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Polygamy is the default position in an Islamic Social Structure- A Thread
In this thread I will share a few extracts from Mufti Tariq Masood's book, "Ek say Zayid Shadi ki zarorat" i.e " the need for more than one marriage, where he argues that polygamy is the default i.e. norm according to Islamic injuctions.
Mufti Sb uses this Ayah from Surah Nisa as a starting point to base his entire argument upon. A few translations of this Ayah are as follows.
If you fear that you will not do justice to the orphans, then, marry the women you like, in twos, in threes and in fours. But, if you fear that you will not maintain equity, then (keep to) one woman, or bondwomen you own. It will be closer to abstaining from injustice.Taqi Usmani
If you fear that you might not treat the orphans justly, then marry the women that seem good to you: two, or three, or four.4 If you fear that you will not be able to treat them justly, then marry (only) one,5 or marry from among those whom your right hands possess.6 +
This will make it more likely that you will avoid injustice. Tafheem-ul-Quran - Abul Ala Maududi
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 hands possess [i.e., slaves]. +
That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice]. Saheeh International
Hazrat Qatada writes in the tafseer of this Ayah, “if you fear you cannot do justice among 4 wives, then settle for three. If you can’t be just amongst three then settle for two. And if you can’t do justice amongst even two wives than settle for one.
And if you cannot fulfill the rights of a single woman, then rely on concubines"
What we learn from this, is that polygamy is the norm in Islamic social structure. This is because Islam is “Deen e Fitrat and in line with man’s nature. The original advice given by Islam to it’s followers is to marry multiple women.
One should settle for monogamy only when he fears he will not be able to practice justice. Injustice here means that he will be drawn more to one wife and neglect the “wajib” rights of the other wives.
The commandment for concubines in the above Ayah is given only in the case when one fears he will not be able to fulfill the rights of his wife. It is understanding that fulfilling your desires by concubines is not the norm, rather it’s under exceptional circumstances.
The norm is engaging in Nikkah. The same holds for polygamy and monogamy. Polygamy is the default and monogamy is practiced under exceptional circumstances.
The first thing we learn here, is that we’re accustomed to hearing that one should only marry multiple women if he can practice justice amongst them. However, the original injunction is that one should only refrain from polygamy when they fear that they cannot do justice.
This is a completely different approach and opposite to what Sub Continent Muslims are conditioned into believing. What Allah SWT is commanding here, is that if one is unable to justice amongst four wives, he should settle for 3.
The one who cannot do justice amongst three should only go for two. The person who cannot even be just to two wives should settle for one.
Terming Nikkah as merely something Halal and Mabah(permissible) is also a wrong approach. Mufti Wali Hassan Tonki states in “Rooh AL Maani” :
“ The injunction for multiple wives is not merely permissible, rather it is Mustahib (liked).
“ The injunction for multiple wives is not merely permissible, rather it is Mustahib (liked).
Because this is the original commandment from Allah SWT. Moreover, marrying a single women is only under exceptional circumstances, when one fears he will be unable to do justice.”
Therefore, instead of saying that one should engage in polygamy only if they can justice among multiple wives, it should be said that one should engage in monogamy only if they fear they will be unable to do justice between multiple wives
Sheikh Ibn e Baaz(RA)'s opinion on polygamy, an incident.
Dr Nasir Al Hunain, who’s a teacher in Jamia tul Imam in KSA states that the original injunction in Islam is that of marrying multiple women. People ask that “Under what condition is marrying a second wife permissible?”
They believe that polygamy is somehow forbidden and only allowed under special circumstances. This is a very grave misconception and has become very common amongst Muslims. However, it is clear from the Sharia that the actual commandment is that of multiple marriages.
If someone fears that they will not be able to justice amongst their wives, only in that case should he settle for a single wife. Sheikh Ibn Baaz(RA) was also of this opinion. He used to jokingly ask the people sitting in his gatherings
“Are you one of those who have engaged in polygamy, or are you one of those who are afraid.?” The word afraid was used by Sheikh in a comical sense to convey two meanings. Either a man is afraid of his first wife, or afraid that he won’t be able to do justice among multiple wives
Below here, is a page from Mufti Sb's book, containing some Arabic extracts for those interested. He also mentions the opinion of Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi RA on this issue, which is in line with the above discussion.
It is imperative to clarify here that I am by no means a person of knowledge. I am a slave of Allah SWT, and I have shared these extracts from a book written by a reputable scholar of our country, to clear some misconceptions about polygamy. May Allah have mercy upon us.
@Abu_Quraysh @hxtman_ @UmarIsTheBest do share this thread please. Jazakallah.
@ahsanirfan1985 Sir would appreciate your thoughts on this thread.
