Surah An-Nisa (The Women)

An-Nisa means "The Women," named for its extensive attention to the rights, protection, and legal status of women and family life.

Surah An-Nisa is the fourth chapter of the Quran, a Medinan surah of 176 ayahs. It is a long, legislative chapter revealed to the early Muslim community in Medina as it built a functioning society. Its defining subject matter is social justice within the family and wider community: the care of orphans, the fair treatment of women, marriage, inheritance shares, and the responsibilities that bind relatives together. The surah also addresses communal cohesion, the conduct of the believers toward one another, the situation of the hypocrites, and guidance for the community during a period of external pressure. Interwoven with these social directives are passages on faith, obedience to God and the Prophet, reconciliation, and justice in testimony and judgment. It is commonly grouped with the other early long Medinan surahs that establish the practical and ethical framework of communal life.

Surah number: 4
Revelation: Medinan
Ayahs: 176
Arabic: النساء

Read Surah An-Nisa online — full Arabic text with the Pickthall English translation.

Main themes

Rights and protection of women
Care of orphans and the vulnerable
Rules of inheritance and family shares
Marriage and family relationships
Justice, testimony, and fair judgment
The hypocrites and communal cohesion

Why this surah matters

An-Nisa is one of the longest surahs of the Quran and a cornerstone of its social and legal teaching, especially on family, inheritance, and the standing of women. It is traditionally studied closely by those learning the Quran's guidance on communal justice. Many Muslims regard its detailed directives on orphans and inheritance as among the clearest examples of the Quran addressing lived social realities. It sits within the opening long Medinan chapters that shaped the early community's ethical framework.

Frequently asked questions

Is Surah An-Nisa Meccan or Medinan?

It is traditionally classified as Medinan, revealed after the Prophet's migration to Medina during the community-building period.

Why is it called "The Women"?

The name reflects its extensive treatment of the rights, protection, marriage, and inheritance of women, though it addresses many other social and legal matters as well.

How long is Surah An-Nisa?

It has 176 ayahs, making it one of the longest chapters in the Quran.

Read Surah An-Nisa

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