"Polygyny in Islam" by Rachel Jones Polygyny is an institution that has been misinterpreted, misunderstood, and misused. [49] Isma also describes Hajila in unflattering terms that distance her from the attentions of the husband they share and of other men. That will be nearer to prevent you from doing injustice.' It existed long … [11], Ibn Qudaamah from the Hanbali School of jurisprudence, said in Ash-Sharh Al-Kabeer: "It is more appropriate to marry only one wife. 2. Whereas the rest of the music industry was under the outside influence of Latin America, India, and the United States, Ramlee's music was inspired by what was going on in Malaysian society. [54] Ultimately, though, Miss Undastood believes that Islamic polygyny is justifiable. argue that these Verses have been revealed "because of Allah's concern for the welfare of women and orphans who were left without husbands and fathers who died fighting for the Prophet and for Islam. 0000005220 00000 n It is Sunnah because the Prophet (P.B.U.H) did it. Can a man be married to more than one woman at the same time and whenever he pleases? 1.2 DEFINATION OF POLYGAMY 1.2.1 polygyny • a man marries more than one woman. [29], Muslim feminism is a fairly new movement, even though women's rights issues have been at the forefront of social reform for a while. 0000009310 00000 n "[17] An extended discussion of the intersection of feminism and polygyny can be found in later sections of this article; see Muslim Feminism and Polygyny. [57] Three stories are told within the movie and all three leading actresses learn to at least outwardly accept their situations, whether they are the first wife finding about the existence of other women or the new addition to the family who has to situate herself in the household hierarchy. He espoused that the closing clause of verse 4:3, usually interpreted as ‘that is more suitable that you may not incline to injustice’ should be understood as ‘that is more suitable that you may not be financially strained by numerous children’. Bashiruddin Ahmad's novel, Iqbal Dulham (The Bride Iqbal), also promotes the ideal polygynous relationship where the wives become friends and find vital companionship instead of competition. These faults have been with both Islamic communities and with their Western critics. In Islamic polygamy, the family generations can be even larger which provides many more relatives to love and embrace. Most modern Muslims view the practice of polygyny as allowed, but unusual and not recommended. For many Christians, it is a license to promiscuity, and feminists consider it a violation of women’s rights and demeaning to women. Polygyny in Islam Rachel Jones Introduction Polygyny is an institution that has been misinterpreted, misunderstood, and misused. [27][28] Other countries, such as Iran and Pakistan, require that a man get permission to take a second wife from his first wife, and then show the court proof of his first wife's consent. ; Please sign and date your posts by typing four tildes ( ~~~~). This reveals Isma's lack of respect for Hajila and the process of "othering" that Isma uses to degrade Hajila. These faults have been with both Islamic communities and with their Western critics. The principle was permitted, but polygamy was limited to four wives. [39] So even though the revolution attempted to reinstate many patriarchal values, like unlimited polygyny, it ended up inspiring women to push for more rights and become more credible by studying religious texts. ��(���$vq�����V3ڕf�ڡ}��K��V#͜9g$�VI[}��W(�/�����Y�JßC�Z� ��9�'Ч�������Kg��^���3�L����=�b^�d��2�9ܾ9���Ln�oߞ�������3�v�����ًߗ��������. "[15] Nefarious practices of infanticide-particularly that of female newborns-capricious divorces, and unlimited license of polygyny all were social phenomena eradicated by the revelation of Qur'anic verses relating to the question of polygyny. In fact, Islam is the only religion that limited this ancient and widespread practice. To amplify the context within which polygyny occupies an Islamic relevance, one should look to the current debates surrounding polygyny in Islam, and more broadly, polygamy, and the implications that emerged from their contextual transition from the jahiliyya to the Islamic era. 4 thoughts on “Polygamy in Islam – The Rationale and Laws Behind” Shafique. The two households in Ah-e Mazluman, both engage in polygynous practices, but Hyder presents the relationships between husband and wives as very negatively affected; the stories "accentuate the cruelty of husbands towards their wives and aim to intensify the exclusion and alienation experienced by the first wife. He had nine wives and Allah benefited the ummah through them. These two authors explain well the many facets of the theory of Islamic polygyny and how Muslim spouses should respect it. This loss of rights led to the movement realizing that they could not necessarily rely on the government alone to protect their rights. According to the Qur’an, a man can marry again if his wife is chronically ill and cannot fulfil the obligations of marriage; or if she … Polyandry, the practice of a woman having more than one husband, by contrast, is not permitted. There is no other religious book that instructs men to have only one wife. Traditional Sunni and Shia Islamic marital jurisprudence allows Muslim men to be married to multiple women (a practice known as polygyny and polygamy) — up to four at any point in time. He critiqued the practice of polygyny to keep in line with his self-proclaimed role of exposing the weaknesses of his society. This opinion has been codified into the official positions of the Hanbali and Shaafi’i schools of jurisprudence which assert that it is held recommended for a Muslim male to have only one wife, even if he may act equitably with more than one woman. Ideas of harems and tyrannical husbands are evoked. Institutional polygamy controls the spread of sexually transmitted diseases like Herpes and AIDS. Now coming to the original question, why is a man allowed to have more than one wife? [27] Second, the Quran demands equal treatment of all wives in a polygynous marriage, which is impossible, thus making the practice illegal. Islam allows polygamy and permits men, under specific circumstances, to have at most four wives at any given time. Inthe early days of Islam, those who had more than four wives at the time ofembracing Islam were required to divorce the extra wives. [32] Thus, polygyny was allowable for charitable and honorable purposes. Let the Quran Speak 30,288 views. [42], In Malaysia, polygyny has been considered a topic that is not fit to be brought up in public, but recently it has begun to enter public discourse. 0000006897 00000 n Polyandry, the practice of a woman having more than one husband, by contrast, is not permitted.. Polygyny for Muslims, in practice and in law, differs greatly throughout the Islamic world, where polygynous marriages constitute 41–53% of all … ­­Islam 5.5 Polygamy. [19] Many countries today either outlaw the practice of polygyny or place restrictions on it. Contact Us > Home > Articles > Part 3 > Polygamy in Quran . This return to reinterpretation was not a new practice – male Islamic scholars had been doing it ever since Muhammad's death – but for women, it was unprecedented: this was the first time that women were learning how to read and study the Qur'an and the hadiths in an analytical way. Islamic communities and with their Western critics. This change came about through the passage of a new Islamic family law, which supports polygynous practices by making them easier for men to take part in. Polygamy in History Islam did not invent the system of polygamy. Imam Ghazali, from the Shaafi’i School of jurisprudence, stated: "It does not call for two wives, [since] plurality may render life miserable and disrupt the affairs of the home." 2 Replies to “ RULING ON WOMEN HATING POLYGYNY ... alternative that has been launched with a noble intention to aware the people across the World about the teachings of Islam. There is no doubt, that no woman relishes the thought of sharing her husband with another and that plural marriages provide a bases for jealousies to arise. The Muslim scripture, the Quran, is the only known worldscripture to explicitly limit polygamy and place strict restrictions upon itspractice: “… marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but ifyou fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with them, then only one.” (Quran4:3) The Quran limited the maximum number of wives to four. MailBox: Why can a man have up to four wives and a woman only one husband in Islam? torrents of the global web. A translation by Yusuf Ali is shown below: If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice. "[15] Conversely, those of Ahmed's perspective would argue that with the arrival of Qur’anic law came the loss of sexual autonomy for women. Common Grounds News Services. Undoubtedly, polygyny doesn’t suit everyone; it needs lots of patience and compromise. Thus, Ahmad portrays how polygyny can be used to ease the pressure on the first wife to produce children. [40] Jordan was able to have more success in 2001 when it amended its Civil Status Law, which requires the consent of the wife before the husband marries again. Polygamy and Islam Polygamy and Islam ~ 3 ~ POLYGAMY AND ISLAM In terms of the birth rate, men and women are almost equal in number. Prophet Muhammad's (s) Marriage to Aisha (ra) - Yusuf Estes - Duration: 12:38. The Qur’anic context can be explained by Surah 4:2, which states "To orphans restore their property (When they reach their age), nor substitute (your) worthless things for (their) good ones; and devour not their substance (by mixing it up) with your own. नवभारत टाइम्स | Updated: 08 Apr 2018, 10:02:00 AM. High level officials were required to leave their wives and concubines if they were to marry an Ottoman princess. [14][15] Often, tribal leadership tended toward polygynous marriages with the express purpose of establishing relationships with other powerful families, effectively injecting the practice of marriage with a political purpose. • Limited polygyny 1 (a kind of polygamy): one man married to two, three or at the most four wives. Conquering rulers would collect massive harems of women and treat them without any respect; whereas Islam reduced the allowable amount of wives each husband could have and required that he treat them all equally. "[1] If a man cannot deal justly with more than one wife, then he must marry only one. Polygamy was customary before Islam and was not abrogated with the coming of Islam; instead, Islam has corrected and set various conditions for the practice. Published in 1908, Iqbal Dulham follows a young man, Iqbal Mirza, who marries a second wife after his first wife fails to conceive children. Hip hop has become increasingly popular across the world, and Islam has had a significant influence in rap music in the United States where hip hop first emerged. "[4] Therefore, the first part of verse 4:3 is dealing with orphan women who are under the protection of a male guardian, and it is advising the guardian to "deal justly" with the orphans. Now coming to the original question, why is a man allowed to have more than one wife? 0000026925 00000 n Categories Islam Post navigation. Polygamy: being married to more than one person at once. In Islam, limited polygyny is permitted and polyandry is completely prohibited. Allah says: “But if you feel you many not be able to deal justly between them, then marry only one.” (Holy Qur’an, 4:4). limited polygyny is permitted 1.2.2 polyandry • a woman marries more than one man. They also even accompanied him to battle. Other men are not allowed to have more than four … [41] The women in Fatayat NU use Islam and the religious texts to justify their actions and guide their decisions, so women who have extensively studied the religion are crucial. Indonesian feminists have challenged these practices through the study and reinterpretation of religious texts. "[6]] refers to marriage as a mithaq, i.e. In Islam, limited polygyny is permitted and polyandry is completely prohibited. Translator. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF POLYGAMY. [14] Further, it is important to note that marriages in this era, including polygynous ones, were not sacramental in nature, but purely contractual. [27], One way that polygyny is still legally practiced in Iran today is through the practice of mut'a,[28] a temporary contractual relationship based on the mutual consent of a man and a woman. Of all the top Ottoman men at court, the author only found one who had female slaves. : Put new text under old text. The second wife, Hajila, is seen as a rival and is reduced through Isma's portrayals to body parts that are disassociated from Hajila as a whole person. [11], Al-Maawardi, from the Shaafi’i School of jurisprudence, said: "Allaah has permitted a man to marry up to four wives, saying: {…two or three or four…}, but Allah advised that it is desirable for man to marry only one wife, saying: {…But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one}" [al-Hawi al-Kabir 11/417]. Articles. It is clear that this quote was revealed out of compassion towards women, and not as a means to please male sexuality, which is a common modern interpretation of such verses. As Leila Ahmed states in her work, Women and Gender in Islam, "evidence suggests that among the types of marriage practiced was matrilineal, uxorilocal marriage, found in Arabia, including Mecca, about the time of the birth of Muhammad (circa 570)--the woman remaining with her tribe, where the man could visit or reside with her, and the children belonging to the mother's tribe--as well as polyandrous and polygamous marriages. For example, in Iran, changes to women's rights occurred in the wake of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Under Islamic marital jurisprudence, Muslim men are allowed to practice polygyny, that is, they can have more than one wife at the same time, up to a total of four. The very verse of the Quran mentioned above, in italics, forbids polygamy. In Western literature, polygyny is often depicted as a cruel and repressive custom that … Polygyny in Islam. In fact, the majority of Muslim men worldwide do not choose the path of polygyny. Polygyny remains one of the most controversial issues in Islam till date. Polygyny in Islam There is no doubt, that no woman relishes the thought of sharing her husband with another and that plural marriages provide a bases for jealousies to arise. In Western literature, polygyny is often depicted as a cruel and repressive custom that sacrifices women’s freedom for men’s pleasure. [54] Sons of Hagar is another hip hop group that seeks to positively portray Islam in their lyrics and support Islamic practices in their actions. She thus constructs through her descriptions how the reader perceives the second wife and the husband. "[43] The campaign against this law was very popular, but the law was still passed. In Islam, limited polygyny is permitted and polyandry is completely prohibited. [21], Polygamy has always been rare among South Asian Muslims. Hence, the Islamic marriage system includes polygyny to protect and provide for the ever … 0000001717 00000 n Polygyny in Islam Marriage to more than one wife at the same time - Polygyny 3 - is a practice as old as the history of man, and is allowed in Islamic law. What does the Quran say about polygamy? The complexity of Islamic polygyny is also revealed in Assia Djebar's Ombre sultane (Shadow sultana). [30] According to Muslim feminists, Islamic polygyny was meant to curtail the practice that was already widespread in pre-Islamic times. [36] Therefore, changing polygynist practices would involve reforming the political and legal systems instead of just trying to reinterpret the Qur’an and the hadiths to determine if they really support the practice and to what extent. This spurred the creation of the personal status laws, which covered many issues relating to marriage and divorce including polygyny. 0000004582 00000 n what is polygyny in islam and supreme court verdict on it; निकाह पर निगाह . Such venereal diseases spread in promiscuous societies where extra-marital affairs and prostitution are widespread. Some, like Ali, argue that the overall condition of women who lived in the jahiliyya improved with the advent of Islam. [40] This incentivized Egyptian feminists to create a new marriage contract (approved in 2000) that would give women some rights concerning divorce and what was allowable in marriage. Although polygyny in Indonesia was never very popular, some Muslim women are worried that it is starting to gain more support. The topics covered mostly revolve around explanations of, and discussions on, polygyny in the Muslim community, and specifically within the Nation of Islam community. Could polygamy mean that fewer children grow up … 2 Replies to “ RULING ON WOMEN HATING POLYGYNY ... alternative that has been launched with a noble intention to aware the people across the World about the teachings of Islam. Both women embrace Islam as a religion that preaches gender equality. Nothing. Written in Algeria in 1987, it is told from the perspective of the first wife, Isma. [2], In the Hadith collection compiled by al-Bukhari, the historical context of Verse 4:3 is further explained when ‘Ursa narrates, that he asked 'Aisha about the Statement of Allah: 'If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (the captives) that your right hands possess. Egypt, and misused solemn covenant or agreement between husband and wife then. 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