And if you fear that you will not do justice by the fatherless, then marry what pleases you of women: two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not do justice, then one — or what your right hands possess; that is more likely that you will not deviate.
| # | word | meaning | root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | wa-in | And if | |
| 2 | khif'tum | you fear | خوف |
| 3 | allā | that not | |
| 4 | tuq'siṭū | you will be able to do justice | قسط |
| 5 | fī | with | |
| 6 | l-yatāmā | the orphans | يتم |
| 7 | fa-inkiḥū | then marry | نكح |
| 8 | mā | what | |
| 9 | ṭāba | seems suitable | طيب |
| 10 | lakum | to you | |
| 11 | mina | from | |
| 12 | l-nisāi | the women | نسو |
| 13 | mathnā | two | ثني |
| 14 | wathulātha | or three | ثلث |
| 15 | warubāʿa | or four | ربع |
| 16 | fa-in | But if | |
| 17 | khif'tum | you fear | خوف |
| 18 | allā | that not | |
| 19 | taʿdilū | you can do justice | عدل |
| 20 | fawāḥidatan | then (marry) one | وحد |
| 21 | aw | or | |
| 22 | mā | what | |
| 23 | malakat | possesses | ملك |
| 24 | aymānukum | your right hand | يمن |
| 25 | dhālika | That | |
| 26 | adnā | (is) more appropriate | دنو |
| 27 | allā | that (may) not | |
| 28 | taʿūlū | you oppress | عول |
If you are afraid of not behaving justly towards orphans, then marry other permissible women, two, three or four. But if you are afraid of not treating them equally, then only one, or those you own as slaves. That makes it more likely that you will not be unfair.
And if you fear that you cannot be just to the orphans, then marry those whom you see fit from their mothers, two, and three, and four. But if you fear you will not be fair, then only one, or whom you are already betrothed to. This is best that you do not face financial hardship.
If you fear that the society shall not be able to do justice with orphans, (as may happen in times of war and political turbulence, the government shall announce a state of Emergency). In order to accommodate widows and orphans, men of sound finances and character shall be encouraged to marry these widows; two, three, and four (4:127). If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly, then you must not take additional wives, and may continue with what you already have (4:129). This will prevent injustice and financial hardship. (Second marriage during peace time is a FRANK violation of the Qur'an).
And if you fear that you will not do justice by the fatherless, then marry what pleases you of women: two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not do justice, then one — or what your right hands possess; that is more likely that you will not deviate.
And if you fear that you cannot be just to the orphans, then you may marry those who are agreeable to you of the women: two, and three, and four. But if you fear you will not be fair, then only one, or whom you maintain by your oaths. This is best that you do not face financial hardship.
If you fear that you cannot be just to fatherless orphans, then marry those whom you see fit from the women, two, and three, and four. But if you fear you will not be fair then only one, or whom you already have contract with. So that you do not commit injustice and suffer hardship.
If you deem it best for the orphans, you may marry their mothers - you may marry two, three, or four. If you fear lest you become unfair, then you shall be content with only one, or with what you already have. Additionally, you are thus more likely to avoid financial hardship.
If you fear you cannot be equitable to orphan girls (in your charge, or misuse their persons), then marry women who are lawful for you, two, three, or four; but if you fear you cannot treat so many with equity, marry only one, or a maid or captive. This is better than being iniquitous.
And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry those that please you of women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then one or those your right hand possesses. That is more suitable that you may not incline .
And if you have reason to fear that you might not act equitably towards orphans, then marry from among women such as are lawful to you - two, or three, or four: but if you have reason to fear that you might not be able to treat them with equal fairness, then one - or those whom you rightfully possess. This will make it more likely that you will not deviate from the right course.
And if ye fear that ye will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four; and if ye fear that ye cannot do justice (to so many) then one (only) or (the captives) that your right hands possess. Thus it is more likely that ye will not do injustice.
If you fear that you might not treat the orphans justly, then marry the women that seem good to you: two, or three, or four.* If you fear that you will not be able to treat them justly, then marry (only) one,* or marry from among those whom your right hands possess.* This will make it more likely that you will avoid injustice.
(a) Should you have an uneasy sense of the probability of an unjust action against the orphans' interest consequent on volition stronger than your own viz. marriage for selfish motive principles, age incompatibility, inappropriate dower, marriage against their wish then make for them other arrangements.
An if your common properties are mixed up in such a way that it is difficult to distinguish what belongs to who, then you may marry them (or their mothers) up to four woman at a time, if such an arrangement reduces your financial burden.
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.
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.
If you fear you might fail to give orphan women their ˹due˺ rights ˹if you were to marry them˺, then marry other women of your choice—two, three, or four. But if you are afraid you will fail to maintain justice, then ˹content yourselves with˺ one or those ˹bondwomen˺ in your possession. This way you are less likely to commit injustice.
If you fear that you will not do justice to the orphans, then, marry the women you like, in twos, in threes and in fours. But, if you fear that you will not maintain equity, then (keep to) one woman, or bondwomen you own. It will be closer to abstaining from injustice.
If you fear that you will not deal fairly with orphan girls, you may marry whichever women seem good to you, two, three, or four. If you fear that you cannot be equitable , then marry only one, or your slave(s): that is more likely to make you avoid bias.
If you fear that you will not act justly towards the orphans, marry such women as seem good to you, two, three, four; but if you fear you will not be equitable, then only one, or what your right hands own; so it is likelier you will not be partial.
But if ye fear that ye cannot do justice between orphans, then marry what seems good to you of women, by twos, or threes, or fours; and if ye fear that ye cannot be equitable, then only one, or what your right hands possess. That keeps you nearer to not being partial.
But if you fear that you cannot do justice by orphans, then marry women who seem good to you, two, three, or four; and if you fear that you cannot be equitable to them, then only one, or what your right hands possess (captives, slaves). This is more likely to keep you from injustice.
And, in case you fear that you will not act equitably towards the orphans, then marry such women as is good to you, two, three, four, (Literally: in twos and threes and fours) then, in case you fear that you will not do justice, then one (only), or what your right hands possess. That (way) is likelier you will not be in want (Or: you will have too many dependents).
And if ye fear that ye shall not act with equity towards orphans of the female sex, take in marriage of such other women as please you, two, or three, or four, and not more. But if ye fear that ye cannot act equitably towards so many, marry one only, or the slaves which ye shall have acquired. This will be easier, that ye swerve not from righteousness.
If you fear that you shall not be able to act justly with the orphan (girls), then marry (other) women of your choice, two, or three, or four; But if you fear that you will not be able to deal justly (with them), then marry one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess. That will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.
And if (you wish to marry them and) you fear that you will not be able to do justice to the orphan girls then (marry them not, rather) marry of women (other than these) as may be agreeable to you, (you may marry) two or three or four (provided you do justice to them), but if you fear that you will not be able to deal (with all of them) equitably then (confine yourselves only to) one, or (you may marry) that whom your right hands possess (- your female captives of war). That is the best way to avoid doing injustice.
If you fear that you may not deal justly with the orphans, then marry women that you like, two, three, or four. But if you fear that you may not treat them fairly, then one, or your slave-women. That makes it likelier that you will not be unfair.