Polygamy Article : Freeminds.org / Important Query
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Salam/Peace to all
I came across the polygamy article on the free-minds website link http//free-minds.org/women/polygamy1.htm
Firstly what i noticed was that the translation used for the is such
"You shall hand over to the ORPHANS* their rightful properties. Do not substitute the bad for the good, and do not consume their properties by combining them with yours. This would be a gross injustice. If you fear that you will not be equitable towards the ORPHANS*, then you may marry their mothers. You may marry two, three, or four. If you fear lest you become unfair, then you shall be content with only one, or with what you already have. Additionally, you are thus more likely to avoid financial hardship." (4/2-3)
As i have hilighted in red the translation seems to be suggesting that polygamy was allowed for marriage with the mothers of the orphans. I have checked this with other translations (3 infact) and there is not mention of mother there. I also asked someone and they pointed out form the arabic texts that if it were mother of orphans then the ver would go by umm yatama (umm meaning mothers) but there is no such word in the ayat.
Is it a mistake in the translation? Or is it a lack of observation on my side. I would be grateful if you could clear this matter up for me. THanks
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Salam,
Good question/observation.
alnnisa is present in the verse which means 'women'.
Wain khiftum alla tuqsitoo fee alyatama fainkihoo ma taba lakum mina alnnisai mathna wathulatha warubaAAa fain khiftum alla taAAdiloo fawahidatan aw ma malakat aymanukum thalika adna alla taAAooloo
(43
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Thanks for the reply. Its greatly appreciated
From looking at yusuf ali's translation of the same 2 verses
To orphans restore their property (When they reach their age), nor substitute (your) worthless things for (their) good ones; and devour not their substance (by mixing it up) with your won. For this is indeed a great sin. If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.
Yusuf uses women, which you yourself translates for alnnisai. But how that does that become "mothers of the orphans" as mentioned in the article. Sorry for sounding a bit basic but Arabic is not my first language and i am purely here the truth and not a heated debate.
Thanks
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You are right, the article is incomplete, and nay need to be rewritten.
See http//www.dawn.com/2004/08/06/op.htm
The replacement of "women" by "the mothers of the orphans" in is deducted from , where yatama al nisa designates the mother of the orphans.
Peace
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Salaam elji
According to my understanding, your question is "why is it mothers of orphans? It should be women". Am I correct?
If yes, read on...
The choice of "mothers of orphans" over "women" is because the verse states " if...then". Therefore is a relation between "orphans" in the conditional clause starting with "if" and "women" in the conditional response in the clause starting with "then".
If you fear that you will not be equitable towards the ORPHANS*, then you may marry The WOMEN/ THEIR MOTHERS
Choosing "women" would have no meaning, as there is no relation between being equitable to orphans and marrying women.
The only meaningful relation would be "their mothers". As /JM/ explained, this is deducted from 4127 -
Peace Layth, all,
This is how 43 is currently translated in the PM translation
43 And if you fear that you cannot be just to the orphans, then you may marry those who are agreeable to you OF the women two, and three, and four. But if you fear you will not be fair, then only one, or to whom you are committed to by oath. This is best that you do not face financial hardship.
The Arabic word in the sign is MIN meaning FROM. Also, it is MATHNA WA THULATHA WA RUBA3A meaning twos, and threes, and fours, and not two, and three, and four. The correct translation should be as follows
43 And if you fear that you cannot be just to the orphans, then you may marry those who are agreeable to you FROM (MIN) the women TWOS, AND THREES, AND FOURS. But if you fear you will not be fair, then only one, or to whom you are committed to by oath. This is best that you do not face financial hardship.
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I think verse 4127 makes it even more clear.
Let's read carefully
{ And they seek a ruling regarding the women, say "God will give you a ruling regarding them (the women) and what is being recited to you in the Scripture regarding the orphans whose mothers you wish to marry, but have not given them what was decreed for them; as well as the weak from the children That you stand for the orphans in equality." Whatever good you do, then God is aware of it. }.....
This is further proof that God allowed polygamy in the Scripture on the condition that it involves the mothers of orphans. The whole point of polygamy is to care for the orphans.
However, the corruptors (Mullahs and Sheikhs) who are chauvanists and misogynists twisted and corrupted the meaning of the Scripture, and allowed the "Muslim" man to marry ANY 4 women (plus have unconditional sex with an unlimited number of female war captives) for no better reason than to satisfy their macho libidos. This is because they fail to understand the context of the verses.
These same corruptors are the ones who invented HAdiths about how "women are evil" or "women cause fitna" or "the majority of Hell's residents are women" or "the Messenger had sex with 11 women in one night".These Hadiths and traditional interpretations reek with the stench of the harem-keeping, war-mongering Sultans of the Abbasid Era (The era in which I believe all Hadiths were invented and attributed to the Messenger). These harem-keeping sultans were never satisfied with their "concubines and playthings" , so they invented all these filthy hadiths.
What never ceases to amaze me is that even proffessors of Arabic seem to have a veil ove their eyes whenever they read the Koran.
