Woman in Islam — Page 19
19 to four; and the permission is conditioned by just treatment of the wives: “But f you feel you may not be able to deal justly between them, then marry only one. ” (4:4). Just treatment of wives, when there are more of them than one, means keeping an equality between them in the matter of maintenance, provision and companionship, that is to say, in such respects as are susceptible of equal apportionment. Equality is not prescribed in respect of such matters over which a person has no control, for instance, the degree of emotional attachment and inclination. This is excluded by the general principle: “Allah requires not of anyone that which is beyond his capacity. ” (2:287). But there is also a specific exposition: “You cannot keep perfect balance emotionally between your wives, however much you desire it, but incline not wholly towards one, leaving the other in suspense. If you will maintain accord and are mindful of your duty to Allah, surely Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful. ” (4:130). Some modern Muslim writers, in their anxiety and eagerness to curry favour with the West, have sought to argue that as polygamy was permitted on condition of equal treatment of wives (4:4) and equality was declared impossible of achievement (4:130), it follows that the permission was in effect revoked. This line of exegesis is entirely mistaken and is utterly untenable. The text of 4:130 itself clearly