Morocco Bans Polygamy?

Society Religion & Philosophy
1

Well not totally, but this is an interesting move, I believe Tunisia banned Polygamy much earlier. Much of the justification apparently has been Ijtihad.

Morocco boosts women’s rights

Giles Tremlett
Monday October 13, 2003
The Guardian

Polygamy should all but disappear from Morocco after the country’s King Mohammed VI announced a reform of strict laws regulating women’s and family rights.

The king, using his official position as the country’s main religious authority, said over the weekend that changes to the “mudawana” code on family life would be introduced which, while not banning polygamy altogether, would make it tougher for men who wanted to take a second wife. The king said wives would be free to prevent their husbands taking a second spouse and legal mechanisms would make polygamy “almost impossible”.

King Mohammed, whose titles include “commander of the faithful”, thus ended a four-year tussle over women’s rights which had seen huge demonstrations by traditionalists and reformers in the north African state.

**The reforms he has announced also include raising the legal age for marriage for women from 15 to 18, a simplification of the divorce procedures for women, and greater protection should their husbands decide to leave them. **

**The king said the new law was designed to “lift the iniquity weighing on women, protect children’s rights and preserve the dignity of mankind”. **

Women’s groups had feared that reforms, first promised when King Mohammed succeeded his father, Hassan II, in 1999, would never happen after protests from Islamic conservatives.

These brought some 300,000 demonstrators onto the streets of Casablanca three years ago to protest against any change to the mudawana. Modernisers seeking change could only muster 100,000 marchers the same day in Rabat.

However, the conservatives in Morocco have been placed on the defensive after suicide bomb attacks by radical Islamists which claimed 45 lives in Casablanca in May.

2

Morrocco is similar to turkey the muslims are victimised by the extremist secular government for being muslim and calling for islam system!

3

^ Oh you mean they have good relations with the west and are fairly progressive in their though process...seems about right.

4

"The king, using his official position as the country's main religious authority..."

Where is the apparent ijtihad?

He is a King. I dont expect him to follow Islamic Shari'aa laws, because if he did, he wouldnt be King, as Islam has no system of monarchy.

Morocco is heavily influenced by "outsiders", especially considering its demographic makeup for the last few hundred years.

5

I think this issue is not as cut and dried, as some may think.

While a legitimate Islamic ruler does indeed has a right to do ijtihhad and come out with newer solutions in light of quran and sunnah to fit the demands of the time (as Hazrat Umer (RA) did a number of times, during his rule) - it is an odd case to consider a monarchy and a King as a legitimate Islamic ruler. Legitimate ruler, maybe. Islamic, doubtful.

Having said that, I am sure the King did not spend a lot of sleepless nights figuring out this complex issue, but rather a group of appointed religious scholars came up with the suggestion and the King is merely enforcing it using his authority. In any case, he is just making it administratively difficult to marry multiple wives, and is not declaring it against Islam, per se. This is significant, as explained in the last para (below).

In Morocco, and I suspect most of the monarchial middle eastern countries, the administrative control of the area and the religious authority is either centered in the same person or they work very closely together.

In conclusion, banning polygamy, while seems to go against an allowed practice, I don't think a lot of people will lose much sleep over it. Its a concept which was practiced in 7th century. It is still practiced, in many muslim areas, but is gradually dwindling down, atleast in educated muslims. Maybe one day, its fate will be similar to slavery, which is permitted in Islam, but has now been reduced to probably some very exclusive neighborhoods of Saudi Arabia and other kingdoms, and is all but abolished from most of muslim lands. Times change. Some of these practices change over time. Whether we like it or not.

6

matsui, maybe u can elaborate on what u meant?

7

Yaar he is not BANNING polygamy, according to this post, Hes jsut making it difficult for men to go out and get a second wife. I mean hes actually giving the women some rights, for Allah's sake(not just with the polygamy thing, but raising thier minimum legal age for marriage etc). I mean getting a second wife isnt supposed to be that easy, is it???

8

correct me if im wrong but in hinduism a guy can have 2 wives, i see it in the dramas on zee tv. Hinduism is gr8. Is it true that some of our hindu gods had 2 or 3 wives. Maybe matusi and rvikz can help me out here, i might be wrong.

9

Hindu guy, Morrocco is not a hindu country. As far as your question is concerned. It is not true. So there you go. Now repeat after me.. Ram Naam Satya hai...

10

True I believe Turkey and Tunisia have banned Polygamy, in Pakistan something similar was quoted by a Supreme Court Judge:

  • A Commission set up in 1994 under the chairman ship of a judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, had actually pointed to the particular verse: “Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women even if it is your ardent desire” (Nisa: 129). The Commission had pointed out that this verse of the Quran had been made the basis of “ijtehad” in Tunisia and Turkey where polygamy was banned under Islamic Family Law.*
11

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Matsui: *
Hindu guy, Morrocco is not a hindu country. As far as your question is concerned. It is not true. So there you go. Now repeat after me.. Ram Naam Satya hai...
[/QUOTE]

You liar, you said that all paths go to Krishna now you are backing out? You can reach Krishna whether you have 1 or 10 wives :p

12

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Zakk: *
True I believe Turkey and Tunisia have banned Polygamy, in Pakistan something similar was quoted by a Supreme Court Judge:...
[/QUOTE]

I thought you can still marry more than one woman, but you have to get approval from first wife.

13

Matsui my hindu brother ims ure ur wrong.I think i read in the scriptures that u can marry more than one wife.

Also once again stop trying to convert an already hindu person to hinduism. If you continue to act like an idiot i will have to tell admin about you. I cant believe im getting this sort of treatment from a fellow hindu brother.

14

If you believe that what this king did was good, then you probably also support Turkey for its shameful antics against Muslim women who covered their heads...

What other proof of disgust do you want...Muslim girls are allowed to cover and be respected in western countries while in a Muslim country the police harrases, arrests and tears the covering off the head of a Muslim lady...Shame shame on all brothers who supported this artrocity against their sisters and mothers...

The king's decision whatever it is ultimately rests in his decision...Don't you think he should at least have considered that there are Muslims living under his monarchy and that it is their belief that they can have 4 wives...

The world was in an uproar when Pakistan was going to put religion into NID cards, yet not one peep against these artrocities against Muslims...

Where was Women's Lib. when the soldiers were ripping the hijaab off the Muslim ladies' heads...Where was Amnesty...Where were all these org.s?

I believe if in todays world if so much can happen against Muslims in Muslim lands, is it a wonder that Shirin Ebadi can pass by and get the Nobel Peace Prize for trying to 'liberate' women?

15

^^ :k:

16

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by hindu_guy: *
Also once again stop trying to convert an already hindu person to hinduism. If you continue to act like an idiot i will have to tell admin about you. I cant believe im getting this sort of treatment from a fellow hindu brother.
[/QUOTE]

I dunno about the scriptures, but at least in South India there is a practise (not a very widespread one though) of taking up a second wife, usually in a seperate place.

It is called "chinna veedu" or little house in Tamil.