Who among the following had ordered that a man should marry only one wife and could marry another only when the first wife was barren?

U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002

A. Alauddin Khalji
B. Sher Shah
C. Akbar
D. None of the above

Answer: Akbar

Option c is the correct answer. One of the social reforms that Akbar implemented was related to marriage. He had ordered that a man should marry only one wife and could marry another only when the first wife became barren. This was a way of limiting polygamy and ensuring the rights and dignity of women in his realm. He also tried to promote the social harmony by encouraging intermarriage between Muslims and Hindus, especially Rajputs, and gave high positions to many Hindu nobles in his court. Widow remarriage was also legalized by Akbar. Akbar was opposed to second marriage (having two wives at the same time) unless the first wife was barren. Akbar raised the marriage age to 14 for girls and 16 for boys.

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