One of the major surahs of the Quran (the 4th surah, consisting of 175 verses) is called "Nisa," which translates from Arabic as "Women." This surah addresses issues related to women - mothers, sisters, and daughters, and thus also concerns family matters.
"And if you fear that you will not be just to the orphans, 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]" (verse 3).
This sacred verse is interpreted by me as follows (referring to the translation of the interpretation of the sacred Quran published in Uzbek by Alaudin Mansur):
According to Sharia, a person who adopts an orphan girl who has lost her parents has the right to marry her. However, in many such cases, efforts are often made to marry her cheaply: the groom tries not to allocate a significant mahr (dowry) for the bride, which is considered her property thereafter. Therefore, the Quran permits marrying two, three, or four women, allowed to them, if they fear that they will not be just to the orphans, and immediately emphasizes that they must be just with them.
This law in Islam was introduced to regulate polygamy, which was widespread at the time of the Quran's revelation. Under the authority of one man, there were often ten women, deprived of justice, respect, attention, and rights. With the acceptance of Islam, this law was introduced, stating that there should be no more than four wives and that a husband must be just with them. But if the goal of Islam was to achieve justice, why then was one man not commanded to marry only one woman?
Scholars knowledgeable in classical Islam respond to this question: "It is well known that Islam is a reality. It will not take unreal paths (when calling a person to a righteous life). Therefore, this law also takes into account real human life."
• Firstly, it is known from centuries of observation that more girls are born than boys;
• Secondly, women live longer than men;
• Thirdly, in various tragedies, particularly in wars and disasters, men more often perish.
For these and other reasons, the number of women always exceeds the number of men. Thus, for one man to marry only one woman would be cruelty towards other women, as these women would lose their rights to marriage and motherhood. Subsequently, societal corruption and moral decay arise, which is why Islam allows materially well-off men, if they can be just, to marry more than one woman and warns of severe punishments on the Day of Judgment for those who were unjust to their wives and indulged in polygamy to satisfy their passions.
Thus, the verse fully answers the posed question.
Here is what else we should know: marrying more than one woman serves to purify society and warns against immorality for every person - whether male or female, and helps in raising orphans. If the law serves to educate children, to improve and organize society - then such a law is necessary for any society.
However, some secretly marry another woman, neglecting their previous wife and children - merely for the sake of personal pleasure. A man may hold a high position, be very wealthy, and claim that Sharia permits him to do so. But in such cases, this is not adherence to Sharia, but rather the commission of acts forbidden by Sharia. In the Quran, Allah Almighty emphasizes: "And if you fear that you will not be just, then limit [yourselves] to one."
Leaving one’s own wife and children to go to a younger woman is against Islam. Similarly, marrying a woman and then living with her secretly as a mistress - that is, living openly with one and secretly with another - is not in the spirit of Islam. One must thoroughly understand this delicate and sensitive issue of family life.
Let us return once again to verse 3: "And if you fear that you will not be just to the orphans, then marry those that are permissible to you of women - two or three or four." These words refer to those who can be just and who are capable.
Now about the orphans. For example, a family takes in an orphan girl who lost her parents at an early age. If this family is not related to her by blood, then its members are strangers to her. This family will receive a reward from Allah for raising her, but she will not become their own. Therefore, when she reaches adulthood, Sharia permits the head of the family to marry her. But Allah Almighty warns that he becomes a sinner if he marries her unjustly, i.e., not giving her the full mahr, treating her as a stranger, not as his ward.
The previously mentioned words: "...or those whom your right hands possess" can be explained as follows. The time of the revelation of the sacred Quran was a time of slavery, and these words were addressed to those who lived then. Nowadays, there are neither slave owners nor slaves. Islam permitted in jihad-gazawat (wars for faith against non-believers) to make men slaves and women concubines, because the enemy treated Muslims similarly. But now, there can be no talk of concubines.
The Quran does not prohibit polygamy, but it must be approached with great caution. Those who are married to more than one woman and are unjust to them become sinners; it is unjust when one wife is kept openly, and another in secret.
The Messenger of Allah said: "When a man is married to more than one woman and lives unjustly towards them, then on the Day of Judgment, only one half of his body will be resurrected, and the other half will not be." Therefore, for those who cannot be just, it is better not to think about polygamy at all.