Welfare statute returned without an end to strife (4)
I believe the answer is:
weal
'welfare' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'statute returned without an end to strife' is the wordplay.
'statute' becomes 'law' (I've seen this before).
'returned' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'without' indicates putting letters inside ('without' can be similar in meaning to 'outside').
'an end to' indicates one should take the final letters.
The last letter of 'strife' is 'e'.
'law' backwards is 'wal'.
'wal' placed around 'e' is 'WEAL'.
(Other definitions for weal that I've seen before include "Mark of wound - welfare" , "Mark of blow; wellbeing" , "Ridge raised on flesh by whip stroke" , "Wound from lash" , "Raised mark of blow" .)