What is the maximum number of wives a free man may lawfully have simultaneously?

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A free man is prohibited from having more than four wives concurrently. The scholars of Islam are in complete agreement on this matter, with no known dissenters except for a reported opinion from Al-Qasim bin Ibrahim who permitted nine wives. This dissent is rejected because it contradicts established consensus (*ijma'*) and abandons the Sunnah. The evidence against exceeding four is the Prophet's instruction to Ghaylan bin Salama, who had ten wives upon embracing Islam, to keep four and separate from the rest. Similarly, Naufal bin Mu'awiyah was told by the Prophet to separate from one of his five wives upon conversion. The verse permitting marriage to two, three, or four wives (Quran 4:3) is understood as granting a choice between those numbers, not permitting up to nine, analogous to the verse regarding wings (Quran 35:1), which did not imply that every creature has nine wings. The Prophet, peace be upon him, is specifically exempted from this restriction, as he was married to fourteen women.