Tafsir of An-Nisa' 4:129

"And you will never be able to..."

It is impossible for you to achieve justice between wives, or to maintain equality such that there is absolutely no inclination, nor any increase or decrease in what is due to them. Therefore, the requirement of absolute, ultimate justice has been lifted from you. You are not tasked with anything except what you are capable of, provided you exert your full effort and capacity, for imposing that which is beyond one's ability falls under the definition of injustice, and "Your Lord is not ever unjust to [His] servants" (Fussilat: 46).

It is said that the meaning is: to be equal in love. It is narrated from the Prophet (ﷺ) that he used to divide his time among his wives and act justly, saying: "This is my division regarding what I possess, so do not hold me accountable for what You possess and I do not." (He meant love, for Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, was the most beloved to him).

It is also said that justice between them is a matter of extreme difficulty, reaching a point that suggests it is beyond one's ability. This is because one must be equal in division, maintenance, care, attention, affection, pleasant conversation, and companionship—things that are nearly impossible to enumerate. Thus, it is as if it falls outside the limits of human capability.

This is the case even if they are all beloved; so how is it when the heart inclines toward some of them?

"So do not incline completely [toward one]"

Do not commit total injustice against the one you are less inclined toward by denying her her share without her consent. This means that avoiding total inclination is within the realm of ease and capacity, so do not be negligent in this, even if you fall short in achieving perfect justice. There is a form of rebuke in this.

"And leave her hanging"

She is the one who is neither a wife with a husband nor a divorced woman. It is said: "Is it anything but a moment, or a divorce, or disdain, or a hanging between the two?"

In the reading of Ubayy, it is: "And leave her like a prisoner." In the Hadith: "Whoever has two wives and inclines toward one of them will come on the Day of Resurrection with one of his sides leaning."

It is narrated that Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) sent wealth to the wives of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) asked, "Did Umar send the same to all the wives of the Messenger of Allah?" They said, "No, he sent this amount to the Qurayshi women and a different amount to the others." She said, "Raise your head, for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to be just among us in division, both with his wealth and his person." The messenger returned and informed him, so he completed the amount for all of them.

Mu'adh had two wives; when he was with one, he would not perform ablution in the house of the other. They both died in the plague, and he buried them in one grave.

"And if you reform"

Regarding your past inclinations, and rectify it through repentance,

"And fear [Allah]"

Regarding what is to come, Allah will forgive you.