This comment is not very fortunate. The world is a great mixture of diverse cultures and religions. Our culture and religion are just one in a million. no matter we consider them to be the most superior of all, but the fact is that their contemporaries deserve equal respect.

I am not in any way an advocate of polyandry, but criticizing it just for the sake of fun is equally condemnable. It is an established practice in some regions of the world and only the people who practice it know the need for it. If they are content, who are we to call them contemptible, especially since they have no link at all to our religion and school of thought?

Equally condemnable is the treatment widows and divorcees have to face in so called Islamic societies such as Pakistan. Before criticizing other cultures, make sure your own one is above criticism. That of Pakistan is certainly not.

I think you guys are talking about this verse.

"And if you have reason to fear that you might not act equitably towards orphans, then marry from among [other] women such as are lawful to you - [even] two, or three, or four: but if you have reason to fear that you might not be able to treat them with equal fairness, then [only] one - or [from among] those whom you rightfully possess. This will make it more likely that you will not deviate from the right course." (Al-Quran, 4:3)

I seriously don't have a clue regarding what actually made you think that I was making fun of it or I view this practice as contemptible (by saying that I was shocked to find out about it and that it is a pre-historic thing.) Yet, I apologize to all the polyandrous members (which is highly unlikely) at the forum if my statement injured their sentiments in any way. I do respect the diversity and discretion. I do believe that nothing is above criticism.

PS, as far as religions are concerned, none advocates polyandry (except one reference in the annals of Mahabharta which is believed to be a forged account by even most of their Swamis.)

__________________
...and I am the dark of this our new day

We are ignoring a very important aspect, i e, Physiology of female.
The physiology of female is such that she is not always ready to fulfill the demand of her spouse in marital relationship and that compels the male to look elsewhere for satisfaction. That is main reason for allowing polygamy in some religions. Now the modern times and western cultures have sought other ways to overcome this situation, where there is no need at all to practice polygamy, but in muslim culture, where extra- marital relations not allowed the polygamy is the only solution. It is quite natural.

__________________
/// Aur be ghum hain zamanay main muhabat kay siwa ///

ok. leave the topic bros. no need to extend and open the topic any more.Scientific reasons are known to everyone so leave it.
I think enough discussion has been done on this topic.

__________________
Shabdon mein kya tareef karoon aap ki MUSSAA
Aap shabdon mein kahan bandh payenge.
Kabhi mere aankhon mein jhaank kar dekho,
Hazaron alfaz khud-b-khud bikhar jayenge.

Reference is there in the very first post, bro, only if you had cared to read it. It has also been posted by tknw0. I quote it below for your convenience.

"And if you have reason to fear that you might not act equitably towards orphans, then marry from among [other] women such as are lawful to you - [even] two, or three, or four: but if you have reason to fear that you might not be able to treat them with equal fairness, then [only] one - or [from among] those whom you rightfully possess. This will make it more likely that you will not deviate from the right course." (Al-Quran, 4:3)


Dear Musaa, when I stated this;

The Qur’an is the only religious scripture in the world that says, "marry only one".

The emphasis is on the "only religious scripture". There is no other religious scripture in the world that says "marry only one". If you find it in any other religion, please bring it here.
I very well know that Islam allows (not recommends) up to four wives at a time i.e Limited Polygamy as stated above. However, Islam recommends "marry only one", but in cases, as have been described in the Ayah posted above, it is permissible to marry more than one (up to four).

May be you could open that 'new thing' with a little more straight forward statements and less Yellow Cartoons (Emoctions/Smilies).

May be life before marriage is not dutiful for you. It certainly is for many people around the globe.

I know a number of people who are fulfilling their duties as a family member prior to their marriages. Many of the members on this forum would also testify this as I believe some of them themselves come in this category. So, the point is my dear that life before or after marriage is full of duties and responsibilities. It is only that the center of responsibilities or their nature changes.

It's simply insane to believe that life before marriage is not full of responsibilities.


One more thing, I want to reiterate here, that it is NOT in the religion/customs of Hinduism to marry one only. It is in the Indian STATE LAW.

Someone has also pointed out that comparison between Islam and Hinduism should not be done. To him and anyone else having a similar opinion, I would say,
(The employment of counter examples is BY NO MEANS for the sake of comparison, but for better Understanding.)

__________________
Verily, His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says "Be!" - and it is! (Al-Quran)

i just wonder how manipulative men can be to justify something which benefits them.

As mussa very easily gave example of Arab women who are ok with their husbands having several wives. Mussa has ignored the other related details. i am sure my respected brother knows that how difficult it is for a man to marry in Arab. he has to give a substantial Mehr ( unlike our 32 rupay aath aanay) and they are bound to provide the financial security to any woman whom they want to tie nuptial knot with.

Sociologist PU too left no stone unturned in justifying and brought female physiology to prove polygyny right. who said that Islam allowed polygamy to fulfil man's so called desires. polygamy was allowed for several reasons in 7th century but in the present conditions it is unnecessary to have more than wives.

Intellegentgal seems to have adopted the stereotype attitude that is associated with the women.
Well, Marriage is a social institution that fulfill certain human needs and these needs are not "so-called" These are genuine/biological needs and a marriage regulate these needs in the interest of the society. Now if a marriage does not fulfill these needs, what is the use of it ? For that reason the polygamy is allowed in certain situations as in an Islamic society there is no other channel available for the men to fulfill their natural needs, except having more then one wife. That is why it is allowed with some conditions and in certain circumstances.

__________________
/// Aur be ghum hain zamanay main muhabat kay siwa ///

I respect the opinions of you two, yet I disagree to some extent.

Brother, I am afraid, in a broader context, you are denying the universality of Islam. An Islamic principle implemented in 7th Century, has its legal status in modern world too. There are exceptions in some sensitive cases to which the authorities in religion have looked into and came up with suggestions. However, with regard to marrying more than one woman (not more than four) has not been contradicted by any Ulema of repute. Your claim that it is unnecessary to have more than one wives may have economical backing, but it certainly lacks theological, moral and social backings.

Polygyny is allowed in Islam for much better reasons than biological only. Biological reasons may not even qualify to be the primary reason for allowing polygyny. They may for the sake of scientific reasoning provide a valid argument. However, in Islam, it is allowed for reasons (i.e supporting a widow, orphan etc) that have been best explained in the post no. 01 of this thread.

__________________
Verily, His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says "Be!" - and it is! (Al-Quran)

Polygamy is allowed in islam there are hundreds of reasons, many of them are already listed by friends in this thread means,

1. Biological Reasons
2. Psycological reasons
3. Moral Reasons
4. ....51%..... In Pakistan female percentage is 51, so if polygamy is not allowed means that 2 percent of females can never marry in their life and have to spend life un-married. Furthermore Islam is for all times and it has already predicted that with the passage of time there will be more females as compared to male(1 male to many female proportion). So dont argue in ignorance.

Regards,

@ all the respected ladies

I am not advocating polygamy but trying to explain the realities of life and logic behind it. For instance, if a wife is not able to conceive after several years of married life due to some biological shortcoming, the only solution for the husband is second marriage. Polygamy is not allowed for more fun but only in cases like this.

__________________
/// Aur be ghum hain zamanay main muhabat kay siwa ///