FatwaFederal TerritoriesMarriage & Family
AL-KAFI#260 : SUNNAHKAH BERPOLIGAMI?
Is practising polygamy a sunnah because the Prophet SAW did it?
Short answer
The answer explains that a ruling cannot be set merely because an act is attributed to the Prophet SAW, since Islamic rulings are also assessed by their causes and benefits.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Marriage & Family
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The answer explains that a ruling cannot be set merely because an act is attributed to the Prophet SAW, since Islamic rulings are also assessed by their causes and benefits. Polygamy may sometimes be needed, sometimes unnecessary, and it can even become an injustice. Based on Surah al-Nisa' verse 3, a man who fears he cannot be just should marry only one wife, considering maintenance, health, finances and physical capacity.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Ertinya, tidak boleh menetapkan hukum atas sesuatu berdasarkan zahir ianya sunnah atau tidak semata-mata, sebaliknya melihat kepada maslahat suatu perkara itu.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI#260 : SUNNAHKAH BERPOLIGAMI?”, 3 May 2016. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/1286-al-kafi-260-sunnahkah-berpoligami. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/is-polygamy-a-sunnah/