In (some?) Muslim countries, is a man allowed to have more than 1 wife ?

Question

How many ? Is this a legal or a religious right (i.e. do you need to adopt the religion to do this) ?

Answer 1

in Islam as many have already said, a man can have up to 4 wives. However, this is only for SOME men... only the ones who can treat all his wives equally and provide for them equally.

now, a wife who will be in a polygamous marriage has the right to demand that she does not live in the same home as her co-wives. If she wants her own home and he cannot afford another, then he cannot marry another. If the man can afford homes for each wife, one must not be more luxurious than the other... they have to all be the same type of home (same cost, size, etc...). She also does not have to lower her standard of living in order for her husband to marry another. So if she was living in a home before, he cannot demand she move to a condo so he can afford other wives.

if he want to buy jewlery for one of his wives, he must either give the same price of that jewelry to his other wives, or gift them jewelry that is equal to it.

it is the same for anything else... be it clothes, shoes, etc... if one wife gets something, he has to give his other wives similar things at the same price, or give them money equaling the price of what purchased.

he also mush share his time equally between all of his wives. he and his wives can decide how this will be divided.

and in Islam, men and women sign a marriage contract in which they can put all their stipulations they have... so if the woman stipulates that he cannot take another wife, then he cannot do so.

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now, in reality, however, this is not always practiced.... amongst Muslims when speaking of polygamny, I always hear them say:

"a man is allowed to have more than one wife"

but I always remind them that they should be saying:

"Some men are allowed to have more than one wife"

too many times there are Muslims who don't think that it is the right for "some" but that it is the right for "all" and they tend to forget that there is a rule that they must be able to provide for their wives equally.

then you get the men who marry and ignore one wife over the other, doesn't spend the same amount of money on each one, and doesn't spend equal time between each wife.

Answer 2

In one, distinguished Muslim country, it is asking for the stars to get a permission for second marriage. The existing wife must grant her own permission before the Law permits him. About the religious right, it is not there as a free for all. It is a strictly 'conditioned' permission. And the conditions are so strict, that, again, it is asking for the stars. The only reference to this, in the Holy Quran, is in Surah(chapter)4 in the Verse(ayah)2. While mentioning the 'conditions' the Divine Message adds,that it would not be possible to fulfill the conditions laid down, so suffice with One Wife Only. The jurists, after the Prophet, may have followed the local Arab customs to allow 4 marriages. The nonArab Muslims are amazed at that, and do not allow 4 wives, not even 2 wives. This answer is based on the Quranic references only.

Answer 3

I live in Togo. According to Muslim law the man can have up to 4 wives as long as he can treat them all equaly. Togolese law states however, that the wife can choose to register the marrage as either monagamous or polygamous. If its registerd as monagamous then the man can't marry any more wifes.

Many get around the law by conducting traditional weddings, these are not recognized by the government but are usully recognized by the religious communities as well as much of the population which dosent have the best knowlege of civil law.

Answer 4

yes legally up to 4 wives are allowed as long as you have the permission of your wife. another condition is that all have to be treatly equally. this is because the islamic law that you can marry other wives if you are able to support them. the main point of the marriage is support for the women. these marriages are not for pleasure. in smaller countries, and in the past, women relied on their fathers and husbands for homes and financial support. i'm not sure if it is a religious right or legal right. i dont support these type of marriages unless the circumstances call for it

Answer 5

well, according to sharia (islamic law), a man is allowed in certain situations but with strict conditions to marry more than 1 ( UPTO 4) women.
it is not an obligation. so, you won't see it very common in every muslim country, infact , only Arabs tend to keep more than 1 wife.
it was an old Arab custome to keep as many as 10 or 15 wives.

it doesnt apply to non-muslims living in any muslim country.

Answer 6

The Qu'ran says only 4.

4:3 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.

However Muhammad clearly broke this law and ask forgiveness in the Sahih Bukhari Volume 8: #s 335, 379, 407, and 408

Muhammad married total of twenty-eight women. - Sahih Bukhari Katadha'ha said Hazart Anash Ibn Malek narrated.

Answer 7

Technically possible but very rare.
Most instances occur when the wife is found to be barren and the couple still want children. Even in this it is the job of the first wife to select the woman who will be the mother.

This is all rather uncivilised of course compared to western men who just fornicate with whoever they like!

Answer 8

in islam, a man is allowed as many wives as he can maintain to a high standard and treat equally. If all of the wives are ok with this and no information is witheld from any of the wives, the man can marry as many as he likes although this is frowned apon by many westerners.
this is becasue it is seen as bad for a woman not to be married so teh man is simply preventing the woman feeling shame that she is not married and having children.

Answer 9

A traditional Muslim answer is four wives, and each must be treated equally. Another view is as many wives as you can afford, and again, each must be taken care of equally. It is legal, and has its roots in religious doctrine.

Answer 10

A man in Muslim tradition can have up to 4 wives, but each time he wants another wife, he must get an 'okay' from his previous wife or wives and must treat each wife equally.

As-Salamu Alaykum - Peace be upon you