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Once some women came to Hadhrat Ali (a.s.) with the same question. Hadhrat Ali (a.s.) told them to bring water in cups. When they came back with the cups full of water, he ordered them to put the water in a basin.
Then he told them to take out their water, but each one should take out the same water which she had put in. They protested that it was impossible as the water had been mixed.
Hadhrat Ali (a.s.) said that it was for the same reason that a woman was not allowed to marry more than one husband at a time, because there would be no way to know who her child belonged to, and who was to be responsible for that child's upbringing.
Then he told them to take out their water, but each one should take out the same water which she had put in. They protested that it was impossible as the water had been mixed.
Hadhrat Ali (a.s.) said that it was for the same reason that a woman was not allowed to marry more than one husband at a time, because there would be no way to know who her child belonged to, and who was to be responsible for that child's upbringing.