Analytical Research on the Denotation of Sūrat al-Nisā to the “Monogamy” or “Polygamy” Principle

The ruling for polygamy has been mentioned in verse 3, Sūrat al Nisā of the Holy Qur’an. According to this verse some have regarded monogamy as the principle and considered polygamy as related to the social and individual requisitions. In contrast, some others maintain the preference of polygamy over monogamy. Using the descriptive-analytical method and after stating the relation between condition and result in the beginning of the verse, this article has examined the denotation of this verse to monogamy and polygamy and has concluded that the phrase “That makes it likelier that you will not be unfair”, due to holding two possibilities in the indicated (dhālik), does not denote monogamy. Similarly the command “then marry” implies prohibition and does not denote polygamy just as the priority of the phrase “then marry [other] women that you like, two, ...” over the phrase “But if you fear that you may not treat them fairly, then [marry only] one” does not denote preference of polygamy either. Thus, the noble verse does not represent the monogamy or polygamy principle; rather, it only denotes the permissibility of polygamy.