concept

Polygyny

تَعَدُّدُ الزَّوْجَات

Polygyny, known as *ta'addud az-zawjat* in Arabic, is the practice within Islam where a man may have multiple wives. This practice is understood not as a general recommendation, but as a carefully regulated permission, granted under specific circumstances and with stringent conditions. The foundational verse allowing for it states, [marry those that please you of other women, two or three or four]. However, this permission comes with a profound and weighty condition: a man must be absolutely just and equitable in his treatment of all his wives. The Quran makes this clear, immediately cautioning, [But if you fear that you will not be just, then marry only one]. This emphasizes that justice, fairness, and the ability to provide for each wife equally in material and emotional aspects are paramount. Should a man be unable to uphold this rigorous standard of justice, he is enjoined to marry only one woman. This framework underscores Islam's profound emphasis on fairness, protecting the dignity and rights of all wives and vulnerable members of society.

Quran 3 verses

وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تُقْسِطُوا۟ فِى ٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ فَٱنكِحُوا۟ مَا طَابَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَٰثَ وَرُبَٰعَ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ فَوَٰحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُكُمْ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعُولُوا۟

Wa in khiftum allaa tuqsitoo fil yataamaa fankihoo maa taaba lakum minan nisaaa'i masnaa wa sulaasa wa rubaa'a fa'in khiftum allaa ta'diloo fawaahidatan aw maa malakat aimaanukum; zaalika adnaaa allaa ta'ooloo

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 hand possesses. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice].

اور اگر تم کو اس بات کا خوف ہو کہ یتیم لڑکیوں کے بارےانصاف نہ کرسکوگے تو ان کے سوا جو عورتیں تم کو پسند ہوں دو دو یا تین تین یا چار چار ان سے نکاح کرلو۔ اور اگر اس بات کا اندیشہ ہو کہ (سب عورتوں سے) یکساں سلوک نہ کرسکو گے تو ایک عورت (کافی ہے) یا لونڈی جس کے تم مالک ہو۔ اس سے تم بےانصافی سے بچ جاؤ گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Sequence In the previous verse, guardians were warned against pilferage or misappropriation in the property of orphans. The present verse is an extension of the basic command from another angle. Here they are warned against any attempt to marry orphaned girls under their guardianship hoping to get a...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: If you fear that you will not act justly that you will not be equitable towards the orphans and are thus distressed in this matter then also fear lest you be unjust towards women when you marry them; marry such mā means man women as seem good to you two or three or four that is each man may marry tw...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Protecting the Property of the Orphans Allah commands that the property of the orphans be surrendered to them in full when they reach the age of adolescence, and He forbids using or confiscating any part of it. So He said; وَلاَ تَتَبَدَّلُواْ الْخَبِيثَ بِالطَّيِّبِ (and do not exchange (your) bad ...

تُرْجِى مَن تَشَآءُ مِنْهُنَّ وَتُـْٔوِىٓ إِلَيْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَيْتَ مِمَّنْ عَزَلْتَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكَ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن تَقَرَّ أَعْيُنُهُنَّ وَلَا يَحْزَنَّ وَيَرْضَيْنَ بِمَآ ءَاتَيْتَهُنَّ كُلُّهُنَّ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَلِيمًا

Turjee man tashaaa'u minhunna wa tu'weee ilaika man tashaaa'u wa manibta ghaita mimman 'azalta falaa junaaha 'alaik; zaalika adnaaa an taqarra a'yunuhunna wa laa yahzanna wa yardaina bimaa aataitahunna kulluhunn; wal laahu ya'lamu maa fee quloo bikum; wa kaanal laahu 'Aleeman haleemaa

You, [O Muhammad], may put aside whom you will of them or take to yourself whom you will. And any that you desire of those [wives] from whom you had [temporarily] separated - there is no blame upon you [in returning her]. That is more suitable that they should be content and not grieve and that they should be satisfied with what you have given them - all of them. And Allah knows what is in your hearts. And ever is Allah Knowing and Forbearing.

(اور تم کو یہ بھی اختیار ہے کہ) جس بیوی کو چاہو علیحدہ رکھو اور جسے چاہو اپنے پاس رکھو۔ اور جس کو تم نے علیحدہ کردیا ہو اگر اس کو پھر اپنے پاس طلب کرلو تو تم پر کچھ گناہ نہیں۔ یہ (اجازت) اس لئے ہے کہ ان کی آنکھیں ٹھنڈی رہیں اور وہ غمناک نہ ہوں اور جو کچھ تم ان کو دو۔ اسے لے کر سب خوش رہیں۔ اور جو کچھ تمہارے دلوں میں ہے خدا اسے جانتا ہے۔ اور خدا جاننے والا اور بردبار ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Sixth Injunctions تُرْ‌جِي مَن تَشَاءُ مِنْهُنَّ وَتُؤْوِي إِلَيْكَ مَن تَشَاءُ ("You may postpone (the turn) of any one you wish from among them, and may accommodate with you any one you wish." - 51) This rule is specific to the Holy Prophet ﷺ . The normal rule is that a Muslim husband having more ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: You may put off read turji’ or turjī you may postpone consorting with whomever of them you wish namely of your wives from their turn for intimacy and consort embrace in conjugality whomever you wish of them and come unto her and as for whomever you may desire of those whom you have set aside from th...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Prophet has the Choice of either accepting or rejecting Women who offer Themselves to Him Imam Ahmad recorded that `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, used to feel jealous of the women who offered themselves to the Prophet . She said, "Would a woman not feel shy to offer herself without any...

لَّا يَحِلُّ لَكَ ٱلنِّسَآءُ مِنۢ بَعْدُ وَلَآ أَن تَبَدَّلَ بِهِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَٰجٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ حُسْنُهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ رَّقِيبًا

Laa yahillu lakan nisaaa'u mim ba'du wa laaa an tabaddala bihinna min azwaajinw wa law ajabaka husnuhunna illaa maa malakat yameenukk; wa kaanal laahu 'alaa kulli shai'ir Raqeeba

Not lawful to you, [O Muhammad], are [any additional] women after [this], nor [is it] for you to exchange them for [other] wives, even if their beauty were to please you, except what your right hand possesses. And ever is Allah, over all things, an Observer.

(اے پیغمبر) ان کے سوا اور عورتیں تم کو جائز نہیں اور نہ یہ کہ ان بیویوں کو چھوڑ کر اور بیویاں کرو خواہ ان کا حسن تم کو (کیسا ہی) اچھا لگے مگر وہ جو تمہارے ہاتھ کا مال ہے (یعنی لونڈیوں کے بارے میں تم کو اختیار ہے) اور خدا ہر چیز پر نگاہ رکھتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The pious life of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and the issue of polygamy The enemies of Islam have always targeted the issue of polygamy, specially the number of the wives of the Holy Prophet ﷺ for their criticism. But if the whole life of the Holy Prophet ﷺ is kept in view, even the Satan cannot find scope t...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Women are not lawful for you read lā tahillu or lā yahillu beyond that beyond the nine that have chosen you as their husband nor is it lawful for you to change tabaddala one of the two original tā’ letters of tatabaddala has been omitted them for other wives by divorcing them or some of them and mar...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Reward of His Wives for choosing to stay with the Messenger More than one of the scholars, such as Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, Ibn Zayd, Ibn Jarir and others stated that this Ayah was revealed as a reward to the wives of the Prophet expressing Allah's pleasure with them for their ex...

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