A SWOT ANALYSIS OF

THE QURAN 4:3

Applied to 21st century Lebanon
 If you fear that you might The verse could also
not treat the orphans justly, convey that if a person
Aishah's view: men would cannot treat orphans
marry orphan girls under their then marry the women that justly, they should
guardianship, but often
mistreated them. Thus, the Quran
seem good to you: two, or consider marrying the
advises Muslims that if they fear three, or four. women who are caring
they cannot do justice to orphan for them.
girls, they should marry other
women they like.
Sa'id b. Jubayr, Qatadah, and others:
Arabs disapproved of wronging
Ibn Abbas and Ikrimah: There orphans but lacked a sense of justice
was no limit on the number of and equity toward women. They would
wives a man could have, leading marry as many as they desired but
to neglect of orphan nephews or subjected them to injustice. The verse
other relatives due to financial implies that if they fear wronging
strain. To address this, God orphans, they should be equally
limited the number of wives to concerned about mistreating women.
four, allowing it only if the man They are advised to marry no more
can treat them equitably. than four and only as many as they can
treat fairly.
 If you fear that you will not If they consider it necessary
be able to treat them justly, to have more than one wife
Muslim jurists agree that this
verse establishes the maximum then marry (only) one, or and it would be difficult for
them to treat their free wives
number of wives as four. This is
supported by traditions where
marry from among those equitably they may resort to
individuals were instructed by the whom your right hands slave-girls, for here the
burden of obligations is
Prophet Muhammad to limit their
number of wives to four, even if
possess. lighter by comparison.
they had more initially.

Some individuals influenced by

The verse permits polygamy
with the condition of equitable
treatment. A person who takes
advantage of this permission
without treating their wives
fairly is not acting in good faith
with God.
Western perspectives argue that the
Quran aimed to abolish polygamy, but
due to prevalent practices, it placed
restrictions instead. However, labeling
polygamy as inherently evil is
unacceptable, as it can be a moral and
social necessity. The Quran allows
those who feel the need for polygamy
to engage in it, and there is no
indication in the Quran suggesting its
abolition.

Al Qushairi Tafsir
A servant should assess their ability
to fulfill the obligations of justice
Tafsir
before choosing polygamy. If they
are confident they can fulfill these
obligations, it is a permitted choice.
However, if they know they will
fall short, they should refrain from
it.
Asbab Al-Nuzul by Al-Wahidi
If a person fears they cannot do
justice to multiple wives in terms
of providing sustenance and
apportionment, they should marry
only one free woman. The verse
also allows marrying slave
women or captives, without the
obligation of apportionment.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
This verse advises individuals who fear
they cannot treat orphan girls justly to
also be cautious about being unjust
towards women when marrying them. It
permits men to marry up to four women,
as long as they can maintain equity. But,
if they can't be equitable, they should
marry only one or consider slavegirls.
Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs
The verse was revealed in response to a
specific situation where custodians were
mistreating female orphans under their care
who possessed wealth. They refused to give
these orphans in marriage due to their
greed, causing harm and mistreatment.
Allah, in response, emphasizes the need for
fair treatment and justice towards orphans.
 STRENGTHS
Significant Muslim Population
• Islamic principles hold great importance in Lebanese society.
• Strong religious foundation and reverence for Quranic teachings.
 STRENGTHS
Well-Established Islamic Institutions:
• Religious authorities, educational centers, and scholarly
organizations.
• Play a crucial role in interpreting the verse aligning with
contemporary cultural & religious values.
 STRENGTHS
Existing Legal Framework:
• Lebanon's legal system addresses family-related matters, including
marriage and inheritance.
• Provides a framework to harmonize the application of verse 4:3
with legal provisions.
weaknesses
- Economic Crisis
- Presence of NGOs
- Misinterpretation
 opportunities
- Creates Social Causes
- Evolving Social Discourse
- Educational Initiatives
 threats
Social Issues and Misunderstandings
⚬ Polygamy was a means to address marrying multiple women.
⚬ Social issues and misunderstandings arise from
misinterpretation of the Quran.
⚬ Some individuals mistakenly believe marrying multiple
women is a moral obligation.
 threats
Societal Tensions and Conflicts
⚬ Polygamous relationships induce feelings of jealousy.
⚬ Unconscious favoritism and unequal provisions among spouses and
children.
⚬ Accumulated tension contributes to unhealthy relationships and misery.
 threats
Economic Burdens
⚬ Economic crisis in Lebanon makes providing for multiple families
challenging.
⚬ Rising expenses and low salaries create financial burdens.
⚬ Meeting basic needs becomes difficult, leading to unfairness among
families.
 threats
Gender Inequalities and Disparities
⚬ Polygamy increases gender inequalities and disparities in authority.
⚬ Women face difficulties in claiming rights and ensuring fairness.
Con c l u s i o n

• Addressing weaknesses and challenges is crucial for

comprehensive implementation.
• Encouraging open dialogue and education on Quranic
teachings.
• Overcoming social stigma and promoting acceptance
and understanding.
THANK YOU
Islamic Studies. (n.d.). Surah An-Nisa (Chapter 4), Verse 3. Retrieved from
http://islamicstudies.info/reference.php?sura=4&verse=3

Altafsir. (n.d.). Altafsir.com: Tafsir Ibn Kathir. Retrieved from

https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=4&tAyahNo=3&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0
&LanguageId=2