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.