Is discouraging a permissible deed (even if explicitly permitted in Quran) forbiden?

Question

This is a question which requires some fiqh knowledge. I just want to discuss the fiqh of it, so would prefer, if personal biases are set aside in answering the question.

My question is, would it be a correct understanding, Islamically, that when the ruling of a matter is “permissible” in the shariah rather than “Mustahhab” or “Sunnah” one can weigh the pros or cons of that matter and make own personal decision on whether to practice it or not? I ask this specifically in the context of polygamy.

If one can think to potential harms polygamy might cause - such as pain to the wife/woman and possibly statistics that point to harms would it be correct to advice against polygamy weighing its pros and cons? For eg drinking energy drinks is permissible but it’s not good for you - so you may discourage it. Just like that would it be islamically fine to discourage polygamy? Would it be different in the case of polygamy because polygamy is explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an? What is in my mind as I think about this issue is verse 1 of Surah tahrim.

By the way, for the benefit of this discussion, I am referring to the opinion of those scholars who consider polygamy only permissible and not Sunnah. I understand there are other opinions but that is not what this discussion is about. Like I said I am interested in the fiqh so I would appreciate someone wijt some knowledge of fiqh and for personal biases to be set aside.

Answer 1

No it is not forbidden in general, like divorce is discouraged although being permitted in Quran. This is true about anything which is Makrouh, the negation of Mustahab.

Well, this does not really answer you, since you requested we consider a deed which is only permissible (Mubah), not encouraged or discouraged (any deed which is encouraged to be done, avoiding it probably could be discouraged). But notice that a deed which is called Mustahab it doesn't imply that the deed will always be Mustahab in any situation ever imaginable. For example, rciting Quran is generally encouraged, but if the holy prophet PBUHH ask a companion to come and he bring the excuse that I'm reading Quran, that excuse will not be acceptable and reciting Quran in such a situation is Haram. Anything in its place. Something encouraged is encouraged if nothing else makes it discourage or Haram, or even obligated, like when you have a Nadhr that at 4PM today you should recite a specific page of Quran and doing so will now be Wajib and not only encourage! ... Having said this, now I grab your attention to several (Shia) Ahadeeth addressing the issue of Mut'eh (tempporary marriage) which is similar to polygamy in some aspects. There in Ahadeeth you see sometimes Mut'eh is encouraged, and sometimes discouraged, it depends on the situation. Even Polygamy might be highly encouraged or even obligatory for someone, while discouraged or forbidden for someone else. Example for one who is not allowed at al to act according to polygamy is in Quran itself:

... فَانْكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ مَثْنَيٰ وَ ثُلَاثَ وَ رُبَاعَ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا فَوَاحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَيٰ أَلَّا تَعُولُوا

... Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.

so if someone is scared of becoming unjust, he should avoid something which otherwise is permissible, if not encouraged.

My suggestion is you do not (blindly) discourage what Allah has generally permit, and instead, let your advice change from case to case, depending the situation. For example, if a man wants to marry with two women, but is afraid that his first wife will get so mad that she might kill a Muslim out of hatred, and the guy says I don't care I just see myself and my desires, this will not be accepted. If someone wants to do so, should first prepare its conditions, as no one should be hurt from this decision. This might have several details to think about from case to case, but generally discouraging something which is not generally discouraged by Allah AWJ and his prophet PBUHH, is not the right path, AFAIK.