Structure and Semantics in Surah al-Nisa': on marriage, wealth, and building a community

نویسندگان
فدائی دولت فریدون ID 1

1 دانشگاه عدالت

doi
10.37264/JIQS.V4I2.3
چکیده

This paper asks whether existing scholarship on the unity and structure of Surah al-Nisāʾ can be used as a hermeneutic tool. The first part of the paper attempts to find if there is meaning in the structure, particularly in the final verse on Kalālah , verse 176 which seems to be misplaced. The second part of the paper explores some of the key words used to describe gender/marital relations in Surah al-Nisāʾ, which are actually repeated throughout the surah in different capacities. Drawing on three classical and modern tafsīrs with an eye to coherence (al-Rāzī, al-Biqāʿī, and Tabataba’i) this paper recontextualises such words as qiwāmah , faḍl , and nushūz . In the final discussion, concepts of femininity and masculinity as they relate to the surah are analysed.

کلیدواژه‌ها
Social Reforms: verses 1–43; “provides legislative guidance for the Muslim community. It deals with women and related concerns: orphans, marriage, dowry, inheritance, sexual offences, concubines, and other relations between men and women” (Zahniser 2000). This first section Zahniser names the “Women Block” (Zahniser 1997)., The Islamic Community and its Opponents: verses 44–126; discusses the Jews’ and hypocrites’ opposition to reform. It instructs Muslims not to allow conflict to keep them from justice and divine guidance, and that they must be prepared to fight when necessary and make sacrifices for Islam (Mir 1986). Within this section of Islahi, Zahniser further identifies a “Battle Block” which extends from verses 71-104 (Zahniser 1997). Therefore, here Zahniser has three sections:, Section II: verses 44-70. This will be mirrored by section IV., Section III: verses 71-104 is the ‘battle block’ in the middle; this “contains all references in the surah for fighting in the way of God… its major theme not found outside its borders.”, Section IV: verses 105-126. Sections II and IV address the People of the Book, and he confirms Islahi’s suggestion, that this surah offers “legislation or guidelines and exhortation or summons to Islam” (Zahniser 1997)., Conclusion: verses 127–176; replies to questions about legal reforms introduced previously in the surah, warns the People of the Book, and consoles the Prophet (Mir 1986). Zahniser names verses 127-134 the “Women Cluster” and verse 176 the “Women Verse” (Zahniser 1997). He makes an interesting point on the address for humanity (yā ayyuha al-nās) in verse 1, and the same in the penultimate thematic unit verses 170-175 which concerns Christians more particularly, thus stressing the importance of the latter message. He concedes however, the relevance of verse 176 at the end, saying “that position is hermeneutic” (Zahniser 1997)., RIS, EndNote, Mendeley, BibTeX, APA, MLA, HARVARD, CHICAGO, VANCOUVER