Have you ever thought about why Islam allows men to have up to four wives and unlimited slave girls, and why Muhammad had so many wives himself, but he stopped his son-in-law Ali from taking just a second wife? This looks like a clear case of one rule for everyone else and a different rule for his own family. If polygamy is fair and allowed by God, why protect only his daughter Fatimah from it? Muslims, doesn’t this make you question if the rules are truly just for all?
The General Rules for Polygamy in Islam
Islam sets clear rules for marriage. Men can marry up to four wives if they can treat them fairly, and they can have as many slave girls as they want for relations.
Quran 4:3 Arabic: وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تُقْسِطُوا فِي الْيَتَامَىٰ فَانكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُم مِّنَ النِّسَاءِ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا فَوَاحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَلَّا تَعُولُوا. English: And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls, 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 [marry only] one or those your right hand possesses. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice].
This verse talks about justice. But why no limit on slave girls? Another verse allows relations with them:
Quran 23:5-6 Arabic: وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ. English: And they who guard their private parts except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed.
Muslims, if justice is key, why allow unlimited slaves but limit wives to four? Doesn’t this show the rules favor men in a way that might not be fair?
Muhammad’s Special Permissions for Multiple Marriages
Muhammad got special rules in the Quran that let him have more than four wives. He could marry any believing woman who offered herself, and more.
Quran 33:50 Arabic: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَحْلَلْنَا لَكَ أَزْوَاجَكَ اللَّاتِي آتَيْتَ أُجُورَهُنَّ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ مِمَّا أَفَاءَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمِّكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمَّاتِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالَاتِكَ اللَّاتِي هَاجَرْنَ مَعَكَ وَامْرَأَةً مُّؤْمِنَةً إِن وَهَبَتْ نَفْسَهَا لِلنَّبِيِّ إِنْ أَرَادَ النَّبِيُّ أَن يَسْتَنكِحَهَا خَالِصَةً لَّكَ مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۗ قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا فَرَضْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِي أَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ لِكَيْلَا يَكُونَ عَلَيْكَ حَرَجٌ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا. English: O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful to you your wives to whom you have given their due compensation and those your right hand possesses from what Allah has returned to you [of captives] and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you and a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet [and] if the Prophet wishes to marry her, [this is] only for you, excluding the [other] believers. We certainly know what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and those their right hands possess, [but this is for you] in order that there will be upon you no discomfort. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
How many did he have? According to Tibyan Ul Quran, Volume 9, Page 418 (Tafsir of Surah Al-Ahzab Ayat 28-30), Muhammad married 28 women in his lifetime, including wives and concubines.
The Double Standard: No Second Wife for Ali
When Ali wanted to marry a second wife—the daughter of Abu Jahl—while married to Fatimah, Muhammad said no. Ali had to divorce Fatimah first, because it would hurt her, and hurting her hurts him. But polygamy is allowed for others!
Sahih Muslim 2449a (Sahih) Arabic: حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يُونُسَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ اللَّيْثِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ ابْنُ يُونُسَ حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ الْقُرَشِيُّ التَّيْمِيُّ، أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ ” إِنَّ بَنِي هِشَامِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ اسْتَأْذَنُونِي أَنْ يُنْكِحُوا ابْنَتَهُمْ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَلاَ آذَنُ لَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ آذَنُ لَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ آذَنُ لَهُمْ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُحِبَّ ابْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَ ابْنَتِي وَيَنْكِحَ ابْنَتَهُمْ فَإِنَّمَا ابْنَتِي بَضْعَةٌ مِنِّي يَرِيبُنِي مَا رَابَهَا وَيُؤْذِينِي مَا آذَاهَا ”. English: The sons of Hisham b. Mughira have asked my permission to marry their daughter with ‘Ali b. Abi Talib (that refers to the daughter of Abu Jahl for whom ‘All had sent a proposal for marriage). But I would not allow them, I would not allow them, I would not allow them (and the only alternative possible is) that ‘Ali should divorce my daughter (and then marry their daughter), for my daughter is part of me. He who disturbs her in fact disturbs me and he who offends her offends me.
This is backed by another Sahih Hadith:
Sahih al-Bukhari 5230 (Sahih) Arabic: حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ مُرَّةَ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” إِنَّ بَنِي هِشَامِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ اسْتَأْذَنُوا فِي أَنْ يُنْكِحُوا ابْنَتَهُمْ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَلاَ آذَنُ لَهُمْ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَ ابْنَتِي وَيَنْكِحَ ابْنَتَهُمْ إِنَّ ابْنَتِي بَضْعَةٌ مِنِّي يُرِيبُنِي مَا أَرَابَهَا وَيُؤْذِينِي مَا آذَاهَا ”. English: Narrated Al-Miswar bin Makhrama: I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) who was on the pulpit, saying, “Banu Hisham bin Al-Mughira have requested me to allow them to marry their daughter to Ali bin Abu Talib, but I don’t give permission, and will not give permission unless ‘Ali bin Abi Talib divorces my daughter in order to marry their daughter, because Fatima is a part of my body, and I hate what she hates to see, and what hurts her, hurts me.”
Yet another version stresses he doesn’t change halal to haram, but still forbids it:
Sahih al-Bukhari 3729 (Sahih) Arabic: حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَطُوفُ عَلَى نِسَائِهِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَلَهُ تِسْعُ نِسْوَةٍ. وَفِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَطُوفُ عَلَى نِسَائِهِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَلَهُ تِسْعُ نِسْوَةٍ. English: Narrated Al-Miswar bin Makhrama: ‘Ali demanded the hand of the daughter of Abu Jahl. Fatimah heard of this and went to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) saying, “Your people think that you do not become angry for the sake of your daughters as ‘Ali is now going to marry the daughter of Abu Jahl.” On that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) got up and after his recitation of Tashahhud. I heard him saying, “Then after! I married one of my daughters to Abu Al-‘As bin Al-Rabi’ (the husband of Zainab, the daughter of the Prophet (ﷺ) ) before Islam and he proved truthful in telling me and promises made by him were never broken. No doubt Fatimah is a part of me, I hate to see her being troubled. By Allah, the daughter of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and the daughter of Allah’s Enemy cannot be the wives of one man.” So ‘Ali gave up that engagement.
Muhammad knew polygamy could cause pain, yet he practiced it widely. Why the special protection for Fatimah? Muslims, if it hurts women, why allow it for others but not his daughter? This challenges the fairness of Islam’s marriage rules.
Addressing the Counterargument: Was Muhammad’s Prohibition Specific or General?
Muslims often argue that Muhammad only stopped Ali from marrying the daughter of Abu Jahl because she was from an enemy family (Abu Jahl was a major opponent of Islam, killed at Badr), not because he was against Ali having a second wife in general. They say it was about not combining the “daughter of the Messenger” with the “daughter of Allah’s enemy” under one husband, as per the Hadith where the Prophet says: “By Allah, the daughter of Allah’s Messenger and the daughter of Allah’s Enemy cannot be the wives of one man.”
But let’s look deeper. The Hadith also shows the Prophet’s main concern was the hurt it would cause Fatimah due to jealousy: “Fatimah is a part of me, and I hate to see her being troubled.” He feared it might even test her faith. While he notes he doesn’t make halal haram (polygamy is allowed), he effectively requires Ali to divorce Fatimah to marry this woman.
Was this just for this one case? History says no. Ali did not marry any other woman while Fatimah was alive—their marriage lasted about 10 years until her death in 11 AH. After that, Ali married up to 9 more wives and had concubines, fathering many children.
1. No Additional Marriages During Fatimah’s Lifetime
Ali remained monogamous with Fatimah throughout her life, as confirmed in Hadith collections and Sirah works. This is often linked to the Prophet’s intervention in the proposed marriage to Abu Jahl’s daughter, implying a general restriction.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 5230 (Sahih) Arabic: حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ مُرَّةَ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” إِنَّ بَنِي هِشَامِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ اسْتَأْذَنُوا فِي أَنْ يُنْكِحُوا ابْنَتَهُمْ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَلاَ آذَنُ لَهُمْ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَ ابْنَتِي وَيَنْكِحَ ابْنَتَهُمْ إِنَّ ابْنَتِي بَضْعَةٌ مِنِّي يُرِيبُنِي مَا أَرَابَهَا وَيُؤْذِينِي مَا آذَاهَا ”. English: Narrated Al-Miswar bin Makhrama: I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) who was on the pulpit, saying, “Banu Hisham bin Al-Mughira have requested me to allow them to marry their daughter to Ali bin Abu Talib, but I don’t give permission, and will not give permission unless ‘Ali bin Abi Talib divorces my daughter in order to marry their daughter, because Fatima is a part of my body, and I hate what she hates to see, and what hurts her, hurts me.” (This Hadith implies Ali did not pursue other marriages while Fatimah lived, as no other incidents are recorded in major sources.)
- Tarikh al-Tabari (by al-Tabari, Vol. 9, p. 129 in English trans.): Al-Tabari notes that Ali’s marriage to Fatimah was exclusive during her lifetime, with no mentions of other wives until after her death in 11 AH. Historical biographies in the text emphasize Ali’s devotion.
- Ansab al-Ashraf (by al-Baladhuri, Vol. 1, p. 405): Al-Baladhuri lists Ali’s wives starting with Fatimah and states he did not marry others until after her passing, aligning with the Prophet’s protective stance toward his daughter.
Scholars like those in al-Tabaqat al-Kabir (Ibn Sa’d) interpret this as a condition in their marriage contract, preventing polygamy while Fatimah lived.
2. Duration of Marriage to Fatimah
The marriage occurred in 2 AH (after the Battle of Badr), and Fatimah died in 11 AH (about 6 months after the Prophet’s death). This gives a duration of approximately 9 years, though some sources approximate it as 10 years due to calendar variations.
- Sirat al-Nabawiyyah (by Ibn Hisham, Vol. 3, p. 201): The marriage took place in 2 AH, with Fatimah aged about 15-18 (variants exist). Ibn Hisham details the Prophet arranging the union post-Hijrah.
- Tarikh al-Tabari (by al-Tabari, Vol. 2, p. 410): Confirms the marriage in 2 AH and Fatimah’s death in 11 AH, spanning 9 lunar years.
- al-Tabaqat al-Kabir (by Ibn Sa’d, Vol. 8, p. 26): States Fatimah was 18 at consummation (2 AH), and she died at 29 in 11 AH, confirming ~9 years.
3. Wives and Children After Fatimah’s Death
Ali married up to 8 more wives (totaling 9 including Fatimah) and had concubines. Sources vary slightly on exact numbers, but he fathered many children (27-36 total, including from Fatimah).
- Ansab al-Ashraf (by al-Baladhuri, Vol. 1, pp. 402-405): Lists Ali’s wives as: Fatimah (first), then Umamah bint Abi al-As, Umm al-Banin (Fatimah bint Hizam), Layla bint Mas’ud, Asma’ bint Umays, Khawla bint Ja’far, al-Sahba’ bint Rabi’ah, Umm Sa’id bint Urwah, and Muhayyah bint Imru’ al-Qays. This totals 9 wives. Al-Baladhuri notes concubines produced additional children.
- Tarikh al-Tabari (by al-Tabari, Vol. 39, Biographies section): Mentions Ali had 27 children (14 sons, 13 daughters), with lineages from 5 sons: Hasan, Husayn, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, Abbas, and Umar. Wives after Fatimah are listed similarly, with concubines adding to the progeny.
- al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah (by Ibn Kathir, Vol. 7, p. 332): Confirms 9 wives total and 33 children (15 sons, 18 daughters). Sons include Hasan, Husayn, Muhsin (miscarried), Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, Abbas, Umar, Uthman, Ja’far, Abdullah, Yahya, Awn, etc. Daughters include Zaynab, Umm Kulthum, Ruqayyah, etc.
- Kitab al-Irshad (by al-Mufid, p. 268): Lists 27 children, matching al-Tabari, and notes only Hasan, Husayn, Muhammad, Abbas, and Umar continued lineages.
Why no other wives during her life? Islamic sources suggest a general condition:
- Some scholars say it was stipulated in Ali and Fatimah’s marriage contract that he wouldn’t take a second wife (Al-Iftaa Jordan).
- Others interpret the Hadith as the Prophet placing a condition on Ali not to marry another while with Fatimah (Islam Stack Exchange).
- One view is that the Prophet had a unique rule: his sons-in-law couldn’t practice polygamy while married to his daughters (IslamQA).
Look at his other daughters: Uthman married Ruqayyah and then Umm Kulthum sequentially, not polygamously. Abu al-As was monogamous with Zaynab.
Muslims, if it was only about the enemy daughter, why no record of Ali marrying a different second wife? Why remain monogamous? The evidence points to a broader ban to protect Fatimah from polygamy’s pain—pain Muhammad ignored for his own wives. Doesn’t this still show a double standard?