In some religions, polygamy is considered as a backward act and for some it’s a reason for violation of women rights. But Polygamy in Islam is not set on Muslims by any western thought but by a divine revelation on Hazrat Mohammad (P.B.U.H). Islam did not introduce polygamy but Polygamy was a usual practice in many ancient religions without any restrictions on the number of wives such as Hindus, Babylonians, and Assyrians. Islam has in fact given due rights to women by limiting the number of wives and prescribing its responsibility to a man. Polygamy was practiced by Prophets of Islam like Abraham, Moses Jacob, David and Solomon. Marriage in Islam is considered as a legal contract between a man and women with some responsibilities on each spouse. Children born in wedlock are also called as legitimate and have share in their parent’s wealth also.
Quran has limited the number of wives. It is considered as obligatory for a polygamous man to treat his wives equally. Also marriage and Polygamy in Islam is a mutual consent, nobody can force a woman to marry a married man. A woman can also stipulate in her prenuptial contract that her husband may not marry a second woman in her life. Islam does not consider polygamy as a sign of women’s degradation but by requiring a man to treat all his wives equally is a responsibility which is very hard to fulfill now days. The primary purpose of marriage in Islam is to regulate the sexual desires of a man and women within Islamic limitations and creating an atmosphere for the continuity and extension of life with legitimacy.
Polygamy in Islam is permitted due to a number of reasons. Islam obligates a man to marry a widow woman who has orphan children for the purpose that all her financial problems could be solved. Next, the problems of prostitution and having illegitimate extra marital affairs could be solved through polygamy. The number of women exceeds men as daily hundreds of men are dying due to war and violent crimes in many parts of world. In this situation Polygamy is the only solution to this predicament.
Some women who are not financially maintained by their husbands become prostitutes to earn their livelihood which further increases social imbalances in the society. Polygamy in Islam is permitted as it can be an alternative for marital problems. In case of divorcing a sick or infertile wife a man could marry another woman. Besides, it is a universal accepted truth that men and women differ in their sexual desires; man always wants more sexual partners than women do. By Polygamy in Islam is also permitted to provide solution to this ingrained desire in man legally. Institutional polygamy also controls the spread of many sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS and Herpes.
There are many benefits of permitting polygamy in Islam. Due to modern restrictions placed on polygamy there are many societies who remain untreated but one must realize the truth behind the Islamic facts keeping an open heart and mind.
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