Knowledgeable husbands and wives
MYPolygyny is an awareness site for Muslim husbands and wives — teaching the rights, responsibilities, adab and rulings of marriage, including polygyny, guided by the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and the Islamic family law of Malaysia, the ASEAN countries and Saudi Arabia & the Middle East.
At a glance
What we stand for
- Justice before intention — if justice cannot be upheld, marry only one
- Open, not secret — no quiet, overseas or court-unapproved marriages
- Every wife's and child's rights protected — maintenance, housing, rotation and inheritance
- The court decides — guides help you prepare, they do not decide
- Sourced — no source, no publication
Four bases of reference
Who we are
MYPolygyny was set up for one purpose: so that every husband and wife is knowledgeable as a Muslim. Knowledge of married life is part of personal religious obligation (fardu ain) — "protect yourselves and your families" (at-Tahrim 66:6). We help brides- and grooms-to-be, husbands, wives and families understand what the Shariah permits, what it requires of them, and what the law requires — including those who are considering or living in polygyny. We are not a matchmaking agency, and we neither encourage nor discourage anyone from polygyny. We explain its conditions, so that decisions are made with knowledge, honesty and fairness.
Our foundations
The permission to marry up to four comes with its condition: justice. "But if you fear that you will not be just, then (marry) only one." Polygyny is permissible (harus) — not obligatory, and not a sunnah required of every man.
Love in the heart cannot be made fully equal — but "do not incline completely (to one) and leave the other as if hanging". The justice required is in matters that can be controlled: nafkah (maintenance), housing, turn-taking in time and treatment.
He divided the rotation of nights among his wives, and when he wanted to travel he drew lots for who would accompany him (Sahih al-Bukhari 2593). He also warned: whoever has two wives and inclines to one of them will come on the Day of Resurrection with one side of his body leaning (Sunan Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi).
In Malaysia, a polygynous marriage requires the prior written permission of the Syariah High Court (JKSM Practice Direction No. 14/2006); the court assesses whether it is just or necessary, financial ability, the ability to be fair, and harm recognised by Syariah law (darar syarie) to the existing wife. Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states have their own rules — see Choose a country.
What we stand for
- Justice before intention. If justice cannot be upheld, the Shariah itself commands marrying only one.
- Transparent, not secret. We do not help with marriages that bypass your country's law — quietly, or without the permission that is required.
- The rights of every wife and child are protected. Maintenance, housing, turn-taking and inheritance — each one has their rights.
- The court decides. Our calculators and guides help you prepare; the actual decision is made by the Syariah Court or the religious authorities in your state or country.
- Sourced. Every figure and name we publish comes with its source. If there is no source, we do not publish it.
How we can help
Condition
The four conditions assessed by the court, explained one by one.
Affordability calculator
Writing down your income and commitments honestly before making a decision.
Procedure
Steps to apply for permission at the Syariah Court.
Women's rights
The rights of the existing wife and the prospective wife.
Ask
Send in your question; selected answers are published.
Counselling
Where to turn for help.
Choose a country
Malaysia, ASEAN, Saudi Arabia & the Middle East — the law of each country.
Disclaimer
MYPolygyny is a general reference centre on marriage and polygyny in Islam, focused on Malaysia, the ASEAN countries and Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, with brief overviews of other countries. It covers Shariah rulings with their evidence and the differences between the madhhabs, each country's law and procedure, statistics from the official sources named, 550 questions and answers, and tools such as the calculator. It is not legal advice and not a fatwa: laws and figures change, and in Malaysia every state has its own enactment, courts, forms and fees. For a binding decision, consult your local religious authority, a Syarie lawyer or the Syariah court where you live.
Editorial policy, sources and corrections
Every ruling is supported by the Qur'an (surah:verse), hadith with standard numbering (Sahih al-Bukhari/Muslim: Fuad Abdul Baqi) and a grade for hadith outside the two Sahihs, and statutes with their sections. Weak (da'if) hadith are not used as evidence.
Content is cross-checked against the original sources before publication; last full review: 5 October 2026 (about 1,700 references checked). Differences of opinion between the schools are presented fairly — we do not issue fatwas.
Found a mistake? Use the comment box below any page. Valid corrections are made within 7 days, and significant changes are recorded with the date.
No advertising, no paid content, and we are not a matchmaking agency. We accept no payment to list any individual, lawyer or service.
Contact us
Use the Ask page for questions, or the comment box below for feedback, corrections and suggestions. We do not ask for personal details; an e-mail is needed only if you want a reply.
Comments or feedback
Read only by the MYPolygyny administrator — never published.
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