Among the Hindus, polygamy prevailed from the earliest times. To produce children, and provide a stable and righteous environment for their upbringing. The Official Website of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Men, generally, are not obliged to admit the paternity of the child, thus not obliged to take financial responsibility for the child. emotions of the heart), (by giving her more of your time and provision). Thus, these women were forced to throw away the moral values as one throws away the pit of a date.". Islam is a way of life consonant with nature, providing human solutions to complex situations and avoiding extremes. Gustav Le Bon, the well-known French thinker, says in his book Arabic Civilization: "Polygamy enables the society to reduce social crisis, prevents the mistress problem and cures the society from illegitimate children.". Consequently, the Western claim to monogamy[4]is a misnomer. It is inhuman to have a woman as a second wife, according to these biased standards, but if the second wife happens to be a male mistress, then it is not a crime. According to evolutionary scientists men are hard-wired to spread their seed. The Socio-Cultural Significance of Polygamy in Africa - ResearchGate There was, as among the ancient Babylonians, Assyrians, and Persians, no restriction as to the number of wives a man might have. Do you need the solution to have ahappy andharmonious marriage? 2) That they fulfill their sexual needs regardless of decrees of religion and acceptable behavior, which will result in a tragic loss in this life and the hereafter. This sort of self-serving attitude leaves many women in these unconventional unions in a state of neglect, emotional distress, and without the comfort that Islamic marriage is supposed to provide. The unsurpassed and most productive of all marriages are monogamous, and most Muslims practice monogamy. The time at which these verses were revealed is a clear indication of one of the reasons why polygamy is permissible in Islam. However, when one looks into the early history of the . Marriage requires financial security, and if a man wishes to practice polygamy, then he must be capable of providing an equal livelihood for his families, such as similar homes and financial disbursement. ""No" he replied. We see that states and governments abuse elections; would it be right to cancel these processes? In fact, Islam is the only religion that limited this ancient and widespread . If you fear that you cannot act equitably toward orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two, and three, and four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with them then only one. This is in sharp contrast to growing trends on marriage in the West. Also there are four cardinal attributes of Allah [2]: Rabb (Lord), Rehman (Gracious), Raheem (Merciful) and Malik (Master). Isa Al-Masih Is The Final Judge, Not Muhammad! One of the reasons is that in the Quran, Allah allows polygamy. The editor of the publication goes on to say that Islamic countries are protected against such social problems and disease due to the fact that the people practice Polygamy. We shall comment upon those limits and restrictions in the coming sections, and shall likewise throw light upon the reasons why Islam did not absolutely . Lets be frank, it is highly doubtful that the majority of men engaging in polygamous marriages in the 21st century married widows and decided to do so in order to protect these womens children from injustice and exploitation. Since a woman can only become pregnant approximately once a year and she can get pregnant by only one man at a time, while a man can naturally impregnate more than one woman on a continual basis, it follows that it is more logical and natural that the man has more than one wife and that she doesn't engage more than one husband. What would happen to the demography of the society after some generations of this arrangement? [4]Most Muslim men feel they cannot afford the expense of maintaining more than one family. But she is still the one who suffers the trauma of abortion and the side effects of birth control methods. While I commend Qayyum for challenging herself and her readers by going beyond the knee-jerk Orientalist reaction to polygamy, the piece fails to discuss the practice of polygamy within an Islamic framework. The man will disown that woman as soon as he gets his satisfaction. The basic principle in Islam is that men are . Polygamy: Muslim women in India fight 'abhorrent' practice At the same time, the publication proves and indicates that the number of illegitimate births in the Islamic world is almost nil (in comparison with other countries). The great Hebrew patriarchs equally revered by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - Abraham, Moses, Jacob, David, and Solomon, to name a few were polygamous. The reason for the allowance for a man to marry more than one woman is because Islam is a realistic religion and one which is not based upon idealistic notions which would cause real problems of everyday life without solution or treatment. Often times, when polygamy becomes the subject of discussion, it is criticized. On the contrary, Islam has some reasons why it allows polygamy, such as assert woman's rights, her right for married, make a family, have and raise their children. All Rights Reserved islammessage.org Powered by HDBC, Stories from the Quran: Biblical Figures Reimagined Ishmael & Isaac Story of Great Brothers and Prophets, First 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah The Greatest Days of the Year. What makes this state of affairs possible, of course, is a supply of willing women. Polygamy: Why Is It Permitted in Islam? - Fiqh Most are single, both because of the growing numbers of unmarried women (there are 34 million in the United States today) and because single women generally have more free time and energy than do their married counterparts. Source:Why is Polygamy Allowed in Islam? Many American and British soldiers paid for their pleasures in cigarettes, chocolate, and bread. My hope in contributing to this discussion is that more Muslim women, whether considering polygamous marriage or already in such a relationship, take a close, hard look at their God-given rights within these unions and assert these privileges to ensure that they are as happy and as gratified as possible in their marriages. Among all Eastern nations of antiquity, polygamy was a recognized institution. Jews, Christians, and many other cultures practiced polygamy, and some still continue to do so. Stories from the Quran: Biblical Figures Reimagined Ishmael & 10 Ways to Help Your Kids Love Prayer Is That True? He created Eve to be Adam's wife, and Adam was to only have one wife, which he did. Why not three or five? This means that three out of every four children are illegitimate, born outside of wedlock. The institute of some marriages in Arabia had a connotative trademark, a political alliance. Islam regulated polygamy by limiting the number of wives and bringing responsibility to its practice. A few simple facts should be borne in mind before any talk of polygamy in Islam. How is it Best Practiced? If the husband takes one wife on a vacation or a trip, then he is required to take the others at intervals as well. Also it must be emphasized that Ahmadiyya Muslim Communitys policy requires that Ahmadi citizens obey the law of the land in which they live as long as that law does not conflict with an express command from Allah. [1]The upsurge in homosexuality further increases the problem. The father as well as the mother can easily be identified. The people started to rebuke him harshly, but the Prophet sat close to him and asked: "Would you like it for your mother? The following points enumerate the reasons why polyandry is prohibited in Islam: 1. Fourth, if you want a woman to marry more than one man, this is not the only misconception we hear from people who allege they are people of reason and intellect. Instead of cheating - infidelity is one of the top reasons for divorce in the West - Islam allows a man to marry more than one wife, with full recognition of the rights of all of them. The number of illegitimate children has increased 60% in some countries. Enter valid first name and last name with at least one space. One of the reasons is that in the Quran, Allah allows polygamy. Hence it is often claimed not only that Muslim women . Second, the majority of Prophets were married to many wives, whereas they are considered the models for humanity for every sort of activity or style of life. Prophet Muhammad forbade discrimination between the wives or between their children. Furthermore, homosexuality is legal, but polygamy is illegal and, in some cases, criminal. Polygyny in Islam Part of a series on Islamic jurisprudence ( fiqh) Ritual Political Family Marriage Contract Mahr Misyar Halala Urfi Mut'ah Polygyny Divorce Khula Zihar Iddah Kafa'ah Adoption Breastfeeding Sexual Awrah Abortion Baligh Haya Hygiene Rape Zina Masturbation Criminal Etiquette Economic Hygiene Military Islamic studies v t document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); If you have questions or comments, please contact us by clicking the button below. Annie Besant, in her book on Indian Religions says: "I read in the Old Testament that the closest friend to Allah, whose heart acts upon the Will of Allah, was polygamous. According to Joseph Ginat, the author of Polygamous Families in Contemporary Society, a third of the worlds population belongs to a community that allows it. Although, humans may not have full control of their feelings, they do, however, have full authority over their behavior. Conventionally, men who marry for the first time will not marry such women. Prophet Solomon (may Allah exalt their mention) had seven hundred wives who were free noble women, and three hundred other wives who were slave women. In such a case, if every man had only one wife, what would be the necessary destiny of the women left without lawful marriage to satisfy their social, financial and sexual needs? When Islam made its ruling on polygamy, it restricted it to include three criteria: If you fear that you will not do justice between them, then marry only one; this is more proper. (4:3). [2] Polygamy Practiced by God's Prophets The essential point regarding this verse is that, in the English translation of the Quran, the excerpt to deal justly is mentioned twice in the same fashion. Therefore, the prolonged menstrual period of the woman which prevents the husband from having sex with her, or a man whose sexual urge is not satisfied by one wife, may marry another. Required fields are marked *. How does Islam manage to regulate emotional fairness in polygamous marriages? ABC RN / By Damien Carrick for Shifting Cultures Posted Fri 14 Feb 2020 at 12:00pm, updated Sun 16 Aug 2020 at 7:41pm Muslim men in Malaysia can have up to four wives, and though the practice isn't widespread, it is alive. Sayyid: It was customary in the pre-Islamic era for men to foster orphaned girls. Of course, man's rights have been also remembered. neither divorced nor married). The ethnocentric revulsion for polygamy is best reflected in US Supreme Courts 1878 opinion in Reynolds vs. United States. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him) said: "And thus the people do not like it for their paternal aunts," and asked: "Would you like it for your maternal aunt?" How can a husband be one flesh with more than one wife? The point that is often misunderstood in the West is that women in other cultures - especially African and Islamic - do not necessarily look at polygamy as a sign of womens degradation. Isahas the power to overcome our marriage problems and to help us love one another. He who knows for sure that he is financially incapable of supporting another wife and household, is not allowed to seek another marriage, just as the bachelor who seeks to marry must strive to earn the wherewithal and must be able to sustain his wife and future children. Many young girls and widows had liaisons with members of the occupying forces. There are more than 45% of women who have affairs the same way outside of marriage. For example, in some countries, the stigma of a widow or a divorced woman may be a deterring factor in remarrying. We first read about polygamy in the Qurans fourth chapter: Give orphans their property, do not replace their good things with the bad, and do not consume their property with your own. (ABC RN: Nashrin Alhady) Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article What it's like to be in a polygamous marriage? Muslim Malaysians share A womans reproductive capacity declines after her 20s and ends with menopause, but even a man in his 70s retains the ability to father children. 1041 were polygynous. Divorced men are much more likely than divorced women to remarry (and they tend to marry younger women), so that there are more than twice as many single women as there are single men in their 40s. One might ask that, if we permit Polygamy for men, why is not polyandry permitted for women? Arba in Hebrew and Arabic means 4. Even those who are financially capable of looking after additional families are often reluctant due to the psychological burdens of handling more than one wife. Legally it imposes no financial, social, or emotional obligations, and if the woman becomes pregnant, it is her own problem, with the illegitimate children left without the support of a family and sometimes abandoned to the social service system. For further elaboration on why Islam does not allow a woman to marry more than husband at one time, you are advised to read: Between Polygyny and Polyandry Adil (tadiluu) is a typical form of fairness, and it is applied to the treatment of non-orphan wives in polygamous marriages. One should not always regard their culture and time the most superior in history, but rather they should analyze customs, traditions and beliefs based on solid and tangible facts. This article revisits the issue of polygyny in Islam and the conditions men must meet before considered acceptable. called, Girls Next Door. Cameras follow his three official girlfriends as they live with him essentially as wives; they just lack a government marriage license. In Muslim families the textual basis is provided by the Holy Quran for the practice of . Please relate questions and comments to the article. After the advent of Islam, Allah banned such practices and introduced a correlated degree of treatment between orphans and multiple wives [polygamy]. Islam forbids polyandry which is when a woman is married to more than one husband at the same time. a member of the previous French Parliament noted: the United Nations published a special publication stating: Forty Encounters with the Beloved Prophet: His Life, Manners, and Characteristics, Islam - A Brief Treatise on Islam according to the Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah, Islam - A Brief Outline of Islam according to the Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah. Prophet Abraham had two wives; Prophet Jacob had four wives; and Prophet David had ninety-nine wives (may Allah exalt their mention). This is in co-ordination with a reality TV show on E! The reasons behind polygamy had nothing to do with satiating men's sexual appetites or, as Qayyum suggests, curbing their wandering eyes. The Quran limited the maximum number of wives to four. If the husband provides a gift to one of his wives, then he must present the other wives with gifts of equivalent values. The soldiers in the victorious Allied Armies exploited these womens vulnerability. More American women are having children outside of marriage, ignoring the traditionally sanctioned sequence of marriage followed by childbearing. If you regularly visit this site and wish to show your appreciation, or if you wish to see further development of Al-Islam.org, please donate online. Polygamy causes depression in married women. Fatma: Critics often cite that Islam favors polygamy as a continuation of male dominance, tyranny, and lechery. Why does Islam allow polygamy? - Islam Compass The wives must be treated equally. Nowhere does the law of the Prophet Moses (may Allah exalt their mention) set or determine a specific number of wives to which a husband was entitled. Why is Polygamy Allowed in Islam? | Muslim Memo Although Greece and Rome were not polygamous societies, concubinage was a norm[1]. . Having established the original reason behind the permissibility of polygamy, we turn to how Muslims practice this unusual marital arrangement in modern day society, as opposed to the why. My views as to why the Prophet had many wives are three: humanitarian, political, and those that were considered to be exceptional cases. ", [Abu Dawood 2133 & Tirmidhi 1141 and verified]. Please enter the correct OTP! If you have a question regarding this article, please contact us by clicking this link. Women are often brought into the picture when discussing Islam because their status if not studied thoroughly and objectively is severely misunderstood. [We invite you to visit us at https://www.isaandislam.com/way-of-salvation to learn more about Gods gift of Salvation. Why Is Animal Sacrifice Required for Eid al-Adha? Is Ghusl a Specific Way of Taking a Shower? The husband must accommodate each wife with an equivalent lifestyle and treat each one amicably. As a Muslim woman, I have personally observed many polygamous unions in the community in which I was raised, but my aim here is not to deny any shortcomings or promote any benefits of this marital arrangement. These types of relationships have no merits of their own to stand on, and if the couple does not eventually get legally married, the illicit relationship often leads to abuse and conflict. Islam is also the world's only religion that gives women the right to ask for divorce and marry another man. 3. If the door is closed to such a man and he is told, you are not allowed more than one wife, this will cause great hardship to him, and his desire may find outlets in forbidden ways. If you fear that you cannot act equitably toward orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two, and three, and four; but if you fear that you will not do justice between them, then marry only one; this is more proper, that you may not deviate from the right course. The basic principle in Islam is that men are held responsible for their behavior towards women just as women are responsible for their behavior towards men. The point that is often misunderstood in the West is that women in other cultures - especially African and Islamic - do not necessarily look at polygamy as a sign of womens degradation. It is an incorrect and inaccurate statement, therefore, to describe a community as monogamous, in which the men maintain a single marriage, while they are indeed having mistresses, girl friends and other means of sexual relationship outside the marriage to their legal and lawful wife. Children born in wedlock are given legitimacy and share in inheritance from their parents. Consequently, to equate polygamy with degrading women is an ethnocentric judgment of other societies. One might say that this tradition is a practical application of the golden rule as mentioned by the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him): "None of you [truly] believes until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself. 1. Traditionally, if orphaned girls had any means, then the fostering men would marry them and acquire their possessions. Sayyid: Currently, there are some societies that still require and want polygamy. After WWII there were 7,300,000 more women than men in Germany alone (3.3 million of them were widows). In some cases, polygamy serves as a solution for certain societies where women desire companionship and protection; hence, to abandon polygamy would be an injustice to those women. Third, in reality, you can hardly find one Muslim out of tens-of-thousands who is married to more than one wife. Although, the described reasons may be manifested to a certain degree, still they do not facilitate the true nature of polygamy. As I mentioned earlier in Matrimonial Rights, the husband is the exclusive provider for his family. She is only meant to fulfill his sexual needs of the moment and give him the company he needs temporarily. The teachings of Islam, including polygamy, conform to human nature. Divorced men are much more likely than divorced women to remarry (and they tend to marry younger women), so that there are more than twice as many single women as there are single men in their 40s. Islam further reformed the institution of polygamy by requiring equal treatment to all wives. Is it better for the man to remain frustrated and pent up, or seek unlawful sexual satisfaction outside the marriage? Authors: Mohammad Hossein Hashemian University of Tehran Abstract In the present study, various contrasting discussions regarding polygamy in Islam have. Chapter 8: Polygamy | A New Perspective: Women in Islam - Al-Islam.org One reason for this is that it is not physically possible to bear children of multiple husbands at the same time; one of the many reasons this has not been institutionalized throughout the ages. (PDF) CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF POLYGAMY: AN - ResearchGate The surplus is a result of men dying in wars, violent crimes, and women outliving men. The highest percentage of illegitimate births is stated to be in Latin America.". 4. In the past, even for a licentious man, opportunities for sin were limited. "No" he replied. Second, some of the Prophets marriages had political indications. and which can be taken as a general rule: (And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allah enriches them with His Bounty.). Unrecognized Email or Password, please try again. We can summarize the reasons as follows: There are some men who may have strong physical desires, for whom one wife is not enough. The reasons behind polygamy had nothing to do with satiating mens sexual appetites or, as Qayyum suggests, curbing their wandering eyes. Fatma: Although it may be commonly asked, I believe it is important to explain why the Prophet had several wives. Caught in a demographic bind while seeking greater autonomy, more and more single women are opting for involvement with married men.[4]. "A young man came to the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him) and asked:"O Messenger of Allah, permit me (with special license) to commit fornication (and adultery)." Homosexuality, we are told, is an acceptable lifestyle in conformity with the requirements of the modern man! Polygamy is not a practice limited to the religion of Islam; rather, it is something well-known in the history of the People of the Book, the Jews and the Christians, as well. Islam permits the Muslim to marry more than one woman in order to resolve some very pressing human problems, individual as well as social. Thus, it must be noticed that prohibition was in the hands of the priests of the church, and not in accordance with any universally recognized original law of Jesus Christ himself (may Allah exalt their mention). But I dont need to make any comment other than saying this question is answered by what Allah, the Creator, has made of laws. The Muslim is not permitted to differentiate between his wives in regards to sustenance and expenditures, time, and other obligations of husbands. Consequently, to equate polygamy with degrading women is an ethnocentric judgment of other societies. Fatma: What about the emotional aspects of couples? As such, Islam forbids adultery and offers two alternative solutions: divorce or polygamy. Four (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. Polygamy is an alternative to divorce in case of some marital problems. The abundance of women without husbands, or male relatives to care and protect their interests, is one factor that helps spread corruption and illegitimate sexual activities in societies. When one analyzes the reasons and results of the allowance of polygamy, it will be found that indeed the rulings of the religion of Islam are truly those which suit all times and places, as their source is God Almighty, the Wise and the Knowledgeable. Polygamy (from Late Greek (polugama) "state of marriage to many spouses") is the practice of marrying multiple spouses.When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, sociologists call this polygyny.When a woman is married to more than one husband at a time, it is called polyandry.In sociobiology and zoology, researchers use polygamy in a broad sense to mean . And that is what made people accuse Islam and attack it for its permission of Polygamy. He knows the best what is convenient and what is inconvenient for man or woman. This characteristic of Islam can be observed most clearly in its stand concerning the taking of more than one wife. The number of women in the world exceeds that of men. Consider these statistics: One out of every five women today has no potential mate because there are simply not enough single men to go around. Islam does allow polygamy, i.e., having more than one wife at the same time, but it does not encourage it. While observing special conditions, the licensing of polygamy is a social needs and it is in the primary interest both women and men. Even though some people declare both Polygamy and fornication or prostitution as bad and unacceptable, yet it is unfair for the non-Muslims to blame a Muslim for doing the same thing that he does while his society accepts and condones it.". In 1959, the United Nations published a special publication stating: "This publication has proven, by numbers and statistics, that the entire world is now facing a growing problem of illegitimate children, as opposed to legitimate children. Shedding more light on why Islam allows polygamy, the European Council for Fatwa and Research issued the following Fatwa: Therefore, the Quran gives warning and advice, that if men cannot treat the orphaned girls in an excellent fashion then they should refrain from marrying orphans and opt to marry other women. The reason that Islam acquiesces to polygamy is due to a social necessity and in order to protect the rights of widowed women and women who need to marry.
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reasons for polygamy in islam
