3 To guide them on their route to paradise.

4 Patronus.  Mar.  Beschutzer.  Ullm.  Or, what ye have deserved.

5 Against the infidels.

6 Supellex deceptionis.  Mar.

7 Of our eternal decrees.

8 Brought by Gabriel to Noah, who imparted its use to his posterity.  So say the commentators.  But the expression seems rather to be figurative.  Comp.  Sura lv. 6, p. 74.

9 Or, mighty warlike strength, but the antithesis requires the rendering given in the text.  Comp.  Gen. iv. 22, and Michna Tr.  Aboth, 5, 9.

10 We are not to understand by the word Evangel the actual volume of the New Testament, or any one of its component parts, but rather the revelation made to Jesus by God himself, which Muhammad may have imagined to have been committed to writing subsequently, in the same way as his own Koran.

11 The word in the original is the same for favours, gifts of grace, bounty.  The reference is to the gift of prophecy (Beidh.) mentioned verse 27.

SURA IV.-WOMEN1 [C.]

Medina.-175 Verses

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

O men! fear your Lord, who hath created you of one man (nafs, soul), and of him created his wife, and from these twain hath spread abroad so many men and women.  And fear ye God, in whose name ye ask mutual favours,-and reverence the wombs that bare you.  Verily is God watching over you!

And give to the orphans their property; substitute not worthless things of your own for their valuable ones, and devour not their property after adding it to your own; for this is a great crime.

And if ye are apprehensive that ye shall not deal fairly with orphans, then, of other women who seem good in your eyes, marry but two, or three, or four;2 and if ye still fear that ye shall not act equitably, then one only; or the slaves whom ye have acquired:  this will make justice on your part easier.  Give women their dowry freely; but if of themselves they give up aught thereof to you, then enjoy it as convenient, and profitable: 

And entrust not to the incapable the substance which God hath placed with you for their support; but maintain them therewith, and clothe them, and speak to them with kindly speech.

And make trial of orphans until they reach the age of marriage; and if ye perceive in them a sound judgment, then hand over their substance to them; but consume ye it not wastefully, or by hastily entrusting it to them;

Because they are growing up.  And let the rich guardian not even touch it; and let him who is poor use it for his support (eat of it) with discretion.

And when ye make over their substance to them, then take witnesses in their presence:  God also maketh a sufficient account.

Men ought to have a part of what their parents and kindred leave; and women3 a part of what their parents and kindred leave:  whether it be little or much, let them have a stated portion.