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:
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.
***
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.
***
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:
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.
Salaam Aliykum Khalid,
This is somewhat long and I apologize, and I apologize if I am repeating myself, as I am crunched for time. There are topics I bring up. One about Polygamy and the other I just had to tell you what damage does secondary writings and beliefs do to a Muslim. You have every right to follow and believe what you want. But there are no re-does when ones time is up.
I do not think you have the authority to tell someone they have it wrong and you have it right because scholars said it. It clearly DOES NOT matter if Brother Joseph speaks, writes, reads or understands Arabic to TRULY understand the Quran and the Meaning of the message! Evidentially he does MashaAllah, whether he went to study this or not, because scholars who hold themselves knowledgeable of the Quran and its message have lead 90% of the Muslims Astray from what Allah had ordered for us. It is not about reading the Quran or spending years in an Islamic school studying it, It is about him using his Intelligence that Allah granted him on the words of the Holy Quran and understanding it. If these high end scholars really got any true meaning of the Quran, they would know that the only Revelations for Muslims was the Holy Quran, not manmade written books, i.e. Hadith and Sunna. Most importantly, they would have seen the clear evidence about what Allah says about idolization, which 90% of Muslims do when it comes to Prophet Muhammad. Allah had clearly granted him with no shield on his heart, no covering on his eyes and intelligence. I am born and raised Muslim, I do not even know 5% to what his knowledge is about the Quran MashaAllah!
I stick to the basics and know what is expected of me. But Brother Joesph has opened my eyes with this website, to how beautiful each word of Allah is, I actually have never been fascinated with the deen nor the Quran. I have seen other web pages that are Quran only, but started to see how things started not to make sense again with what the author was indicating. (Might I add, My dad was EXTREMELY religious, I just refused to accept anything they preached, I rejected Islam being any importance to me besides believing there is a God, and only One God and his name was Allah) When I now here the Quran recite, it is as Allah is directly talking to me.
It is CLEAR evident to ANYONE who reads any of Brother Joseph’s writings; he is Beyond blessed from Allah, MashaAllah, May Allah Protect him and give him wisdom beyond description to keep on teaching and spreading the word of Allah to the human race.
Things are starting to make sense in the Quran and ISLAM as a whole. I was born and raised in a Sunni family, but I thank Allah I never remembered any Hadith teachings from my parents, but several which I always rejected mainly about dogs and hijab and nothing made sense because while growing up, I viewed God as a monster, AstagfurAllah hu azeem, may Allah forgive me for being ignorant and not have tried to seek the truth earlier.
I had no religion besides maintaining in the Belief that there is a God and his name was Allah. But it was deeper, I refused to pray, do Ramadan, anything that Allah ordered us to do I did not care. As far as I was concerned, He hated females, men had all the rights, I kept on wondering why He created females if He was so unfair and prescribed injustice towards us, so why did he create me, I kept on wondering? I was the only person in my family who deeply felt like this, everyone else accepted it and never had a problem because it was taught it is from Allah and that is how He commanded it to be. I secretly wished I was born in a Christian family because I viewed them being so fair and equal towards females and males. Something kept on telling me, research the Quran for myself. Every time I moved away from it, I got pulled closer until I gave in.
What Brother Joseph put about 4:3, is what it is based on what Allah says. It also goes with the entire Qurans message. Allah throughout the Quran tells us how women are equal to men.
In the conditions of Polygamy, it is nowhere in any verse does Allah look into the interest of the man. It is the case of the mothers of orphaned kids as it all comes down to the orphan when Polygamy is concerned as permission, but it still falls back to the protection and justice for the female which was why he made it clear with conditions. If Allah has granted polygamy, no orphan will be mentioned anywhere around this subject. 4:3 is COMPLETELY about the Orphan (s) when it comes to the Polygamy matter, as throughout the Quran, Allah has verses that are protecting them and advocating for them. Verse 2:83, 2:177, 2:215, 4:2, 4:6, 4:8, 4:10, 4:36, 4:127, 59:7. Verse 4:3 happens to be in Surat Al-Nisa, which is the second longest verse in the Quran and throughout the Quran, Allah is protecting a woman’s rights, He is not going to start commanding injustice. Allah Almighty, subhanna ela hu, knows everything in our future before we are even born; He knows what a person would feel like. You do not ponder on him seeing what great injustice this would bring on a marriage if He was freely to allow multiple wives for a man? It all goes down to the Orphan, but still returns protecting the female if she accepts it. It is NOT about what you indicated "it leaves room for the author to and what you explained goes completely against the whole message about injustice and being equal which is preached over and over from Allah in the Quran.
It is obvious to one who carefully reflects on the verse, sees that the whole “permitting” is for the protection for the orphaned children. After the orphan in verse 4:4, Allah is watching out for the widowed woman. Again, this is not about the man. Verse 4:5 and 4:6, Allah is still on the subject of Orphans!! And the Qur'an continues to address the orphans care and protection. Subhanna Allah how kind and beautiful He is on how much He emphasizes on the protection of orphans and woman. It is also a VERY clear indication that if a man’s current wife is not in acceptance with a man marrying a widow with an orphans, you simply cannot because it leads to injustice for her.
Now as how Marriage is prescribed by Allah in the Quran besides the whole polygamy thing is in verse 24:32. One Man one wife constitutes a marriage.
Since traditionalists' motive is to establish that men can marry any women up to four for personal desirable satisfaction, they try to impose a very shallow and biased understanding of what constitutes just and equitable
"And if ye fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, (This is clear cut what Allah’s focus is on i.e. orphans) Marry women of your choice, (by/in) twos and threes and fours (Arabic: mathna wathulatha waruba'a) but if you fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), (this deal justly is about the current wife) then only one, or that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice."
Many such traditional so-called Muslims “Misguided” have done just that and bought depression upon their first wives, who sadly believes she has to except it because that is what Allah’s says in the Quran.
To impose a very shallow and biased understanding of what constitutes 'fair and equitable' in the verse. they claim that as long as a man can provide food, housing, clothing (i.e. material provisions) to equal amounts to all wives, he is being equitable and just. They say in that case he is meeting the requirement of the verse and can marry more than once up to four. Thus they have passed "fatwas" (verdicts) where they state that "permission" is not necessary from first wife for the husband to marry more wives (to any women). In other words, even against the first wife's happiness, the husband can marry again. Many such traditional so-called Muslims i.e. Misguided, have done just that and bought depression upon their first wives.
This is an understanding lacking wisdom and knowledge. Because to be 'just' and 'equitable' is not only about providing material provision, it is also about being just to someone emotionally. If we take two people and emotionally torture one, then that is unjust - to consider simply providing material provision to equal level to be part of equality is pure ignorance - it is also about what you are doing to someone on the inside. No woman on earth would ever be in agreement to have her husband marry a second, third or fourth wife unless she truly has a doctrine embedded in her head that this is from Allah. I am not talking about anyone from the scriptures because we do not know anything about wives and kids and marriages except what is in the Quran. Secondary sources are fiction.
Thus, if the first wife is against the idea of her husband marrying a second time (even to take care of orphaned children, to a widow), then her wish must be respected to comply with Allahs order.
Supposing the second wife-to-be is happy with the man's second marriage while his existing wife is angry and upset, then this is not being 'just' or 'equitable' between the two since one will be made happy and the other angry and upset.
Such shallow and thoughtless derivation of Quranic verses by these traditionalists portray a worrying element in their own marital relationships - since we see that in their interpretations, consideration of human beings' emotions, the wife's feelings or thoughts are completely overlooked and neglected, and an emotionless interpretation is spread that benefits only themselves. The reasoning for this is as stated, their preconceived motive of justifying marrying more women for personal or sexual gratification. Ideas of women's role as an obedient sexual tool for 'hyper-sexual' men is spread widely through extra-Quranic sources in the name of true religion, and is not based on the Quranic religion
I have refused marriage proposals for the ever from Muslim men, who were born and raised in a Muslim upbringing. Many Muslim girls are marrying Christian men, mainly in the United States and end up being out casted from their families because they have the laws and commands of the Hadith and do not read what the Quran says. I have been on a crusade testifying in courts against having Sharia Law for Muslims in the United States when they lobby the Judicial System to have that as a law for the Muslims. You would not believe how many RAPE cases I get on my desk from what happens to Muslim females from their husbands, and they have the nerve to stand in court and say it is Sharia Law or it is our rights from God. They go as far as saying it is part of their religion and under the first amendment for being able to practice their religion. It just makes Islam and Muslims stand out for more ridicule. I certainly make sure they are registered as being a sex offender.
.
Most so-called Muslims simply do not look at the Qur'an and just go along with what they hear or read in textbooks about the Qur'an. By studying the actual verses, we have noticed striking points, which have been deliberately hidden away from Muslims by the clergy. Many DECEPTIVE methods are used as I witnessed on many verses in their translated Quran books and Hadith.
True believing men and women abide fully by the sublime morals of the Qur'an. In cases where the actual Qur'an is followed thoroughly, without deviated teachings that go contrary to Quranic teachings, all believers on this path lead a peaceful and content lives.
This was not meant to come out as a personal attack on anyone, But sometimes Muslims need to hear the damage secondary fiction books do...
May Allah guide you to his light...
Salaam,
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or a man?