Trending hashtag says Saudi men must marry multiple wives to help single ladies

In recent years, studies in Saudi Arabia have continuously revealed a decline in the rates of marriage among Saudi women. 

According to sociologists, this can be attributed to many reasons, including rising unemployment rates in the country as well as high wedding costs. 

To someone on Twitter, this phenomenon, which some Arab societies label as 'spinsterhood,' is apparently considered an 'illness' that requires 'treatment.'

This is why they decided to launch the now-viral hashtag: "Marrying more than one woman is the only treatment (solution) to spinsterhood." 

The controversial hashtag has been trending ever since it was launched late on Thursday and thousands have reacted to it. 

Here's how it all went down:

"Polygamy is the treatment (solution) to 'spinsterhood.'"

"When will a woman's tiny brain comprehend that polygamy is part of sharia and is made to protect them. When will they understand that marrying a married man isn't a problem at all!!" 

"If you believe that you won't live forever, leave it to God and marry a second one (woman)." 

While some tweeted in favor of the suggested 'solution,' many were just not having it. 

"I just realized that 'spinsterhood' is an illness. If I am not married it means I am sick, but if a man isn't, it just means he's free!! This is a society that doesn't value women even though it's governed by a religion that does." 

"According to local statistics, there are 360,000 more unmarried males than females in the country. We really should be finding solutions to male spinsters."

"The problem is, a few men only memorize the polygamy aspect of the entire Islamic rule and neglect the very specific conditions that need to be applied for it to even be acceptable." 

Islam first allowed polygamy for the sake of widows and orphans who have no means of survival.

The only Quranic verse that speaks about polygamy is believed to have been revealed after the Battle of Uhud, which led to the death of many Muslim men who left behind families in need of support.

Islamic law allows men, unlike their female counterparts, to be wed to four spouses at a time. 

However, this is only permissible within a tight frame of conditions, that do not include anything related to finding solutions for what people describe as 'spinsterhood.'

Additionally, the Quran also clearly states that a man can only marry more than one woman if he treats her and all his other wives equally.

"But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one," Surat An-Nisaa states. 

The surah then decrees: "You will never be able to be equal between wives, even if you should strive to do so". 

This makes Islam-approved polygamy near impossible to attain, even when conditions for it apply.