The story of a Saudi man who allegedly married four Moroccan women on the same day sparked outrage on Twitter over the weekend.
According to Arabian Business, the news started trending on the platform via a now-viral hashtag that continues to make the rounds online.
Even though the story has yet to be verified, the hashtag saw thousands weigh in on the matter, sharing their thoughts on polygamy.
The viral hashtag continues to trend on Twitter
In their response to the news, some tweeps expressed their anger over the story, labeling the man's action derogatory towards women and unacceptable.
Others shared offensive statements targeting Moroccan women, but many also hit back, defending them.
As the story continues to circulate on Twitter, some are stating that it might be fake, while others believe that it's true and represents marriages that do take place in Saudi society.
Some doubt the news is true
"I think this hashtag is untrue."
A few had so many questions
"How did he get four marriage permits all at once?"
Others bought into the story and were left shocked by it
Many just couldn't even
"Are you serious?"
Another shameful day on Arab Twitter
In Islam, polygamy is only permissible under a tight frame of conditions
In countries across the Arab world, many believe that Islam unconditionally allows men to be married to more than one woman at a time.
This probably explains why the ongoing debate over this hashtag is mainly focused on the fact that a Saudi married foreigners and not on anything else.
However, even though polygamy is still a matter of debate across the region, every time the issue comes up on social media, several users highlight an important fact that many seem to simply ignore or forget: In Islam, taking more than one wife is only permissible under a very tight frame of conditions.
The religion first allowed polygamy for the sake of widows and orphans who had 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.
The Quran 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 almost impossible to attain, even when conditions for it apply.