| Answer: A
regular household is naturally built around one man and one wife. This rule
of human nature is also evident through God’s providence of one wife to
Adam: Eve. Islam does not encourage polygamy as a way of life; rather, it
permits it in order to deal effectively with exceptional circumstances.
The Islamic
injunction permitting Muslim men to marry more than one woman requires
special understanding. During the time of the Prophet (sws), many wars were
being fought between the believers and the disbelievers. A lot of Muslims
were martyred on the battlefields. The battle of Uhud, for one, left behind
many widows and orphans. Islam grants special protection to women and
children, and the permission of marrying more than one lady arose from that
spirit in order to ensure her safety as well as sound upbringing for her
children.
This also
allowed for the proper handling of the orphans’ interests and property. For
their wealth to be kept secure and carefully allocated in due course of
time, a sound family structure provided a more secure environment. The
mother is the best candidate to be trusted with proper and considerate
management of her children’s rights and inheritance. Marriage provided a
good medium of support to meet such ends. The Qur’ān, thus, reads:
And if you
fear that you will not be able to deal fairly with the orphans, marry of the
women, who seem good to you, two or three or four. (4:3)
Similarly
today, some women may be in need of care and acceptance in society. It is
unfortunate that widows, orphans and new converts are forced to live lives
of misery in most societies. Islam seeks to provide solace to such women and
children in order that they may live regular lives with comfort and peace.
Islam only
allows Muslim men to marry more than once, but does not encourage it in any
way. This can especially be done in order to secure the lives of the women,
and children, involved. It seeks to maintain the sanctities of a healthy
household for all individuals and requires all wives to be treated equally.
This latter consideration should be very strongly stressed.
Another
good reason for this allowance is to prevent heinous sins from engulfing a
society. In the event that a man feels the urge to go to a woman other than
his own wife, restraint is absolutely the best possible option. However, if
even then he finds himself much too compelled so as to choose between
extra-marital relations and another marriage, he should go for the second
option.
It needs to
be stressed again that the allowance of polygamy is there in Islam has not
been encouraged. The Qur’ān puts a very stern condition on the man, should
he want to take more than one woman into marriage: the fair treatment of all
wives:
But if you
fear that you would not be able to deal justly [with them] then [restrict
yourself to] one only. (4:3)
As far as
the requirement of the first wife’s permission for second marriage is
concerned, this is not a necessary pre-requisite. However, prudence demands
that she be made aware of it in order to avoid future enmity. Consequently,
there is no punishment for a man, in the event that he marries more than
once. Up to four wives have been permitted along with the enjoining of fair
and equal treatment of all four wives. Should multiple marriages result in
the breaking up of any of the families, or in mistreatment of either of the
wives, then the husband will be held responsible for any mismanagement on
his part. In that case, any punishment will be from Allah. |