A study of the exegetes’ interpretation of the 34th verse of the sura al-Nisa’

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 ّFull professor of Tarbiat Modarres University

2 M.A graduated, Tarbiyat Modarress University

Abstract

The 34th verse of sura al-Nisa,discussing the gheymumiyat (guardian-ship) of men and the threefold measurement prescribed against the nushuz (recalcitrance) of women , has constantly been the focus of interest for of jurisprudents and  exegetes ,on one hand and adversaries on the other hand. In these writings gheymumiyat of men which is a responsibility , has been in occasions interpreted as the right of ruling , and in others its position has been reduced to that of an agent  and the word “noshuz” has been explained in form of disobedience and refusing sexual relation with husband and the edifiying approach of the verse for solving this family crisis threatening its existence , has been considered as a punishment for the woman. In this article the exegetes points of view have been studied and criticized . it has also been explained that the gheymumiyat of men is the responsibility of organizing the family and not a right and that the fear of noshuz of women – according to its Quranic usage and the corresponding traditions – is approaching the limits of corruption  and therefore it is fear of disloyalty . the evidences cited by exegets (the definition in lexicons, context and occasion of revelation concerning this verse) is all debated. Finally the remedy for preventing noshuz  in order to stabilize  the foundations of family life has been suggested.
 
 

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