As Muslim, we often hear about polygamy. Polygamy is a marriage system where one side own or marry some opposite sex in the same time.
In social antropology, polygamy is a marriage practice to have more than one husband or wife (according to the sex of the relation person).
Islam permits and allow men (in special conditions) to have four more wives max. Polygamy is a behavior before Islam and it is not cancelled by the arrival of Islam. On the contrary, Islam has corrected and arranged various conditions for practices.
That principle is allowed, but polygamy is only limited on four wives. In the validation of polygamy, Islam has not an intention to be man’s side. It does not also support them to make harem and party, have excess sexual desires, neglect woman’s rights and oppress them.
On the contrary, Islam has some reasons why it allows polygamy, such as assert woman’s rights, her right for married, make a family, have and raise their children. Of course, man’s rights have been also remembered.
While observing special conditions, the licensing of polygamy is a social needs and it is in the primary interest both women and men.
For more explanations about this, we can see the word of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala and the article below :
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا
“O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.”
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- The importance of polygamy for wife
- Law of polygamy without wife permission
- Laws of rejects polygamy in Islam
- Keep Away from Adultery
We know that marriage does not guarantee his people to do not love and admire others than his or her spouse. Although Al-Qur’an has explained that someone who has got married must keep their view and focus on their mates.
But, human is endowed with passions and desires. So, if it is the best solution, why not? Because there are many types of adultery, even the view has included to adultery, if it causes desires that should not be. [AdSense-B]
- Create Justice
Although as a wife especially the first wife, polygamy is looked like unfair for her. But verily, the husband who do polygamy, he has been fair with her.
It is better than he continues to betray his wife both his wife knows about his behaviour who love other woman or not. The word of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala :
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تُقْسِطُوا فِي الْيَتَامَىٰ فَانْكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا فَوَاحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَلَّا تَعُولُوا
“And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four.
But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one or those your right hand possesses. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice].” (Q.S. An-Nisa : 3)
- Unbalanced Population
As we know that women are many more than men and it is a special reason of polygamy. It will also sulk to the first point, The Creation of Justice. Because indeed both husband and wife, they belong to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.
So, our mate also belongs to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala and we do not have right to feel that we have him and we can arbitrate others upon polygamy. [AdSense-A]
- The Solution of Men’s Accident
Commonly, men have high level of his work and many risks, if they are compared with women. And it also becomes a reason why the ratio of women is higher than the ratio of men (unbalanced).
- A man has been established and he can do justice
If a man is really established and he can provide and do justice to his wives later, then there is no reason to forbid polygamy. Because the basic thing about polygamy is justice.
- His wife has a weakness
Sometimes, there is a thing that cannot be fulfilled by his wife, such as offspring or the problem of marital relationship. Then polygamy is also one of good alternatives, so the husband does not fall into a bad relationship.
- Some men have excess desires
Sometimes, that is a natural characteristic where some men has excess desires and they are not enough to have only one wife. It is also a basic on why Islam allows polygamy.
- Decrease criminals
As we know that girls and widows become victims of crime. So, if they have a husband, it will decrease criminals who are done by irresponsible men. And it is one of solutions where women have a place to depend on and a man to protect them.
- Multiply Ummah
Descendant will be got if someone has a family. So, a valid marriage will result a good descendant of Islam, too. It is also a reason of polygamy in Islam.
- Help them who have a weakness
The majority of widows will be difficult to get a job. It will be affected to their lives. They will be very difficult to find living, moreover if they have children.
- Strengthen the bond of family
Have you ever hear that a husband has a wife who is still a relative of the first wife or himself? Ye, polygamy can also become one way to keep close the bond of family.
- An alternative of Divorce
Polygamy is an alternative of divorce in some marital problems. Instead of divorcing his wife who is sick or infertile, Islam allows a man to marry other women while caring the first wife if he chooses to live with her. See also how to praise your wife in Islam.
- Solve Basic Desires of Human
The teachings of Islam, such as polygamy, is according to human nature. Men and women are different in their desires. They have variety of sexual. These difference are universal. According to the evolutionary scientist, men is set to spread their sperm. See also divorce law in Islam.
From the article above, we can conclude that Islam allows its Ummah to do polygamy. Because it is for our goodness, too.
But we have to note that it must be based on the thirteen reasons above. Do not exit from sharia. Hopefully, this article can add your information about the reason of polygamy in Islam and we will be better creatures of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. Amen.
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