It was customary before Islam that people took the female orphan to look after them as a guardian. When they matured, the guardian took them for wife with much less dower. When married, the husband owned her properties, and by a least annoyance gave her a divorce! The verse was sent down to put the marriage with the orphans on conditions of justice and equity:

      ``And if you fear that you may not treat the orphans justly and with fairness in marrying them; then marry other women who are good and lawful to you, two, three, or four.''

      This verse revealed after the bitter incident of Ohud, when the Muslim new community was left with many orphans, widow, and captives. Their treatment was some how to be governed by justice and equity; and so says the verse to marry the orphans if you are quite sure that you will in that way protect them and their property with justice and fairness. If not so; and you doubt to do that, then make other arrangements for the orphans and your marriage. Marry other women of your choice who are good - two, three or four - a maximum of four provided you could treat them with equality and equity, both in material things and in immaterial things. But if you think that you cannot, then suffice with one wife only:

      And if you fear you will not be equitable to them all, then marry only one.''