Polygamy In Islam: What Does The Muslim Faith Allow?

Polygamy is a rare practice throughout most of the world. In the context of Islam, polygamy refers to polygyny, where a man is allowed to marry more than one wife, up to a maximum of four. This practice is permitted in certain situations, such as wartime, when there are more women than men due to war casualties. In such cases, polygamy allows widows and orphans to have the possibility of a family life. However, it is not a general rule for all Muslims and is conditional on the man treating all his wives with justice and fairness.

Polygamy is allowed in certain situations, such as wartime, when there are more women than men

Polygamy, or polygyny, is allowed in Islam in certain situations, such as wartime, when there are more women than men. During wartime, many men are killed, leaving widows and orphans. Polygamy is thus allowed in Islam as a practical solution to ensure these women and children can continue to have the possibility of family life.

The verse in the Quran that is most commonly referred to in discussions of polygamy is verse 3 of Surah 4 An-Nisa (Women):

> 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.

This verse is interpreted as a call for compassion towards women and their children, rather than as a means to please male sexuality. It is also argued that this verse was revealed "because of Allah's concern for the welfare of women and orphans".

In addition to wartime, there can be other situations in which a man may seek to marry more than one wife. For example, if the purpose of marriage (as defined by the Quran) "to guard oneself against evils" is not being fulfilled with one wife, a man may be permitted to marry a second wife.

It is important to note that polygamy is not mandatory in Islam and is only allowed in certain circumstances. Furthermore, men are required to treat all their wives with justice and fairness, and it is acknowledged that this can be difficult to achieve in practice. As such, it is generally recommended in Islam to marry only one wife.

Men can have up to four wives, but only if they can treat them equally

Polygamy is allowed in Islam, but only in certain circumstances. The Quran states that men can have up to four wives, but only if they can treat them equally. This is not a general rule for all Muslims to follow, but a provision for special circumstances.

The primary occasion for the provision of polygamy is in wartime situations. During times of war, the number of men in a society is reduced due to war casualties, leaving an increase in the number of widows and orphans. For such situations, Islam gives the provision of polygamy so that widows and orphans can continue to have the possibility of a family life after the passing of the husband or father.

The Quran states:

> "And if you fear that you will not be fair in dealing with the orphans, then marry of women as may be agreeable to you, two, or three, or four; and if you fear you will not deal justly, then marry only one or what your right hands possess. That is the nearest way for you to avoid injustice."

The verse above highlights that "fair dealing with the orphans" is among the primary motivations in Islam for allowing multiple marriages, albeit connected with a strict condition. Prior to the decision to marry a second wife, the man must first ensure that he will deal with his wives and any orphans with justice. If he is not able to ensure that, he should stick to monogamy.

The permission of polygamy is restricted and conditional on the ability of the husband to treat wives equally. Otherwise, polygamy is forbidden.

The Quran states that fairness to orphans is a primary motivation for allowing multiple marriages

The Quran states:

> "And if you fear that you will not be fair in dealing with the orphans, then marry of women as may be agreeable to you, two, or three, or four; and if you fear you will not deal justly, then marry only one or what your right hands possess. That is the nearest way for you to avoid injustice." [4:4]

The above verse highlights that men must first ensure they can deal justly with multiple wives and any orphans before taking another wife. If not, they should remain monogamous.

Islam recognises that polygamy has always existed in the history of human civilisation and that, in certain situations, it is necessary for preserving the health of society and the rights of women. It is not, however, a general rule for all Muslims to follow.

It is important to note that the Quran does not state that the purpose of marriage is the pursuit of lust and sensuality. Marriage is, instead, an institution aimed at helping a person become more spiritual and connected with God.

The practice is rare in many Muslim-majority countries

Polygamy, or polygyny, is rare in many Muslim-majority countries. In Indonesia, a majority-Muslim secular nation, only 1% of the population practised polygyny in 2018. Polygamy has always been rare among South Asian Muslims. In medieval India, most ordinary Muslim men had only one wife. Polygamy was rare outside the wealthy class, except in cases of infertility. It was uncommon for a lower or middle-class woman to have a rival.

In the Ottoman Empire, most ordinary men were monogamous, with only a small minority practising polygamy. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, who visited the empire in 1717, observed that while Muslims were allowed four wives, no "man of quality" exercised this right.

Polygamy is banned in Turkey, Tunisia, and Israel. Other countries restrict the practice, including India, Iran, Iraq, Bangladesh, Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, Jordan, and Kuwait, which allow women to include a clause prohibiting polygyny in marriage contracts. In Iran and Pakistan, a man must obtain permission from his first wife and show the court proof of her consent before marrying again. In Malaysia, a man must get permission from his wife and the government religious authority.

While polygamy is rare in many Muslim-majority countries, it is common in sub-Saharan Africa, where 11% of the population lives in polygamous households.

Muslim feminists have differing views on polygamy

Some Muslim feminists believe that the practice of polygyny was meant to curtail the widespread pre-Islamic practice of polygamy. They argue that Islam reduced the number of wives each husband could have and required that he treat them all equally. They also point out that the practice of polygyny in Islam was created for the purpose of taking care of fatherless children, or orphans. Islamic feminists emphasise that only those men who are capable of loving and financially providing for each wife equally are permitted to have more than one.

However, some Muslim feminists believe that the only way to increase women's rights is outside of the parameters of Islam. They argue that there is only so much that reinterpreting the texts can do and that the best way to change polygynist practices would be to reform the political and legal systems instead.

In Malaysia, for example, polygyny has been considered a topic that is not fit to be brought up in public, but recently it has entered public discourse. 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. This has created a "debate between Islamic fundamentalists who dominate the burgeoning Islamic Affairs Department that administers Shariah law and mostly Western-educated Muslim feminists who say the department, in its overzealous interpretation of the Qur'an, has gone overboard in making new laws that discriminate against women and children."

In Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco, Muslim feminist groups have been successful in restricting polygynous practices. In Egypt, feminists created a new marriage contract (approved in 2000) that gives women some rights concerning divorce and what is allowable in marriage. In Jordan, the Civil Status Law was amended in 2001, requiring the consent of the wife before the husband marries again. This change was accompanied by a handful of other progressive decisions on women's rights in the country, greatly improving the status of women.

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