WOMEN IN ISLAM

POLYGAMY AND ISLAM state of affairs. Failure to control a natural process whereby the male population dwindles, leaving “surplus” women, coupled with the outlawing of polygamy, has given rise to the evil of the “mistress” (defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “a woman who has sexual intercourse with and, often, is supported by a man for a more or less extended period without being married to him; paramour”). This, in effect, sets up a system of illegal polygamy. The system of keeping a mistress is prevalent in many countries where there are legal constraints on polygamy or where polygamy is looked down upon socially. In such a situation, the real problem is not whether or not to adopt polygamy. The real issue is whether or not to legalize its adoption. The problem of surplus women in society can be solved only by polygamy, whether we choose to consider it legal or not. Monogamy is the rule in Islam. However, in exceptional situations wherein the number of women outnumbers men, as an option to sexual anarchy, Islam gives the commandment for polygamy. Therefore, polygamy is given as a solution to the problem rather than a general commandment. THE ISLAMIC WAY As the solution to the problem where the number of women exceeds men in society, Islamic Shariah gives permission to men, under special conditions, to marry more than one