Palestinian Professor of Islamic Law Mazen Sabbah in Support of Polygamy: Sometimes a Wife Cannot Make Her Husband Happy

Palestinian Professor of Islamic Law Mazen Sabbah, talking about the need for polygamy, said that a woman may be "of outstanding beauty, yet unable to make her husband happy, in which case he may marry a second wife." When the TV host asked how the wife should conduct herself in order to avoid polygamy, Sabbah said: "One of the basic things that the woman must understand is to bear her responsibilities, as well as to bring happiness." The show aired on the official Palestinian Authority TV channel on May 19.

Following are excerpts

Mazen Sabbah: Sometimes a man needs more than one wife.

Interviewer: Of course.

Mazen Sabbah: If he is told that this is illegal and that he must make do with one, this might lead him to leave home, take mistresses, and act in a despicable manner. This would cause him harm.

Interviewer: That's why he should take another wife.

Mazen Sabbah: This would cause harm to him, to his family, to his wife, and to society. According to the principle of jurisprudence, harmful things must be avoided. How should it be avoided? By permitting polygamy.

[...]

Women are held in high esteem, but are you and the viewers aware that the husband has the right to forbid his wife from going out to work? Islam permits her to work - in keeping with some restrictions - but a husband may waive [his right] to keep her at home in favor of her going to work, because there is a strong bond between the couple, and together they are building their common life.

Interviewer: Right.

[...]

In the report, we have seen the view that the woman is primarily responsible for her husband taking another wife. Let's talk about how the wife should behave to create a pleasant and peaceful atmosphere at home, in order to prevent her husband from marrying another wife.

Mazen Sabbah: The home is a kingdom, and the wife is its queen. It is necessary for her to run the home well. [The hadith says]: "Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock." The woman is shepherd of her husband's home. One of the basic things that a woman must understand is to bear her responsibilities, as well as to bring happiness. The woman is the key to happiness and the key to misery. She can either bring her husband happiness or cause him misery. She can do it by means of a good word. She may be lacking in beauty, yet be adept in making her husband happy, in making the home a happy place, and in educating her children. On the other hand, she might be of outstanding beauty, yet unable to make her husband happy, in which case he may marry a second wife, of lesser beauty but with whom he is happy. Why? Because he receives a good word from her, a pleasant attitude, happiness, and joy.

[...]