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:

How many times can a man marry & what is the criteria. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

How many times can one marry

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.

Your Question: How many times can a man marry

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 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.

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, there is absolutely no limit in Shariah to the number of times one (man or woman) is allowed to marry, provided a man does not keep more than the absolute maximum of four wives at any one time, and a woman obviously cannot have more than one husband at one and the same time.

Your Question: what is the criteria. 

We sincerely apologize that we are unable to understand what exactly you mean by ‘what is the criteria’….do you wish to determine the criteria which would enable a man to marry or remarry; or enable a woman to marry or remarry; or what are the criteria for marriage; or the obligatory conditions for a marriage to be considered lawful in Shariah; etc.

Beloved brother, if you could kindly clarify which or what criteria you seek information about, we assure you that we will strive to the best of our ability and knowledge to address you question in light of the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, Insha Allah.

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