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 Post subject: Verses 4:4-6
PostPosted: 07 Jun 2009, 05:35 
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Suggested translation1,2:


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1This translation may have been updated from the original suggested translation as a result of the discussions that follow.
2Click on the {verse number} of a translation to see other good translations of the verse.

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 4:4-6
PostPosted: 03 Sep 2009, 14:39 
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{4:4} And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease.

صدقاتهن does not mean gifts at all because gifts are voluntary while this command implies something that is mandatory. It comes from the same root of صدقة which is commonly translated as charity or donation, but in fact the root verb is صدق meaning "has told the truth!" Charity is called صدقة because it is a confirmation of faith. You prove that you told the truth about believing in God when you freely give from your hard-earned money to the needy. With that understanding, I'd translate صدقاتهن as "their dues (dowry)."

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 4:4-6
PostPosted: 05 Sep 2009, 08:54 
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Linguistic wrote:
I'd translate صدقاتهن as "their dues (dowry)."

They may have avoided "dowry" because its prime use is from the bride to the groom rather than the other way around. However, it also means from the groom to the bride, and your construct "their dues (dowry)" leaves no ambiguity about what is meant.

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 4:4-6
PostPosted: 15 Mar 2014, 19:12 
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Pragmatic wrote:
Linguistic wrote:
I'd translate صدقاتهن as "their dues (dowry)."

They may have avoided "dowry" because its prime use is from the bride to the groom rather than the other way around. However, it also means from the groom to the bride, and your construct "their dues (dowry)" leaves no ambiguity about what is meant.

It turns out that the word نحلة means dowry, according to the Arabic dictionary.

Here is what I suggest for translation of the three verses,

{4:4} And grant women their dues, a dowry. But if they willingly let for you anything of it, then consume it, merrily, palatably.

{4:5} And do not grant the foolish your properties, which God has made for you a sustenance, but provide for them from it, clothe them and say to them a decent uttering.

{4:6} And test the orphans (their competence) until when they have attained marriage [age], then if you have comfortably sensed in them forthrightness, then pay off to them their properties. And do not consume it excessively and preemptively [anticipating] that they [will] grow up. And whoever [guardian] is self-sufficient, then let him abstain [from taking a wage from the orphan's property]; and whoever is needy - then let him take as customary. Then when you have paid off to them their properties, then bring witnesses upon them. And sufficed God a Reckoner.

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