Why did the form of address in the Quranic verses differ, being general for believers before and after the verse, "Men are in charge of women" (Ar-Rijal Qawwamuna ala An-Nisa'), whereas in this specific verse, it was exclusively for men?
Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 2026
When interpreting the Quran, one must consider the denotations of words, contextual clues, and the overall context. For instance, the verse: (O you who have believed, do not consume your property among yourselves falsely...) is a general address to all believers. However, the verse: (Men are the maintainers of women...) and the subsequent rulings concerning nushuz (rebelliousness) are specifically addressed to spouses. As for the verse: (And if you fear dissension between the two, send an arbitrator...), some say the address is to the ruler, while others say it is to the spouses. No one has ever claimed it is addressed to all believers.
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