The Women
4. An-Nisā’
النساء
Page #77
4:3
وَإِنْ
خِفْتُمْ
أَلَّا
تُقْسِطُوا
فِي
الْيَتَامَى
فَانكِحُوا
مَا
طَابَ
لَكُم
مِّنَ
النِّسَاءِ
مَثْنَى
وَثُلَاثَ
وَرُبَاعَ
فَإِنْ
خِفْتُمْ
أَلَّا
تَعْدِلُوا
فَوَاحِدَةً
أَوْ
مَا
مَلَكَتْ
أَيْمَانُكُمْ
ذَلِكَ
أَدْنَى
أَلَّا
تَعُولُوا
wa-ʾin khiftum ʾallā tuqsiṭū fī l-yatāmā fa-nkiḥū mā ṭāba lakum mina n-nisāʾi mathnā wa-thulātha wa-rubāʿa fa-ʾin khiftum ʾallā taʿdilū fa-wāḥidatan ʾaw mā malakat ʾaymānukum dhālika ʾadnā ʾallā taʿūlū
If you fear that you may not deal justly with the orphans, then marry [other] women that you like, two, three, or four. But if you fear that you may not treat them fairly, then [marry only] one, or [marry from among] your slave-women. That makes it likelier that you will not be unfair.
— Ali Quli Qarai
If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.
