If Ye Do Good (with Wives) and Keep from Evil, lo! God is Ever-Forgiving, Merciful

Lesson # 563 From Holy Qur’aan

If Ye Do Good (with Wives) and Keep from Evil, lo! God is Ever-Forgiving, Merciful

Surah Nisaaa’ (Women) – Chapter – 4

Verses –129 & 130 of 176, Section – 19/24 (Part – 5)

129.  And Ye will not be able to deal equally between (your) wives, however much ye wish (to do so); but turn not altogether away (from one), leaving her as in suspense. And if ye do good and keep from evil, lo! Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Merciful. 130.  And if they separate, Allah will compensate each out of His abundance. And Allah is ever All-Embracing, All-Knowing.

129.  Wa  lan-  tastatii-‘uuu  ‘an-ta-diluu  baynan-nisaaa-‘i  wa  law  harastum  falaa  tamiiluu  kullal-mayli  fataza-ruuhaa  kal-mu-‘allaqah.  Wa  ‘in  tuslihuu  wa  tattaquu  fa-‘innAllaaha  kaana  Gafuurar-Rahiimaa. 130.  Wa  ‘iny-yata-farraqaa  yug-NIllaahu  kullam-min- sa-‘atih.  Wa  kaanAllaahu  Waasi-‘an  Hakiimaa.

                                                        

     

Lesson

Tastatii-‘uuu – (You will be able to do), it is made from ‘ista-taa-‘at, which means ‘to have power, to be able to do’.

Tamiiluu – {(you would have to) Lean}, it is from mel, which means ‘to lean, to connect, to agree, to incline to, to draw attention. The word Mailaan is also from it, which means inclination.   

Mu-‘allaqatin – (in suspense), its base is ta’-liiq, which means ‘to keep waiting, to postpone, to hang, to suspend’. As per idiomatic meaning, it aims ‘neither the husband inhabits the wife at home after marriage, nor sets her free by divorcing’. Islam has determined this state of circumstances as extremely vile act.

Tattaquu – (keep from evil), its origin is ‘ittaqaa’, which has been derived from taqwaa. Taqwaa is “to keep away from the evil, the sobriety and abstinence”. ‘Ittaqaa’ means “to adopt sobriety, to fear from Allaah Almighty”.

Before Islam, the Arabians used to marry as much women as they wished. There was no limit for number of marriages. After that they used to ignore them carelessly. Some of them were regarded, but maximum were not contemplated. Islam did not like this deed and approved such device, due to which, this prevalence might be finished in the process of time.

First of all, Islam began to correct the marriages from the point that women were raised from their dropped dignity and disciplined the men that they (women) are not mere mindless and lifeless idols for completion of your desires (lust), that you use them as you wish. They are owners of their wealth and property. They have right in the heritage. You would have to accept them as your equal member, partner, helper and supporter in maximum affairs. Then, it has been commanded that you can marry more than one woman with their consent. But you would have to keep all of them comfortably. And remember! It is not in your control to do justice between them. You will see that you are unable to deal your wives equally, although you wished and tried your best. It will never be lawful for you that you incline more towards one side and the other wife or wives are kept waiting (in suspense). If you feel that you are not able to retain, then divorce them. Allaah Almighty is Lord of entire creations. Nothing is deficient near to Him. He will bestow the persons, who are of good intention, too much Mercifully, that they will become independent from each other.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English byMarmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’an published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English  by Muhammad Sharif).