POLYGAMY

What is Polygamy?

 LatinGreek Word ‘polygamía’

 Mean "state of marriage to many
spouses’’
 Three types
*Polygyny
*Polyandry
*Group Marriage
1.Polygyny:
 Polygyny, the practice wherein a man has more than one wife at the same time.
 Most common form of polygamy.
 Polygyny is legally accepted in many Muslim majority countries.

2. Polyandry:
 Polyandry, the practice of a woman having more than one husband at the one time.
 Less prevalent than polygyny.
 Illegal in virtually every country in the world.

3.Group Marriage:
 Group marriage is a marriage wherein the family unit consists of more than two partners.
 HISTORY
 Polygamy has been the norm through human history.
 Polygamy is not forbidden in old testament.
 Prophet Solomon had nearly 700 wives.
 Prophet Ibrahim had three wives etc.
 All other religion also allow polygamy.
 Islam was first religion to restrict polygamy.
Polygamy in islam:

 Muslim men are allowed to practice polygyny.

 Practice of a woman having more than one husband is a sin in Islam.
 Islam put a limit to the numbers of wives.
 The verse most commonly referred to with the topic of polygyny is Verse 3
of Surah 4 An-Nisa (Women).
 “If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry
women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall
not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one’’
 Why Allowed ?
 Male and female born in equal proportion.
 Scientific reason:
 Female child is stronger than female child by nature in fighting with germs and
diseases.
 Male die more than females due to drug addiction and in wars.
 There are more females than males in world.
 Two ways:
 Mary already married man.
 Public property.
 Islam gave solution as polygamy.
 The Concept of Polygamy and the
Prophet’s Marriages:

 From birth to age 25: single.

 From age 25 to age 50: married to one wife, Khadija.
 From age 50 to age 63: married ten wives.
 All the marriages of the Prophet, other than that with Lady Khadija, had a
good political or religious rationale.
Condition:

 Maintain the family.

 Justice and fairness.
 Possession of sufficient financial resources to provide all expenses of each
family
 Physical prowess for completely satisfying each wife.
 Observance of complete justice and equality among each family in every way
without any favoritism.
“but if you fear that you will not do justice (between them), then
(marry) only one…” (Surah an-Nisaa, 4:3)
POLYGAMY IN MODERN WORLD

 Polygamy is legal in 58 out of nearly 200 sovereign

states.
 Majority of them being Muslim-majority
countries situated in Africa and Asia.
 In most of these states, polygyny is allowed and legally
sanctioned.
 Polyandry is illegal in virtually every state in the world.
 The rest of the sovereign states do not
recognize polygamous marriages.
 Turkey was the first Muslim country to legally ban polygyny
 This decision was not based on religious reasons
 Tunisia was the next country to ban polygyny through legislation
 Turkey, Tunisia banned polygyny on religious grounds, citing two main reasons.
 The Quran limited the practice of polygyny.
 Many countries restrict the practice of polygyny:
i.e : Egypt, Iraq, Iran.
 Polygamy in Pakistan:

 Polygamy is legally permissible, but restricted, in the Muslim majority nation

of Pakistan.
 Only males adhering to the Islamic faith are legally allowed to enter into
polygamous unions, with a maximum of four wives at one time.
 They are required to obtain the legal consent of each of their wives who they
are already married to, and show the capability to properly take care of all of
them.
CONCLUSION

 Islam allows polygyny but with important legal and moral restrictions
 It is best for a man to have one wife so as to avoid jealousy and unfairness
between co- wive.
 But it is permissible for a man to have up to four wives if he is capable of
treating them fairly.
 God still advises no more than one.
“And you do not have the ability to do justice between the wives, even
though you may wish (to do so)…” (Surah- an - Nisaa , 4:129)