Preventing abuse of polygamous marriage

Polygamous marriage was prevalent in the pre-Islamic era. A man was absolutely free to take more than one wife and the marriage was entirely unrestricted, as there were no rules or restrictions whatsoever regarding polygamy. However, in the advent of Islam, the Qur an reformed the existing law by restricting the number of wives a man might have concurrently to four. The Qur'an also authorised a man to practise polygamy with the condition that he can deal equitably between them. As stated in the Qur'an,""...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," (al-Nisa': 3). Polygamy in Islam is neither mandatory nor encouraged, but merely permitted. Allah said in another verse, "you are never able to be fair and just as between women, even if it is your ardent desire..." (al-Nisa': 129). The combination of these two verses shows some discouragement of such plural marriages.