Russian Mufti Explains Permission for Polygamy

Sarvar. A:

Commentary on fatwa allowing polygamy in Russia

The head of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Russia, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, announced that a fatwa allowing religious polygamy has been adopted in order to protect the widows and children of soldiers killed in the war with Ukraine.

The mufti said that caring for the families of fallen soldiers is an important social duty of the Muslim community. According to him, since ancient times, among Muslims, the widow of a deceased soldier was accepted as part of the family by his brother or other relative.

This is an act aimed at ensuring family unity and social protection, and is implemented through the institution of religious marriage.

Mufti Gainutdin also noted that negative views on polygamy stem from ignorance, and expressed confidence that religious marriage will be fully legally responsible. He emphasized that there is no conflict between civil law and religious rules, since religious marriage is considered an internal matter of the Muslim community.

According to Gaynutdin, a man is responsible before God for all his wives and their children. He emphasized that he cannot legally or religiously marry a second wife without the consent of his first wife.