Second: to increase the progeny of the Ummah, for increasing the progeny of the Ummah is among the matters beloved to the Prophet ﷺ (1). Moreover, increasing the Ummah’s progeny is a cause of its strength and honor. This is why Shuʿayb ﷺ said to his people:

“Remember when you were few, and He increased you in number.” [al-Aʿrāf 7:86]

And Allah bestowed this favor upon the Children of Israel when He said:

“And We made you greater in number.” [al-Isrāʾ 17:6]

Third: to safeguard his private parts and those of his wife, and to lower his gaze and hers. Fulfillment of sexual desire comes after that.

The author then moved from explaining the ruling on marriage to explaining whom one should marry, in terms of number and qualities. As for the number, he said:

“It is sunnah to marry one woman, …”

His statement, “It is sunnah to marry one woman,” means no more than one. The scholars differed concerning this issue. Some scholars held that one should marry more than one wife, provided that he has the financial means and physical ability to fulfill their rights. In that case, it is better for him to marry more than one, so as to attain the benefits of marriage; and the potential harms are outweighed by those benefits. Moreover, the Prophet ﷺ had several wives, and Ibn ʿAbbās said: “The best of this Ummah are those with the most wives.” (2)

Yet it is well known that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not take multiple wives merely to satisfy desire, but for the sake of benefit