"And if you fear that you will not deal justly," meaning: that you will not act with justice, "with the orphan girls, then marry those that please you," meaning: what is lawful for you of women. Qatadah said: He is saying, just as you feared injustice regarding the orphans and were concerned by that, likewise fear it concerning all women. A man in the Jahiliyyah would marry ten or fewer, so Allah made four lawful for him. Thus He said: "Then marry those that please you of women, two or three or four." He is saying: If you fear that you will not be able to deal justly with four, then marry three; and if you fear that you will not be able to deal justly with three, then marry two; and if you fear that you will not be able to deal justly with