What does "desiring chastity not lust" mean?

[neelu]

Salam,

I've noticed in some parts of the Quran, it mentions circumstances in which men are permitted to have sex with more than one woman such as if they marry more than one woman or someone their right hand posesses. What I don't understand is how the translations (I can only comment on translations cos' I don't understand Arabic) also go on to say about this "desiring chastity not lust". What on earth does that mean? How can wanting to have sex with more than one woman be about something other than lust? I'm not refuting what the Quran says as it's not my place to take issue with what Allah (swt) permits, I'm just asking what it means cos' I don't understand what that means.

[Medievalist]

references? what translation are you reading?

[Mickey Mouth]

Salam,

I've noticed in some parts of the Quran, it mentions circumstances in which men are permitted to have sex with more than one woman such as if they marry more than one woman or someone their right hand posesses. What I don't understand is how the translations (I can only comment on translations cos' I don't understand Arabic) also go on to say about this "desiring chastity not lust". What on earth does that mean? How can wanting to have sex with more than one woman be about something other than lust? I'm not refuting what the Quran says as it's not my place to take issue with what Allah (swt) permits, I'm just asking what it means cos' I don't understand what that means.

Remember the time context during which the Quran was revealed, and that Allah revealed it to be of great assistance to man at that particular time. Women are no longer considered possessionable "chattel" and are now cared for by social welfare programs should they find themselves unattached. During the medieval times, however, an unattached woman was at great risk, and better off being taken into a household as a secondary or tertiary wife, rather than being left to fend for herself without any means of support or shelter. Times have changed, and now, and lust fits the picture for any man desiring more than one wife. Praise Allah for having delivered us to a more advanced level of social protocols.

[Dappodan1]

the right hand possesses is the womenfolk of enemys (the Men fighting the muslim armies) taken during batle that usually went into a concubine. During that time the vanquished were usually enslaved or killed when conquered. Islam alllowed one of the chattels to be the womenfolk for the men that had been engaged in jihad, this bought with it huge reponsibilities including clothing feeding health and welfare etc lot of the women converted to islam and were freed and or married by the members of the muslim community, simmilalrly a lot of the captured prisoners of war (men) were ensalved converted and freed even possibly reunited with their original partners.

Reading this may seem barbaric but at that time it was the most humane thinking by far, it is still permissable today as it is divinely ordained in theory (subject to having all the conditions met of jihad). Lots of the greatest sahaba had very large concubines and it is nothing to be ashamed of, the women were looked after.

With regard to marriage of more than one woman we all know the stipulations and duties laid down about being able to treat the wifes equally a huge reponsibility and not to be taken lightly.

in those days the mortality rate for women during pregnancy was very high and having lots of children increased your chances of having low life expectancy, so sharing that burden across a number of wives greatly helped everyone. Also lots of muslim men went to jihad and were martyred hence the ratio of men to women was in imbalance so men practiced polygamy as a form of welfare social safety net for widows.

I have given practical and historical reasons, however ultimatley Allah (SWT) has declared this right for us and we should accept that and the reasons Alllah Alum

Hope I have helped you undertsand better

[neelu]

references? what translation are you reading?

Yusuf Ali translation. Here are some prime examples of what I was referring to:

4:24 Also (prohibited are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess: Thus hath Allah ordained (Prohibitions) against you: Except for these, all others are lawful, provided ye seek (them in marriage) with gifts from your property,- desiring chastity, not lust, seeing that ye derive benefit from them, give them their dowers (at least) as prescribed; but if, after a dower is prescribed, agree Mutually (to vary it), there is no blame on you, and Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.

5:5 This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book, revealed before your time,- when ye give them their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues if any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).

[Nadiem P]

I think following three translations may help you.
004.024
YUSUFALI: Also (prohibited are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess: Thus hath Allah ordained (Prohibitions) against you: Except for these, all others are lawful, provided ye seek (them in marriage) with gifts from your property,- desiring chastity, not lust, seeing that ye derive benefit from them, give them their dowers (at least) as prescribed; but if, after a dower is prescribed, agree Mutually (to vary it), there is no blame on you, and Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.
PICKTHAL: And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess. It is a decree of Allah for you. Lawful unto you are all beyond those mentioned, so that ye seek them with your wealth in honest wedlock, not debauchery. And those of whom ye seek content (by marrying them), give unto them their portions as a duty. And there is no sin for you in what ye do by mutual agreement after the duty (hath been done). Lo! Allah is ever Knower, Wise.
SHAKIR: And all married women except those whom your right hands possess (this is) Allah's ordinance to you, and lawful for you are (all women) besides those, provided that you seek (them) with your property, taking (them) in marriage not committing fornication. Then as to those whom you profit by, give them their dowries as appointed; and there is no blame on you about what you mutually agree after what is appointed; surely Allah is Knowing, Wise.

The verse binds the men to seek woman in honest wedlock and not just as a lust and then throw them away. Show how strong institution of marriage is in Islam.

[the_middle_road]

The relevant part in Arabic reads "muhsineena ghaira musafiheena". From Tafsir Qurtubi:

و " محصنين " نصب على الحال , ومعناه متعففين عن الزنى . " غير مسافحين " أي غير زانين

"And 'muhsineena' is in the accusative case as a haal (condition). And its meaning is those who abstain from zina. 'Ghaira musafiheena' means those who are not fornicators."

[.: Anna :.]

it means within marriage so that it is lawful