Analysing Islamic Law And Polygamy Religion Essay

Should a man have more than one wife? I’m going to answer this with referencing from the Islamic law and my opinion with facts to back it up. Under Islamic law a man is allowed up to 4 wives but he must be able to show that he can treat woman equally and provide a separate home for each of them. The truth of the matter is that, the “Law” says every Muslim according to the religion can marry more than one woman. Article 6 Muslim Family Law Ordinance 1961 of Pakistan explains that it extends to the whole of Pakistan and applies to all Muslim citizens of Pakistan wherever they may be. No man, during the subsistence of an existing marriage, shall, except with the previous permission in writing of the Arbitration Council, contract another marriage, nor shall any such marriage contracted without such permission be registered under the Muslim Marriages and Divorces (Registration) Act, 1974. The God thy worship ‘Allah’ has commanded the Muslims to marry, ”…And marry those among you who are single…” This quote illustrates that a man can marry as many as he wishes but as long as the woman around them are single. The religion of Islam has been revealed for a long time to many societies. So therefore accommodates widely to different social requirements. Circumstances may warrant the taking of another wife but the right is granted, according to the Quran, only on one condition that the husband is scrupulously fair. The Quran is the only religious scripture in the world that says, marry only one. A Muslim marriage is not a ‘sacrament’ like Christianity, but a simple, legal agreement in which either partner is free to include conditions.

In Islam, marriage is essentially a contract. However, the division between sacred and secular was never explicit in Islam. Any action or transaction in Islam has religious implications. It is not quite accurate, therefore, to designate marriage in Islam simply as a secular contract. The appropriate designation of marriage could be a “Divine Institution”. Islam recognizes the value of sex and advocates marriage. Islam does not believe in celibacy. Nushaba Hussein, the chair of the Human Rights Action Committee of the Muslim Parliament says recognising polygamy would give legal recourse to women.

In Islam, limited polygamy is permitted. Polygamy is one of the main targets for criticism on the part of non-Muslims and even some who claim to be Muslims. However, polygamy is not something that appeared with the advent of Islam, it has been practiced for a very long time. Believe it or not, Christians also believed/practised polygamy; the ban on polygamy in Christianity is a man-made prohibition, not divine law. In the Quran it says ”If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two, three, or four, but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one.” The verse illustrates the sincere teachings of Islam regarding polygamy and includes the command to treat wives equally, and anyone who is unable to do so should marry only one women. I generally believe that if it is clearly stated in the Quran, Muslims should be allowed to marry as many wives as they please. The Quran is what Muslims use as their guidance so if the Holy Book permits them then it is their choice to make their own decision. I do not think anyone has the right to question what they believe since we all have different opinions and backgrounds; every individual human beings are different.

Equality includes all social, economical and physical needs. It is very difficult for human beings to be completely fair, a fact which is recognised by the Quran . Which is proven in the world today. At times, the wife may be incapable of pregnancy and the husband desires to have children. Polygamy can also serve as a solution to this problem. Some men are not satisfied with one woman. By recognising this need of a man, Islam permitted them to marry more than one wife, rather than falling into the trap of adultery and fornication. These are just some of the reasons and wisdoms behind the permissibility of practicing polygamy. This is the decision of Allah, and it must be accepted by Muslims. According to the Islamic faith, the Quran can be challenged. In the Holy book, it goes into depth more on how the women should be treated and the rights they have as a wife.

No one may argue that religious law is more important than state law, so if it is against their religious morals then men should be allowed to marry more than one women. However, in the religion it is not obligatory so it all goes down to the choices the men make. Polygamy is not a rule but an exception. Many people are under the misconception that it is compulsory for a Muslim man to have more than one wife. “Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women, even if it is your ardent desire: But turn not away (from a woman) altogether, so as to leave her (as it were) hanging (in the air). If ye come to a friendly understanding, and practise self-restraint, God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” Here we clearly see that Allah tells men that they will never be fair to their wives. He tells the men the pre-cautions of what they are about and gives a clear warning. Additionally it clearly nullifies the excuse that Allah gave them to practice polygamy. I personally believe from the Noble Quran that polygamy should not be allowed today to most Muslim men in the Muslim world. I am going to say yes, men should be allowed to have more than one wife especially if it has something to do with their faith and what they believe in. I do not believe that men should use this, as an advantage or practice polygamy for the sake of sexual pleasure but as a blessing. If people practice polygamy without being thoughtful to others, I am sure that Allah will take that negatively toward them, because Allah clearly demanded in the Quran that men should be fair, and think thoroughly before having multiple wives. He clearly encouraged men to settle down with one wife.