Muzz making the halal haram

@BalaamAndDonkey Muslims are commanded to follow the law of the land unless it interferes with religious duties (Quran 4:59). If polygamy is illegal where you live, it's indeed haram to break the law of your host country, since polygamy is not an obligation

@petsoldat The ban is on multiple marriage licenses. As far as the state is concerned unlicensed marriages are not marriages.

@BalaamAndDonkey If you live in a non-Muslim polity (dar al-ahad), you're commanded to follow their laws and norms unless they interfere with your duties. You cannot act however you want. This is basic Islamic legal philosophy, you're not a sovereign citizen

@petsoldat @BalaamAndDonkey And he just said, as long as you are not legally married, you can do whatever you want. Multiple wives are no different than multiple girlfriends, which is not forbidden. From a legal point of view, they are not strictly your wives, though that may be the case religiously

@HunkyLegend @BalaamAndDonkey The contract of marriage has always been a legally binding one. It's more than having "girlfriends", which is haram anyways And having one legal spouse and others without legal status is inequity between co-wives, also Haram. Read Surah an-Nisa

@petsoldat @BalaamAndDonkey Legal under Islamic law, not the secular law of whatever country you live in, Muslim or not. All of your spouses would be legal under Islamic law, but not the law of the state. What are you even talking about?

@HunkyLegend @BalaamAndDonkey You're depriving all but one spouse of secular legal status, when you're obligated to grant your wives the same in all things. Legal status is a massive boon, it grants her protection and tax benefits other wives don't get Muslims are bound by both Islamic and common law

@petsoldat @HunkyLegend “you're obligated to grant your wives the same in all things.” Not if the woman waives that right.

The 'Ulamaa have said, if you are you must also acquire a marriage license in the country where you're living. If you are unable to do this, than marriage is off the table. Because if the government questions (on paper or in person) you and ask you, are you married to so and so, and you reply with no, then you are not married. There is no loophole here. This is the Shari'ah.