Polygamy existed prior to Islam, and as Islam was the final message to mankind, it sought to regulate pural marriage.

When Ghailan al-Thaqafi accepted Islam, he had ten wives. "Choose four of them and divorce the rest,'' the Prophet (peace be on him) told him (Reported by al-Shafi'i, Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ibn Abi Shaybah, al-Darqutni, and Bayhaqi.). Similarly, some men who had eight (Reported by Abu Daoud in his Musnad.) or five wives at the time of embracing Islam were told by the Prophet (peace be on him) to retain only four (Reported by Ahmad, al-Darimi, Ibn Hibban, al-Hakim, and the compilers of Sunan (Abu Daoud, al-Nisai, and Ibn Majah).)

 

The Prophet (pbuh) did not ask 'which are orphans' and divorce the rest, they were able to choose.  Many times scholars and others give reasons why polygamy is allowed, but these reasons are not legally binding on an individual to take a second, third or fourth wife. 

Edited by abuayisha

Let me get this streight. Our mercyful messenger asked the men to toss out havlf their wifes? to what? I dont buy it for a minute.
Im well aware that polygamy was practiced widely, and still is all over the world today in various ways and societys, but that is hardly a carte blanche to polygamy on its own, that the number got limited. Because look at the QURAN verses, isnt it clear that not only where they limited, they altso got a clausul on them?
People  practiced human sacrifice before the arrival of Quran.  so...is that ok to if i only sacrifice a little?
Im sorry but i trust God more than  al-Shafi'i

Peace
Noah

I think men who need to marry more than one woman to satisfy thier lust are really weak. And if you marry a good woman and later marry a second to have sex with someone new you will be held accountable for wronging your first wife. I know 3 brothers from Lybia who's father married a second wife when they were teenagers because he wanted to have another virgin and he eventually stopped coming around and left them. Those boys now men hate thier father and want nothing to do with him. Why are so many men so ignorant on this issue. If you want to marry a sister just for fun, while it lasts you better tell her, otherwise you are a Liar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And you have stolen her chastisty for your temporary lust. The prophet peace be upon him took care of all of his wives and did not leave one for another. And how many of you can love and care for more than one woman, your children, providing them seperate houses and all of thier needs including healthcare ect. I mean come on brothers how clueless are you.YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR MISTREATING YOUR WIVES!!!

Good admonition Jenni, and men should indeed think deeply about their wife and children prior to entering another marriage, however, certainly we don’t want men having affairs, thus committing a major sin, which if discovered by his wife, would likely hurt even worse.