What is the legitimate Shar'i (Islamic legal) approach to dealing with the case of a man married to four women in one room, given his difficult circumstances and inability to provide privacy for each wife to engage in conjugal relations, especially since he prevents his wives from leaving to provide this privacy?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Polygyny is permissible on condition of justice and the ability to fulfill rights. The husband must provide maintenance, cohabitation, and separate lodging for each wife, unless the wife waives her right. It is not permissible to have intercourse with one wife in the presence of another, which necessitates that each wife have at least a private room. If the man is poor and cannot provide housing for each wife, he should content himself with one wife.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/69626
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 69626
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy