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Contract · Mahr Marriage in Islam Misyar · Halala · Urfi Nikah mut‘ah Polygyny · Divorce · Iddah Ma malakat aymanukum Adoption |
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In Islam, polygamy is allowed and practised under certain restricted conditions. Muslim men are allowed to practise polygyny, that is, they can have more than one wife at the same time, up to a total of four. Polyandry, the practice of a woman having more than one husband, by contrast, is not permitted.
Some Muslim-majority countries have Islamic law (sharia) which permits polygyny, although there is internal debate regarding the role of women in Islam. See this discussion on the extent to which states can and do recognize these forms as valid.
Polygamy for Muslims, in practice and in law, differs greatly throughout the Islamic world, where polygamous marriages constitute only 1–3% of all marriages.[1] In some Muslim countries, polygamy is relatively common, while in others, it is rare or non-existent. Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tunisia and Turkey, for example, are predominantly Muslim countries that have not adopted Islamic law for marital regulations, where polygamy is not legal.
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The passage in the Qur'an dealing directly with the topic of polygamy is in Surah 4 Verse 3:
And if you fear that you cannot act equitably towards orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two and three and four; but if you fear that you will not do justice (between them), then (marry) only one or what your right hands possess; this is more proper, that you may not deviate from the right course.
There is also a Verse that discourages the practice of polygamy (Verse 129 in Surah 4) which is a sort of response to the Verse 3 in Surah 4:
You will never be able to do perfect justice between wives even if it is your ardent desire, so do not incline too much to one of them (by giving her more of your time and provision) so as to leave the other hanging (i.e. neither divorced nor married). And if you do justice, and do all that is right and fear Allâh by keeping away from all that is wrong, then Allâh is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
The Qur'an instructs the guardians of the children of widows, which it refers to as orphans, to marry the widows, where this is lawful, if they fear that they would not otherwise be able to fulfil their obligations to protect the children and look after their wealth and property. Men are allowed to engage in polygamy with two conditions:[2]
The Qur'an encourages wives to adapt to the situation, but, in spite of the wife's efforts, if the family does not remain intact then it is not her responsibility.[3]
So technically the Qur'an only allows this when someone is in need of help as in widows. However, in today's time and date, it is interpreted differently and not practiced as much because the Qur'an was revealed at a different time. At that time it was allowed and many Non-Muslims also practiced this. Therefore, it has evolved gradually. As with any other conditions of an Islamic marriage contract, a woman may, before marriage, make a stipulation that the husband not marry any other women. A subsequent second marriage by the husband invalidates his first marriage.
Islamic feminists such as Shukria Barakzai oppose multiple marriages. Barakzai is a member of the House of the People or Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of the National Assembly of Afghanistan. In 2004, 12 years after they were wed, her husband took a second wife without telling Barakzai, and she admits to feeling "disturbed and hurt" and "a victim of tradition" because of his decision.[4]
In the former Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia), the feminist Kartini declared strong opposition to polygyny in her letters. However, under parental pressure, she had to marry a polygamous man herself. She is now a National Heroine of Indonesia.
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