Russia’s top Islamic authority permits polygamy for Muslim men

Russia’s top Islamic authority has issued a ruling permitting polygamy in specific circumstances, according to state-run news agency RIA Novosti. Mufti Ildar Alyautdinov, deputy chairman of the Ulama Council of Russia’s Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM), announced the decision and outlined the conditions for religious polygamy or, more specifically polygyny, the practice of a man having multiple wives.

“A decision has been made on the possibility of a man simultaneously entering into a second, third or even fourth religious marriage,” explained Alyautdinov. “This is permitted if the spouse is unable to bear children due to her health, due to the end of her reproductive age or other objective reasons, such as the sexual incompatibility of the spouse. Such a fact as the spouse’s unwillingness to bear children is also taken into account.”

روسيا تسمح للرجل المسلم على أراضيها بالزواج من 4 نساء لأول مرة منذ أكثر من 100 عام…

لكن هناك شرط واحد وهو قيام المعدد بمعاملة جميع زوجاته بعدل كتوفير سكن متساوٍ لهن وقضاء وقت كافٍ مع كل واحدة منهن وتوزيع المال بإنصاف عليهن. pic.twitter.com/Swk4yeZcV5

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To enter such a marriage, a husband would need to “provide equal material support to all wives, provide each of them with separate housing” and “spend equal time with all of his spouses.” Failure to meet these conditions disqualifies a man from polygamous unions. The Qur’an permits a man to marry up to four wives, provided he can treat them justly. At the time of its revelation, the Qur’anic injunction was placing a limit on polygamy which was prevalent in many societies.

Alyautdinov stressed that it would be “unacceptable” for a husband not to inform his wife about other women he has married. “If [the second wife] was not informed [of a prior marriage] and is not ready to put up with it, then she has the right to end the marriage.”

Russian law prohibits polygamy, leaving women in religious-only marriages without legal protections. Alyautdinov acknowledged this, saying, “The rights of a woman who is only in a religious marriage are not legally secured. Our theological ruling will help her take the necessary steps to preserve her rights.”

RFE/RL reports that critics argue that the ruling may expose women to vulnerabilities, and noted that Russian officials have not yet commented. The decision coincides with government efforts to reverse a declining birth rate, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. These efforts include financial incentives for larger families and anti-abortion campaigns, often supported by the influential Russian Orthodox Church.

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