In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Some of The Many Benefits of Plural Marriage For Those Who Can Do Justice and Are Financially Able

Allah, The Most High, said:

إِنَّ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ

Verily, this Quran guides to that which is most just and right. [Al-Israa 9]

Imam Ash-Shanqeetee, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

From the guidance of the Qur’an to that which is most just and right is that it allows (a man to marry) four wives. If the man fears that he cannot be just between them, he restricts himself to one or those whom his right hand possesses, as Allah said:

وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تُقْسِطُوا۟ فِى ٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ فَٱنكِحُوا۟ مَا طَابَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَٰثَ وَرُبَٰعَ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ فَوَٰحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُكُمْ

And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan- girls, then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (those whom) that your right hands possess”. [An-Nisaa. 3]

No doubt the path that is most just and right is that which legitimises plural marriage (polygamy) due to perceptible matters known to every sensible person. And from those matters is that Allah made it a common phenomenon that men are fewer in number than women in the various regions of the world and are more often exposed to the causes of death in all walks of life. If a man were to be restricted to one wife, there would remain a great number of women deprived of marriage, so they (both men and women) will be strongly urged towards illegal sexual intercourse.

Therefore, turning away from the guidance of the Qur’an (in relation to) to this matter is one of the greatest causes of moral deprivation, degradation to the level of animals due to lack of safeguarding chastity, preservation of nobility, good moral conduct and manners.

Glorified and Exalted is (Allah) above all that evil they associate with Him, the All-Wise, All-Aware of all things.

كِتَابٌ أُحْكِمَتْ آيَاتُهُ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتْ مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ خَبِيرٍ

(This is) a Book, the verses whereof are perfected (in every sphere of knowledge), and then explained in detail from One (Allaah), Who is All-Wise, All-Aware of all things. [Hud 1]

No doubt the path that is the most just is that which legitimises plural marriage due to perceptible matters known to every sensible person. From those matters is that women are all readily prepared for marriage (i.e. when they reach the age of marriage and are not forced), whereas many men do not have the ability to fulfill the requirements of marriage due to poverty (i.e. because they are obligated to provide). Those prepared for marriage among men are fewer than among women. A woman is not hindered, whereas a man may be hindered by poverty.  If a man were restricted to one woman, many women prepared for marriage would have missed the opportunity for marriage. This would become a cause for loss of virtue, depravation and moral decadence, and the opportunity to preserve the human race would be lost.

If a man fears that he will not be able to deal justly between the wives, it is incumbent upon him to restrict himself to one or to those whom his right hand possesses because Allah has stated:

 إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

Verily, Allaah enjoins Al-Adl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but Allaah Alone – Islamic Monotheism) and Al-Ihsaan [i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allaah, totally for Allaah’s sake and in accordance with the Sunnah (legal ways) of the Prophet in a perfect manner], and giving (help) to kith and kin (i.e. all that Allaah has ordered you to give them e.g., wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of help, etc.)'[An-Nahl. 90]

It is impermissible to incline towards preferential (treatment) with regards to the Shariah rights (to be given to each of the wives), due to the saying of Allah:

وَلَن تَسْتَطِيعُوا أَن تَعْدِلُوا بَيْنَ النِّسَاءِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتُمْ ۖ فَلَا تَمِيلُوا كُلَّ الْمَيْلِ فَتَذَرُوهَا كَالْمُعَلَّقَةِ ۚ  

You will never be able to do perfect justice between wives – (with regards to what is hidden in your heart as to which of them is dearer to you although you love both) – even if it is your ardent desire, so do not incline too much to one of them (by giving her more of your time and provision) so as to leave the other hanging (i.e. neither divorced nor married)’. [An-Nisaa. 129]

As for the natural inclination towards loving some of them more than others, the human being is incapable of preventing this because it is emotional and the soul’s desire. This is what is intended by Allah’s statement: “You will never be able to do perfect justice between wives”. [An-Nisaa. 129]

[1] An Excerpt from Adwaa Al-Bayan. Tafseer Surah Al-Israa Verse 9