Polygyny in Islam

Uncommon card · No. 183104

Traditional Sunni and Shia Islamic marital jurisprudence allows Muslim men to be married to multiple women (a practice known as polygyny)—up to four wives at a time under Islamic law—with the stipulation that if the man fears he is unable to treat more wives fairly he must marry only one. Marriage by a woman to multiple husbands (polyandry) is haram (forbidden). Contemporary views on the practice vary. Some non-Muslim secularists think it is no longer socially useful and should be banned (Rasha Dewedar). Some hold that it should be allowed only in cases of necessity (Muḥammad ʿAbduh). Still others feel it is part of the Islamic marriage system and that denying it is tantamount to denying "the wisdom of divine decree" (Bilal Philips and Jamila Jones).

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