By: Qari Usama bin Abdul Salam حفظه الله
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلاً مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً
[Surah Ar-Ra'd: 38]
Translation: “And indeed We sent Messengers before you and appointed for them wives and offspring…”
Anyone who turns away from this Sunnah of the Prophet is not considered a true follower of Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
انِّكاحُ من سنَّتي ، فمن لم يعمَل بسنَّتي فليسَ منِّي…
[Sahih Ibn Majah: 1508]
Translation: “Marriage is part of my Sunnah, and whoever does not follow my Sunnah has nothing to do with me…”
Those who are capable and still avoid marriage are considered neglectful of Sunnah. Many youth, despite reaching a suitable age and facing temptations, delay marriage due to worldly objectives. It becomes a guardian’s duty to marry them off in time to protect their chastity.
فَانْكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ مَثْنَى وَثُلاثَ وَرُبَاعَ...
[Surah An-Nisa: 3]
Translation: “Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four. But if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly, then only one…”
Islam limits polygamy to a maximum of four wives, provided justice and fairness are maintained. Where fairness is feared to be compromised, then one wife is sufficient.
فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا فَوَاحِدَةً
Translation: “If you fear you cannot deal justly, then only one.”
② Financial ability to support both
وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا...
[Surah An-Nur: 33]
③ Physical strength and sexual capacity
“Whoever among you has the ability to marry, let him marry…”
[Sahih Muslim: 1400]
✔ Provide equal food, clothing, and residence.
✔ Maintain separate rooms, as one woman cannot view another’s private parts.
✔ It is permissible to have relations with more than one wife in one night, but not in front of each other.
The Prophet ﷺ used to visit all his wives in a single period:
كان النبيُّ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم يَدورُ على نسائِه...
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 268]
A man must not scold, beat, or discriminate between wives or their children. Instead, he must establish mutual love and handle disputes with patience, not partiality.
➤ Protection of chastity
➤ Natural imbalance in male-female ratio
➤ Addresses societal issues like dowry system
➤ Provides solution for highly sexual individuals
➤ Offers hope for childless couples
➤ Opportunity to support widows, divorced, or disadvantaged women
➤ Helps prevent Zina in times of moral decay
لا يحِلُّ لامرأةٍ تسألُ طلاقَ أختِها…
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 5152]
Translation: “It is not lawful for a woman to ask for her sister’s divorce so as to take her place…”
Some also question: “Why can’t women marry multiple men?”
Islam forbids it due to:
➤ Men’s natural sense of protectiveness (ghayrah)
➤ Physical and emotional limitations in women
➤ Complexities in lineage, household duties, and child upbringing
➤ Higher risk of STDs and disputes
➤ No precedent in Qur’an or Sunnah for polyandry
Second marriage is a Shari‘ah-sanctioned right for men and should not be viewed as a societal stigma. Instead, it should be seen as a means of mercy, protection, and fulfillment of divine wisdom.
❖ The Concept and Importance of Marriage
Marriage is a Sunnah of the Prophets. Allah says:وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلاً مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً
[Surah Ar-Ra'd: 38]
Translation: “And indeed We sent Messengers before you and appointed for them wives and offspring…”
Anyone who turns away from this Sunnah of the Prophet is not considered a true follower of Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
انِّكاحُ من سنَّتي ، فمن لم يعمَل بسنَّتي فليسَ منِّي…
[Sahih Ibn Majah: 1508]
Translation: “Marriage is part of my Sunnah, and whoever does not follow my Sunnah has nothing to do with me…”
Those who are capable and still avoid marriage are considered neglectful of Sunnah. Many youth, despite reaching a suitable age and facing temptations, delay marriage due to worldly objectives. It becomes a guardian’s duty to marry them off in time to protect their chastity.
❖ Second Marriage in Islam
If a man marries only once, he has acted upon the Sunnah. However, second marriage is also permissible for men. Allah mentions:فَانْكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ مَثْنَى وَثُلاثَ وَرُبَاعَ...
[Surah An-Nisa: 3]
Translation: “Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four. But if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly, then only one…”
Islam limits polygamy to a maximum of four wives, provided justice and fairness are maintained. Where fairness is feared to be compromised, then one wife is sufficient.
❖ Conditions for Second Marriage
① Ability to maintain justice between wivesفَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا فَوَاحِدَةً
Translation: “If you fear you cannot deal justly, then only one.”
② Financial ability to support both
وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا...
[Surah An-Nur: 33]
③ Physical strength and sexual capacity
“Whoever among you has the ability to marry, let him marry…”
[Sahih Muslim: 1400]
❖ Rights and Etiquettes in Polygamy
✔ Assign equal time to both wives, including travel arrangements.✔ Provide equal food, clothing, and residence.
✔ Maintain separate rooms, as one woman cannot view another’s private parts.
✔ It is permissible to have relations with more than one wife in one night, but not in front of each other.
The Prophet ﷺ used to visit all his wives in a single period:
كان النبيُّ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم يَدورُ على نسائِه...
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 268]
A man must not scold, beat, or discriminate between wives or their children. Instead, he must establish mutual love and handle disputes with patience, not partiality.
❖ Women’s Perspective on Second Marriage
Many women view a husband’s second marriage as oppression, but Islam is a religion of mercy. Women are encouraged to align with Shari‘ah, considering communal benefit over personal preferences.❖ Wisdom Behind Polygamy
➤ Increase in the Muslim population➤ Protection of chastity
➤ Natural imbalance in male-female ratio
➤ Addresses societal issues like dowry system
➤ Provides solution for highly sexual individuals
➤ Offers hope for childless couples
➤ Opportunity to support widows, divorced, or disadvantaged women
➤ Helps prevent Zina in times of moral decay
❖ Does Second Marriage Require First Wife’s Permission?
No, Islam does not require a man to seek permission from his first wife for another marriage. While informing her may be a good gesture, there is no such condition in Shari‘ah.❖ First Wife Demanding Divorce Due to Second Marriage
Such demands are against Shari‘ah. The Prophet ﷺ said:لا يحِلُّ لامرأةٍ تسألُ طلاقَ أختِها…
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 5152]
Translation: “It is not lawful for a woman to ask for her sister’s divorce so as to take her place…”
❖ Hiding Second Marriage from the First Wife
For genuine reasons, hiding the second marriage is permissible. However, efforts should be made to explain and convince the first wife to avoid family discord.❖ Objections and Their Refutations
Polygamy is often criticized for causing disputes, but even monogamous marriages face conflicts. Difference in opinion is natural, and wise handling can prevent issues.Some also question: “Why can’t women marry multiple men?”
Islam forbids it due to:
➤ Men’s natural sense of protectiveness (ghayrah)
➤ Physical and emotional limitations in women
➤ Complexities in lineage, household duties, and child upbringing
➤ Higher risk of STDs and disputes
➤ No precedent in Qur’an or Sunnah for polyandry
Conclusion