I ask about plural marriage in Islam, and whether it is better for a man to have multiple wives or to be content with one wife. We ask for this in detail. May you be rewarded.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : I ask about plural marriage in Islam, and whether it is better for a man to have multiple wives or to be content with one wife. We ask for this in detail. May you be rewarded.
The Shaykh : Plural marriage in Islam is better than limiting oneself to one wife, because of the benefits of marriage that are realized in it. Instead of these benefits being confined to one woman, they are distributed among three women with her.
Also, in plural marriage, there is an increase in children. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged marrying women who are loving and fertile, and he informed us that he will boast of us before the prophets on the Day of Resurrection. So the more numerous the Ummah is, the more it realizes the boasting of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) before the prophets on the Day of Resurrection. And in that there is also honor, victory, and awe in the hearts of the enemies. For this reason, Shu'ayb reminded his people of this, saying:[Al-A'raf 7:86] And Allah bestowed upon the Children of Israel, and He said (Exalted and Majestic is He): [Al-Isra 17:6] What some people imagine today, that having many children causes difficulty, and what many people suppose today, that having many children causes hardship and narrowness of life, all of this is from the inspiration of Satan, and it involves a bad opinion of the Lord (Mighty and Majestic). And so, plural marriage, I mean plural marriage of wives, is better than limiting oneself to one wife, but with a condition, rather with three conditions. The first: that the person has financial capability.
The second: that he has physical capability.
The third: that he has the capability to be just between them, between the two wives or more, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:3] Then let the husband beware of injustice toward one of his wives. For among people, there is one who is unjust between the wives. If he marries a new one while having an old one, he treats the old one badly and neglects her, and she becomes nothing to him. Or the matter may be the opposite: if he marries a new one and does not desire her, he returns to his first wife and prefers her over the new one. All of this is among the major sins. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said.
The questioner : (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh :Sunan Abi Dawud 2133Sahih (Al-Albani) We ask Allah for well-being. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Plural marriage in Islam is better than limiting oneself to one wife, because of the benefits of marriage that are realized in it. Instead of these benefits being confined to one woman, they are distributed among three women with her.
Also, in plural marriage, there is an increase in children. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged marrying women who are loving and fertile, and he informed us that he will boast of us before the prophets on the Day of Resurrection. So the more numerous the Ummah is, the more it realizes the boasting of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) before the prophets on the Day of Resurrection. And in that there is also honor, victory, and awe in the hearts of the enemies. For this reason, Shu'ayb reminded his people of this, saying:
And remember when you were few and He increased you
وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ كُنتُمْ قَلِيلًا فَكَثَّرَكُمْThen We gave back to you a return victory over them. And We reinforced you with wealth and sons and made you more numerous in manpower
ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ الْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمْدَدْنَاكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًاThe second: that he has physical capability.
The third: that he has the capability to be just between them, between the two wives or more, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one or those your right hand possesses. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice].
فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا فَوَاحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَلَّا تَعُولُواThe questioner : (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh :
When a man has two wives and he is inclined to one of them, he will come on the Day of resurrection with a side hanging down.
من كانت له امرأتان فمال إلى إحداهما جاء يوم القيامة وشقه مائلThe questioner : May Allah bless you.