An Examination of the Course of Evolution in Understanding the Meaning of the Verse 34 of Sura Al-Nisa’

Women from the viewpoint of the holy Qur’an are equal to men in human status and fair rights are considered for them. However, in the past, commentators' interpretations of some verses about women’s rights and their social and family relationships, have been in accordance with the terms of their own time . These interpretations are not consistence with the Qur’anic perspective and are not applicable to and compatible with women's contemporary situation. Therefore, an evaluation of these interpretations, given the contemporary valid understandings, will be necessary. Of most important one of these verses is verse 34 of Sura Al-Nisa’, known as the verse of Guardianship. This famous verse is the juridical basis for Civil Law in Iran.
Understandings of the concepts like Guardianship (Gheymumiat) and its limitations (Hudud), grace (Fadhl), the righteous women (Salihat), recalcitrance (Nushuz), custodians of the unseen (Hafizat al-ghayb), Fear (Takhafun) and hitting (Dharb), in this verse has been subject to different kinds of modifications until now. Given the fact that religion and revelation are beyond time and place and will not become obsolescent while human understanding of religion is limited to time, it is of great importance to study the course of evolution of interpretations, according to time, place and setting. This article studies the course of evolution in commentators' understanding of this verse and reviews some strategies for solving problems like Dharb (hitting). Eventually we will consider the deficiencies seen in various interpretations of this verse.