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Fatwa CenterRuling on polygyny
Question
What is the opinion of Islam when a religious teacher who wants to please a group of female congregation on matter of polygamy said: "When come to polygamy men always use the Sunnah to justify but when comes to other matters that are Sunnah men seem not to follow it." To me this is an insult to the Sunnah of polygamy and the religious teacher should not use such example just to please the women audience because IMO polygamy was made Halaal by Allaah the All-Knowing God and Allaah Himself has followed up that ruling with a stern warning if men can't do Justice between their wives. Neither Allaah nor Rasool has put up conditions like you have to do other Sunnah only than you can practice polygamy. To those men whose chose to practice polygamy but stop short of other Sunnah should not be a reason that polygamy should not be practiced. Because IMO Allaah knows men desire full well that was why Allaah makes it Halaal. And this statement by some religious teachers have made the women uses this weapon to attack men in this polygamy issue. I am not into polygamy but I just find it not right for the teachers to use such example to make polygamy that Allaah has made Halaal look bad. Hope that you can enlighten me and could be a lesson for all of us here.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
Indeed you are right by criticizing and condemning the speaker, it is Allaah Who permitted polygyny and He did not condition or restrict that to a person who follows all or some of the Sunnan (plural of Sunnah) and desirable things. The ruling of polygyny is crystal clear and does not need someone to be philosophical or have too much argumentation about it. Allaah says (which means): {…then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one or those your right hands possess [i.e. slaves]. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice].}[Qur'an 4:3].
We have already issued Fataawa: 81469 and 86818 illustrating the religious ruling about polygyny and the wisdom behind legislating it. Many of those callers to Islam who try to make people doubtful about some religious rulings do so because of being affected by some misconceptions that the Jews and Christians have spread. Otherwise, the permissible is clear and the prohibited is clear, and in between them there are some things that are unclear, which most people do not know – (whether they are permissible or prohibited). Thus, by avoiding such matters, one safeguards his religion and honour.
Allaah knows best.
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