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Women / Critique: Marrying 4 wives in Islam
« on: January 10, 2014, 08:37:33 AM »
This is critique of the follow article by Joseph Islam:
Marrying 4 wives in Islam
http://quransmessage.com/articles/four%20wives%20FM3.htm
A general point:
Dearest Mr. Joseph Islam has not liked me questioning his Arabic credentials, but here is the problem:
1. I have read many of his articles and they show a weakness of understanding the Arabic language. Now, there are not major glaring errors, but a shade here and nuance there can make all the difference.
2. When the author differs from an issue from Traditional Islam relating to the Quranic Arabic and the Arabic language in a wider context, then there is a lack of care. For Arabic language and linguistics he is dependent on Traditional Islam - whose scholars have safe-guarded the language and transmitted it to us. And if you are going to differ from countless brilliant scholars and their understanding - then you should have real good reason.
This issue relates to the verse 4:3
وإن خفتم ألا تقسطوا في اليتامى فانكحوا ما طاب لكم من النساء مثنى وثلاث ورباع فإن خفتم ألا تعدلوا فواحدة أو ما ملكت أيمانكم ذلك أدنى ألا تعولوا
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].
Although the verse relates to Orphans - but herein is clear permission to marry up to 4 women.
***
The author states:
Simple answer. Quran has restricted it to four.
***
Yet, the permission of marrying up to four women is general and not restricted.
***
The author alleges that there is no upper limit of marriage to 4 women but the indication is of multiplicity and he further cites the verse 35.1.
He further states:
The contention is that Quran has not used normal numbers but another form of word roughly translated as twos, threes and fours. But what does it mean to marry in "twos"? In this form it does not make much sense. And this the author took to mean multiplicity rather than set upper limit.
However this form of number also denote:
"two at a time"
or
"three at a time"
or
"four at a time"
and the limit is four. If the Quran had wished to imply multiplicity then there are words aplenty to choose from and much more clearer.
If one wishes to act upon EXACTLY what the Quran stated then one has to accept the limit Quran set is 4 at a time.
And why use this form of numbers?
This makes clear that one can have up to 4 wives in a single instance. For example:
If someone has four wives and one passes away then he can marry another wife. Although he has had 4 wives but in a single instance he is allowed to marry up to form.
And this, I think, is a better understanding of why the Quran used this form of numbers. However there is room for the interpretation the author has understood, and there is some support for it within Traditional Islam. However, on balance, for the reasons outlined, I do not think it is the best interpretation.
Marrying 4 wives in Islam
http://quransmessage.com/articles/four%20wives%20FM3.htm
A general point:
Dearest Mr. Joseph Islam has not liked me questioning his Arabic credentials, but here is the problem:
1. I have read many of his articles and they show a weakness of understanding the Arabic language. Now, there are not major glaring errors, but a shade here and nuance there can make all the difference.
2. When the author differs from an issue from Traditional Islam relating to the Quranic Arabic and the Arabic language in a wider context, then there is a lack of care. For Arabic language and linguistics he is dependent on Traditional Islam - whose scholars have safe-guarded the language and transmitted it to us. And if you are going to differ from countless brilliant scholars and their understanding - then you should have real good reason.
This issue relates to the verse 4:3
وإن خفتم ألا تقسطوا في اليتامى فانكحوا ما طاب لكم من النساء مثنى وثلاث ورباع فإن خفتم ألا تعدلوا فواحدة أو ما ملكت أيمانكم ذلك أدنى ألا تعولوا
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].
Although the verse relates to Orphans - but herein is clear permission to marry up to 4 women.
***
The author states:
Quote
It is interesting to note that the verse that is usually read to acknowledge polygny up to a maximum of four wives isn't really sanctioning a number nor is it encouraging multiple marriages. Legitimate enquiries do arise, why 'four', why not 'five' 'six' or 'three'? Why not leave it open to the individual to assess their means and ability to make a decision? Why the use of a seemingly arbitrary number of 4? These are quite pertinent questions.
Simple answer. Quran has restricted it to four.
***
Quote
It can clearly be read, that the main focus of the verse is to prohibit any form of injustice occurring by compromising the 'orphans'. Verse 4:127 seems to elaborate further by indicating that this was possibly due to men not giving the orphans prescribed portions due to desire of marriage.
The main 'draw' of verse 4:3 is not necessarily to stipulate a number of wives but rather, to keep men away from compromising the orphans.
Yet, the permission of marrying up to four women is general and not restricted.
***
Quote
We note the Arabic term "mathna wathulatha waruba'a" (Literally: (by/in) twos and threes and fours) which seems to simply denote a multiplicity. The exact same phrase is used in 35.1 when describing the wings of angels and its multiplicity.
The author alleges that there is no upper limit of marriage to 4 women but the indication is of multiplicity and he further cites the verse 35.1.
He further states:
Quote
Therefore, if the phrase "mathna wathulatha waruba'a" ((by/in) twos and threes and fours) is examined with the phrase read in 35.1, one concludes that verse 4:3 is not advancing a 'limiting allowance' to marry up to 4 wives. Rather, its purport seems to be focused in to drawing away from any potential injustice to the orphans by asking the believers to marry other believing women in whatever numbers.
The contention is that Quran has not used normal numbers but another form of word roughly translated as twos, threes and fours. But what does it mean to marry in "twos"? In this form it does not make much sense. And this the author took to mean multiplicity rather than set upper limit.
However this form of number also denote:
"two at a time"
or
"three at a time"
or
"four at a time"
and the limit is four. If the Quran had wished to imply multiplicity then there are words aplenty to choose from and much more clearer.
If one wishes to act upon EXACTLY what the Quran stated then one has to accept the limit Quran set is 4 at a time.
And why use this form of numbers?
This makes clear that one can have up to 4 wives in a single instance. For example:
If someone has four wives and one passes away then he can marry another wife. Although he has had 4 wives but in a single instance he is allowed to marry up to form.
And this, I think, is a better understanding of why the Quran used this form of numbers. However there is room for the interpretation the author has understood, and there is some support for it within Traditional Islam. However, on balance, for the reasons outlined, I do not think it is the best interpretation.