Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salam Brother Burhan,

I have been reading this verse and trying to understand it carefully. However, I fail to understand the meaning of the word “ORPHANS” in the below word. Can you provide some detail on this? Thanks.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse3:

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.

Regards,

Farid Hussain

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Answer:

Orphans in marriage verse

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If one reads and studies the preceding verse of Surah Nisaa, then one would get a clearer understanding of the Guidance and Commands of Allah Subhanah in its proper context:

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verses 2-3:

2 To orphans restore their property (when they reach their age) nor substitute (your) worthless things for (their) good ones; and devour not their substance (by mixing it up) with your own. For this is indeed a great sin.

3 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.

In the days of ignorance before the advent of the Quran, it was deemed permissible in the society for a man to marry as many wives as he willed and pleased, and a man was neither bound by customs nor the law to be just amongst his wives. Another evil which was prevalent amongst the society was that if an orphan girl/s who had inherited wealth was under the guardianship of one amongst them, the guardian would marry the orphan who had none to defend her cause and case, and thus usurp her wealth and property.

Thus with the advent of the guidance of Islam, Allah Subhanah Commanded the believers to fear Allah Subhanah, protect and restore the property of the orphans, and if they as the guardians feared that they would not be able to do justice with the orphan girls and the property these girls owned if they were to marry them, then it would be purer and better for them to marry other women of their choice upto a maximum of four; and Islam absolutely demanded that one who wished to exercise the option to marry more than one wife to be absolutely just amongst their wives.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan