THE COMMENTARY OCCASION OF REVELATION.

THE COMMENTARY OCCASION OF REVELATION. (VERSE NO. 128) Most of the commentators have narrated that: ``RA"FIA- IBN- KHADIJ had two wives - one old and one young. He gave her elder wife a divorce, but before she had her period finished, he agreed with reconciliation, on condition that she had to suffer his younger wife and to show patience on account of her.

PEACE IS BETTER Our prophet has said: ``Of all the things lawful, the divorce is the most hateful one to God.'' If a woman feels that her husband becomes ill- treating, and incompatible, and a breach between them has been probable, she must know that the sanctity of marriage itself is greater [ 599 ] in value than any mutual gift; and if their separation would be prevented by some material concessions, then let it be done, because it is far better to keep their ties of wedlock safe and sound, that peace is always better than turbulence and disturbance.

وَلَن تَسْتَطِيعُوا أَن تَعْدِلُوا بَيْنَ النِّسَآءِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتُمْ فَلاَ تَمِيلُوا كُلِّ الْمَيْلِ فَتَذَرُوهَا كَالْمُعَلَّقَةِ وَإِن تُصْلِحُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَإِنَّ اللهَ كَانَ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً(( 129 )) 129- YOU ARE NEVER ABLE TO DO JUSTICE AMONG WOMEN (YOUR WIVES) EVEN THOUGH YOU BE EAGER FOR IT. SO TURN NOT ALL YOUR ATTENTION, TO LEAVE THE ONE AS SHE IS SUSPENDED. AND IF YOU RECONCILE, AND AVOID EVIL, THEN ALLAH IS THE COMPASSIONATE FORGIVER.

وَإِن يَتَفَرَّقَا يُغْنِ اللهُ كُلاّ مِّن سَعَتِهِ وَكَانَ اللهُ وَسِعاً حَكِيماً(( 130 )) 130- AND IF THEY SEPARATE, ALLAH WILL ENRICH THEM ALL, OUT OF HIS EXTENSIVE BOUNTIES; THAT ALLAH IS THE WISE EXTENDER. THE COMMENTARY POLYGAMY IS ON CONDITION OF JUSTICE Having more than one wife, and up to four, is permitted on the condition that man should be perfectly just and equitable to all his wives; a condition that may seem almost impossible.

The man might be just and fair in material and economical matters; but of surety he won't be able to love them all in the same scale and measure. Therefore the verse implies that he should at least not discard one of them, casting her off of attention as if she is in suspension. So the purpose of doing justice among your wives is not equality in loving them, which is not in the husband's hand, but it lays in heart.

Equality is rather wanted in their dowers, provisions, opportunities, expenditures, and other material gifts, or whatever it might be.

✦ ✦ ✦