In the early days of Islam, there were no restrictions on polygamy. However, the result of these unlimited marriages was that many individuals, driven by their great desires, engaged in polygamy without fulfilling their obligations. Consequently, they could not provide the rights of their wives, leading to women living as captives within their marriage contracts.
In situations where several women were married to the same man, there was often no recognition of justice or equality among them. The husband would favor the woman to whom he felt more attached, while remaining completely indifferent to the rights of the other wives.
The permission for polygamy is mentioned in two places in the Holy Quran:
1. Verse 1: «فَانكِحُواْ مَا طَابَ لَكُم مِّنَ النِّسَاء مَثْنَى وَثُلاَثَ وَرُبَاعَ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُواْ فَوَاحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَلاَّ تَعُولُواْ» Translation: “Marry two, three, or four women of your choice, and if you fear that you will not be able to do justice between your wives, then [take] one wife or the women you possess. This will prevent you from oppression better.”
2. Verse 2: «وَلَن تَسْتَطِيعُواْ أَنْ تَعْدِلُواْ بَيْنَ النِّسَاء وَلَوْ حَرَصْتُمْ فَلاَ تَمِيلُواْ كُلَّ الْمَيْلِ فَتَذَرُوهَا كَالْمُعَلَّقَةِ وَإِن تُصْلِحُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا» Translation: “You can never do justice between women, even if you try hardest. Therefore, do not treat [your wife] in such a way that you leave her like a woman in suspension. If you take the path of reformation and piety; then Allah is truly Forgiving and Merciful.”
From these verses, as understood by the Prophet of Islam, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, his companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and the majority of Islamic scholars, the following points can be inferred:
1- The Upper Limit of Polygamy: The maximum number of wives a man is permitted to have been four women; exceeding this limit is not allowed. Initially, there were no restrictions, and some individuals chose to marry multiple women based on their desires. However, Islam came to amend this practice, allowing only four wives. When the verse was revealed, «وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلاَّ تُقْسِطُوا فِي الْيَتَامَى فَانْكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ مَثْنَى وَثُلاثَ وَرُبَاعَ», the Prophet, peace be upon him, instructed anyone with more than four wives to retain only four and to release the others.
Ibn Majah narrates that Ghailan bin Muslimah Saqafi became a Muslim while having eleven wives. The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised him to “Choose four!” Similarly, Qays bin Harith, who had eight wives when he accepted Islam, was told by the Prophet (peace be upon him), “Choose four of your wives.”
In the Musnad of Imam Shafi’i (may Allah have mercy on him), there is an account of Hazrat Nufal bin Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), who had five wives upon his conversion to Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) directed him to divorce one wife.
2-Conditions for Polygamy: Islam does not permit polygamy unconditionally. A man may marry multiple wives only if he can fulfill their maintenance responsibilities and establish justice between them. If he cannot maintain justice, he is not allowed to marry more than one wife. As stated in the Quran: «فَوَاحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ» (“So settle for the marriage of one woman or the property of a slave girl”). This regulation protects a woman’s rights and ensures that her life is not led into chaos and disorder.
3- Emotional Equity: Human emotions and feelings are beyond a person’s control; thus, a man is not held accountable for fairness in these matters. The Quran mentions: «وَلَنْ تَسْتَطِيعُوا أَنْ تَعْدِلُوا بَيْنَ النِّسَاءِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتُمْ فَلا تَمِيلُوا كُلَّ الْمَيْلِ فَتَذَرُوهَا كَالْمُعَلَّقَةِ» (“And you cannot treat all women equally in friendship; no matter how hard you try, do not desire all of them (not to be fair in alimony and oaths), but leave this one hanging.”).
Even though the Prophet, peace be upon him, practiced justice among the mothers of the believers in the best possible manner, he prayed, saying: «اللهم هذا فعلي فيما أملك، فلا تلمني فيما تملك ولا أملك» (“Lord, this is what is within my power; do not blame me for what is in Your power and not in mine”). This is because the human heart is under the control of Allah Almighty, who turns it as He wills; no human has control over it.
4- Polygamy as a Remedy: Polygamy is viewed as a remedy allowed by Islam to address family problems and shortcomings.
