Upholding the Sunnah of marrying more than one wife
Q: According to the Faqahaa, is marrying more than one wive amongst sunnat because of which a person will get rewarded? (meaning not aadiya) Especially in today's time, by doing this Mubarak action the love of it will enter peoples hearts and the wrong belief that it's naoothobillah not right will go.
A: Just as marrying one wife is sunnah, similarly marrying more than one wife is also sunnah. However, it should be borne in mind that fulfilling certain sunnats are subject to certain conditions being found. Just as zakaat being compulsory upon one is subject to one possessing zakaatable wealth which reaches to the nisaab, similarly getting married to more than one wife will be sunnah subject to one being able to fulfil the sunnah correctly through maintaining equality and justice between all his wives and being able to manage his deeni responsibilities and obligations.
If one feels that through marrying more than one wife, he will not be able to maintain equality and justice between his wives, or he feels that he will not be able to manage his deeni responsibilities and obligations on account of the difficulties and pressure he will experience among his family and wives, then in such a situation, it is better for such a person not to get married to more than one wife.
In essence, practicing on the sunnah of nikaah is subject to one's capacity. If one has the capacity to marry only one wife, and he feels that he cannot manage to marry more than one wife, then he may marry one wife. However, if one feels that he will be able to manage marrying more than one wife and fulfil his responsibilities and deeni obligations in regard to exercising equality and justice between his wives as well as fulfil his other deeni obligations without difficulty, then such a person may marry more than one wife.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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