The following is my understanding regarding the permission for polygamy:
Lets make two things absolutely clear to start off with
Islam does allow polygamy. According to shariah polygamy is perfectly legal. (I'm stressing this point for you, PyariCgudia)
Islam does not allow polygamy for the lust of it. i.e. a marriage based on lust would not be a marriage (the joining of two people) to start off with, it'd only be a relationship. Relationships based on lust can never be equal.
Now,
I agree when it is said that (so-called)Muslim men have misused this allowance a little too much. To understand the permission for polygamy lets consider the following points:
There is more to life than the fairytale love most Americans have been brought up to believe in. Life is a serious business, and considering the physical strength of a woman, many women at one time or another require the support of a man. This is not to indicate that men are in anyway superior, women are much stronger emotionally. Also, at times, a man might have a moral duty to re-marry(in case of war, or a family relative not getting married, or something) and he might have to put away with his "love" in order to help another soul.
What about wars? I dont see many women playing soldiers? We talk about equality and crap, but I definitely dont see a lot of female soldiers. Considering the case of a war happening right now, how would these women cope? Believe it or not, having a person to support you even if you have to "share" him is a better deal instead of braving alone through life.
Have you considered the position of a man who is in a polygamous marriage? I, for one, do not even have the courage to marry twice, have twice the responsibility and then even be burdened by the fact that I'd have to fare equally with them. Who wants to be in this position?. A man will be questioned strictly on the day of judgement regarding all his wives; Who wants to be in his shoes?
So, realistically, multiple marriages are allowed, and not forced on Muslim men by Islam. A guy can realistically decide to marry again if his first wife is not capable of having a child, and is allowing him to re-marry, or a certain woman is in need of support(in case of wars, or any other scenario where physical, emotional, financial support is needed).
Lets not pull Islam out of context to ridicule it.
[This message has been edited by Mahiwal (edited June 13, 2002).]
[quote]
Originally posted by PyariCgudia:
**Lets not defend unjust practices just becuz some hindu decided to point them out.
Today, there is NO reason other than lust for a man to have 2 wives.
It ought to have been strictly limited from hundreds to 1 wife. But this loophole of 4 wives is meant to test the lust of men.**
[/quote]
Well well well...if your not muslim please don't bother reading on...but if you are then i would just like to remind you that permission to have four wives and their rights is in the Quran. And it also states in the Quran that you can't reject parts of the Quran. So by your personal beleif ur denying wats in the Quran, which is wrong to do. Please anyone feel free to correct me but i was told that if u disagree with one part of the Quran, you are disagreeing with the all of It. So, as a muslim, I don't think you can disagree with the Quran.
I don't know alot about polgamy but i am sure if u read all aspects of it in the Quran, you would change ur mind...
Hum Bhool Gaye Hain Rakh ke Kahin Woh Cheeze Jisse Dil Kehte the...Woh Cheeze Jisse Dil Kehte Hain...
[quote]
Originally posted by bcsm57:
** In a society such as the one you describe it would make sense, but in our modern world, I really don't think it has a place. I am assuming that most Muslim men have just one wife. Is this ture or false?
Brenda
**
[/quote]
Ii dont persoanlly know anyone that has more then one wife.. So I assume its no longer considered the in-thing to do.
I know a lot of Muslims that look down on it though...
[quote]
Originally posted by bcsm57:
** In a society such as the one you describe it would make sense, but in our modern world, I really don't think it has a place. I am assuming that most Muslim men have just one wife. Is this ture or false?
Brenda
**
[/quote]
Brenda, you live in a "blessed" society, which has all the resources, all the money, all you name it. But the situation is not same in all parts of the world. There are poor countries (I think majority of world is poor). In many countries, men are outnumbered by women. For example, in Pakistan many a girls keep waiting to get married, many die without getting married at all. In Pakistan, not ALL women have the luxury of getting enough education to work and be independent. Same is situation of many other countries.
Islam permits, as already indicated, but the conditions of treating equally are to be met. Yes 99.99% of Muslim men I know are married to one woman.
[quote]
A*db*ul Malick:
I did not pick the link that suited my 'so-called' agenda; I picked the first one that you had posted with its equally catchy title.
[/quote]
Howcome you did not post the article that differed from your opinion? becuz that was against your "agenda"?
May Allah SWT guide us all towards right and help us follow the right
[quote]
Originally posted by Changez_like:
** Howcome you did not post the article that differed from your opinion? becuz that was against your "agenda"?**
[/quote]
That was the only article I read and frankly that was enough!
[quote]
Originally posted by Adbulmalick:
** That was the only article I read and frankly that was enough!
**
[/quote]
Mr. Abdulmalick, read my last post!! Even from the article you read (Islam attracts converts by the thousands) you extracted only that part that suited your agenda, and ignored that part which was against it. Read my last post and you will see what parts of that particular article you conveniently left out.
Now its ok, no need to offer any more excuses, we don't need to keep going round and round in circles.
If Islam is whatever you think it is then what is Hinduism ,or other religion you are not mentioning here that you r comparing with.
Untill you reveal that secret it is at a disadvantGE TO TALK TO YOU B/C WE DONT SEE WHAT YOUR YARD STICK IS WHEN YOU KNOW OUR CARDS AS WELL AS YOURS.
mUSLIMS & ISLAMISTS EXISIST IN 50+ COUNTRIES HOW COME YOU LIMIT TO sAUDIE & aFGHANISTAN,nOT THAT I DECLARE THEM nOT MUSLIM BUT THEY REPRESENT ONLY CERTAIN TYPE OF nATIONALITIES & GENETICALLY DISTINCT RACE EVENTHOUGH WE DONT DISCRIMNATE ON RACIAL BASIS .
Muslims in America are no less than those living inpredominantly muslim countries.
There are nations which are muslim majority but not islamic govt .like Indonesia ,Malaysia ,Bosnia ,Kosovo ,Albania …You dont seem to go into details of the e.g. that you give.
It really irritates me when people upon finding their arguments bested choose to forget them completely, instead of acknowledging that they may have been incorrect in their assumptions. But when one does not want to see the right of things, they cannot be made to see it.
Maybe its just me, but it seems so much of the time those that claim openmindedness don't leave the doors open, instead sliding it this way and that way, an openess that forever widens and narrows, as it is adjusted it to what suits them best.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is if you want to learn, genuinely learn, get rid of the misconceptions/stereotypes you carry, and perhaps try to develop some sort of understanding, that understanding doesn't mean you have to agree. But that respect for the differences that are present in other cultures, other religions, will certainly earn you respect and lend you dignity in the eyes of those you converse with.
Cheap shots and other such stuffed-up responses are - to put it frankly - pathetic.
I mean what are you people here for afterall, if not to learn from those who write, and share your own knowledge/opinions.
Alright - lecture finished. rueful smile sorry to barge in here like that:)