سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 3
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﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan-girls then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (the slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِنْ
wa-in
And if
خِفْتُمْ
khif'tum
you fear
أَلَّا
allā
that not
تُقْسِطُوا۟
tuq'siṭū
you will be able to do justice
فِى
fī
with
ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ
l-yatāmā
the orphans
فَٱنكِحُوا۟
fa-inkiḥū
then marry
مَا
mā
what
طَابَ
ṭāba
seems suitable
لَكُم
lakum
to you
مِّنَ
mina
from
ٱلنِّسَآءِ
l-nisāi
the women
مَثْنَىٰ
mathnā
two
وَثُلَـٰثَ
wathulātha
or three
وَرُبَـٰعَ ۖ
warubāʿa
or four
فَإِنْ
fa-in
But if
خِفْتُمْ
khif'tum
you fear
أَلَّا
allā
that not
تَعْدِلُوا۟
taʿdilū
you can do justice
فَوَٰحِدَةً
fawāḥidatan
then (marry) one
أَوْ
aw
or
مَا
mā
what
مَلَكَتْ
malakat
possesses
أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ ۚ
aymānukum
your right hand
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
أَدْنَىٰٓ
adnā
(is) more appropriate
أَلَّا
allā
that (may) not
تَعُولُوا۟
taʿūlū
you oppress
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
3. 1. Its explanation is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (RA) that when an orphan girl possessing wealth and beauty was under the guardianship of a guardian, he would marry her due to her wealth and beauty, but would not give her the full dower like other women. Allah Almighty forbade this injustice, that if you cannot do justice with the orphan girls of your household, then do not marry them; the way to marry other women is open for you (Sahih Bukhari). Instead of one, you may marry two, three, or even up to four women, provided that you can fulfill the requirements of justice among them; otherwise, marry only one, or suffice with a slave woman instead. From this verse, it is understood that a Muslim man (if he is in need) can have up to four women in his marriage at the same time, but not more than that, as is further clarified and restricted in Sahih ahadith. The marriages of more than four that the Noble Prophet ﷺ contracted are among his ﷺ special characteristics, upon which it is not permissible for any of his followers to act. (Ibn Kathir)
3. 2. That is, marrying only one woman may be sufficient. Because in the case of having more than one wife, it is very difficult to maintain justice, and the one towards whom the heart inclines more, more attention will be given to her in providing the necessities of life. Thus, he will fail to do justice among the wives and will be declared a criminal in the sight of Allah. The Qur'an has expressed this reality in another place in a very good manner: (You will never be able to do justice) between wives, even if you strive to do so. (Therefore, do not incline completely to one side so as to leave the other wives hanging in suspense.) From this, it is understood that marrying more than one and not doing justice with the wives is inappropriate and extremely dangerous.
3. 2. That is, marrying only one woman may be sufficient. Because in the case of having more than one wife, it is very difficult to maintain justice, and the one towards whom the heart inclines more, more attention will be given to her in providing the necessities of life. Thus, he will fail to do justice among the wives and will be declared a criminal in the sight of Allah. The Qur'an has expressed this reality in another place in a very good manner: (You will never be able to do justice) between wives, even if you strive to do so. (Therefore, do not incline completely to one side so as to leave the other wives hanging in suspense.) From this, it is understood that marrying more than one and not doing justice with the wives is inappropriate and extremely dangerous.
