Renowned Pakistani actor Hamza Ali Abbasi is receiving widespread appreciation for his clear and contextual explanation of the Quranic verse on polygamy.
His old statement resurfaced after fellow actor Danish Taimoor faced criticism for saying that while Islam allows four marriages, he chooses to stay with one wife, Ayeza Khan, as a sign of love and respect.
This remark sparked debate, prompting discussions on the religious and historical context of polygamy in Islam.
A video clip of Hamza Ali Abbasi explaining this subject has since gone viral. In the video, he initially laughs at the question before giving a detailed explanation of the historical background of the Quranic verse, stating that he is content with one marriage.
View this post on Instagram
He explained that the Quranic permission for four marriages was granted under specific circumstances, particularly after the Battle of Uhud, when many companions were martyred, leaving behind widows and orphans without social support. Islam, therefore, provided a solution to protect them.
“At that time, Allah commanded that orphans should be cared for. If you believe you cannot do so properly, then you may marry their mothers—whether one, two, three, or four.”
However, Hamza emphasized that the Quran also warns about the difficulty of maintaining justice among multiple wives, making monogamy the preferred choice.
“Allah clearly states that if you fear you cannot uphold justice, then marry only one. This is also written in the same book.”
He further clarified that Islam did not command men to marry four times but instead restricted polygamy, which was previously unlimited in Arab society.
“Before Islam, Arab society had no limits on polygamy. Islam imposed a restriction—if you must marry more than one, then do not exceed four. But even in that case, the better option is to have only one wife.”
The Quran states in Surah An-Nisa (4:3):
“And if you fear that you will not deal justly with orphan girls, then marry those that please you from among the women—two, three, or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then (marry) only one or those whom your right hands possess. That is more suitable to prevent you from wrongdoing.”
