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Unjust Treatment of Wives (Qur'an 4:129): Difference between revisions
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Unjust Treatment of Wives (Qur'an 4:129) (view source)
Revision as of 03:15, 30 November 2025
, Sunday at 03:15→Apologetic Claim
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==Apologetic Claim== | ==Apologetic Claim== | ||
This verse is paired up with [[Dealing Justly with Wives and Orphans (Qur'an 4:3)| Quran 4:3]] in order to show that the apparent endorsement to [[Polygamy in Islamic Law|polygamy]] is actually an injunction. The | This verse is paired up with [[Dealing Justly with Wives and Orphans (Qur'an 4:3)| Quran 4:3]] in order to show that the apparent endorsement to [[Polygamy in Islamic Law|polygamy]] is actually an injunction. The apologists often say that Qur'an 4:3 requires a man to deal justly with all of his wives if he wishes to marry more than one. To further make this point, Qur'an 4:129 is also referenced to show that the Qur'an informs Muslims that this is not possible. | ||
However this explanation hinges on the meaning and scope of the required "justice" within both verses and any possible remedies to any dealt injustices. As [[Dealing Justly with Wives and Orphans (Qur'an 4:3)| illustrated in another article]], Qur'an 4:3's usage of the word "justice" only refers to the giving of an equitable [[Mahr (Marital Price)|Mahr]] and material provisions to any subsequent wives and as such, is not evidence of | However this explanation hinges on the meaning and scope of the required "justice" within both verses and any possible remedies to any dealt injustices. As [[Dealing Justly with Wives and Orphans (Qur'an 4:3)| illustrated in another article]], Qur'an 4:3's usage of the word "justice" only refers to the giving of an equitable [[Mahr (Marital Price)|Mahr]] and material provisions to any subsequent wives and as such, is not evidence of general injunction against polygyny. | ||
The evidence for the meaning of Qur'an 4:129 can be ascertained by looking at the pertinent verses in the Qur'an, relevant ahadith and [[Tafsir]]s. As with many verses in the Quran, these verses were required in response to a situation occurring in [[Muhammad]]'s life at the time. | The evidence for the meaning of Qur'an 4:129 can be ascertained by looking at the pertinent verses in the Qur'an, relevant ahadith and [[Tafsir]]s. As with many verses in the Quran, these verses were required in response to a situation occurring in [[Muhammad]]'s life at the time. | ||
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===Muhammad and Qur'an 4:129=== | ===Muhammad and Qur'an 4:129=== | ||
Muhammad was not able to treat his own wives equally. In many hadiths it is reported that [[Khadijah]] was his favorite wife and [[Aisha]] was jealous of Muhammad's love for her: | Muhammad was not able to treat his own wives equally according to the Islamic sources. In many hadiths it is reported that [[Khadijah]] was his favorite wife and [[Aisha]] was jealous of Muhammad's love for her: | ||
{{quote|{{Muslim||2435b|reference}}| | {{quote|{{Muslim||2435b|reference}}| | ||
'A'isha reported: Never did I feel jealous of the wives of Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) but in case of Khadija, although I did not (have the privilege to) see her. She further added that whenever Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) slaughtered a sheep, he said: Send it to the companions of Khadija I annoyed him one day and said: (It is) Khadija only who always prevails upon your mind. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Her love had been nurtured in my heart by Allah Himself.}} | 'A'isha reported: Never did I feel jealous of the wives of Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) but in case of Khadija, although I did not (have the privilege to) see her. She further added that whenever Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) slaughtered a sheep, he said: Send it to the companions of Khadija I annoyed him one day and said: (It is) Khadija only who always prevails upon your mind. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Her love had been nurtured in my heart by Allah Himself.}} | ||
Given that Muhammad favored at | Given that Muhammad favored at least one wife over the others and at least one wife of his felt jealous of another wife, it seems that Muhammad was unable to follow the order's of Qur'an which asked men not to marry multiple wives if they were not able to treat them equally. This makes the apologists claims that 4:129 is an injunction against the polygyny allowed in 4:3, untenable. | ||
===Summary=== | ===Summary=== | ||
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Regarding the apologist's claims about polygamy, and this verse's relevance to Qur'an 4:3, this is soundly refuted by the evidence. Kathir, Jalalayn and 'Ibn Abbas all confirm that "justice" as mentioned in Qur'an 4:3 is in reference to material rights only; and has no bearing on feelings shown or felt toward each wife. All three scholars also make it clear that you cannot be just with each wife in terms of love, affection and other feelings, but this is not mentioned as a prohibition against taking more than one wife. On the contrary, the three scholars all indicate that if you are "just" with all of your wives in all that you are able, then Allah will forgive you the favoritism that you could not help feeling for some over others. Kathir goes further in stating in regards to this verse that you cannot do "perfect justice" to your wives. However Qur'an 4:3 does not demand perfect justice - just justice in those things that you have power over. | Regarding the apologist's claims about polygamy, and this verse's relevance to Qur'an 4:3, this is soundly refuted by the evidence. Kathir, Jalalayn and 'Ibn Abbas all confirm that "justice" as mentioned in Qur'an 4:3 is in reference to material rights only; and has no bearing on feelings shown or felt toward each wife. All three scholars also make it clear that you cannot be just with each wife in terms of love, affection and other feelings, but this is not mentioned as a prohibition against taking more than one wife. On the contrary, the three scholars all indicate that if you are "just" with all of your wives in all that you are able, then Allah will forgive you the favoritism that you could not help feeling for some over others. Kathir goes further in stating in regards to this verse that you cannot do "perfect justice" to your wives. However Qur'an 4:3 does not demand perfect justice - just justice in those things that you have power over. | ||
Jalalayan goes even further by suggesting situations where a man may be withholding the basic marital rights from his wife because of his dislike for her. This is a direct violation of Qur'an 4:3, which a Muslim man would have to abide by in order to justify his multiple wives. This means that a man can, at any time, ignore the mandate of material justice of Qur'an 4:3 and stop providing for his wife in any manner he sees fit. Her only recourse would be a divorce or forfeiture of her own rights in appeasement; which | Jalalayan goes even further by suggesting situations where a man may be withholding the basic marital rights from his wife because of his dislike for her. This is a direct violation of Qur'an 4:3, which a Muslim man would have to abide by in order to justify his multiple wives. This means that a man can, at any time, ignore the mandate of material justice of Qur'an 4:3 and stop providing for his wife in any manner he sees fit according to these two scholars. Her only recourse would be a divorce or forfeiture of her own rights in appeasement; which would mean that he wouldn't have to provide that which he was withholding in the first place. | ||
This | This means that Muslim men have an escape for the obligations they have towards their multiple wives and and leaves the wives themselves with little or no recourse to the whims of her husband. This interpretation makes Quran 4:3's requirement of material justice practically void (except for the Mahr). | ||
== | ==Summary== | ||
Qur'an 4:3 and Qur'an 4:129 | The interpretation of Qur'an 4:3 and Qur'an 4:129 was not traditionally understood as an injunction against polygamy because the definition of "justice" as used in both is demonstrably different and does not carry the same meaning. | ||
4:3 only mandates that material equality and equitable Mahr are required in order to fulfill its requirement of justice, whereas 4:129 deals with Muslim men who are tired of their wives and seek a concession of rights from them as an alternative to divorce as revealed after the Muhammad and Sauda situation. Qur'an 4:129 also gives Muslim men a workaround for the requirement of material equality as mandated in Qur'an 4:3 regarding the taking multiple wives. | 4:3 only mandates that material equality and equitable Mahr are required in order to fulfill its requirement of justice, whereas 4:129 deals with Muslim men who are tired of their wives and seek a concession of rights from them as an alternative to divorce as revealed after the Muhammad and Sauda situation. Qur'an 4:129 also gives Muslim men a workaround for the requirement of material equality as mandated in Qur'an 4:3 regarding the taking multiple wives. | ||
No pre-modern scholar thought that the Qur'an prohibits polygamy, and this is confirmed by a plain reading of the text. | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
* [[Polygamy in Islamic Law]] | * [[Polygamy in Islamic Law]] | ||
* [[Misrepresentations of Islamic Scripture (English)]] | * [[Misrepresentations of Islamic Scripture (English)]] | ||