spend of their wealth; and the righteous women are humbly obedient, keeping unseen what God keeps. And those from whom you fear contempt: admonish them; and leave them in beds apart; and strike them. But if they obey you, then seek not a path against them; God is exalted and great.

اَلرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَٓاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللّٰهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلٰى بَعْضٍ وَبِمَٓا اَنْفَقُوا مِنْ اَمْوَالِهِمْۜ فَالصَّالِحَاتُ قَانِتَاتٌ حَافِظَاتٌ لِلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللّٰهُۜ وَالّٰت۪ي تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَاهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّۚ فَاِنْ اَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ سَب۪يلاًۜ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَلِياًّ كَب۪يراً
Arrijalu qawwamoonaAAala annisa-i bima faddalaAllahu baAAdahum AAala baAAdin wabimaanfaqoo min amwalihim fassalihatu qanitatunhafithatun lilghaybi bima hafithaAllahu wallatee takhafoonanushoozahunna faAAithoohunna wahjuroohunnafee almadajiAAi wadriboohunna fa-in ataAAnakumfala tabghoo AAalayhinna sabeelan inna Allaha kanaAAaliyyan kabeera
#wordmeaningroot
1al-rijālu[The] menرجل
2qawwāmūna(are) protectorsقوم
3ʿalāof
4l-nisāithe womenنسو
5bimābecause
6faḍḍala(has) bestowedفضل
7l-lahuAllah
8baʿḍahumsome of themبعض
9ʿalāover
10baʿḍinothersبعض
11wabimāand because
12anfaqūthey spendنفق
13minfrom
14amwālihimtheir wealthمول
15fal-ṣāliḥātuSo the righteous womenصلح
16qānitātun(are) obedientقنت
17ḥāfiẓātunguardingحفظ
18lil'ghaybiin the unseenغيب
19bimāthat which
20ḥafiẓa(orders) them to guardحفظ
21l-lahu(by) Allah
22wa-allātīAnd those (from) whom
23takhāfūnayou fearخوف
24nushūzahunnatheir ill-conductنشز
25faʿiẓūhunnathen advise themوعظ
26wa-uh'jurūhunnaand forsake themهجر
27in
28l-maḍājiʿithe bedضجع
29wa-iḍ'ribūhunnaand [finally] strike themضرب
30fa-inThen if
31aṭaʿnakumthey obey youطوع
32falāthen (do) not
33tabghūseekبغي
34ʿalayhinnaagainst them
35sabīlana wayسبل
36innaIndeed
37l-lahaAllah
38kānaisكون
39ʿaliyyanMost Highعلو
40kabīranMost Greatكبر
  • Aisha Bewley

    Men have charge of women because Allah has preferred the one above the other and because they spend their wealth on them. Right-acting women are obedient, safeguarding their husbands’ interests in their absence as Allah has guarded them. If there are women whose disobedience you fear, you may admonish them, refuse to sleep with them, and then beat them. But if they obey you, do not look for a way to punish them. Allah is All-High, Most Great.

  • Progressive Muslims

    The men are to support the women by what God has gifted them over one another and for what they spend of their money. The upright women who are attentive, and keep private the personal matters for what God keeps watch over. As for those women from whom you fear a desertion, then you shall advise them, and abandon them in the bedchamber, and separate from them; if they obey you, then do not seek a way over them; God is High, Great.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Men are the protectors and maintainers of women. They shall take full care of women with what they spend of their wealth. Allah has made men to excel in some areas and women to excel in some areas. Men must see to it that women are provided for, and that they are able to stand on their feet in the society. So, righteous women are obedient to Allah's Ordinances and guard their moral values even in privacy, the Values that Allah Commands to be guarded. If you experience rebellion from women, and they stand up against you, apprise them of possible consequences. Next, leave them in their resting places apart from you. And keep admonishing them with examples that they stop rebelling. If they pay heed to you, seek not a way against them. Allah is Most High, Great.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Men are responsible for women by what God has favoured one of them over another, and by what they spend of their wealth; and the righteous women are humbly obedient, keeping unseen what God keeps. And those from whom you fear contempt: admonish them; and leave them in beds apart; and strike them. But if they obey you, then seek not a path against them; God is exalted and great.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    The men are to support the women with what God has bestowed upon them over one another and for what they spend of their money. The upright females are dutiful; keeping private the personal matters for what God keeps watch over. As for those females from whom you fear desertion, then you shall advise them, and abandon them in the bedchamber, and separate from them. If they respond to you, then do not seek a way over them; God is Most High, Great.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    The men are to support the women by what God has gifted them over one another and for what they spend of their money. The reformed women are devotees and protectors of privacy what God has protected. As for those women from whom you fear disloyalty, then you shall advise them, abandon them in the bedchamber, and separate them; if they obey you, then do not seek a way over them; God is High, Great.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    The men are made responsible for the women, * and GOD has endowed them with certain qualities, and made them the bread earners. The righteous women will cheerfully accept this arrangement, since it is GOD's commandment, and honor their husbands during their absence. If you experience rebellion from the women, you shall first talk to them, then (you may use negative incentives like) deserting them in bed, then you may (as a last alternative) beat them. If they obey you, you are not permitted to transgress against them. GOD is Most High, Supreme.*

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    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.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    Men are in charge of women by what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in absence what Allah would have them guard. But those from whom you fear arrogance - advise them; , forsake them in bed; and , strike them. But if they obey you , seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.

  • Muhammad Asad

    MEN SHALL take full care of women with the bounties which God has bestowed more abundantly on the former than on the latter, and with what they may spend out of their possessions. And the right­eous women are the truly devout ones, who guard the intimacy which God has guar­ded. And as for those women whose ill-will you have reason to fear, admonish them ; then leave them alone in bed; then beat them; and if thereupon they pay you heed, do not seek to harm them. Behold, God is indeed most high, great!

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    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.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Men are the tutelary guardians of women's interests and welfare by consequence of, the inherent constitutional qualities and attributes Allah has invested in one, above the other, and by virtue of the expenditure they incur. Virtuous women are obedient and' responsible, morally accountable for their deeds and capable of fulfilling an obligation and trust in their husbands' absence; virtues that accord well with divine principles. As to those of them whom you consider pervasive and you have a cause to fear, you simply exhort them and urge them by kind words to laudable conduct. Should they turn a deaf ear then absent yourselves from their society in bed. If they still sleep in the bed they have made, then beat them. But if they submit to your good will at any stage and surrender themselves to correction, then do not crush their feelings, their minds or their spirits; nor keep them under tyrannical exercise of power or burden them with cruel and unjust impositions or restraints; Allah is ever the Unique Whose attributes belong to the highest regions of thought and reality, the Unique Who is ever eminently entitled to the designation: The Supreme.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Men are put in charge of women; that is because, God has simply decided to provide them with faculties which facilitate this task of them and also that they spend out of their resources for their wives’ maintenance. The righteous women would gladly accept this division of the task as it is God’s commandment. They will therefore keep vigilance on their husband’s honor and belonging in their absence. As far as those women who rebel this commandment of their Lord, first try to reason with them and advise them of the consequence of rebelling against their Creator. If they do not submit them, punish them by separating your bedroom. As a last resort, you may beat them . If they come to their senses, be nice to them; God is the Highest and the Greatest

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allâh has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allâh and to their husbands), and guard in the husband’s absence what Allâh orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband’s property). As to those women on whose part you see ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly, if it is useful); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance). Surely, Allâh is Ever Most High, Most Great.

  • Abdullah 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).

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Men are the caretakers of women, as men have been provisioned by Allah over women and tasked with supporting them financially. And righteous women are devoutly obedient and, when alone, protective of what Allah has entrusted them with. And if you sense ill-conduct from your women, advise them ˹first˺, ˹if they persist,˺ do not share their beds, ˹but if they still persist,˺ then discipline them ˹gently˺. But if they change their ways, do not be unjust to them. Surely Allah is Most High, All-Great.

  • Taqi Usmani

    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.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Husbands should take good care of their wives, with 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 , 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.

  • Arthur John 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.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Men stand superior to women in that God hath preferred some of them over others, and in that they expend of their wealth: and the virtuous women, devoted, careful (in their husbands') absence, as God has cared for them. But those whose perverseness ye fear, admonish them and remove them into bed-chambers and beat them; but if they submit to you, then do not seek a way against them; verily, God is high and great.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Men are qawwam (have charge of, are protectors, maintainers) of women in that Allah hath made them superior in strength (or advantages), and in that they expend of their wealth (in support of women). So virtuous women are devoted (or obedient), careful (in their husband's) absence, as Allah has cared for them. But those whose perverseness you fear, admonish them (first) and (then) remove them from your bedchambers, and (lastly) chastise them lightly (or punish by showing disapproval, withdrawing affection, separating); but if they obey you, then do not seek a way against them; verily, Allah is Exalted and Great.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Men are the ever upright (managers) (of the affairs) of women for what Allah has graced some of them over (some) others and for what they have expended of their riches. So righteous women are devout, preservers of the Unseen for. And the ones whom you fear their non-compliance, then admonish them and forsake them in their beds, (Literally: a madajic= reeclining) and strike them, (i.e. hit them lightly) yet in case they obey you, then do not seek inequitably any way against them; surely Allah has been Ever-Exalted, Ever-Great.

  • George Sale

    Men shall have the pre-eminence above women, because of those advantages wherein God hath caused the one of them to excel the other, and for that which they expend of their substance in maintaining their wives. The honest women are obedient, careful in the absence of their husbands, for that God preserveth them, by committing them to the care and protection of the men. But those, whose perverseness ye shall be apprehensive of, rebuke; and remove them into separate apartments, and chastise them. But if they shall be obedient unto you, seek not an occasion of quarrel against them; for God is high and great.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    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 husbands) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, caution (and warn) them (against the specific faults, at first), refuse to share their beds (next), beat them (lightly, at the very last); But if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of angering them): Truly, Allah is Most High (Ali’i), Most Great (Kabir).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Men are the full maintainers of women, because Allâh has made one of them excel the other, and because men spend out of their wealth on them. So virtuous women are those who are obedient (to Allâh) and guard (their own chastity as well as the rights and secrets of their husbands even) in (their) absence, as Allâh has guarded (the women's rights). As for those women (on whose part) you apprehend disobedience and bad behavior, you may admonish them (first lovingly) and (then) refuse to share their beds with them and (as a last resort) punish them (mildly). If they, then, obey you, you shall seek no other way against them. Indeed, Allâh alone is High, (and) Great.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Men are the managers of women, because of the advantage Allah has granted some of them over others, and by virtue of their spending out of their wealth. So righteous women are obedient, care-taking in the absence of what Allah has enjoined to guard. As for those whose misconduct you fear, advise them, and keep away from them in the bed, and beat them. Then if they obey you, do not seek any course against them. Indeed Allah is all-exalted, all-great.