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> Technically speaking, the Quran heavily restricts polygamy in Al-Nisa', 4:3 Al-Nisa 4:3 literally says: > Each man may marry two or three or four but do not

> Technically speaking, the Quran heavily restricts polygamy in Al-Nisa', 4:3 Al-Nisa 4:3 literally says: > Each man may marry two or three or four but do not exceed this I'm not sure if this counts as a heavy restriction. > [...] or restrict yourself to what your right hands own of slavegirls since these do not have the same rights as wives It also allows having an infinite number of slavegirls.

tristor 4y ago
This is open to interpretation, but the reading I've always heard for this passage is it is intended to restrict polygamy except in the case in which you are marrying orphan girls. "If you fear you might fail to give orphan women their ˹due˺ rights ˹if you were to marry them˺, then marry other women of your choice—two, three, or four. But if you are afraid you will fail to maintain justice, then ˹content yourselves with˺ one1 or those ˹bondwomen˺ in your possession.2 This way you are less likely to commit injustice." The reason I said passage 4:129 gives context is that it says "You will never be able to maintain ˹emotional˺ justice between your wives—no matter how keen you are. So do not totally incline towards one leaving the other in suspense.1 And if you do what is right and are mindful ˹of Allah˺, surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful." The interpretation I've heard is that while the Quran does not forbid polygamy, it restricts it by stating that it is required that you maintain equality between your wives and do not raise one above another, but advises that this is often impossible, so it is best to only have a single wife, and further that it is advised only to marry more than one wife in the case that you are marrying orphan girls. I am not Muslim, I am not a religious scholar, however I have read the major religious works of all of the major religions and some experts opinions of them, and this is my understanding. You may not consider this a "restriction", it's certainly rather loose, but it's been my interpretation that the Quran does not outright endorse unrestricted polygamy, it is allowed only in specific circumstances (orphanage), and advised against.
- selcuka 4y ago
  It is indeed open to intepretation, but given the prophet of the said book got married at least 11 times, and he had 9 wives when he died, I tend to interpret it in a different way.

tristor 4y ago

This is open to interpretation, but the reading I've always heard for this passage is it is intended to restrict polygamy except in the case in which you are marrying orphan girls. "If you fear you might fail to give orphan women their ˹due˺ rights ˹if you were to marry them˺, then marry other women of your choice—two, three, or four. But if you are afraid you will fail to maintain justice, then ˹content yourselves with˺ one1 or those ˹bondwomen˺ in your possession.2 This way you are less likely to commit injustice." The reason I said passage 4:129 gives context is that it says "You will never be able to maintain ˹emotional˺ justice between your wives—no matter how keen you are. So do not totally incline towards one leaving the other in suspense.1 And if you do what is right and are mindful ˹of Allah˺, surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful." The interpretation I've heard is that while the Quran does not forbid polygamy, it restricts it by stating that it is required that you maintain equality between your wives and do not raise one above another, but advises that this is often impossible, so it is best to only have a single wife, and further that it is advised only to marry more than one wife in the case that you are marrying orphan girls. I am not Muslim, I am not a religious scholar, however I have read the major religious works of all of the major religions and some experts opinions of them, and this is my understanding. You may not consider this a "restriction", it's certainly rather loose, but it's been my interpretation that the Quran does not outright endorse unrestricted polygamy, it is allowed only in specific circumstances (orphanage), and advised against.

selcuka 4y ago
It is indeed open to intepretation, but given the prophet of the said book got married at least 11 times, and he had 9 wives when he died, I tend to interpret it in a different way.