Commentary
And when He mentioned - glorified and exalted is He - that standing upon the truth, apart from kindness, is difficult even if the woman is one, He followed it by saying that this is more difficult when there are many. So He said (exalted is He), expressing with a tool of emphasis: ﴿And you will never be able﴾; meaning: to find within yourselves a lasting obedience; ﴿to be just﴾; meaning: without any injustice at all; ﴿between the women﴾; in all that is due to each one of them from rights; ﴿even if you strive﴾; meaning: to do that; and this is in conjunction with His saying (exalted is He): ﴿So if you fear that you will not be just, then one﴾ [An-Nisa: 3]; like the conclusion to limiting it to one.
And when He informed - glorified and exalted is He - that the marriage of multiple wives cannot be free from inclination, He caused His saying: ﴿Then do not﴾; meaning: if you must have multiple wives; or if inclination occurs and the wife is one; then do not ﴿incline﴾; and since absolute inclination is not possible to avoid, it is not required of him; He clarified the intended meaning by saying: ﴿All inclination﴾; then He caused His saying: ﴿So you leave her﴾; meaning: the woman; ﴿like one suspended﴾; meaning: between marriage and singleness; and between marriage and solitude.
And when excessive inclination is possible to avoid, the estimation was: 'So if you incline with all your inclination; while maintaining the bond; then indeed Allah is the Avenger, and He is Reckoning.' He added to it His saying: ﴿And if you amend and fear Allah﴾; meaning: by establishing justice in the division; and piety in avoiding injustice; in the renewal of times; ﴿Then indeed Allah﴾; meaning: the One who possesses all perfection; ﴿is Forgiving and Merciful﴾; meaning: erasing sins; and abundant in honor; so He is deserving to forgive you all inclination; and to bestow upon you the garments of grace.
Explore Other Scholars on This Verse
Compare different scholarly perspectives on Surah An-Nisa verse 129