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
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَـٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا۟ مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِى سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىٰ تَغْتَسِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَـٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا
O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janābah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women [i.e., had sexual intercourse] and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allāh is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.
يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ مَعَهُمْ إِذْ يُبَيِّتُونَ مَا لَا يَرْضَىٰ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطًا
They conceal [their evil intentions and deeds] from the people, but they cannot conceal [them] from Allāh, and He is with them [in His knowledge] when they spend the night in such as He does not accept of speech. And ever is Allāh, of what they do, encompassing.
وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ لَهَمَّت طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُضِلُّوكَ وَمَا يُضِلُّونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۖ وَمَا يَضُرُّونَكَ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ وَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُن تَعْلَمُ ۚ وَكَانَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيمًا
And if it was not for the favor of Allāh upon you, [O Muḥammad], and His mercy, a group of them would have determined to mislead you. But they do not mislead except themselves, and they will not harm you at all. And Allāh has revealed to you the Book and wisdom and has taught you that which you did not know. And ever has the favor of Allāh upon you been great.
وَلَهَدَيْنَـٰهُمْ صِرَٰطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا
And We would have guided them to a straight path.