A free man may not have more than four wives at one time, nor a slave¹ more than two, while someone who is at least half-free may have up to three².

If a man who already has the full legal number divorces one of them, it is unlawful³ for him to marry another in her place until her waiting period finishes; if she dies, this prohibition does not apply.

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A woman who has committed fornication is forbidden to her partner in sin and to everyone else until she repents and her waiting period has elapsed.

A wife divorced three times is forbidden to her former husband until she marries another man.

A woman in a state of consecration (iḥrām) is forbidden until she comes out of that state.

A Muslim woman is forbidden to a disbeliever,

and any non-Scriptural woman is forbidden to a Muslim.

A fully free man may not marry a slave-woman⁴—even one who is partially emancipated—unless he lacks the means to marry a free woman and fears falling into sin.

A child born to a slave-woman is not free unless freedom was stipulated or there was deception.

Should either spouse acquire ownership of the other, in whole or in part, the marriage is thereby annulled.

If, in a single contract, a man joins a woman who is lawful to him with one who is forbidden, the contract is valid only with respect to the lawful woman.