women.” (1) That is, leave them alone, for the door is open to you. However, you cannot marry more than one wife if you fear that you will not be just. Thus, the meaning here is to clarify permissibility, not to encourage plural marriage.

Accordingly, restricting oneself to one wife is safer. Nevertheless, if a person feels that one wife will not suffice for him or keep him chaste, then we would tell him to marry a second, third, or fourth wife, so that he may attain peace of mind, lower his gaze, and find inner ease.

Religious, …

His statement, “religious”: that is, a woman of religion, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “A woman is married for four reasons: her wealth, her lineage, her beauty, and her religion. So seek the religious woman; may you prosper.” (2)

A religious woman assists him in obeying Allah, properly raises the children under her care, protects him in his absence, and safeguards his wealth and home. Unlike the irreligious woman, she may harm him in the future. This is why the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “So seek the religious woman.” If religion is accompanied by beauty, wealth, and lineage, then that is light upon light. Otherwise, what one ought to choose is the religious woman.

If a man has two women before him: one is beautiful and free of immorality or licentiousness, while the other is less beautiful but more religious, which should he choose? He should choose the more religious one.

Yet sometimes a person is infatuated with beauty, and if he knows that