⚖️ Polygyny: rulings & justice · #9
What was the occasion of revelation of the polygyny verse (an-Nisa' verse 3)?
According to Aishah r.a., this verse was revealed about male guardians who looked after orphan girls and wanted to marry them without giving a fair mahr.
Aishah explained that some guardians were attracted to the wealth and beauty of an orphan girl in their care, and wanted to marry her with a mahr lower than usual. They were forbidden to do so unless they were just and gave an equivalent mahr, and were told to marry other women who pleased them (Sahih al-Bukhari 4574; Sahih Muslim, Kitab at-Tafsir). This shows that the core of the verse is protecting the vulnerable and justice, not merely permission to take more wives. See Ruling on polygyny.
Aishah explained that some guardians were attracted to the wealth and beauty of an orphan girl in their care, and wanted to marry her with a mahr lower than usual. They were forbidden to do so unless they were just and gave an equivalent mahr, and were told to marry other women who pleased them (Sahih al-Bukhari 4574; Sahih Muslim, Kitab at-Tafsir). This shows that the core of the verse is protecting the vulnerable and justice, not merely permission to take more wives. See Ruling on polygyny.
Sources
Surah an-Nisa' 4:3Sahih al-Bukhari 4574Sahih Muslim, Kitab at-Tafsir