The statement of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) to a man: "Marry, for the best of this Ummah are those who have the most women."

The questioner : Also, Shaykh, does it prevent...?

The Shaykh : May Allah bless you.
Yes.

Another questioner: Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh: And upon you peace.

The questioner : ...does he mean the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) by this, or does he mean that every man, meaning...?

The Shaykh : When we mention the hadith as it came, the intent becomes clear. But before I mention the hadith in its entirety, it is necessary to remind you that it is not a marfu' hadith, but rather a mawquf hadith. Its context is that 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said to a man: "Marry, for the best of this Ummah are those who have the most women." So, he means the Messenger, but he used this to emphasize the good example in him (peace and blessings be upon him). When he said: "Marry, for the best of this Ummah," he did not say: "Marry, for the best of this Ummah married." Rather, he said: "For the best of this Ummah are those who have the most women." So, it is an encouragement not to limit oneself to one wife, but to increase in marriage by following his example (peace and blessings be upon him).
Of course, this does not mean that one marries without calculation; because that was a specific attribute of his (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, one marries what Allah has permitted for him, as mentioned in the previous verse: .