10-30-2007, 06:38 AM
In the Name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit - One God - now & forever. Amen.
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
I have a bit more time on my hands today so I'd just like to expound on what I wrote yesterday. Actually, I'd like to type a section from MizAzeez introduction which sheds some light on polygyny according to her understanding. I've also taken on her view because up until now it's the one that makes most sense to me. If we're to continue our discussion on polygyny in Islam, I'd like you to have some idea of where I stand in regards to the teaching (not the issue in general).
Here it is, word for word...
"<b>But</b> if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), <b>then</b> only one ..."
I have bolded the "but" and the "then" to make a grammatical point. But first, clearly Allah (SWT) mentions polygyny first in the Ayah before mentioning monogamy. Secondly, Allah (SWT) mentions monogamy as being conditional upon one fearing he will not be able to do justice. He states that if one fears not being able to deal justly with more than one wife, then he should marry only one. The word "then" implies that what comes after it is secondary upon the conditions that are mentioned before it. This point is very important, for often in discussions about polygyny, people start off with making the point that polygyny is conditional upon the man being able to be just, insinuating that monogamy is of priority and polygyny is secondary. However, if one were to truly look at the Ayah they would see that, in fact, Allah (SWT) mentions polygyny first and then specifies that monogamy is conditional upon one fearing he cannot be just.
"You will never be able to do perfectly justice between wives even if it is your ardent desire"
... [W]hat is meant by equality is equality in the division of nights, maintenance and those things which one has control over, but that Insha'Allah he is excused from those things he does not have control over such as love, desire, and sexual intimacy.
Thirdly. regarding the notion that polygyny is only permissible during times of war, marriage to widows or if one's wife cannot have children, there is no authentic proof from the Quran or the Sunnah that supports this claim.
Lastly, while I was driving my Muslim friend home recently, she mentioned that while drawing up the marriage contract, a woman can request that her husband not engage in polygyny & this will forbid him from it during their lifetime together, however, MizAzeez states that no man is restricted from polygyny, but rather, a woman may place the condition that she'll "divorce" him if he chooses to "take another wife". I just can't remeber where the quote is in her book.
So although the above viewpoint is just one of many, for the time being, it's the one I hold, but I'm open to different interpretations, because after all, there is no infallibility attached to the book.
God bless.