WOMEN IN ISLAM

are exceptional laws of this kind that cover other cases as well. However, exceptional laws are exceptional laws, and they cannot be applied in general. THE ISSUE OF POLYGAMY IN ISLAM Regarding the birth rate, men and women are almost equal in number. But subsequently, for various reasons, the number of men in society decreases, leaving an excess of women. Now, the question arises as to what the solution to this problem should be. Given the inevitability of this imbalance, how can a healthy relationship between the sexes be established? The choice for us, therefore, is not between monogamy and polygamy but rather between the lawful polygamy of Islam or the illicit polygamy of nonIslamic peoples. One of the commandments given in the Quran as a matter of social organization concerns polygamy, which is permission for a man to marry up to four women: “If you fear that you cannot deal fairly with orphan girls, you may marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you might not be able to treat them with equal fairness, then only one …” (4:3) This verse was revealed after the Battle of Uhud that took place in 625 CE, in which seventy Muslims were martyred. Suddenly, seventy homes in Madinah were bereft of all male