I didn’t say its prohibited … what im saying is polygamy is discouraged in islam and by stressing the need for equal treatment of each wife and recognizing the difficulty (if not the impossibility) of doing so.. that verse in fact advocates monogamy as the original and ideal state of marriage in Islam.

My reply:

the verse does not advocate monogamy as the original and ideal state of marriage, you are taking the meanings of the verse too far. Had the Qur'an discouraged polygamy and encouraged monogamy, the finest model example of islam Prophet Muhammad SallALLAHu alaihi wasallam would not have married more than one, and if he was an exception, then atleast he would have stopped the sahaabah from marrying more than one, however, that was not the case. So my dear, the verse does not discourage polygamy in any case, however, it is warning the men that it would be very hard for you to do justice between your wives. The propaganda against polygamy, which began from the West, and was gladly accepted by muslim women of Pakistan and many other countries, is baseless. If Islam allows something, there is definitely some wisdom behind it which every human cannot understand, so instead of falsifying such facts through our own theories/philosophies, we should submit to whatever Islam teaches us with an open mind because it is a system that has been specifically designed by our CREATOR for our best. And this goes equally for WOMEN & MEN ..... Many of our men who claim to be strict muslims often neglect islam's teachings when it comes to themselves, however, when it comes to their women, they impose everything, which in turn creates complications in the family and makes women retaliate against men and then blame islam for the misconducts of men and its adverse effects on their lives... whereas the misconducts of men are their personal acts and islam never teaches anything like that... anyways, its a long discussion, besides, this is where it comes, you can not do justice to women cuz they hardly ever agree with you, they'll never be satisfied. I've written this long explanation but invain, i know most of the girls will tend to disagree... but thats the way it is...

Dear Busharraf,

I agree in all aspects of your sense making logics with this answer.This is my first post here on cssforums so I'd like to introduce myself first.I am a foreign graduate in Comp Sci working for a brilliant IT firm out here in islamabad at present and have future plans to be a part of "dissolved" bureaucracy of pakistan.

I dare to say a few words about polygamy and islam here now.Polygamy is neither prohibited nor encouraged in Islam.One way or the other "men" have rights to marry more than once.Do u agree.If you do as u should, then there is no point to ask any baseless questions regarding Polygamy as being a social menace for us.If one can justice among his wives he can marry more than once.I have to say with a great sorrow that today's pakistani girls are overwhlemed by the west in terms of Social values.I had lived in the west for 7 years but swear to GOD Women get most of the respect here in pakistan.Gora culture never cares about sisters/mothers/daughters.All they care about is their GirlFriend as its a Lust providing Machine that needs to be given Independence so it can pay back.

I pray to GOD for All of you out there to Retain Islam in its original Form ladies.



Any one can confront me if they have any logical objections.

Regards
SAEED AKHTAR
Potential CSS Candidate.

'You can do 4 marrigaes as LONG AS YOU SPEND EQUAL TIME WITH ALL YOUR WIVES and same every thing and you have to get premission from your first wife and if she agrees then you can do another marrige'

BUT.....

Marriage from multiple women in Islam might not be allowed for those who might result in damaging the society with their marriage by bringing more illiterate, poor, and in many cases starving children to the society.

Let us look at Noble Verse 4:3 "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, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice." Notice how Allah Almighty orders men to be either fair to their wives or never marry more than one wife.

Let us look at Noble Verse 4:129 "Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women, even if it is your ardent desire: But turn not away (from a woman) altogether, so as to leave her (as it were) hanging (in the air). If ye come to a friendly understanding, and practise self-restraint, God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." Here we clearly see that Allah Almighty tells men that they will never be fair to their wives.



You may then ask why didn't Allah Almighty then directly prohibit polygamy?

Because Islam is the most straight forward religion, and because Islam is truly a religion for all times and all places that doesn't need to be modified as some of the other religions in the world do (including Christianity). Allah Almighty left the issue of polygamy open for Muslims in case Muslims face dilemmas in the future like the ones we faced during Islam's weak times by losing too many men. In cases like this, Muslim scholars should look into allowing polygamy. But until then, polygamy should be completely prohibited by the Muslim scholars according to the commands of Allah Almighty.


Why then did Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him practice polygamy?

Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him can be treated as an exceptional case. The Noble Verses that I presented above clearly talked about men and women in general. They apply to all men and all women. Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was a Messenger of GOD (filled with sympathy and mercy to people) and a leader for all Muslims. He didn't practice polygamy for the sake of sexual pleasure at all. Most of his wives were either widows (older than him in age too) or divorced women (also most of them were either older or same age). Only one of his wives was a virgin, and he only married her because her father was his best friend. He wanted to strengthen that relationship. And it was her father who offered her to our Prophet peace be upon him anyway.


Can anyone be absolutely fair?

No one on this earth including Muhammad peace be upon him can be absolutely fair. Our Prophet peace be upon him used to pray in one of his prayers to Allah Almighty by saying in Arabic "Allah humma innaka taalamu be anni aadiloo bima astatee', wa lakinnee la aadiloo bima la astatee'," which means in English "Dear Allah, you are well aware that I try to be just with all I can, but I can't be just with what I can't." This prayer means that our Prophet always tried to be fair as much as possible, but he couldn't always do that.

One time, Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said this prayer, because he used to love his wife Aisha (who was the youngest of his wives) the most, and he always feared that he would not be fair to the rest of his wives. Muhammad peace be upon him recognized that he was only a human being, and he can not be fair especially in his feelings at all time.

This clearly proves that Islam highly discourages the marriage of multiple wives for (1) Because no one can be fair; (2) polygamy is only allowed when the male species is endangered in a society; and (3) The Noble Verse 4:3 orders us to marry only one wife if we feel that we will not be fair.

The Noble Verse that I presented above also clearly proves that no one can be absolutely fair; "Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women, even if it is your ardent desire: But turn not away (from a woman) altogether, so as to leave her (as it were) hanging (in the air). If ye come to a friendly understanding, and practise self-restraint, God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (The Noble Quran, 4:129)"

Warning does not mean discouraging. I agree with COP that as long as you are able to be fair between your wives, there is nothing wrong with it, it is neither discouraged nor prohibited. Polygamy is in the interest of women more than men. In our country, polygamy has been discouraged and exploited by those elements who have always been against the teachings of islam, due to which, today we see the desperation amongst parents to marry their daughters. Girls of ages above 25 are sitting at homes and there is no one to marry them. Men have turned to wrong ways of satisfying their needs just because in our society polygamy has been made an issue. Islam does not allow anything that would harm the interests of any of its followers whether it be men or women.

Sibga:
In cases like this, Muslim scholars should look into allowing polygamy. But until then, polygamy should be completely prohibited by the Muslim scholars according to the commands of Allah Almighty.


What in the world do you mean by that??? If in Islam something is pronounced 'Halal' it is allowed at any time and if something is 'Haraam' then it is 'Haraam' in any case. You want the scholars of islam to be modifying islam according to the interests of women ??? This is what happened in the religions before islam and in the end they lost their integrity.

Perhaps, a biased mind cannot make straight statements. Your post is evasive, read it again, you seriously wouldn't want to allow and disallow things as you please, would you?

@BUSHARRAF..Quran permits limited polygamy its not prohibited

Qur'an permits limited polygamy As I mentioned earlier, Qur'an is the only religious book on the face of the earth that says 'marry only one'. The context of this phrase is the following verse from Surah Nisa of the Glorious Qur'an: 'Marry woman of your choice in twos' threes' or fours' but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly, (with them), then only one' [Al-Qur'an 4:3]

Before the Qur'an was revealed, there was no upper limit for polygamy and many men had scores of wives, some even hundreds. Islam put an upper limit of four wives. Islam gives a man permission to marry two, three or four women, only on the condition that he deals with them justly. In the same chapter i.e. Surah Nisa verse 129 says: 'It is very difficult to be just and fair between women'. [Al-Qur'an (4:129)]

Therefore polygamy is not a rule but an exception. Islam has allowed a man to marry more than one wife. This has been done for the purpose of solving many social and domestic problems, which a family is confronted with from time to time. Many are the times when the general welfare of both man and woman depends upon the husband marrying another wife.

Broadly, Islam has five categories of Do's and Dont's.

i) 'Farz' i.e compulsory


(ii) 'Mustahab' i.e recommended or encouraged


(iii) 'Mubah' i.e permissible


(iv) 'Makruh' i.e 'not recommended' or discouraged


(v) 'Haram' i.e prohibited or forbidden

Polygamy falls in the middle category of things that are permissible. It cannot be said that a Muslim who has two, three or four wives is a better Muslim as compared to a Muslim who has only one wife.

may ALLAH forgive me if I made any mistakes in thIs discussion.

@Sibga:

On the other hand, you cannot say that a person with two wives is worse than a person with one wife. Depends on every person's resources. Anyhow, you were trying to prohibit it when possible in your previous reply. Now you've pronounced it permissible, at times, it could be for the betterment of the society and could be pronounced mostahab too.

All i would like to say is "Facts are Facts, and cannot be denied on the basis of your likes and dislikes". I'll again say the same thing, there is vast wisdom behind the principles & teachings of islam which might not be understandable by everyone. I would not like to argue on this subject anymore. Thank you for giving your views @ Sibga, Sameera & COP.

Regards,

BUSHaRRaF

Nice post, actually I do not want to criticise anybody but I think that the main credit must goes to the legendary scholar Dr.Zakir Naik because most of the answers and refrences which the author of this post has quoted are actually from Dr.Zakir Naik http://www.irf.net/irf/dtp/dawah_tech/mcqnm.htm

"ALCOHOLISM IS NOT A DISEASE - IT IS SATAN'S HANDIWORK"
Thats cool.

" Oh you who believe, most certainly, intoxicants, divination of arrows, these are satan's handiwork, abstain from his handiwork so you may prosper" (surah Maida, chapter 5, verse 90)

__________________
Swear not at all, let your yes be yes & your no be no – Jesus Christ (PBUH)

Assalam Alaikum,

Well not much to say, but the buck stops here, this is us, the faithful.

Thanks.

Salaam,

Satan: If that was for me, let me make it clear that I didn't claim for credit for that article. I even posted it in the name of Miss Samia Khan (Sibga Khan). This article was sent to me through email by her. Since I found it worth sharing, I posted it!

By the time I was reading it, I came to figure it out that it had some relation with that site.

Hehe... but enjoy the fruit, why count the trees?

Regards,
Adil Memon

Why don't you just post all the verses of Holy Quran in a single post? I have observed that you type a divine message in every new post.

__________________
"The race is not over because I haven't won yet."

Adil Memon
Police Service of Pakistan (P.S.P)
37th Common Training Program

Actually I didnt point out anybodys name either, what I meant to say is that the veritable credit must go to Dr.Naik.

Adil:Why don't you just post all the verses of Holy Quran in a single post? I have observed that you type a divine message in every new post.

Nice observation......but what you didnt observe is that all those verses which I quoted were actually related to Satan

"....only the Satan made them slip because of something they had earned; now God has pardoned them; God is Forgiving, Clement".(3:155)

__________________
Swear not at all, let your yes be yes & your no be no – Jesus Christ (PBUH)