وَلَن تَسْتَطِيعُوٓا۟ أَن تَعْدِلُوا۟ بَيْنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتُمْ ۖ فَلَا تَمِيلُوا۟ كُلَّ ٱلْمَيْلِ فَتَذَرُوهَا كَٱلْمُعَلَّقَةِ ۚ وَإِن تُصْلِحُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا 129
Translations
And you will never be able to be equal [in feeling] between wives, even if you should strive [to do so]. So do not incline completely [toward one] and leave another hanging. And if you amend [your affairs] and fear Allāh - then indeed, Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Wa lan tastatee'oo an ta'diloo bayna an-nisaa wa law haraastum, fala tamiloo kulla al-mayil fatadharo ha ka al-mu'allaqah. Wa in tuslihoo wa tattaqoo fa inna Allah kana ghafoorun raheem.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the reality of human nature in plural marriage, acknowledging that perfect equality in emotional affection between multiple wives is impossible despite sincere effort. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as permitting polygamy while enjoining justice in material provision and treatment, forbidding excessive favoritism that would leave a wife in a state of limbo ('like a hanging thing')—neither properly married nor divorced. The ayah concludes with divine mercy, assuring that those who strive for justice and piety will find Allah forgiving and compassionate.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa's comprehensive regulations on women's rights and family law, revealed in Madinah during the period of legal and social consolidation. It contextualizes the permission of polygamy (mentioned in 4:3) by establishing ethical boundaries, addressing concerns about fair treatment that arose as the Muslim community faced the realities of implementing this practice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever has two wives and does not treat them equally will come on the Day of Judgment with one of his sides drooping' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895, graded as hasan). Additionally, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet maintained strict equality among his wives in material provisions and time.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while Islamic law permits certain practices, it does so within strict ethical frameworks that prioritize justice and human dignity—reminding believers that sincere effort toward fairness, combined with taqwa (God-consciousness), invokes Allah's forgiveness for inevitable human shortcomings.
Related Ayahs
رُّسُلًا مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ حُجَّةٌۢ بَعْدَ ٱلرُّسُلِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
[We sent] messengers as bringers of good tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against Allāh after the messengers. And ever is Allāh Exalted in Might and Wise.
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۗ وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حَدِيثًا
Allāh - there is no deity except Him. He will surely assemble you for [account on] the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. And who is more truthful than Allāh in statement.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَكُم بُرْهَـٰنٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ نُورًا مُّبِينًا
O mankind, there has come to you a conclusive proof from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear light.
وَلَيْسَتِ ٱلتَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّى تُبْتُ ٱلْـَٔـٰنَ وَلَا ٱلَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
But repentance is not [accepted] of those who [continue to] do evil deeds up until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "Indeed, I have repented now," or of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful punishment.