THE PRACTICE OF POLYGAMY

Dodge, Christine Huda (2003). The Everything: Understanding Islam Book. A complete and east-to-read to

Muslim beliefs, practices, traditions, and culture. Adams Madia, an F+W Publications Company.

Page 214 -216.

The Practice of Polygamy

Polygamy has been practiced in various cultures and societies for thousands of years. Many ancient rulers

had hundreds of wives and concubines, whom they freely took or discarded according to their whims. No ancient society

placed restrictions on the practice, either in the number of wives or the manner in which they should be treated.

The word "polygamy" can refer to either a man or a woman having more than one spouse. In Islam, woman

may not have more than one partner. What is permitted in Islam is officially termed "polygyny", a practice of men having

multiple wives.

Islam brought severe restrictions on the practice of marrying more than one wife, neither outlawing nor

promoting it. This legal provision must be understood in the context of Islam's position on several important issues. First,

Islam is a faith for all cultures and time periods, and thus must take into consideration all possible circumstances. The laws

must accomodate all possible individual and social conditions. Also, Islam strongly prohibits extramarital relationships, and

encourages all men and women to marry.

The Qur'an indicates that under specific, restricted circumstances, a Muslim man may marry two, three, or a

maximum of four wives. This permission is restricted with conditions of financial, physical, and emotional fairness. Any

woman involved in such a marriage must give her approval, it is a free choice of all parties.

While polygyny has been abused in some instances, the practice can have a valuable function in certain

circumstances. The obvious example of this is in wartime, when there are large numbers of widows and orphans left

without means of support, protection, and companionship. It was in this context that Qur'anic verses allowing more than one

wife were revealed.

At the Battle of Uhud, thousands of Muslim men were killed; their widows and orphaned children were left

alone. At this time, the following verses were revealed:

To orphans restore their property... nor substitute your worthless things for their good ones, and devour not

their substance by mixing it up with your own. For this is indeed a great sin. If you fear that you will not be able to deal justly

with orphans, marry woman of your choice - two, three, or four. But if you fear that you will not be able to deal justly with

them, then marry only one... (4:2-3)

When looking at these verses, a number of facts are evident:

- The practice is not mandatory, but merely permitted in certain circumstances.

- This practice is not associated with passion or lust. It is rather based on compassion toward widows and orphans, a

matter that is confirmed by the atmosphere in which these verses were revealed.

- Even in such a situation, the permission is far more restricted that what was common practice at the time - an unlimited

number of wives with no conditions.

- Dealing justly with one's wife is a condition and obligation. This applies to equal housing, food, and kind treatment without

discrimination.

- If a man doudts that he can be fair and even between more than one wife, he is encouraged to marry one only.

This permission is consistent with the realistic Islamic view of the varying social needs, problems and

cultural variations throughout time and in all places. Islam did not invent or require polygyny, it merely regulated the long-

common practice to ensure equal rights and status for all parties concerned. In today's world, polygyny is not a common

practice among all Muslims.

The Qur'an warns that, "you will never be able to be fair and just between women, even if it is your ardent

desire" (4:129). Based on this verse, many Muslim believe that monogamy is encouraged, and men are warned about the

possible consequences of their choice.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCE:

Dawood, N. J. (1956). The Koran. With Parallel Arabic Text. Penguin Books. 50th anniversary edition

published with further revisions, 2006. Page 76.

Give orphans the property which belongs to them. Do not exchange their valuables for worthless things or

cheat them of their possessions; for this would surely be a grievous sin. If you fear you cannot treat orphans with fairness,

1

then you may marry other women who seem good to you: two, three, or four of them. But if you fear that you cannot

maintain equality among them, marry one only or any slave-girls you may own. This will make it easier for you to avoid

injustice. (4:2-3)

1. Orphan girls.

Glang, Alunan C. (1969). Muslim Secession or Integretion? Quezon City. R. P. Garcia Publishing Co.

Page 47.

Datu Piang, like all other Moro datus sired many children. By marriage with the daughters of other datus,

Datu Piang succeeded in uniting the Muslims. Daughters of warring datus were brought together under one roof by their

marriage with him. This in turn united fathers under the over-all leadership of Amai Mengka.