Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Could you please tell me in islam i heard that we are able to marry 4 times what are the condition should be followed 

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Answer:

Four marriages allowed

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 3:

3 If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans marry women of your choice two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them) then only one or (a captive) that your right hands possess. That will be more suitable to prevent you from doing injustice.

Firstly, marriage is not obligatory in Islam, but a preferred and absolutely encouraged Sunnah.

Secondly, Allah Subhanah has absolutely forbidden the believing men (and women) to form or develop any sort of illicit relationship with a non-mehram member of the opposite sex out of marriage. Thus recognizing the polygamous nature of man, for those men who wish to marry and keep more than one wife at any one time, Allah Subhanah has given permission and an option that a believing man, instead of taking the unlawful route, may lawfully honor, marry and keep a maximum of four wives at any one time, if he wishes to do so.

Thirdly, the Lord has Commanded the believers who wish to exercise the option of marrying more than one wife that they should be absolutely equal and just amongst their wives with the distribution of their time and wealth amongst them. If one fears that he might not be able to do justice if he chose to marry more than one wife, then he should marry only one.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 129:

129 Ye are never able to be (totally and absolutely) fair and just as between women even if it is your ardent desire: but turn not away (from a woman) altogether so as to leave her (as it were) hanging (in the air)!. If ye come to a friendly understanding and practice self-restraint Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2128 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘When a man has two wives and he is inclined to one of them, he will come on the Day of resurrection with a side hanging down.’

If one desires to marry more than one wife and is confident that he will be able to deal justly amongst his wives, he has the right to exercise his lawful option of marrying more than one wife and keep upto a maximum of four wives (who themselves have of their own will have agreed and consented to be his 2^nd, 3^rd, or 4^th wife) of his choice at any one time, if he wishes to do so.

Other than the one condition that one fear Allah and be absolutely just amongst their wives in the distribution of their time and resources amongst them, there is absolutely no other condition in Shariah laid upon the believers who wish to exercise their option of seeking to marry more than one wife and upto a maximum of four.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan