FROM THE MIMBAR

The Platform of Truth

Polygamy in Islam

By Sheikh Abduragmaan Alexander

 “ It is my right to marry another wife………… and to hell with the Sheikh ”

 Praise and Glory be to Allah who created the skies and the earth without a single flaw. He created man and woman for each other and ordained the sacred institution of marriage, through which spouses can lawfully unite in the union of love, thus giving each other tranquility, peace of mind and balance in life.  

Today we will address the issue of Polygyny (to marry more than one wife). This practice  has now become an explosive issue, especially in the Western Cape. Recently a certain Muslim man informed his wife of his plans to marry a second wife. How can you…. She protested…. you can hardly afford and maintain me and our kids ? I am going to call the Sheikh to come and speak to you. Angrily he responds “ Its my right to marry another wife… so to hell with the Sheikh.”   

Let me state from the offset that Islam permits polygyny, and that it is forbidden for a Muslim male to have more than four wives at one time. The Qur’an categorically states:

“Marry those women who are lawful to you, two or three or four, and if you fear that you cannot do justice (to them) then marry one...” ( surah 4:3 )

When we consider the historical circumstance of the time period of this revelation, it clearly shows that the new growing Muslim community of the Prophet (pbuh) in Medina, were compelled to defend itself from incessant war against an enemy bent upon their extermination. A great number of male breadwinners lost their lives against overwhelming forces. Women had lost their affectionate husbands and young children their loving fathers, and these widows and orphans had to be provided for. If they had to be left to the mercy of circumstances, they would have perished, and the community would have weakened to the extent that it would have been impossible to maintain the struggle for life.

So let it be clearly understood that ; In Islam, marriage of one man to one woman is the general rule. Polygyny is offered as a solution only,on the basis of justice and equity amongst the two, three or four wives, to meet certain needs and not a free license for any man to use and abuse.                                                                                                                 

I also need to make it clear that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did not institute or invent Polygyny as many hostile critics allege. The Scriptures bear abundant proof of the fact that polygyny was recognized as lawful and, indeed widely practiced by the great  prophets.

a)      Father Abraham (Nabi Ebrahim) had three wives. ( Sarah, Hagar and Keturah )

b)      King Solomon ( Nabi Sulaiman) had 700 wives and 300 concubines.

The Bible also reports the number of wives of many other prophets and great o God.

 

 

The advantages of polygyny can be realized by considering a few key points.

Firstly, Polygyny can be deemed an answer to the problem of surplus women.

Secondly, due to brutal warfare in ancient times which resulted in an even greater percentage of women over men. Who would care for these widows and orphans?

Thirdly, due to the patriarchal societies, it was nearly impossible for an unmarried widow or orphan girl to provide for herself. Females were often uneducated and untrained. They relied solely on their fathers, brothers and husbands for provision and protection.

So it seems that Islam allowed polygyny to protect and provide for the women who could not otherwise find a husband. The Muslim man would take multiple wives, upto four at one time, and serve equally and justly as their provider and protector.

Polygyny can also be a disadvantage as it can lead to an individual’s spiritual destruction if he fails to do justice within such a relationship.

The condition which Islam lays down for a man to have more than one wife is confidence on his part that he will be able to deal equitably with his two, three or four wives in the matter of food, drink, clothing, expenses, as well as the division of his time between them.

The Qur’an states in surah 4:12 that treating one’s wives equally is a very difficult matter.

“You are never able to be fair and just as between women, even if it is your ardent desire.”

Thus since equal treatment of wives is impossible, however hard a person tries, a man should marry only one wife. It is evident from the aforementioned facts that Islam neither introduced nor enforced polygyny. This rather indicates that in Islam monogamy is the rule and polygyny the exception. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also states in a hadeeth.

“A person who had two wives and was favourably inclined towards one, he would come on Judgment day in a condition by dragging the one side of his body (disgraced).”

So, when a man is poor and is not able to care for his wife and children, then polygyny is not allowed for him. His failure to maintain a second wife will result in strife and obscenity, which will defeat the very objective of marriage, which is supposed to be a lawful union of love, harmony and tranquility between a man and a woman.

Thus, though Islam has restricted the number of wives in a polygynous relationship, and allowed it as an answer to certain situations, it has also expressly forbid it to be abused and used as a tool for mere sexual gratification and abuse of women. In conclusion, allow me to narrate to you an anecdote on the topic of polygyny.

“ A man married a second wife with the permission of his first wife. He treated them with absolute justice and equality. They all lived very happily, when suddenly, both wives died. After making all the preparations for burial, he realized they had only one front door. He instantly hired a builder to chop down part of the wall and construct another front door, through which he will take both wives out simultaneously. That night he went to sleep happily satisfied with his sense of justice. However, his first wife appeared in his dream and she was very upset. She thanked him for the wonderful life they had together, but why…, she asked …why did you take her through the new door and I was take through the old door ? So my brothers…. You never win. Stick to one wife and live a happy life.         

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