Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 32

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Do not covet something in which Allah has made some of you superior to others. For men there is a share of what they earned, and for women, a share of what they earned. Pray to Allah for His grace. Surely, Allah is All-Aware of everything.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And do not crave what Allah has given some of you over others. Men will be rewarded according to their deeds and women ˹equally˺ according to theirs. Rather, ask Allah for His bounties. Surely Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Do not wish for what Allah has bestowed upon some of you over others. Men will have the reward of their deeds and women will have the reward of their deeds. And ask Allah for His bounty. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing of everything.

A. J. Arberry

Do not covet that whereby God in bounty has preferred one of you above another. To the men a share from what they have earned, and to the women a share from what they have earned. And ask God of His bounty; God knows everything.

Abdul Haleem

Do not covet what God has given to some of you more than others- men have the portion they have earned; and women the portion they have earned- you should rather ask God for some of His bounty: He has full knowledge of everything.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And long not for that wherewith Allah hath preferred one of you above anot her Unto men shall be the portion of that which they earn, and unto women shall be the portion of that which they earn. And ask Allah for some of His grace, verily Allah is of everything Knower.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And in no wise covet those things in which Allah Hath bestowed His gifts More freely on some of you than on others; To men is allotted what they earn, and to women what they earn; But ask Allah of His bounty. For Allah hath full knowledge of all things.

Abul Ala Maududi

Do not covet what Allah has conferred more abundantly on some of you than others. Men shall have a share according to what they have earned, and women shall have a share according to what they have earned. Do ask of Allah His bounty. Allah has full knowledge of everything.

Ahmed Ali

Do not covet what God has favoured some with more than He has some others. Men have a share in what they earn, and women have theirs in what they earn. Ask God for His favours. Surely God has knowledge of everything.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And do not long for things by which Allah has given superiority to some of you over others; for men is the share of what they earn; and for women the share from what they earn; and seek from Allah His munificence; indeed Allah knows everything.

Ali Quli Qarai

Do not covet the advantage, which Allah has given some of you over others. To men belongs a share of what they have earned, and to women a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah for His bounty. Indeed Allah has knowledge of all things.

Ali Ünal

(People differ from each other in capacity and means of livelihood; nor is it in your hands to be born male or female. Therefore) do not covet that in which God has made some of you excel others (thus envying others in such things as status or wealth or physical charms and so objecting to God’s distribution). Men shall have a share according to what they have earned (in both material and spiritual terms), and women shall have a share according to what they have earned. (On the other hand, do not refuse effort and aspiration; instead of envying others,) ask God (to give you more) of His bounty (through lawful labor and through prayer). Assuredly God has full knowledge of everything.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And do not covet the favours which Allâh has bestowed on some of you to excel others. Men shall have the share of the fruit of their labour, and for women is the share of the fruit of their labour. You had better seek from Allâh His bounty. Verily, Allâh has perfect knowledge of all things.

English Literal

And do not wish/desire what God favoured with it, some of you on (over) some, to the men a share from what they earned , and to the women a share from what they (F) earned , and ask/beg God from His grace , that God was/is with every thing knowledgeable.

Faridul Haque

And do not long for things by which Allah has given superiority to some of you over others; for men is the share of what they earn; and for women the share from what they earn; and seek from Allah His munificence; indeed Allah knows everything.

Hamid S. Aziz

Men are qawwam (have charge of, are protectors, maintainers) of women in that Allah hath made them superior in strength (or advantages), and in that they expend of their wealth (in support of women). So virtuous women are devoted (or obedient), careful (in their husband´s) absence, as Allah has cared for them. But those whose perverseness you fear, admonish them (first) and (then) remove them from your bedchambers, and (lastly) chastise them lightly (or punish by showing disapproval, withdrawing affection, separating) ; but if they obey you, then do not seek a way against them; verily, Allah is Exalted and Great.

Hilali & Khan

And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

If you shun the great things which you are forbidden, We shall do away with your evil (inclinations) and cause you to enter an honourable place of entering.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And do not covet that by which Allah has made some of you excel others; men shall have the benefit of what they earn and women shall have the benefit of what they earn; and ask Allah of His grace; surely Allah knows all things.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And covet not the thing in which Allah hath made some of you excel others. Unto men a fortune from that which they have earned, and unto women a fortune from that which they have earned. (Envy not one another) but ask Allah of His bounty. Lo! Allah is ever Knower of all things.

Muhammad Sarwar

Do not envy the favors which God has granted to some of you. Men and women will both be rewarded according to their deeds, rather pray to God for His favors. God knows all things.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Do not wish for the bounty which Allah has preferred one of you above another. For men is a share of what they earn, and for women is a share of what they earn. Ask Allah of His Bounty. Allah has knowledge of all things.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah of His bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything.

Wahiduddin Khan

Do not covet the bounties which God has bestowed more abundantly on some of you than on others. Men shall be rewarded according to their deeds, and women shall be rewarded according to their deeds. You should rather ask God for His bounty. God has knowledge of all things.

Talal Itani

Do not covet what God has given to some of you in preference to others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask God of his bounty. God has knowledge of everything.

Tafsir jalalayn

Do not covet that in which God has preferred some of you above others, in the way of worldly affairs or religion, lest it lead to mutual envy and hatred. To men a share from, a reward for, what they have earned, for their acts in the struggle and so on, and to women a share from what they have earned, by way of being obedient to their spouses and guarding their private parts; this was revealed when Umm Salama said; `Would that we were men, so that we could join the struggle and receive the reward they receive!' And ask (read wa-s'al or wa-sal) God of His bounty, what you need and He will give it to you; God is ever Knower of all things, including where merit is deserved and that for which you ask.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Do Not Wish for the Things Which Allah has Made Some Others to Excel In

Allah says;

وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوْاْ مَا فَضَّلَ اللّهُ بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ

And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Umm Salamah said,

"O Messenger of Allah! Men go to battle, but we do not go to battle, and we earn one-half of the inheritance (that men get)."

Allah sent down,
وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوْاْ مَا فَضَّلَ اللّهُ بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ
(And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others).

At-Tirmidhi also recorded this Hadith.

Allah's statement,

لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبُواْ وَلِلنِّسَاء نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ

For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned,

indicates, according to Ibn Jarir, that each person will earn his wages for his works, a reward if his deeds are good, and punishment if his deeds are evil.

Al-Walibi reported from Ibn Abbas,

this Ayah is talking about inheritance, indicating the fact that each person will get his due share of the inheritance.

Allah then directed the servants to what benefits them,

وَاسْأَلُواْ اللّهَ مِن فَضْلِهِ

and ask Allah of His Bounty.

Therefore, the Ayah states, "Do not wish for what other people were endowed with over you, for this is a decision that will come to pass, and wishing does not change its decree. However, ask Me of My favor and I will grant it to you, for I Am Most Generous and Most Giving."

Allah then said,

إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا



Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything.

meaning, Allah knows who deserves this life, and so He gives him riches, and whoever deserves poverty, He makes him poor. He also knows who deserves the Hereafter, and He directs him to perform the deeds that will help him to be successful in it, and whoever deserves failure, He prevents him from achieving righteousness and what leads to it. Hence, Allah said,
إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا
(Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything)