Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

www.alhassanain.org/english

Al-Mizan;

An Exegesis of the Qur'an, vol 8

From Ch. 4 [Surah An-Nisaa], Verses 11-16 to Ch. 4 [Surah An-Nisaa], Verses 71-76

This volume opens with the exposition of the 11th verse of the `Surah An-Nisa, and ends with the xposition of same Surah verse 76. Translated by Allamah Sayyid Sa'eed Akhtar Rizvi.

Author(s): Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn at-Tabataba'i

Translator(s): Allamah Sayyid Sa'eed Akhtar Rizvi

Publisher(s): World Organization for Islamic Services [W.O.F.I.S.]

www.alhassanain.org/english

English translation:

First edition 1992/1412

Translated from the Arabic:

al-Mīzān fī tafsīri ’l-Qur’ān, vol.4,

Beirut, 1394/1974 (3rd ed.)

All rights reserved for the publisher,

WOFIS, Tehran.

Published by:

World Organization for Islamic Services,

P. O. Box No.11365 - 1545,

Tehran - IRAN.

In the Name of Allāh,

The All-compassionate, The All-merciful

Praise belongs to Allāh, the Lord of all being;

the All-compassionate, the All-merciful;

the Master of the Day of Judgement;

Thee only we serve, and to Thee alone we pray

for succour:

Guide us in the straight path;

the path of those whom Thou hast blessed,

not of those against whom Thou art wrathful,

nor of those who are astray.

* * * * *

O’ Allāh! send your blessings to the head of

your messengers and the last of

your prophets,

Muhammad and his pure and cleansed progeny.

Also send your blessings to all your

prophets and envoys.

Notice:

This version is published on behalf of www.alhassanain.org/english

The composing errors are not corrected.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TRANSLITERATION 9

FOREWORD [IN ARABIC] 10

FOREWORD 12

CHAPTER 4, VERSES 11 - 14 14

COMMENTARY 15

A GENERAL DISCOURSE ON INHERITANCE 21

TRADITIONS 25

AN ACADEMIC ESSAY ON INHERITANCE 31

1. How Inheritance Began 31

2. Gradual Development of Inheritance 31

3. Inheritance in Civilized Nations 32

4. What Islam did in such a Situation 34

5. The Position of Women and Orphans in Islam 36

6. Modern Inheritance Laws 38

7. Comparison of these Codes: One with Another 39

8. Will and Testament 40

CHAPTER 4, VERSES 15 - 16 41

COMMENTARY 41

TRADITIONS 43

CHAPTER 4, VERSES 17 - 18 45

COMMENTARY 45

ON REPENTANCE 51

TRADITIONS 58

CHAPTER 4, VERSES 19 - 22 61

COMMENTARY 61

TRADITIONS 65

CHAPTER 4, VERSES 23 - 28 69

COMMENTARY 70

TRADITIONS 90

A REVIEW OF TRADITIONS ABOUT MUT‘A MARRIAGE 96

[Traditions on the Recitation: ‘‘For a Fixed Period’’] 97

[Some Traditions showing that the Mut‘ah was abrogated by the Qur’ān] 98

[Some Traditions showing that the Mut‘ah was abrogated by the Sunnah] 98

[Some Traditions of some Companions and their Disciples about Lawfulness of the Mut‘ah] 100

[Some Traditions showing that it was ‘Umar who had forbidden the Mut‘ah] 101

[An Exegete’s Claims and our Comments] 105

AN ACADEMIC DISCOURSE [MEANING OF ‘‘SON’’ IN SHARĪ‘AH] 116

ANOTHER ACADEMIC DISCOURSE [PHILOSOPHY OF PROHIBITION OF THE WOMEN OF PROHIBITED DEGREE] 118

CHAPTER 4, VERSES 29 - 30 122

COMMENTARY 122

TRADITIONS 127

CHAPTER 4, VERSE 31 129

COMMENTARY 129

GREAT AND SMALL SINS AND EXPIATION OF EVILS 130

TRADITIONS 137

CHAPTER 4, VERSES 32 - 35 142

COMMENTARY 142

A QUR’ĀNIC REALITY 145

A DISCOURSE ON MEN’S AUTHORITY OVER WOMEN 151

TRADITIONS 153

CHAPTER 4, VERSES 36 - 42 159

COMMENTARY 159

TRADITIONS 163

CHAPTER 4, VERSE 43 165

COMMENTARY 165

TRADITIONS 167

CHAPTER 4, VERSES 44 - 58 168

COMMENTARY 169

TRADITIONS 184

CHAPTER 4, VERSES 59 - 70 192

COMMENTARY 193

TRADITIONS 214

CHAPTER 4, VERSES 71 - 76 221

COMMENTARY 221

SENSE OF HONOUR VIS-A-VIS BIGOTRY 226

TRADITIONS 227

NOTES 229

APPENDIX “A” 234

APPENDIX “B” 236

TRANSLITERATION

FOREWORD [IN ARABIC]

FOREWORD

1. al ‘Allāmah as-Sayyid Muhammad Husayn at-Tabātabā’ī (1321/1904 - 1402/1981) may Allāh have mercy upon him - was a famous scholar, thinker and the most celebrated contemporary Islamic philosopher. We have introduced him briefly in the first volume of the English translation of al-Mīzān.

2. al-‘Allāmah at-Tabātabā’ī is well-known for a number of his works of which the most important is his great exegesis al-Mīzān fī tafsīri ’l-Qur’ān which is rightly counted as the fundamental pillar of scholarly work which the ‘Allāmah has achieved in the Islamic world

3. We felt the necessity of publishing an exegesis of the Holy Qur’ān in English. After a thorough consultation, we came to choose al-Mīzān because we found that it contained in itself, to a considerable extent, the points which should necessarily be expounded in a perfect exegesis of the Holy Qur’ān and the points which appeal to the mind of the contemporary Muslim reader. Therefore, we proposed to al-Ustādh al-‘Allāmah as-Sayyid Sa‘īd Akhtar ar-Radawī to undertake this task, because we were familiar with his intellectual ability to understand the Arabic text of al-Mīzān and his literary capability in expression and translation. So we relied on him for this work and consider him responsible for the English translation as al-‘Allāmah at-Tabātabā’ī was responsible for the Arabic text of al-Mīzān and its discussions.

4. We have now undertaken the publication of the eighth volume of the English translation of al-Mīzān. This volume corresponds with the second half of the fourth volume of the Arabic text. With the help of Allāh, the Exalted, we hope to provide the complete translation and publication of this voluminous work.

In the first volume, the reader will find two more appendixes included apart from the two which are to appear in all volumes of -the English translation of al Mīzān: One for the authors and the other for the books cited throughout this work.

* * * *

We implore upon Allāh to effect our work purely for His pleasure, and to help us to complete this work which we have started. May Allāh guide us in this step which we have taken and in the future steps, for He is the best Master and the best Helper.

WORLD ORGANIZATION FOR ISLAMIC SERVICES

(Board of Writing, Translation and Publication)

13/7/1412

19/1/1992

Tehran - IRAN.

al-Mīzān

Volume Eight

Ch. 4 [Surah An-Nisaa], Verses 11-76