Introduction
Polygamy in Islam is one of the most controversial issues both among the followers of this religion and among representatives of other faiths. Some people cannot understand the reasons why several women share the love and attention of one man and how it affects them. The emergence of this practice was prompted by the beliefs and laws of Shariah, as well as socio-economic reasons that are relevant today. However, the main goal of polygamy in Islam is to ensure prosperity, mutual respect, and love in Muslim society.
Main body
Polygamy, like many other practices in Islam, is driven by people’s values and beliefs. The primary source that allows polygamy in Muslim countries is the Quran, the sacred letters, and the fundamental law of all people professing Islam. Khan and Zahoor (2015) quote, “Marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one” (p. 33). This law emphasizes that although polygamy is an acceptable practice, first of all, equality and respect have to flourish in the family, and that a man cannot have any number of wives that he wants.
Polygamy in Islam is also explained by the example of the prophet Muhammad, who is the most significant figure for Muslims after Allah. According to Yildirim and Yesil (2018), Muhammad had four wives whom he married to maintain close friendly relations with his allies. For Muslims, the prophet is an example of inheritance, and for this reason, any doubts about polygamy can be resolved by the argument that Muhammad did the same. Thus, the faith of people in their prophet is also the basis and rationale for the practice of polygamy.
The fact that Islam views marriage as a sacred act of goodness and mutual help is also the reason for the practice of polygamy. The Quran says that marriage in Islam should be based on respect between spouses and ensure their happy life, as well as bring new lives to the world (Khan & Zahoor, 2015). For this reason, polygamy is based on the pure faith of those who respect the laws of the sacred letters and logical grounds. If a man saves several women from poverty, and they care for his children, then this marriage is encouraged by the words of the Quran mentioned above.
Consequently, polygamy in Islam also has some social and economic reasons that have arisen and formed over millennia. In fact, it is difficult to determine the origins of this practice, since it existed in pre-Islamic times in many societies (Khan & Zahoor, 2015). However, it is customary to believe that a modern understanding of polygamy in Islam, which allows a man to have no more than four wives, originated in the time of Muhammad in Arabia (Yildirim & Yesil, 2018). This restriction arose both because of the personal example of the prophet and routine reasons, since it was difficult for a man to provide equal financial conditions and give enough attention to many wives.
One of the reasons for the appearance of polygamy was the need for reproduction and population growth. This reason was also justified by several factors, such as the fertility of women, a high level of mortality, and constant wars. The number of men was much smaller than women, since they often participated in battles where they died; therefore, men needed to become the father of the children of several women. In some cases, women were fertile, but a man had to give life for his successors, care about his wife, and avoid sin. Consequently, he needed another wife who could give birth to his children. Besides, the infant mortality rate was very high, and therefore, it was in the interests of parents and society to give life to more children, and polygamy allowed them to do so.
Moreover, there were social and economic causes of polygamy that arose due to the conditions of those times. Many women lost their husbands because of wars, so a man could marry a widow to provide her with suitable conditions for raising her children and their future children. In addition, as Khan and Zahoor (2015) note, a man has more sexual power and desire than a woman, and one wife cannot satisfy it due to pregnancy, menstruation, or other reasons. Therefore, a man can marry one or more women to avoid sin, and in this way, the desires of the spouses will be satisfied if the man provides the same attitude and prosperity to all wives.
I am a Muslim, but I grew up in a family where monogamy is the main principle of building relationships. I have never met other Muslims who live in a polygamous marriage, so I rarely thought about this practice. I accept any choice of person in creating their families and intimate relationships; however, I have never understood people’s reasons for having several partners in any religion or culture. In the course of studying the issue of polygamy in Islam, I became more tolerant to such families and also found an explanation of how polygamy arose and why it is practiced currently. It is logical that in some families, men have several wives if harmony and respect prevail among the spouses. In some cases, this practice today is useful and even necessary, for example, when a man marries a woman who needs protection or financial help. However, as can be seen from the lines of the Quran, Allah permits polygamy under certain conditions but does not consider it mandatory.
Nevertheless, I did not change my opinion that polygamy in marriage is rarely needed in the modern world. The life expectancy of men, women, and children has increased significantly due to the development of medicine and living conditions. A large number of children is no longer a necessity, since most of them survive their childhood and do not work as assistance for housework. Infertility is treatable, and even if a woman cannot have children, a couple can adopt them, thereby building their own families and bringing happiness to others, which is one of the main principles of Islam. Thus, even though I am a Muslim and respect all the laws of Islam, polygamy for me is acceptable but not desirable, and the study of this issue only confirmed my opinion.
Conclusion
In conclusion, polygamy in Islam is based on faith in marriage as a sacred action that contributes to the fulfillment of Allah’s will. However, the laws described in the sacred letters also have a social and economic basis that helped the development of society in the past. In the modern world, polygamy in Islam is still a familiar phenomenon, but its popularity is much less because of the improvement of the living conditions of people.
References
- Khan. J., & Zahoor, M. (2015). Islamic concept of polygamy, its benefits and impact on society. Acta Islamica, 3(1), 31-38.
- Yildirim, A., & Yesil, F. (2018). Syrian woman’s view of polygamy. The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational & Social Sciences (pp. 223-233). Marmaris, Turkey: ISRES Publishing