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Frequently Asked Question
Family and
Women Affairs
Question 94:
Why did Islam limit the number of wives to four? And why does it confine man’s
sexual pleasure to marriage commitments, home and tasks?
Frequently Asked Question
Family and
Women Affairs
Question 94:
Why did Islam limit the number of wives to four? And why does it confine man’s
sexual pleasure to marriage commitments, home and tasks?
Answer
94: Islam
limited the number of wives to four as the maximum number for a variety of
reasons. On the one hand nature and reality have proved the righteousness of
this rule, especially when we take into account the rising percentage of women
compared to that of men. On the other hand men are more exposed than women to
dangers and mortality like wars and perilous jobs. If man’s marriage is limited
to one woman only, a number of women will be deprived from the bliss of marriage
which is an instinctive demand in all human beings; which provides shelter,
intimacy and marital life for every member of the family. When allowing man to
marry more than one wife Islam does not make the case obligatory, but rather
something lawful. As a matter of fact, Islam encourages marrying only one wife
for those men who do not have the ability to be fair amongst their wives.
Almighty God says: “…then marry (other women of your choice, two or three, or
four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them),
then only one...” (Holy Qur’an: 3: 3). However, the percentage of those who
marry more than one wife is limited, as most men limit themselves to one wife.
The percentage is lesser among those who marry three or four women.
Islam prohibits intercourse
between man and woman outside wedlock as this cause harm on to both the
individual and on society. It causes many diseases, it leads to loss of lineage
and it brings about the destruction of the family, which is the nucleus of any
society.
It remains to say in this
context that it is difficult to find a man or a woman in the western societies
not having one or more partners. This is something that often happens at the
expense of the family and its structure. It is strange how developed people
would justify having concubines but not wives!
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