وَلَن تَسْتَطِيعُوٓا۟ أَن تَعْدِلُوا۟ بَيْنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتُمْ ۖ فَلَا تَمِيلُوا۟ كُلَّ ٱلْمَيْلِ فَتَذَرُوهَا كَٱلْمُعَلَّقَةِ ۚ وَإِن تُصْلِحُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا 129
Translations
And you will never be able to be equal [in feeling] between wives, even if you should strive [to do so]. So do not incline completely [toward one] and leave another hanging. And if you amend [your affairs] and fear Allāh - then indeed, Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Wa lan tastatee'oo an ta'diloo bayna an-nisaa wa law haraastum, fala tamiloo kulla al-mayil fatadharo ha ka al-mu'allaqah. Wa in tuslihoo wa tattaqoo fa inna Allah kana ghafoorun raheem.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the reality of human nature in plural marriage, acknowledging that perfect equality in emotional affection between multiple wives is impossible despite sincere effort. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as permitting polygamy while enjoining justice in material provision and treatment, forbidding excessive favoritism that would leave a wife in a state of limbo ('like a hanging thing')—neither properly married nor divorced. The ayah concludes with divine mercy, assuring that those who strive for justice and piety will find Allah forgiving and compassionate.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa's comprehensive regulations on women's rights and family law, revealed in Madinah during the period of legal and social consolidation. It contextualizes the permission of polygamy (mentioned in 4:3) by establishing ethical boundaries, addressing concerns about fair treatment that arose as the Muslim community faced the realities of implementing this practice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever has two wives and does not treat them equally will come on the Day of Judgment with one of his sides drooping' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895, graded as hasan). Additionally, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet maintained strict equality among his wives in material provisions and time.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while Islamic law permits certain practices, it does so within strict ethical frameworks that prioritize justice and human dignity—reminding believers that sincere effort toward fairness, combined with taqwa (God-consciousness), invokes Allah's forgiveness for inevitable human shortcomings.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَرِثُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ كَرْهًا ۖ وَلَا تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ لِتَذْهَبُوا۟ بِبَعْضِ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَـٰحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ ۚ وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِن كَرِهْتُمُوهُنَّ فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَيَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا
O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear immorality [i.e., adultery]. And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allāh makes therein much good.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَنكَفُوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَيُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty. But as for those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will not find for themselves besides Allāh any protector or helper.
مَّآ أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَآ أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ ۚ وَأَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولًا ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًا
What comes to you of good is from Allāh, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself. And We have sent you, [O Muḥammad], to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is Allāh as Witness.
أَمْ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُلْكِ فَإِذًا لَّا يُؤْتُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ نَقِيرًا
Or have they a share of dominion? Then [if that were so], they would not give the people [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.