Day 43 · Surah An-Nisa' Verses 20-26

An-Nisa' 20–26

A dower cannot be taken back when divorcing; it then details a list of women forbidden to marry due to blood relations, nursing, and marriage relationships, and it is affirmed that the purpose of marriage is to preserve chastity.

• A dower, no matter how large, cannot be taken back when divorce occurs, because it is based on a strong covenant from the husband.
• Women forbidden to marry are mentioned, including those through blood relations such as mother and sister, through nursing such as wet-nurse mother and nursing sister, and through marriage such as mother-in-law and stepdaughter.
• Marrying two sisters simultaneously is also among the prohibited acts.
• A dower is the exclusive right of the wife, unless she herself willingly forgives part of it to her husband.
• Men who are not yet capable economically are directed toward a lighter option, and all these provisions aim to protect people from falling into fornication.

Still speaking about household management, verses 20-23 explain several important matters:

1. No matter the amount of dower given to the wife, if divorce occurs it cannot be taken back. The reason is that the intimate and unified relationship as husband and wife should generate affection. Moreover, the dower obtained by the wife is based on a strong promise from the husband. Therefore, the husband no longer has the right to it.
2. Women forbidden to marry are: stepmother already divorced from father, biological mother, daughter, sister, aunt from the maternal line, aunt from the paternal line, daughter of a son (granddaughter), daughter of a daughter (granddaughter), wet-nurse mother, nursing sister, mother-in-law, stepdaughter already having sexual relations with her mother, wife of a biological son (stepdaughter already divorced or widowed), and marrying two sisters simultaneously. These are the women who are not permitted to marry under Islamic law.

If we carefully examine the household system, from the foundation of establishing a household (God-consciousness), the maintenance of orphans and management of their wealth, polygamy, dower, the law of inheritance, solutions to cases of infidelity or moral transgression, divorce, and all the way to women forbidden to marry, we find it to be a blessing from Allah of immense value for us as human beings. This household system that Allah has designed is truly capable of protecting our humanity from the depths of degradation in this world, and even more so in the Hereafter.

Verses 24-26 still explain the women forbidden to marry, namely women with the status of wife, and those who are permissible, namely slave-women or captives of war. All of this is a decision from Allah, and no one among the believers may reject it.

One of the purposes of marriage is to preserve chastity. Likewise, the dower is an obligation from Allah to become the exclusive right of the wife, no matter how large. Unless the wife willingly gives part of it to her husband, then it is not forbidden.

For men who do not yet have the economic capacity to marry free Muslim women, it is recommended to marry Muslim slave-women on the condition of obtaining permission from their master and with a dower based on capability. For slaves who commit legal violations such as fornication, their punishment is half that of free persons. This is one of the beauties of Islamic law.

This decree of Allah is clearly so that Muslims do not engage in dating because it will lead them into fornication. The provisions and laws of Allah are truly based on His vast knowledge and so that they accord with His straight guidance that suits human nature.

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