Reply to the critics of polygany

Arabs allowed man to marry whatever number of women he liked without limits, and the number of those who combined more than four wives were more than to be counted.[1]

Islam came while a man could marry more than ten women or more, and limited the number to four if he can support them and establish justice between them, but if he fears injustice, he may marry one woman.

In the Pre-Islamic Period, they did not establish justice among wives, treat them badly, and usurp their rights until Islam came and gave them their due rights. So, Islam commended them to treat them kindly and established rights for them they have never dreamt of. [2]

Anna Mary Shimel said about polygany in Islam:

"Verily, the Qur'an gives a concession in polygany in his saying (may He be Exalted) (which means): "Then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one." [Surat An-Nisa': 3].

Qur'an teaches us that polygany is neither duty nor obligatory, but it is a concession that is bound by justice. Just fearing the inability to achieve justice means not allowing polygany.

From the practical aspect, the presence of many widows due to wars makes polygany in favor of women and for their best interest. We should know that men in the Pre-Islamic Era had the right to marry whatever number of women he likes then Islam came and limited the number and made justice a pre-requisite for ploygany. Therefore, reformists of Fiqh say that a single wife is better from the Shari`ah aspect because it is difficult for a man to achieve justice in his feelings and among his wives." [3]

Armstrong said: "Muslims who dies in the battle of Uhud had left behind wives and daughters without supporters, so the revelation came down after the defeat allowing Muslims to marry four women. Muslims should remember that Allah created all people from a single soul Every male and female are equal before Allah: "And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan-girls, then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (the slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice." [Surat An-Nisa': 3].Mostly, polygany is subject to harsh criticism as being the reason in the suffering of Muslim women, but in the time of the revelation of Ayahs, it was a social progress where the system of polygany came according to the Qur'an to establish a social law not to fulfill the sexual desires of men but to remove injustice from widows and orphans, and particularly from women who underwent injustice. As selfish people often got everything for themselves at the expense of the weak, many women underwent sexual aggression from their male protectors or even turn into possessions that are sold in the market of slavery. Ibn Abu [4], for example, used to force his slave girls to make fornication for him, but the Qur'an rejected that and assigned a fixed proportion for women in inheritance. So, the purpose of polygany was protecting women and limited polygany with four wives and treating them justly and not to take their properties.[5]

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[1] As-Sirah An-Nabawiyyah by As-Salaby, excerpted from the study of analyzing the Prophet's character, p. 24 - 25.

[2] The previous reference, excerpted from As-Sirah An-Nabawiyyah by Abu Shuhbah.

[3] (October Magazine), edition 10 arch, 1996.

[4] `Abdullah ibn Ubay ibn Salul; the head of hypocrisy in the time of the Prophet Muhammad.

[5] Muhammad is the Prophet of our time / Carina Armstrong- p. 134.