Short answer
Islam allows a second wife to meet real needs, but few Muslims do it. Pew Research found about 5 in 100 Muslims living in a home with more than one wife, most often in Africa. In Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Egypt, fewer than 1 in 100 Muslim men have more than one wife. A man may marry up to four only if he can be fair to each. Otherwise, the Qur'an says, one. The needs are real. Wars kill far more men than women, and the Prophet (ﷺ) married widows. In Russia there are about 87 men for every 100 women. And in Islam a husband must house and keep each wife, which no one owes a mistress. Abraham, Jacob and David each had more than one wife, and the Bible sets no limit for an ordinary man. A permission is never a duty, so a Muslim keeps the marriage law of the country he lives in (17:34).
Full explanation
A limit, and a condition of fairness
Before Islam an Arab could marry as many women as he liked. The Qur'an set the limit at four. It attaches a condition: if a man fears he cannot deal justly, then only one. It also warns that perfect fairness between wives is beyond him. So he must never neglect one and leave her hanging. A second wife is a permission with duties, never a command.
“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.”
“Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women, even if it is your ardent desire: But turn not away (from a woman) altogether, so as to leave her (as it were) hanging (in the air). If ye come to a friendly understanding, and practise self-restraint, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Allowed, but rare
Being allowed is not the same as being common. The Pew Research Center found that about 5% of Muslims, in the countries it studied, live in a home with more than one wife. It is most common in Africa south of the Sahara, where about a quarter of Muslims do. In Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Egypt, the law allows it for Muslims. Yet fewer than 1 in 100 Muslim men there live with more than one wife. In most of the Muslim countries studied, almost every married Muslim man has one wife. The reasons below explain why Islam keeps the door open, not why most Muslims go through it.
Drawing on Pew's 2019 study of living arrangements in 130 countries and territories, which found that about 5% of Muslims in the countries studied live in polygamous households, about a quarter of Muslims in sub-Saharan Africa, and noted that data were missing from some Gulf countries where polygamy is legal, says only about 2% of the world's population lives in polygamous households, and that in the great majority of countries the share is under 0.5%. Fewer than 1% of Muslim men live with more than one spouse in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Egypt, all countries where the practice is legal at least for Muslims. It is most common in parts of Africa. The study did not cover Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and some neighbouring countries.
Widows and orphans after war
War has always killed far more men than women, and it left the first Muslims with many widows and orphans. Anas ibn Malik, a Companion of the Prophet (ﷺ), said that seventy men of the Ansar, the Muslims of Medina, were killed at the battle of Uhud. Seventy more were killed at Bir Ma'una, and seventy at al-Yamama. The verse that allows a man up to four wives begins: "If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans". The Prophet (ﷺ) himself married widows. Hafsah was widowed when her husband Khunays died. Umm Salamah was left with children when Abu Salamah died. A second marriage gave a woman like this a husband, and her children a home.
Qatada reports that no Arab tribe lost more martyrs than the Ansar, the Muslims of Medina. Anas ibn Malik told him that seventy of the Ansar were killed on the day of Uhud, seventy on the day of Bir Ma'una, and seventy on the day of al-Yamama.
“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.”
Umar reports that when his daughter Hafsah was widowed by the death of Khunays ibn Hudhafah, a Companion who died in Medina, he offered her in marriage first to Uthman and then to Abu Bakr. Neither accepted, and some days later the Prophet (ﷺ) asked for her hand.
Umm Salama reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) taught: when a Muslim struck by a calamity says what Allah commanded, "To Allah we belong and to Him we return; O Allah, reward me in my affliction and give me something better in its place", Allah gives him something better. When her husband Abu Salama died she wondered who could be better than him, but she said the words, and Allah gave her the Messenger of Allah in marriage.
A husband must keep each wife
In Islam a husband must provide for his wife. The Qur'an says a father "shall bear the cost of their food and clothing on equitable terms" for the mother nursing his child. And it says each man spends according to his means. When Hind complained that her husband gave too little, the Prophet (ﷺ) told her to take what she and her children fairly needed. A woman left alone, with no husband or family to keep her, can be married as a full wife. Then she has every right to be housed and kept. A mistress has no such right, and no man owes her anything.
“The mothers shall give such to their offspring for two whole years, if the father desires to complete the term. But he shall bear the cost of their food and clothing on equitable terms. No soul shall have a burden laid on it greater than it can bear. No mother shall be Treated unfairly on account of her child. Nor father on account of his child, an heir shall be chargeable in the same way. If they both decide on weaning, by mutual consent, and after due consultation, there is no blame on them. If ye decide on a foster-mother for your offspring, there is no blame on you, provided ye pay (the mother) what ye offered, on equitable terms. But fear Allah and know that Allah sees well what ye do.”
“Let the man of means spend according to his means: and the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allah has given him. Allah puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given him. After a difficulty, Allah will soon grant relief.”
Aisha reports that Hind bint Utba complained that her husband Abu Sufyan was a miser who did not give her enough for herself and her children. The Prophet (ﷺ) told her to take what was enough for her and her children, in a fair and reasonable amount.
Where women outnumber men
Across the whole world, the numbers of men and women are close to even. But women live longer. The World Factbook gives women a life expectancy of 72.6 years, against 68.4 for men. Among people over 65, there are only about 81 men for every 100 women. In some countries, women outnumber men across the whole population. The Factbook gives about 87 men for every 100 women in Russia and Latvia, 86 in Lithuania and 88 in Belarus. Where that is so, a rule of one wife for every man leaves many women with no husband at all.
For the world as a whole, gives a sex ratio of 1.01 males per female across the whole population (2024), 0.81 males per female among people aged 65 and over, and life expectancy at birth of 68.4 years for men and 72.6 for women. For whole populations it gives 0.87 males per female in Russia and Latvia, 0.86 in Lithuania and 0.88 in Belarus, and among those aged 65 and over between 0.51 and 0.53 in each of these countries.
What every wife is owed
No woman may be married without her consent. The Prophet (ﷺ) undid a marriage forced on a woman by her father. Each wife receives her own dowry as a free gift, and her husband must provide for her. The Prophet (ﷺ) told a neglected wife she could take what she and her children fairly needed. Each of his own wives had her own home, and the Qur'an speaks to them of "your houses". He gave each wife a day and a night, and drew lots to choose which would travel with him. The Qur'an commands husbands to live with their wives in kindness and equity.
Abu Huraira reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said a woman who has been married before is not to be married again without being consulted, and a virgin is not to be married without her permission.
Khansa bint Khidam, who had been married before, reports that her father married her off against her wishes, so she went to the Prophet (ﷺ), and he declared the marriage invalid.
“And give the women (on marriage) their dower as a free gift; but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, Take it and enjoy it with right good cheer.”
Aisha reports that Hind bint Utba complained that her husband Abu Sufyan was a miser who did not give her enough for herself and her children. The Prophet (ﷺ) told her to take what was enough for her and her children, in a fair and reasonable amount.
“And stay quietly in your houses, and make not a dazzling display, like that of the former Times of Ignorance;”
Aisha reports that in his final illness the Prophet (ﷺ) kept asking his wives where he would stay the next day, looking forward to her turn. His wives allowed him to stay where he wished, and he stayed in Aisha's house until he died there, on the day of her usual turn.
Aisha reports that whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) set out on a journey he drew lots among his wives and took the one whose lot came out. He fixed for each of his wives a day and a night, though Sawdah gave her day and night to Aisha, hoping to please him.
“O ye who believe! Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may Take away part of the dower ye have given them,-except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good.”
Her own conditions, and her way out
The Prophet (ﷺ) said that the conditions of a marriage contract have the greatest right to be kept. In the Hanbali school, following a ruling of Umar, a bride may make it a condition that her husband takes no other wife. Umar was the second caliph, who led the Muslims after Abu Bakr. A bride who sets this condition may leave her husband if he breaks it. The other three schools do not hold the condition binding. A wife who cannot bear to stay may also have the marriage ended at her own request. The wife of Thabit ibn Qays found no fault in him. Yet the Prophet (ﷺ) had him release her once she returned her dowry.
Uqba ibn Amir reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: of all the conditions you must fulfil, the conditions of the marriage contract have the greatest right to be fulfilled.
Rules that if a man marries a woman on the condition that he will not take another wife, the condition binds him, and if he breaks it she may dissolve the marriage. He reports this from Umar ibn al-Khattab, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, Mu'awiyah and Amr ibn al-As, and records that Malik, al-Shafi'i and the Hanafi scholars did not hold such conditions binding.
The wife of Thabit ibn Qais told the Prophet (ﷺ) she had no complaint about her husband's character or religion, but she could not stay with him. The Prophet asked whether she would give back the garden he had given her as dower. She agreed, and the Prophet told Thabit to take it back and divorce her.
The prophets had more than one wife
The Bible tells of prophets with more than one wife, and never blames Abraham, Jacob or David for it. Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham "to be his wife", and after Sarah's death Abraham took another wife, Keturah. Jacob married the sisters Leah and Rachel, and each gave him her maid as a wife as well. David took more wives in Jerusalem, and Solomon had seven hundred wives. Islam honours all of them as prophets. The permission Islam gives was not new; it was limited and bound with rules.
“And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.”
“Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.”
“And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.”
“And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.”
“When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.”
“And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.”
“And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.”
What the Bible says about several wives
The Law of Moses sets no number of wives for an ordinary man. Its only limit is on a king, who must not "multiply wives to himself". Even that names no number. The Law of Moses regulates a second wife rather than forbidding one. In the book of Samuel, Nathan tells David that God (﷾) gave him his master's wives. Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. The account in Kings faults him because his foreign wives turned his heart to other gods. The only "one wife" rule in the New Testament is for church officers: a bishop must be "the husband of one wife".
“Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.”
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;”
“And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.”
“If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.”
“And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.”
What Jews, churches and Mormons did
Martin Luther, the German church reformer of the sixteenth century, admitted that Scripture does not forbid having several wives. In 1539 he and two other Reformers approved a second wife for Philip of Hesse, a Protestant prince. The Talmud, the Jewish book of law and teaching, advises no more than four wives, so that each gets what she is owed. The Jews of Germany and northern France banned it only around the year 1000. Jewish communities in Muslim lands never accepted that ban, and went on allowing it. In 1843 Joseph Smith, who founded the Mormons, announced a revelation setting up plural marriage, which he had already practised for years. Many Mormons took several wives, until American law forced their church to withdraw its approval.
Asked whether a man might take more than one wife, Luther replied that he could not forbid it, since it does not contradict Scripture, though he did not wish to see the practice brought in among Christians.
Luther, Melanchthon and Bucer signed written advice to Landgrave Philip of Hesse, a Protestant prince, allowing him to take a second wife while his first wife lived, and asking that it be kept secret. What the law of Moses permitted in marriage, they wrote, was not forbidden in the Gospel. Philip married Margarethe von der Saale on 4 March 1540.
Rava rules that a man may marry many wives provided he can support them, and the Sages add the advice that a man should not marry more than four, so that each wife has her due share of him.
Explains that biblical and Talmudic law allowed a man more than one wife; that the ban on polygamy attributed to Rabbenu Gershom of Mainz, about the year 1000, bound the Jews of Germany and northern France; and that Jewish communities in Muslim lands, which did not accept the ban, went on allowing it.
Says Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter-Day Saints, announced a revelation of 12 July 1843 establishing polygamy, which he had practised personally for several years, and claimed a command to restore plural marriage. Polygamy became a principle of the Mormon creed, preached by the elders and practised by the leaders and many of the people, until Congress outlawed it, the Supreme Court upheld the law, and the church's president, Wilford Woodruff, issued a Manifesto withdrawing the church's sanction from marriages forbidden by the law of the land.
A wife in Islam, a mistress in the West
In England, a man who marries a second wife while the first is alive can be jailed for up to seven years. But no law punishes him for keeping a mistress. She has no contract, no marriage gift, no right to a home, and none of a wife's rights. Henry VIII, the first Supreme Head of the Church of England, was allowed only one wife at a time. So he married six, one after another, and got rid of four of them, by annulment or by the executioner. Islam forbids the secret relationship outright. It gives every woman a man marries, first or fourth, every right a wife has. A second wife is a permission, never a duty. So no Muslim need break the marriage law of the country he lives in, and the Qur'an tells him to keep it (17:34).
Makes it an offence in England and Wales for a married person to marry anyone else while their husband or wife is still living. The maximum punishment today is seven years' imprisonment.
A history of the six marriages of Henry VIII, first Supreme Head of the Church of England: his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled after his break with Rome; Anne Boleyn, her marriage annulled and she beheaded in 1536; Jane Seymour dead after giving birth to his son; his marriage to Anne of Cleves annulled within months; Catherine Howard beheaded in 1542; and Catherine Parr, who outlived him.
“Come not nigh to the orphan's property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength; and fulfil (every) engagement, for (every) engagement will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning).”
English law: a second wife and a mistress
- In England, a man who marries a second wife while the first is alive faces up to seven years in prison.
- No law punishes him for keeping a mistress.
- The mistress has no contract, no dowry, no right to a home and none of a wife's rights.
- Henry VIII, first Supreme Head of the Church of England, was allowed one wife at a time. So he married six, one after another, and cleared four of them out of the way, by annulment or by the executioner.
Verse by verse
Matthew 19:4-6 — Gospel of Matthew, chapter 19, verses 4-6
“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
Cited for
One flesh means one man and one woman. Jesus restored God's original design, which rules out a second wife.
The response
Jesus was answering a question about divorce, and he forbids a man to put away his wife. He says nothing against a man who keeps his wife and takes a second. In verse 8, what Moses allowed is divorce, not a second wife. The Law of Moses regulates the man who takes another wife. In the book of Samuel, Nathan tells David that God (﷾) gave him his master's wives. Abraham, Jacob and David each had more than one wife. The New Testament asks for one wife only of church officers: a bishop must be "the husband of one wife". Luther admitted he could not forbid it, since it does not contradict Scripture.
Where it lands — The passage forbids divorce; it sets no rule on the number of wives, and the rest of Scripture shows several wives accepted.
Perspectives
Christian
Christians hold that God's design for marriage is one man and one woman. They read Jesus' words that the two become one flesh as ruling out more than one wife.
Jesus says that a man holds fast to his wife and the two become one flesh. Christians read this as ruling out a second wife.
Rebuttal
Jesus was answering a question about divorce. "One flesh" is said of a man and his wife, against breaking their bond. In verse 8, what Moses allowed "because of the hardness of your hearts" is divorce, not a second wife. The Law of Moses protects the first wife's rights when a man takes another. And Abraham, Jacob and David each had more than one wife.
The Islamic perspective
Islam put a limit on a custom that had none, and that prophets before it had practised, and bound it with fairness. Few Muslims practise it today. The permission meets real needs. Wars leave widows and orphans. A woman alone may have no one to keep her. And in some countries women outnumber men. It allows a second wife only with full rights for each woman. Every wife is protected by her consent, her marriage gift, her keep, a home, an equal share of time, and a way out.
The Qur'an allows up to four wives only on condition of fairness. Where a man fears he cannot be fair, it commands one wife.
The Qur'an set a limit of four on a custom that had none.
Few Muslims practise it. About 5 in 100 live in a home with more than one wife. In Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Egypt, fewer than 1 in 100 Muslim men have more than one wife.
Abraham, Jacob and David each had more than one wife, and the Bible never blames them for it.
Seventy of the Muslim men of Medina were killed at Uhud alone. And the Prophet (ﷺ) married widows, such as Hafsah and Umm Salamah.
Women live longer than men. In some countries, such as Russia and Latvia, there are about 87 men for every 100 women.
Every wife must consent, and receives her own dowry and provision.
Each of the Prophet's (ﷺ) wives had her own home and an equal share of his days and nights.
In the Hanbali school a bride may bar a second wife in her contract, and may leave if the condition is broken. The other three schools do not hold the condition binding.
A wife may have the marriage ended at her own request by returning her dowry.
The Bible sets no limit on the number of wives an ordinary man may have. And leading Reformers admitted that Scripture does not forbid it.
English law punishes marrying a second wife with up to seven years in prison.