Domestic Issues and Their Solutions — Page 168
168 hands possess. That is the nearest way for you to avoid injustice. ’ (4:4) This verse safeguards orphan girls and connotes th at if you marry orphan girls it should not be borne of any oppressive attitude. In fact you should marry them giving them their full rights and also take care of their emotional well - being and should not let the thought come to your mind that since they do not have family support you can mete out any kind of treatment towards them. If you have any qualm, any misgiving about yourself that you will not be able to be fair then marry free women. There is permission to marry two, three and four wives but this sh ould be done within the requisites of fairness. If you cannot be fair do not take more than one wife. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said in this regard: ‘There is no harm in your marrying orphan girls who are under your care, but if you apprehend that you may not be fair in dealing with them because they are orphans, then marry women who have parents and relations to be watchful of them, who would respect you and concerning whom you would be careful. You may marry two or three or four of them prov ided you can deal equitably with all of them. But if you feel that you may not deal justly between them then marry only one, even if you should feel the need of more than one. ’ (Philosophy of the Teaching of Islam’, p. 39)