The Importance of Marriage

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Polygamy:

Imam Ash-Shanqeeti said:

Allah said:

‘Verily, this Qur’aan guides to that which is most just and right’ [Al-Israa 9]

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:

“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 (the captives and the slaves) that your right hands possess”. [An-Nisaa. 3]

No doubt the path that is the most just and right is that which legitimises polygamy due to perceptible affairs known to every sensible person. From those affairs is that an individual woman menstruates, gets ill and contends with other hindrances that prevent her from fulfilling the more specific duties of marriage; whereas a man is readily prepared as a means to increasing the Ummah. And from those affairs 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 this affair is from the greatest causes of moral deprivation, degraded to the level of animals with regards to a lack of safeguarding chastity, preservation of nobility and good moral conduct and manners.

Glorified and Exalted is (Allah) above all that evil they associate with Him, the All-Wise, Well-Acquainted with all things.  “(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, Well-Acquainted (with all things)’ [Surah Hood; Ayah: 1]  

And no doubt, the path that is the most just is that which legitimizes polygamy, due to perceptible affairs known to every sensible person. From those affairs is that women are all readily prepared for marriage, whereas many men do not have the ability to fulfill the requirements of marriage due to poverty. Those prepared for marriage amongst men are fewer than those amongst women. A woman is not hindered, whereas a man is hindered by poverty and the ability to fulfill the requirements of marriage.  If a man were restricted to one woman, many women prepared for marriage would have missed the opportunity for marriage and in finding a husband. This will 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:

‘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.)'[Surah Nahl; Ayah: 90].

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

‘You will never be able to do perfect justice between wives 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).’ [Surah Nisaa; Ayah: 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 an emotional (affair) 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’ [Surah Nisaa; Ayah: 129]

A Reply To Some Of The Worthless Statements Of The Disbelievers/Atheists

The Claim: The claim of some of the disbelievers amongst the enemies of Islam is that polygamy inevitably brings about constant argumentation and disagreement that ends up in a life of misery because whenever one of the wives is pleased the other is angered, so the two (wives) are always in displeasure and this is not wisdom.

Reply: This is a worthless statement, whose worthlessness is perceptible to every sensible person because argumentation and disagreement between individual members of a family does not bring about separation in the least. It occurs between a man and his mother, between him and his father, between him and his children and between him and his only wife. It is a common affair of no great concern – argumentation and disagreement of no great concern alongside the overriding tremendous benefits of polygamy, with regards to safeguarding women and facilitating marriage for them, and increasing the number of the Ummah so that they can stand firm against the enemies of Islam in every affair; and an overriding tremendous benefit takes precedence over prevention of a small harm.  Even if we were to assume that argumentation and disagreement in polygamy is harmful or that it brings emotional pain to the heart of the first wife, then what we have mentioned with regards to greater benefits of polygamy takes precedence as is well known in the fundamental principles of Islamic Jurisprudence.