Q&A WITH DR SHAROFADEEN

QUESTION AND ANSWER WITH DR SHAROF GBADEBO ROOJI (HAFIDHOHULLAAH)

Questioner: A person who does not have the capability of marrying more than one wife marries two or more because of the hadeeth of the Prophet (sollaLloohu ‘alayhi wa sallam) which says, ‘…I will be proud of your great numbers before the nations…’ He lives in a single room with his two wives and their children. What can be said about this issue?

Dr Sharof: Everyone knows the answer to this question. This person did not follow the way of Prophet Muhammad (sollaLloohu ‘alayhi wa sallam). This action contradicts the teachings of Islaam. Did it really happen? Did it really happen or it is a fabricated question?

Besides, we have no authority to say that ‘so and so’ person is not capable of marrying two wives. Everyone knows himself better and can easily dictate if he is capable or not. It is not permissible for anybody to relegate the one who marries more than one wife. What concerns you about his personal affair? You should mind your own business. The Prophet (sollaLloohu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘From the perfection of one’s Islaam is his leaving that which does not concern him’. What concerns you about his personal affair? For this reason, let us fear Allaah.

If it really happened, is this an applaudable act? It is wrong to marry two wives in a room. Is it praiseworthy for people to say ‘so and so’ has a number of wives in a room? This is bad. We have said that according to the Sharee’ah, if two wives live in the same building but different rooms, it is not the best. Truly, there are people who detest whatever Islaam comes with, and they try as much as possible to make the Muslims detest it too. You must be cautious of their deception. If they see a person who has four wives but is not contented with his life, they may criticize him saying he has no house but yet proceeds to marry many wives. Is building a house from the conditions of marrying more than one wife? Is there any verse or hadeeth which makes it a condition? For this reason, anyone who is capable of marrying more than one wife should take the bold step. There is no problem about it. However, if you know you can’t be just amongst many wives, do not marry more than one. There is no problem with marrying only one wife; may Allaah have mercy on our children. That is it.

[SOURCE: QUESTION OF ANSWER SESSION OF THE TAPE TITLED, "CONCEPT OF NIKAAH"]

Translated by Aboo Aaishah Al Odeomeey