وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تُقْسِطُوا۟ فِى ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ فَٱنكِحُوا۟ مَا طَابَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَـٰثَ وَرُبَـٰعَ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ فَوَٰحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعُولُوا۟ 3
Translations
And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one or those your right hands possess [i.e., slaves]. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice].
Transliteration
Wa-in khiftum alla tuqsitoo fil-yatama fankihoo ma taba lakum min an-nisai mathna wa thulatha wa ruba'a fa-in khiftum alla ta'dilo fa-wahidatan aw ma malakat aymanukum dhalika adna alla ta'ooloo
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the guardianship of orphans' wealth and establishes the framework for polygamy in Islam. The verse permits marriage to multiple women (up to four) on the condition of just and equitable treatment, but if one fears inability to maintain justice, then marriage to one wife or to slave women is prescribed. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the primary concern of the ayah is ensuring fair treatment of orphan girls under guardianship, with the permission for polygamy contextually linked to this responsibility. The concluding phrase 'that is more likely to prevent you from wrongdoing' (adna alla ta'ooloo) emphasizes that limiting oneself to one wife is the safer path to maintaining justice.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period addressing practical social concerns in the early Muslim community. The surah An-Nisa focuses extensively on women's rights, family relations, and inheritance. Historically, this revelation came during a period when many Muslim women had been widowed in battles, creating a need for provisions regarding their care and remarriage. The ayah specifically contextualizes polygamy within the framework of protecting orphan girls and maintaining social welfare.
Related Hadiths
Aisha (RA) reported: 'If you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry of the women as may seem good to you' (related to this ayah's context in Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet (SAW) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their wives,' establishing the standard of justice required in marriage.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Islamic permissions come with strict conditions of justice and righteousness—polygamy is permissible only for those capable of absolute fairness, and monogamy is the safer, recommended path for most. It reminds believers that protecting the vulnerable, especially orphans and women, is a core Islamic principle that supersedes personal desires.
Related Ayahs
هَـٰٓأَنتُمْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ جَـٰدَلْتُمْ عَنْهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فَمَن يُجَـٰدِلُ ٱللَّهَ عَنْهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ أَم مَّن يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيلًا
Here you are - those who argue on their behalf in [this] worldly life - but who will argue with Allāh for them on the Day of Resurrection, or who will [then] be their representative?
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ قِيلَ لَهُمْ كُفُّوٓا۟ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقِتَالُ إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَخْشَوْنَ ٱلنَّاسَ كَخَشْيَةِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ أَشَدَّ خَشْيَةً ۚ وَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا لِمَ كَتَبْتَ عَلَيْنَا ٱلْقِتَالَ لَوْلَآ أَخَّرْتَنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ ۗ قُلْ مَتَـٰعُ ٱلدُّنْيَا قَلِيلٌ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
Have you not seen those who were told, "Restrain your hands [from fighting] and establish prayer and give zakāh"? But then when battle was ordained for them, at once a party of them feared men as they fear Allāh or with [even] greater fear. They said, "Our Lord, why have You decreed upon us fighting? If only You had postponed [it for] us for a short time." Say, "The enjoyment of this world is little, and the Hereafter is better for he who fears Allāh. And injustice will not be done to you, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed]."
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ سَنُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۖ لَّهُمْ فِيهَآ أَزْوَٰجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ ۖ وَنُدْخِلُهُمْ ظِلًّا ظَلِيلًا
But those who believe and do righteous deeds - We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide forever. For them therein are purified spouses, and We will admit them to deepening shade.
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍۭ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ شَهِيدًا
So how [will it be] when We bring from every nation a witness and We bring you, [O Muḥammad], against these [people] as a witness?