Doesn't understand reasons for polygyny

25-1-2005 | IslamWeb

Question:

Before I start my question, I just want to let you know that the service your provide to Muslim and non-Muslim around is a great service. Please continue what your doing. May Allah bless you. I'm a Muslim and I really don't see the importance of polygamy. I have heard from other Muslims saying that, "if your wife can't produce kids, or if she is sick", we are allowed to marry a second wife. What if I can't produce kids, or I'm sick; do you think it will be appropriately for her to live me or marry somebody else?

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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.

 

Every Muslim should know that Allaah legislates only the rulings that are beneficial for His Slaves. Allaah Says (what means): {And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in Justice.}[Quran 6:115]

It means true in reports and just in legislations.

Allaah has legislated polygyny for many benefits as we mentioned in Fatwa 83644.

The main condition for polygyny is being able to be just between the wives and spend on them equally. The wife being sick, barren, etc. are not conditions to which the permissibility of polygyny is restricted.

However, if a husband is barren or sick to an extent that the objectives of marriage are not achieved, then the wife is allowed to seek divorce.

In principle, a wife is not allowed to ask for divorce unless she has a sound reason for doing so. The Prophet said: "Any woman who asks her husband for divorce without a sound reason, the smell of Paradise is forbidden for her.” [Muslim]

The above clarification proves the wisdom and justice of Islamic legislation for polygyny and that it did not wrong the woman by legislating polygyny.

Allaah Knows best.