Annisa

An-Nisa, transliterated An-Nisāʾ or An-Nisa, is the fourth chapter of the Qur'an. Its title, The Women, reflects its focus on issues related to women, family life, and social justice. The surah comprises 176 verses and is generally classified as Medinan, with some verses from the Meccan period; it is associated with guidance given to the Muslim community as it organized in Medina.

The chapter covers legal and ethical matters, including marriage and divorce, inheritance, guardianship of orphans, and financial rights. It provides rules designed to protect vulnerable groups, regulate charitable obligations, and establish social order. It also addresses questions of testimony, lawful and unlawful relationships, and relations with people of the Book (Jews and Christians).

Notable topics include permissions related to marriage and polygamy, the distribution of inheritance shares (with specified portions for relatives and orphans), and verses often cited in discussions of gender roles, such as those concerning the responsibilities of spouses and the treatment of women. It also contains guidance on fairness, justice, and piety, and historical references to the Prophet's community during conflict and peacetime.

In Islamic scholarship, An-Nisa serves as a major source for family law and social ethics within fiqh (jurisprudence), and its verses are the subject of extensive tafsir (exegesis). The surah is recited in daily prayers by many Muslims and is studied for its legal and moral guidance as part of the Quranic canon.