ٱلنِّسَاء : ٣

  • وَإِنۡ And if
  • خِفۡتُمۡ you fear
  • أَلَّا that not
  • تُقۡسِطُواْ you will be able to do justice
  • فِي with
  • ٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ the orphans
  • فَٱنكِحُواْ then marry
  • مَا what
  • طَابَ seems suitable
  • لَكُم to you
  • مِّنَ from
  • ٱلنِّسَآءِ the women
  • مَثۡنَىٰ two
  • وَثُلَٰثَ or three
  • وَرُبَٰعَۖ or four
  • فَإِنۡ But if
  • خِفۡتُمۡ you fear
  • أَلَّا that not
  • تَعۡدِلُواْ you can do justice
  • فَوَٰحِدَةً then (marry) one
  • أَوۡ or
  • مَا what
  • مَلَكَتۡ possesses
  • أَيۡمَٰنُكُمۡۚ your right hand
  • ذَٰلِكَ That
  • أَدۡنَىٰٓ (is) more appropriate
  • أَلَّا that (may) not
  • تَعُولُواْ you oppress
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 hands possess [i.e., slaves]. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice].
If you fear that you will not act justly, [that] you will [not] be equitable, towards the orphans, and are thus distressed in this matter, then also fear lest you be unjust towards women when you marry them; marry such (maa means man) women as seem good to you, two or three or four, that is, [each man may marry] two, or three, or four, but do not exceed this; but if you fear you will not be equitable, towards them in terms of [their] expenses and [individual] share; then, marry, only one, or, restrict yourself to, what your right hands own, of slavegirls, since these do not have the same rights as wives; thus, by that marrying of only four, or only one, or resorting to slavegirls, it is likelier, it is nearer [in outcome], that you will not be unjust, [that] you will [not] be inequitable.