Ta'addud (plurality in worship, expiation, marriage, divorce and the rest)

التعدد

Ta'addud is plurality. Its applications: several muezzins are lawful and recommended; repeating the congregation in a mosque after the quarter's imam is disliked by the Hanafis, Malikis and Shafiis, and lawful for the Hanbalis. More than one Friday prayer in a town is forbidden by the majority except by necessity, and lawful for the Hanafis. Repeating the fast's expiation by repeated intercourse is disputed. Marriage up to four is established by the Qur'an. Several judges in a town are lawful, but more than one imam is forbidden by the majority. 1 2 3 4

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Worship and the pillarsFamily, marriage and kinshipLaw and courts

Overview

Ta'addud means plurality, and it arises in many matters, some lawful and some forbidden. 1

Muezzins and the congregation

More than one muezzin for one mosque is lawful, and for the Shafiis and Hanbalis recommended, not beyond four. 1 If the quarter's imam has prayed and another congregation arrives, the Hanafis, Malikis and Shafiis dislike forming a second congregation in it, except a road-mosque without an imam or a muezzin; they cite the report of Abu Bakra's son about the Prophet ﷺ praying with his household after returning. The Hanbalis do not dislike it, citing the general virtue of the congregation and the hadith of Abu Sa'id. 2

More than one Friday prayer

The majority forbid more than one Friday prayer in one town except by necessity, such as a crowded mosque; the Hanafis allow it generally. 2

Expiations, fidyas and sales with several things

The expiation of the fast is not repeated by repeated intercourse in one day, but is repeated if the breaking recurs after the first expiation; when days were broken before any expiation the Malikis, Shafiis and Hanbalis require several, the Hanafis one. 2 3 Fidyas multiply with several forbidden acts in pilgrimage, and with several game killed, by agreement. A sale multiplies with several sellers or buyers, with a split price, and with different things sold. 3

Pledges, pre-emption and bequests

If two houses are pledged for one debt, neither is released until the whole debt is paid, since the whole of each is pledged for all of it. In pre-emption, when several have the right, the Shafiis divide by shares and the Hanafis by heads. In bequests, duties owed to God come before voluntary ones. 3 4

Marriage up to four and the guardians

Marriage to four wives is lawful by the Qur'an, with justice between them. When a woman's guardians are equally near, the eldest and best is preferred, and if they dispute, lots decide. 4

Divorce, retaliation and discipline

A free husband holds three pronouncements over a free wife, after which she is irrevocably separated. When several kill one, all are killed in retaliation by agreement; when one kills several, he is killed too. For abuse with several insults, some Hanafis punish for each word. 4

Judges and imams

The ruler may appoint two or more judges in one town; the majority forbid two or more imams at once, however far apart the regions. 4

Reference

The next headword «ta'addi» (transgression) begins on p.5397. 5

People and things also explored

Allusion to a proposal during the waiting period· The sacrifice for a newborn (aqiqa): its ruling, age, animals and manner· Awl (proportional reduction of shares in inheritance)· Breastfeeding and weaning· Childhood (sighar: its stages, the rights and duties of the minor, guardianship, the minor in worship and contracts, marriage, testimony and penalties)· God's debt (dayn Allah): obligations owed to God that remain in the liability· Shahwa (desire: its effect on touch and ablution, on fasting and pilgrimage, on looking, on marriage by touch and on the breaking of the marriage bond)· Slaughter (dhaba'ih): the lawful killing of animals for food in fiqh

Sources

  1. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.5393
  2. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.5394
  3. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.5395
  4. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.5396
  5. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.5397
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Ta'addud (plurality in worship, expiation, marriage, divorce and the rest)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/tacaddud-plurality/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

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Related

Allusion to a proposal during the waiting period

In his commentary on verse 235, Sha'rawi holds that allusion to a proposal to a woman in her waiting period is allowed, while open declaration and a secret promise are forbidden, and that the firm resolve to marry may not be made until the waiting period ends. He reads the contract as passing through three stages: allusion, resolve, and the contract.