Hamza Ali Abbasi. Photo: file
In his latest appearance on ‘Lunch with Lillas’, actor Hamza Ali Abbasi spoke candidly about adultery, marriage, and faith – the topics he has never shied away from addressing.
The episode, released last week on YouTube, sees Abbasi challenge the notion that marriage can “fix” infidelity or curb desire. “The urge to have something outside of marriage does not end after re-marrying,” he said.
“You can have four wives and still be unfaithful. A man who marries solely for this reason will eventually get bored of his new wife too. Everyone should seek to end this inherent urge in them if they have it.”
The actor reflected on how Muslims, in particular, should take adultery seriously as a carnal sin that demands self-accountability beyond marital status. “Adultery is one of the five greatest sins in Islam. God made only one Eve for Adam,” he said.
“Islam allows four marriages only in exceptional circumstances,” said Abbasi. “Men would have countless wives before that. Islam put a limit of four and has stated in the same Ayat that you should try to marry only once as you won’t be able to do justice to more than one wife.”
Abbasi has made similar statements before. A few months ago, an old clip of his resurfaced after a certain actor’s on-air declaration – made in front of his wife – that he was entitled to marry more women but was “filhaal” content with his current spouse.
In that clip, Abbasi had clarified that the allowance for multiple marriages in Islam was a contextual response during wartime, meant to provide protection and stability – not a licence for polygamy or “womanising”.
During the ‘Lunch with Lillas’ conversation, Abbasi also spoke about growing up around independent, working women. “All women in my life are working women and my sister is one of the most successful dermatologists in the world. That’s the secret to my glowing skin,” he joked.
His mother is a Supreme Court lawyer, and his wife, actor and artist Naimal Khawar, runs her own cosmetics company. “Working women can become a strength for men,” he said.
“It gives me mental peace that if something happens to me tomorrow, they will take care of themselves. Men should respect them and view them as a safety net rather than a threat.”
Abbasi, who has often shared his spiritual journey publicly, published his second book ‘Meri Daryafat: Allah, Islam Aur Akhrat Ki Justaju Main’ earlier this year, exploring his evolving understanding of religion, morality, and the self.
