Known for his tough lectures, popular Islamic scholar-cum-preacher Sheik Muyideen Bello has a mantra – speaking truth to power. And he is fearless about it. In one of his lectures titled Legal Marriage, Sheik Bello spoke about why a man should marry more than one wife.
In his words, “Allah said a man should marry any kind of woman he likes. As a man, if you want to marry a fair-complexioned or dark woman, marry her. Allah said we should start from 2 women.
"I know some women will not like to hear this. If you have to marry, start with 2 women, that is what the Quran says. The Yorubas have a saying that a man with 1 woman isn’t a real man.
"For instance if you are married to 1 wife and she over-salts your food, you have just 1 wife. You don’t have a choice than to eat the food or buy food outside.
“I have received so many messages from people that why should I encourage polygamy. I tell them, is it me encouraging polygamy? Allah said you should marry 2, 3, 4. Allah said if as a man you know you can’t take care of them, then marry 1.
"Then if you are a me-and-my-wife kind of man, the implications are too many. As Muslims, 4 women is the maximum a man can have, have 2 living with you then if you have 2 houses outside, you put the other 2 there. The implications in marrying just 1 wife are too many.”
