Dealing Justly with Wives and Orphans (Qur'an 4:3): Difference between revisions

This article will examine a common [[Misinterpreted Verses|misinterpretation]] of [[Qur'an]] 4:3, and evidence provided in the [[sahih]] [[hadith|ahadith]] as to the true meaning of this verse.  

{{ quote || ''' And you have it not in your power to do justice between wives, even though you may wish (it)..." ''' }}

After a war where a lot of men are killed, there are usually much higher numbers of women alive than men. In this case,  men are permitted to take more than one wife, in order to reproduce at a faster rate than normal in order to repopulate the region. Women are more prevalent in some areas of the world, and men are also allowed to marry multiple wives when this is the situation, in order to ensure that every woman has a male partner and doesn't have to fend for herself. Some women also prefer to be a second, third or fourth wife; thus polygamy is also allowed in order to accommodate the desires of these women.

The reasoning continues that a man can '' never '' treat his wives equally, thus 4:3 means: Don't treat orphans unfairly, by marrying their mothers in order to gain access to the wealth that the orphans will inherit when they come of age. Then 4:3 changes the topic, mid ayat and tells men that they can marry up to four free (believing) women, but if they cannot treat them fairly, then they can marry only one. Then 4:3 goes back to who they are allowed to marry, and says they may also marry captives (from their right hands), but that the injunction from the previous part of the verse still applies.

== Evidence as to the real meaning of 4:3 ==

Most apologists, because of this,  will avoid answering any questions as to the meaning of the whole verse(s) in order to stick to their own interpretation.

==== Evidence From sahih ahadith as to the meaning of 4:3 ====

{{ quote |{{Bukhari|7|62|2}}|that he asked 'Aisha about the Statement of Allah: '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 captives) that your right hands possess. That will be nearer to prevent you from doing injustice.' (4.3) 'Aisha said, "O my nephew! (This Verse has been revealed in connection with) an orphan girl under the guardianship of her guardian who is attracted by her wealth and beauty and intends to marry her with a Mahr less than what other women of her standard deserve. So they (such guardians) have been forbidden to marry them unless they do justice to them and give them their full Mahr, and they are ordered to marry other women instead of them."  }}

==== Evidence from tafsir's regarding 4:3 ====

== Conclusion ==

{{quote | {{Quran|4|25}} |

{{ quote || ''' "If you are going to pay Orphans Less of a Mahr, or are just marrying them to get their property/wealth (or preventing them from marrying), then marry other women, 2 or 3 or 4, but if you cannot afford them (mahr, or support) then marry only one or a captive that your right hand possesses (as the Mahr is half that of a free woman or even nothing). This is better for you, than being financially unjust with your women." ''' }}

== Alternative Views ==

{{quote ||If you fear from acting unjustly in the eye of Allah by using your own child as a sex toy (without knowing it), marry other women as many as you need (because they are definitely not your close relatives), but if you can not marry other women due to economical or other reasons, then content yourself with the maids you already have}}

{{Core Women}}

== See Also ==

==References==