Musnad Ishaq

Benefits:
The Shari‘ah has permitted a man to have up to four wives at the same time. As Allah the Exalted says: ﴿وَ اِنْ خِفْتُمْ اَلَّا تُقْسِطُوْا فِی الْیَتٰمٰی فَانْکِحُوْا مَا طَابَ لَکُمْ مِّنَ النِّسَآءِ مَثْنٰی وَ ثُلٰثَ وَ رُبٰعَ فَاِنْ خِفْتُمْ اَلَّا تَعْدِلُوْا فَوَاحِدَةً﴾ (, al-Nisa: 3).... “Marry those women who please you, two, three, or four; but if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry] only one.”

It is understood from this that if one wishes to marry more than one woman, justice is necessary. However, if the heart inclines more toward one, as is mentioned in the hadith, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would divide the days among his noble wives and act justly, and he would say: “O Allah! This is my division regarding what I control, so do not blame me for what You control and I do not.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, no. 2134)

Imam Abu Dawud rahimahullah says: What is meant by this is the inclination of the heart. It is thus understood that there will be no accountability for the increase or decrease of emotional inclination. However, due to love for the favored wife, to fall short in fulfilling the rights of the other wife is a sin. Allah, the Possessor of Majesty, says: ﴿فَلَا تَمِیْلُوْا کُلَّ الْمَیْلِ فَتَذَرُوْهَا کَالْمُعَلَّقَةِ﴾ (, al-Nisa: 129).... “Do not incline completely [toward one] so as to leave the other hanging [in suspense].”