Polygamy in Islam
Polygamy is a practice of marriage where one person marries more than one spouse (Khan, 2009, para. 2). Since Islam prohibits polyandry, polygamy here is discussed in terms of a man having more than one wife. Islam is unique in that it has come up with ways of not only restricting polygamy, but also reorganizing it as well. The Quran mainly highlighted polygamy following the aftermath of what came to be regarded as “the battle of Uhud” (Khan, 2009, para. 2). Many Muslim men had been killed in the war leaving behind widows and orphans who needed to be cared for by the surviving men. In this context, polygamy was an act of compassion.
Reasons for polygamy in Islam
Islam uses polygamy as a means of solving social problems. There are more women than men in the world which means that some women are left without spouses hence the need to share a man. Islam also compares the escalating problems of divorce in the west to their own. In the West the rate of divorce caused by infidelity is very high. Therefore, Islam supports polygamy and in the process recognizes the second wife. This is important for reducing cases of infidelity amongst its faithful.
There is also the need to practice polygamy in the event that the first wife is infertile or sick rather than divorcing heron such grounds. Therefore, the man can still take care of the first wife and have children with another woman. In these two cases the man is guarded from having illicit sexual relations which is forbidden by Islam. Leaving a woman because of sickness is also not compassionate and so marrying another woman is a more human solution.
The biological and psychological difference between men and women is another reason for permitting polygamy. Women usually have a lesser desire for sex compared to men and therefore the man can get this attention from another wife when one is not able to have sex. Moreover, Islam does not allow sex when a woman is on menstruation, so a man can have sexual relations with the other wife in a legal framework.This is better than a man having affairs with unknown women.
Benefits of polygamy according to Islam
Women who do not have a mate can still get benefits of a marriage such as companionship and other desires satisfied.
Negative effects of polygamy in Islamic context
The disadvantages of polygamy according (2010) to the wife are that she has less time with the husband since time has to be divided with the other wife, jealousy because the woman would want the full attention of a husband. A husband has lesser time with the children hence he may not have enough time to discipline and guide the children. It is unfair because while the husband is allowed to marry more than one wife, the wife is expected to marry one exclusive husband (Amely, para. 18).
Rules of polygamy
In Islam a man has to fit certain requirements before he is allowed to become polygamous. A man should be a morally upright and be able to provide for all of his wives. The man should also treat his wives equally. Islam stresses that it is important to have mutual love and compassion between couples. In the Quran Imam Ali said husbands are encouraged to treat their wives well because this will give her good health and beauty. It will also make her better and satisfied.
Sometimes in a union the man and woman may agree that theirs will be a monogamous marriage. In this case the man is not allowed to marry another woman. If he defies this and wants to marry another woman then the first wife is allowed to divorce this man. She can take this to the Islamic court. The maximum number of wives one is allowed to have is four.
Does the society misunderstand Islam’s take on polygamy?
According to Rizvi (2009), verses in the Quran have been misquoted to present an image that Islam allows the marring of an unlimited number of women which is lie (para. 1). Rizvi (2009) further explains that modern Muslims think that polygamy is a “cruel liberty” given by the holy book (para. 3). Another misconception is that polygamy is an exclusively music practice. This is not the case because several individuals in the bible practiced polygamy. Examples here would include King David and his son Solomon.
Societies and countries against polygamy
Some countries forbid polygamy in its laws and forbid its citizens and immigrants from practicing the same. A good example here is France. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, France experienced high rates of immigration. These immigrants were from Senegal, Mali, Cameroon and Togo.They practiced polygamy in their respective countries but did not abandon this culture when they moved to France. In 1993 a law outlawing polygamy was pushed through by Charles Pasqua a French politician. By year 2010 about 140,000 people in France are in polygamous families (Stourton, 2010, para. 1).The government views polygamy as an abuse of women rights and hence a crackdown has been launched to end polygamous unions. For example, polygamous men have been threatened that shall be revoked if they do not desist from this practice. This crackdown has not been received well. The immigrants argue that the government is not respecting their culture which they happily practices and worked well for them. One resident Gundu Sogouna life has changed for the worse, she been forced to move to a suburb in an abandoned building with her eight children (Stourton, 2010, para. 11).
Polygamy is also practiced in America. Amongst the Islamic societies this practice is acceptable although this is in a sharp contrast with the wider American society. Americans have criticized and ridiculed Mormons for practicing polygamy. They have also paid no attention to polygamy as practiced by members of the Muslim faith. In keeping with the state laws, some Muslims in the United States marry one wife. The rest of the wives are married through Islamic laws and are recognized by their religion.
Famous polygamous people
Modern Muslims are showing reluctance to the view on the practice of polygamy. A good modern-day example in this case would be in Indonesia. When Abdullah Gymnastiar, a preacher and business man who owns many companies among them a radio station and training center announced he is marrying a second wife, many Muslims were surprised. They had held him in high esteem and thought that he was a modernized Muslim preacher (Thufail para. 1).This was a subject of public debate that led to the country’s president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono meeting with officials from the Ministry of Religion to discuss the issue. His declaration on his intentions to marry a second wife saw many of his followers leaving. Then, his companies started going bankrupt. Gymnastiar was also no longer invited to high profile Islamic events.
Although Islam has good reasons for supporting polygamy, nonetheless, there are some Islam who seem to take the law for granted or as a joke. Conradt (2008) notes Saleh al-Sayeri as an example. Though he always has four wives maximum (as stated by Islamic law) he has had 3 wives for 20 years, usually rotating the fourth wife. These divorces have cost him over $1.6 million. He says he likes changing his fourth wife annually (para. 12-13). He also does not know all the names of his ex-wives.
Conclusion
Polygamy has existed before Islam and there is need to de-link the two.Many societies allow polygamy even though they are not Muslims. Islam has only come out more on rules and regulations that should exist in polygamous unions. This is the reason why it has got more attention on polygamy. Islam also argues that it is better to be frank and flexible rather than being hypocritical when dealing with life’s practical problems. It offers clean and legitimate solutions. It also adds that it is better for a father to acknowledge that he has children with another woman since the children will be taken care of. This is better than fathering illegitimate children who will be denied a life without a father figure. Since one mans meat may be another mans poison the question of whether to marry or not to marry more than one wife can only be answered by an individual. Islam has a higher regard for monogamy but only prescribes polygamy when there is no alternative.
Reference
Amely, I. (2010). Polygamy in Islam. Web.
Conradt, S. 2008 7 Famous Polygamists (and their many, many wives) Web.
Khan, Q.S. (2009). Polygamy, Polyandry, Hijab (Veil) for Women and Islam. Web.
Rizvi, R.M. (2009) Polygamy in Islam. Web.
Stourton, E. (2010). French government tears polygamous families apart. Web.
Thufail, F. (2006) Islam, Polygamy, and the State.Web.