The ruling on polygyny in Islam
Polygyny is harus (permissible), not obligatory and not a sunnah required of every man. It is bound by weighty conditions, and those conditions are the heart of the discussion.
The foundational verse
فَٱنكِحُوا۟ مَا طَابَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَـٰثَ وَرُبَـٰعَ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ فَوَٰحِدَةً
"Then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then only one."
Surah an-Nisa' 4:3
Salah faham yang lazim — dan kedudukan sebenar
| Salah faham | Kedudukan sebenar |
|---|---|
| ✗ "Payung emas" | Tiada nas dalam al-Quran mahupun al-Hadith — rekaan (Risalah JHEAINS) |
| ✗ Isteri pertama boleh "mengharamkan" poligami | Isteri berhak membantah, tetapi tidak berhak mengharamkan hukum poligami |
| ✗ Kebenaran isteri pertama syarat undang-undang | Bukan syarat — tetapi "fakta tambahan yang kuat", dan isteri tetap dipanggil (JKSM) |
| ✗ Nikah di sempadan memintas undang-undang | Hanya menangguhkan masalah — tetap perlu disahkan dan didaftar melalui mahkamah, dengan hukuman |
The four legal conditions in Malaysia
The Syariah Court does not grant permission unless it is satisfied on all of the following:
Patut atau perlu
Perkahwinan yang dicadangkan itu patut atau perlu, memandang kepada keadaan seperti, antara lain, kemandulan, keuzuran jasmani, tidak layak dari segi jasmani untuk persetubuhan, sengaja ingkar mematuhi perintah untuk pemulihan hak-hak persetubuhan, atau gila di pihak isteri yang sedia ada.
Financial ability
The applicant has the means, as required by Hukum Syarak, to support all his wives and dependants, including persons who would become his dependants as a result of the proposed marriage.
Ability to treat wives equally
The applicant is able to accord equal treatment to all his wives as required by Hukum Syarak.
No darar syarie (harm)
The proposed marriage will not cause darar syarie (harm) to the existing wife — with regard to religion, life, body, mind, or property.
فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ فَوَٰحِدَةً
Permitted up to four — and if you fear injustice, only one
The verse that permits is the verse that limits. The permission and its condition come in a single breath.
Surah an-Nisa' 4:3One act, four rulings
The majority of scholars (jumhur) classify polygyny as harus (permissible) — but the ruling shifts according to the circumstances and intention of the person concerned.
If a man is certain he is unable to be just because of his weakness, or because of partiality and favouritism that could cause harm.
If it is merely for pleasure while the husband doubts his own ability to be just towards his wives.
The position of the majority of scholars. Permitted, not required — and it may shift to any of the other three according to the individual's circumstances.
If a husband with one wife cannot guard himself from zina and sin, or the wife is ill, or the wife is infertile while the husband wishes to have children.
The ruling is not fixed — it changes
This is the nuance most often lost. The majority of scholars classify polygyny as harus (permissible), but the ruling changes to sunat, makruh or haram according to the circumstances of the person concerned.
Harus
The position of the majority of scholars. Permitted, not required — and it may shift to any of the other three according to the individual's circumstances.
Sunat
If a husband with one wife cannot guard himself from zina and sin, or the wife is ill, or the wife is infertile while the husband wishes to have children.
Makruh
If it is merely for pleasure while the husband doubts his own ability to be just towards his wives.
Haram
If a man is certain he is unable to be just because of his weakness, or because of partiality and favouritism that could cause harm.
Quoted in the official leaflet of the Enforcement Division, JHEAINS Negeri Sembilan.
Common misconceptions
"The golden umbrella"
There is no text for it in the Quran or the Hadith. It is an invention and an untrue perspective. — JHEAINS Enforcement Leaflet
The first wife can "forbid" polygyny
A wife has the right to object to her husband taking another wife, but not the right to forbid the ruling of polygyny, because polygyny is lawful in Islam subject to the prescribed guidelines. — JHEAINS Enforcement Leaflet
The first wife's consent is a legal requirement
It is not a requirement. However, the court regards it as "a strong additional fact", and the existing wife will still be summoned to the hearing. — JKSM
Marrying across the border bypasses the law
It only postpones the problem. The marriage must eventually be validated and registered through the court, with a penalty. — JKSM
Two more clear points
Di Malaysia: permohonan didengar di Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah
Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah (Arahan Amalan JKSM No. 14/2006) — bukan di pejabat agama sahaja. Sahkan di kaunter mahkamah negeri anda.
Two sisters may not be married together
Diharamkan bagi suami menghimpunkan wanita-wanita yang masih ada tali persaudaraan antara mereka. an-Nisa' 4:23
Official figures
| perkahwinan poligami, 2023 Semenanjung + Sabah · turun ~47% daripada 3,064 (2019) · JKSM melalui Kementerian Agama |
1,609 |
| permohonan ditolak lebih satu pertiga permohonan ditolak Mahkamah Syariah (2019–2023) — The Straits Times, 20 Apr 2024 |
> 1/3 |
| permohonan diluluskan seluruh negara, 2010–2016 (jawapan bertulis Parlimen, dilaporkan Malay Mail 20 Mac 2017) |
8,808 |
| denda maksimum · kebanyakan negeri atau 6 bulan penjara, poligami tanpa kebenaran (WP s.123; Selangor s.124) — Sarawak RM3,000 atau 2 tahun (s.127) |
RM1,000 |
Pertikaian yang paling kerap timbul selepas poligami ialah mengenai nafkah dan giliran.
Sumber dinyatakan pada setiap baris; angka JKSM 2020 dan carta penuh di Statistik.
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