BODY
POLYGAMY’S MEANING
In Islam, Muslim men are permitted to engage in polygamy. You may ask what is polygamy? Polygamy means having more than one spouse at the same time.It is not a compulsory thing nor is it advocated. It is just permission with certain limitation and conditions. And in some of the circumstances this permission proves extremely useful. Ithas two types: polygyny and polyandry. Polygyny defined as when a man marries many women at the same time while polyandry is when a woman takes several men as her husband at the same time. Its definition is taken in History 3 book. Based on its definition, polyandry is not permitted in this kind of religion.
Sometimes, we are made to argue about the proper term of a man having many wives whether it is polygamy or polygyny. In Islam, arguing this, seems to be useless and is merely a matter of semantics according to the expert. So, why argue about the words?
HISTORY
Polygamy existed before the advent of Islam among several civilizations. It was practiced in varying degrees in different parts of the world, in diverse cultures before Islam was propagated. It was practiced by Jews, Christians, Buddhist, and pre-Islamic Arabs, perhaps others as well. Arab people in the pre-Islamic era were practicing polygyny widely without paying any attention to any considerations. What Islam did was to organize polygamy and restrict it to four wives under strict rules of justice.
Thus, Islam didn’t invent polygamy but only regulated it in favor of women. The religion only made polygamy more humane, instituting equal rights for all wives. And even so, Muslim women are not forced to accept this and may put a condition against it in their marriage contract.
Polygamy in Islam started during the time of Prophet Muhammad. He took more than one wife not for sexual needs but for reasons pertaining to his duty to deliver the Message to the world. Those particular women were carefully selected, not just haphazardly “acquired” for carnal reasons, as suggested. Here are some of the reasons for which Prophet Muhammad married: first, to pass on Islam to the next generations as a practical legacy. Second, to cement the relations of the budding nation. Third, to teach Muslims compassion with women. Lastly, to offer a practical role model to Muslims until the end of time.
Prophet Muhammad’s wives
During his life Muhammad married eleven women depending upon the differing accounts of who were his wives.
Watt states that “all of Muhammad’s marriages had the political aspect of strengthening friendly relationships and were based on the Arabian custom”. Esposito points out that “some of Muhammad’s marriages were aimed at providing a livelihood for widows”. FrancisEdwardsPeters says that “it is hard to make generalizations about Muhammad’s marriages: many of them were political, some compassionate, and some perhaps affairs of the heart”.
Detail of Marriages of ProphetB.A.P.U.H
NAME OF WIFE
FAMILY
STATUS
AGE AT TIME OF MARRIAGE
YEAR OF MARRIAGE
YEAR OF MARRIAGE
KhadijahR.A d/o Khuwalid Qureshi
Asad Qureysh
Widow
40 years
595 AD
25 years
SaudahR.A d/o Zamah
Amer Quraysh
Widow
50 years
620 AD
10th year of Prophethood
AyeshaR.A d/o Abu Bakr
Taym Qureshi
Un-married
16 years
620 AD
2nd A.H
HafsahR.A d/o Umar bin Khatab
Adee Quraysh
Widow
21 years
625 AD
4th A.H
ZainabR.A d/o Khuziama bin Haris Qaisia
Amer Banu Suhsah Qureysh
Widow
50 years
626 AD
5th A.H
Ume SalmaR.A d/o Khazeefah Abi Ummayah Al-Mughaira
Mukhzoom Qureysh
Widow
29 years
626 AD
4th A.H
ZainabR.A d/o Jahash Al Assadya
Asad Qureysh
Divorcee
38 years
626 AD
JaveriaR.A d/o Haris bin Abi Zarar
Mustalak Khazia
Freed slave (Widow)
20 years
627 AD
5th A.H
Ramla Ume-HabibahR.A d/o Abu Sufyan
Shams Qureysh
Widow
36 years
628 AD
6th A.H
SafiaR.A d/o Haye bin Akhtab
Banu Nazir (Jewish)
Freed slave
17 years
628 AD
7th A.H
MaimoonaR.A d/o Haris Ameria Hilalia
Amer Sahsah Hilaly Qureysh
Widow
27 years
629 AD
7th A.H
REASONS
Polygyny is a concept being applied by the selected sector of the society. Along with this is the reason why this practice is being accepted by this selected sector.
Religious reasons:
Holy Qur’an states that “Marry such as you please, of other women, by twos, threes and fours; but if you apprehend that you shall not be able to deal justly with them, and then marry one only.” (Qur’an, 4:3) and”Men are in charge of women because Allah has made the one superior to the other and because men spend their wealth on women.” (Qur’an, 4: 34)
Hadith states that “Whoever gets married has safeguarded half of his religion”-The Prophet of Islam (saw). Second, “Whoever chooses to follow my tradition must get married and produce offspring through marriage (and increase the population of Muslims) so that on the day of resurrection I shall confront other Ummah (nations) with the (great) numbers of my Ummah”. - The Prophet of Islam (saw). Third, “Whoever marries a woman for her glory, Allah will not increase his, but will bring him humiliation; whoever marries her for her wealth, Allah will not increase his, but place him in poverty; whoever marries her for ancestral claims, Allah will not increase his, but in meanness; whoever marries a woman for nothing but to cast down his eyes, guard his private parts, and to establish a relationship, Allah will bless him through her and vice versa”. (Al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib). Fourth, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) said: “The best man among you is the best with his wife”.
Self-interest:
Nowadays, some young Muslim men marry because they easily attracted to Muslim women due to their new way of living in terms of dressing up their selves and putting heavy make-ups to attract men. Unlike before, Muslim women were very conservative and lack of exposure in the outside world because they were afraid to commit a sin like for instance, having an affair to a man whom she don’t know well.
Polygyny was practiced also to ensure an increase in the birthrate. It was necessary for every individual member of a tribe to try to increase the numbers in the tribe to which it belonged. If one tribe increases its family member it gives more advantages to them in case of tribe-to-tribe conflict most commonly like redo and if one of the family members decided to run for Mayor, Vice-governor or even governor and other position in their beloved province there will be a big possibility to win during election.
MAJOR ADVANTAGES
The major advantages of polygyny are for some it serves as a solution for several problems and made it conditional on achieving “justice”. It is also a solution for women that were helpless and destitute. It provides those women with a means of livelihood and protection. And lastly it is a solution in some cases in which a wife was chronically ill, incapacitated, or unable to bear children.
MAJOR DISADVANTAGES
But polygyny also had major disadvantages. The husband would have less time to each of his wife since his spared time is now shared between two or more wives. Each wife would only have less attention. There would be a great tendency of jealousy and unshared love, since the woman likes to have full attention and full unshared love from her partner. Family malfunctioning and chaos might be form or happen since husband spends less time with the children i.e. less discipline and guiding. Less money would be saved or given to the wife and children since money should be shared co-equally with the other family. Population problems that burden the society would increase since both wives (may be more) are going to have children. And the presence of unfairness and discrimination would not be avoided since the husband can have more than one partner while the wife should marry only and exclusively one.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
Polygamy: According to Islam
Islam permits polygyny but there are some conditions to be followed and its number should be limited and restricted. Here are some of the conditions: there must an equitable treatment for all wives and the number of wives not exceed to four. As cited in holy Qur’an: “live with them (wife or wives) on a footing of kindness and equity” (Quran 4:19). It implies that those who intend to take more than one wife are mandated to observe equality and justice in treating their wives and their children. The obligation that a man must be fulfilled in all circumstances is being responsible to maintain his wives and all his children. If he is not competent enough to satisfy all of them, then he will not be eligible to take more than one wife.
The attitude of husband towards all his wives must be such as to give no occasion to heartburning, jealousy, dissatisfaction, discontent and frustration to any of them. There should be no cruelty, injustice, bias or partiality on the part of the husband. It is expected and seen that complete peace, harmony and tranquility prevails in the household where the husband faithfully observes the injunctions of Islam regarding the equal status of all the wives in matters of maintenance, and general treatment.
To ensure that fairness and justice, the husband must have sufficient economic means to provide adequate food, clothing and other necessities of life to each of them; each of the wives must be provided with a separate house of her own, where only the husband has a right to enter without asking her permission first. The husband must spend equal time in the house of every wife. He must divide his nights among them, and must visit wives in the morning. This will give him a chance to look after the welfare of all every day, and will maintain good relationship with all of them.
Regarding the restriction of number and equal treatment, the Qur’an ordains:”Marry such as you please, of other women, by twos, threes and fours; but if you apprehend that you shall not be able to deal justly with them, and then marry one only.” (Qur’an, 4:3)
Polygyny in the Bible & Christianity:
As a summary the context of polygyny in Christianity was rampant duringthe time of Christ and the early church. But it was common before the New Testament period, but few realize just how common. Abraham, for example was noted for taking his girl slave when Sarah, his wife could not bear a child. Aside from this record from the Bible proves the existence of polygyny in Christian Society. This was shown by the following Biblical text;
“After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.”(2 Samuel 5:13). Second, “He (Solomon) had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines…”(1 Kings 11:3). Lastly, “And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.”(Genesis 4:19)
But nowadays the concept of polygyny in the Christian society was no longer allowed. It was not legally recognized, thus Christian people that would practice polygyny would be labeled immoral.
Polygamy: According to Jewish Law
In Judaism which was one of the main branches of Christianity Torah has permitted the Jew to marry more than one woman and has not even put a limit for the number of wives; however, the Talmud limited the number to four wives only less than one condition that the husband should be able to support them. Talmud stated: “The husband may not marry more than four wives, as Jacob – peace be upon him – did, unless the husband has sworn to do that in the first marriage”. So, polygyny here is permissible if the husband would be able to support his wives.
It is evident to even a casual reader of Old Testament that not only is polygamy permitted but also practiced, and that regulations for that have been stipulated in the scriptures.
Polygamy: According to Hindu Law
Hinduism on the other hand practices polygyny by following the system which governed their society. Hindu thus can marry more than one wife without the consent of his present wives, or any justification, except his own wish. This was stated in the Manu Law of Hindus.
According to Manu the Law on the subject is as follows: First, for the first marriage of wives of equal caste are recommended, but for those who through desire proceed to marry again the following females, chosen according to the order of the castes are most approved. Here follows the list of women who may be approved of. Second, it twice-born men wed women of their own and of other lower castes the seniority, honor, and habitation of those wives must be settled according to the order of the castes Varna. Third, if, after one damsel has been shown, another be given to the bridegroom, he may marry the both, for the same price that Manu ordained. And lastly, among all the wife of equal caste alone not a wife of a different caste by any means, shall personally attend her husband and assist him in his daily sacred rites. But he, who foolishly causes that duty to be performed by another while his wife of equal caste is alive, is declared by the ancients to be as despicable as a Kandala spring from the Brahamana caste.
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