Abstract:
Polygamy means "when a man legally has more than one wife at the same time."
The claim that Islam introduced polygamy is inaccurate in world history. Instead,
Islam regulated and controlled the practice of polygamy, which existed before. For
example, Kailan ibn Salama had ten wives before Islam. Upon embracing Islam, the
Prophet (peace be upon him) asked all but four of them to divorce. In Islamic
jurisprudence, a second marriage is not obligatory but permissible. Fair treatment
between wives is a primary requirement for polygamy. Islamic scholars also
emphasize the importance of being able to meet the emotional and physical needs of
each wife and having the economic resources to support them as significant
qualifications for polygamy.
