Polygamy Not Favored in Islam
Polygamy is an issue that affects families and children and its outcomes continue for several generations.
Those advocating polygamy mainly refer to verses 3 and 129 of Surah An-Nisa. In Verse 3, there is the fear that justice may not be maintained. In Verse 129, too, God says, “You will never be able to maintain justice among your wives and love them all equally, no matter how hard you try. Do not give total preference to one of them, leaving the other as if in suspense. If you do bring about reconciliation and maintain piety, God is All-forgiving and All-merciful.”
The keywords in these two verses are fear, justice, Taqwa (God-fearing), peace and divine mercy.
Verse 129 says that women should not be left in suspense. It means the character of woman is in suspense in case of polygamy. Therefore, polygamy is against morality in principle.
Can it be possible that a perfect religion that has come to give character to humanity neglect the human character of half of people (women)?
Some refer to the largest number of girls compared to boys (to justify polygamy). However, demographic studies show that for every 100 girls born, between 103 and 105 boys are born and the number of men is higher.
Another point is that we should differentiate between Halal (permissible) and Khayr (good). Whatever is Khayr is Halal as well but not all Halal things are Khayr. For example, divorce is Halal but it is not Khayr. Polygamy, too, has been permitted but that does not mean it is moral and Khayr. Islam has a social outlook which precedes the personal outlook.
Islam seeks to maintain people’s reputation. In the case of (proving) fornication, Islam emphasizes the testimony of four witnesses, (which is almost impossible), because Islam wants people’s social status to be marinated, because if one’s reputation is tarnished, they will become bolder in spreading their immoral behavior. Islam has had such a progressive view since 14 centuries ago.
The claim that polygamy is natural to men is not correct either. It can be disproved physiologically and psychologically.
As long as we see the essence of humans as being different we will not witness the peace that the Quran refers to. We must realize that the essence of all people, men and women, is the same and it is then that we will witness equal respect to the character of man and women. Then polygamy will be considered immoral except for rare emergency cases and special conditions.
