Is plural marriage an original principle or a dispensation?

Question:
What is the ruling on plural marriage? Is it an original principle, or a dispensation? And what is the dire necessity to which this dispensation applies, if it is a dispensation?

Answer:
Plural marriage is an act of drawing near to Allah and an act of obedience, not merely a dispensation. Plural marriage is an act of drawing near to Allah, an act of obedience, and a righteous deed in increasing the Muslim community, in the chastity of men and women, and in eliminating the causes of corruption and fornication. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [Surat al-Nisa: 3] So He (Exalted and Majestic is He) commanded it, commanding marriage with two, three, or four women. And our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) married nine women, and he died leaving nine wives, and he also married two previous wives, and he had two slave women, (peace and blessings be upon him).
So the point is: that plural marriage is a sought-after matter, provided one has the ability to do so and is just in it. So if he is able and just, it is prescribed for him to have multiple wives so that the Muslim community increases, and so that he may be more chaste in his private parts and more chaste in his gaze, and so that he may chaste the women for whom Allah makes it easy to be chaste, and so that the offspring and the Muslim community increase because of that.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And in another wording: So increasing the number of those who worship Allah on earth, who reform on earth, and who carry on the succession of the messengers in what they called to, this is a great good. And we ask Allah to guide the Muslims to guidance, righteousness, righteous wives, and righteous husbands.
So if the righteous husband and the righteous wife are found, it is a great good and a great benefit. And it is not hidden that people may be afflicted with wars, illnesses, and other things.
So plural marriage has many benefits: Allah makes the husband chaste in his private parts and his gaze through it. If a woman is afflicted with illness, or afflicted with menstruation and post-natal bleeding, or afflicted with things that prevent the man from enjoying her, then if he has a second, third, or fourth wife, he benefits from this one, this one, and this one in satisfying his desire, in the chastity of his private parts, and in lowering his gaze. And likewise, women may be afflicted with poverty, or afflicted with wars. So if she is under a husband who takes care of her, treats her well, makes her chaste, and protects her, whether as a quarter of a husband, a third of a husband, or half a husband, that is better for her than not having that.
So the benefits in this are many, with justice, with uprightness, with mindfulness of Allah, and with sincere advice. So there is much good in this. But with injustice and aggression, it is not permissible. However, it is permissible and prescribed with justice, uprightness, and fairness from the husband to them, and justice between them in spending on them and in all their affairs. And Allah is the One to be asked for help.