Allah Guidance: Interpretation of Surah an-Nisa Verse 34 Part 2

Arrijaaluu qowwaamuuna ‘alannisaa’i  bimaa fad-dholallaahu ba’dhomum ‘alaa ba’dhin wabimaa anfaquu min amwaalihim. Fashoolihaatu qoonitaatun hafidzhootun lil ghoibi bimaa hafidzhallaahu wallaatii takhoofuuna nusyuuzahunna fa’id-dzhuuhunna wahjuruuhunna fil madhooji’i wadhribuuhunna fain ‘atho’nakum falaa tabghuu ‘alaihinna sabiila innallaaha kaana ‘aliyyan kabiiro. 

Allah’s guidance is for women for whom you are worried about their nusyuz, i.e. disobedience to your rights bestowed by Allah, so advise them, at the right time with words that touch, do not cause irritation and if the advice has not ended the defiance then leave it them in their bed (unaccompanied by sleep). If you still don’t want to do it, then hit it (with a non-harmful punch)

The word ar-rijaal is a form of jama’ arojul which means male, although the Qur’an does not always use it in that sense. Many scholars understand the word ar-rijal in this verse to mean husband.

The word qowwaamun is a form of the word qowwama which comes from the word qoma. The verse above uses the plural form, namely qowwamun, in line with the word ar-rijal which means many men. Often this word is translated with leadership. In other words, the notion of leadership includes fulfillment of needs, attention, maintenance, defense, and coaching. The leadership of each unit is absolute, especially for each family, because they are always together and feel they belong to their partner and family. The problems faced by husband and wife often arise from the attitude of the soul which is reflected in the face, cheerful or sullen, so that similarities and disputes can appear instantly, but can also disappear instantly.

Conditions like this require a leader, more than the need for a company that struggles with numbers, not feelings, and bound by detailed agreements that can be resolved through court. So who should be the leader? Allah SWT determines men as leaders with two main considerations, namely:

First, Bimaa fadholallaahu ba’dhahum ‘ala ba’din (because Allah exalts some of them over some of the others, that is, each of them has specialties. But the privileges possessed by men, support more leadership tasks than the privileges possessed by men On the other hand, the privileges of women further support their duties as giving men a sense of peace and calm and further support their function in educating and raising their children.

Both bimaa anfaquu min amwaalihim (because they have spent part of their wealth). The plural form used in this verse shows that giving a living to women has become a norm for men, as well as a general reality in human society from ancient times until now.