Polygamy in Islam

by Dr. Mehwish Ghazanfer
May 5, 2010

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/714/polygamy-in-islam

Many try to prove that polygamy is permitted and ethical from a religious point of view. They believe that the mindset of Man has not changed over time and that whether a king of ancient times or a highly educated and wealthy modern man, most men has the desire to have one or more wives or partners. Muslim men in particular claim that this is permissible in their religion.

I do not claim to have extensive knowledge of religion. However, I am unable to understand how, on one hand, we call Islam Deen e Fitrat (a religion close to nature) but on the other hand we deny it by claiming that polygamy is allowed in Islam. I am single, but as a girl, I can understand the pain and suffering of a woman who must share her husband with other women. It injures the delicate feelings of a woman and causes deep frustration and disappointment, giving rise to feelings of hatred, which can ruin the proper upbringing of children.

The excuses that proponents of polygamy give are unacceptable. If we for any reason accept that polygamy for men is acceptable, then we must also give women the same rights and make it acceptable for women to have multiple husbands or partners.

For example, according to those who favor polygamy for men, husbands of barren women should marry another woman so that he can have children. This raises a number of issues. First, what guarantees that this other wife is able to reproduce? Secondly, if a husband is infertile or impotent, shouldn't the wife be allowed to marry another man in addition to her husband? If every man deserves the right to be a father, then every woman should deserve the right to be a mother.

A famous religious scholar on television says with great confidence that polygamy should only be allowed for males because there are more women in the world than men. However, a 2009 report released by the U.S. Statistics Division of the Economic Department revealed that there are 102 males per 100 females in the world. In countries like China and India, where most families want a boy and often kill their female babies or abort female fetuses, the decline of the female population is dangerous. In countries like these, should polygamy for females be allowed as a remedy to the decline in the female population?

Some so-called "merciful" men show their "generosity" by offering to take on the responsibility of uneducated and underprivileged women by establishing a conjugal relationship with them. I believe that a man can help a woman in other ways without having a sexual relationship with her. Even uneducated women can have a decent life and get a decent job without the support of a man.

Purity, honesty, justice, and doing good works are some of the major attributes that any religion calls for. Therefore, any relation or behavior that is committed by a husband or wife that doesn't fall into these categories would be considered sinful and inhumane. We are so morally degraded as a nation that we associate every wrong with religion in order to make that wrong "right."

It is shameful to share your body and soul with anyone other than a loving and loyal partner just to fulfill your carnal desires, and I strongly believe that no religion permits and support this.

As the Holy Quran is in Arabic, so most of us have to rely on Mullahs for the translation and interpretation of it and these Mullahs spread confusions and doubts among Muslims by giving wrong interpretations of Quran. They do the same by also spreading the false Ahadees. Verses in Quran were revealed at different times to deal with varying circumstances. In this regard subject of Polygamy is discussed in Surah Nisa and verse was revealed immediately after battle of UHUD when a lot of Muslims were Shaheed and greater loss of men was anticipated in the battles to follow. Hence it was under these circumstances that the Quran advises the remaining male members of society to marry widows and orphan girls under their care Slavery was present norm years ago but today it is considered as outrageous. Quran doesn't abolish slavery but we Muslims don't practice it at all. Why not to adopt the same approach with respect to polygamy.

In this regard Pakistan and other Muslim countries should follow the example of Tunisia which has banned polygamy on Islamic grounds by following Quranic directions on this issue.

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