“Logical” Reasons for Polygamy in Islam by Dr. Zakir Naik – Polyandry

In my previous post I discussed Dr. Zakir Naik’s arguments for Polygyny. In this part let’s take a look at his arguments against Polyandry. My replies as before are in black.

 

 

 

POLYANDRY

Question:

If a man is allowed to have more than one wife, then why does Islam prohibit a woman from having more than one husband?

Answer:

A lot of people, including some Muslims, question the logic of allowing Muslim men to have more than one spouse while denying the same ‘right’ to women. Let me first state emphatically, that the foundation of an Islamic society is justice and equity. Allah has created men and women as equal, but with different capabilities and different responsibilities. Men and women are different, physiologically and psychologically. Their roles and responsibilities are different. Men and women are equal in Islam, but not identical. SurahNisa’ Chapter 4 verses 22 to 24 gives the list of women with whom Muslim men can not marry. It is further mentioned in Surah Nisa’ Chapter 4 verse 24 “Also (prohibited are) women already married”

 

Thank You Dr. Naik for that disclaimer. I think what Dr. Naik means here is that , since Allah created men and women equal but different physiologically and psychologically, in Islamic societies men and women have equal social rights and enjoy equal social justice? Or is it? Even though the Prophet, did codify some laws with respect to women and mothers and laid down rules for what is considered proper behavior for them, the laws can hardly be called fair if we look at it closely. So, let’s look at Dr. Naik’s assertion in light of the Quran, Islamic law and customs practised in Islamic countries.

 

 

 

 

1. The verses 4:22, 4:23 , 4:24 and 4:25 are all written for men and instructs Muslim menwhat types of women they should or should not marry. I haven’t come across a single verse in the Quran which instructs women on whom womenshould marry, as if it is to be assumed that all Muslim men are virtuous. In fact as far as I have read the Quran, majority of the verses are addressed to men (implicitly and at times explicitly, although there are a few exception where a few chosen women likes the wives of the prophet have been addressed directly – verses 33:32 and 33:33) . Now why would Allah who created men and women as equal and who admits to being fair and just with both sexes instruct men most of the time? Isn’t that being disingenuous? If someone admits that both his son and daughter is equal in his eye and yet talks to his son most of the time and instructs him on the lessons in life neglecting the daughter, what sort of fairness would we call that? Wouldn’t that be termed as a sort of double-standard? And Allah is Merciful and Just ?

 

2. Verse 4:34 clearly states that

“Men are in charge of women, as Allah has made one of them superior to the other….”

and then goes on to say

“….the women from whom you fear disobedience, (at first) advise them and (then) do not cohabit with them, and (lastly) beat them…”

 

How can someone inferior have equal rights? Doesn’t the very fact of being superior confer that person with a few more privileges and rights than the person claimed to be inferior? Can we then say that the superior is equal to the inferior? Dr. Naik conveniently fails to mention this verse since that would totally contradict and consequently nullify his statement about the equality of men and women in Islam. Can Dr. Naik show me a similar verse in the Quran which instructs women to “beat” or admonish their husbands for disobedience or for improper conduct ? And men are equal to women?

 

3. Verse 2:228 has this to say about divorced women 

 

Divorced women shall wait concerning themselves for three monthly periods. Nor is it lawful for them to hide what Allah Hath created in their wombs, if they have faith in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands have the better right to take them back in that period, if they wish for reconciliation. And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of advantage) over them. And Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.

 

Now how does this verse figure in the gender equality equation when husbands have the right to take their wives back and men have a degree of advantage over women? According to Sunni custom, men have the right to divorce their wives by uttering “Talaq” 3 times and in most Islamic societies men have a much easier task in initiating divorce than women. All verses in the Quran pertaining to divorce are implicitly or explicitly addressed to men and gives them a clear advantage in such matters. And Yes, Allah is Merciful and Just !!

 

 

4. In Islam ONLY men can have multiple spouses but not women. That’s right, Allah is Merciful and Just !!

 

 

 

5. According to Sharia law, daughters are allotted only half the inheritance of sons (Verse 4:11). Truly, Allah is Merciful and Just !!

“Allah commands you concerning your children; the son’s share is equal to that of two daughters….”

6. The Quran decrees that a woman’s testimony in court, at least in financial matters, is worth half that of a man’s (Verse 2:282).

“…..then if two men are not available, one man and two women from those you would prefer to be witnesses, so that if one of them forgets, the other can remind her….”

And the reason for it ? The prophet himself lays it out emphatically in this hadith

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:

The Prophet said, “Isn’t the witness of a woman equal to half of that of a man?” The women said, “Yes.” He said, “This is because of the deficiency of a woman’s mind.”

 

Yes, that’s right, men and women are equal in Islam !!

 

7 Islam, like Christianity, agrees that women were created from men. How does that factor in the equality theory? And did you say Allah is Merciful and Just ?

 

 

8. Women in majority of Islamic societies cannot lead a mixed congregration in prayer (Salat) and prayer rooms for men and women are separate in most mosques. Under Shari’a, or Muslim law, compensation for the murder of a woman is half the going rate for men (remember verse 2:178  does not speak about compensation but retribution). Although a cultural aspect, most Islamic societies prohibit Muslim women from marrying non-muslims but Muslim men do not have such stringent rules to follow. According to muslim scholars and sharia law, muslim women are not allowed to travel without a male escort (mahram) and their movement is generally restricted.  And can we still say that men and women are equal in Islam?

 

 

 

 

These examples show that contrary to Dr. Naik’s claim and the claims of all Muslim scholars, men and women are not equal in the eyes of Allah and there are several instances besides these one can point to which prove that women are discriminated against and lead a repressive life in most Muslim majority countries.  Here and here are some links which talk about women’s rights in Islam and here is a site which rebuts all these claims and asserts that men and women are truly equal in Islam. I leave it to the reader to judge the merits of the arguments in each of the sites themselves.

 

 

 

 

The following points enumerate the reasons why polyandry is prohibited in Islam:

 

1. If a man has more than one wife, the parents of the children born of such marriages can easily be identified. The father as well as the mother can easily be identified. In case of a woman marrying more than one husband, only the mother of the children born of such marriages will be identified and not the father. Islam gives tremendous importance to the identification of both parents, mother and father. Psychologists tell us that children who do not know their parents, especially their father undergo severe mental trauma and disturbances. Often they have an unhappy childhood. It is for this reason that the children of prostitutes do not have a healthy childhood. If a child born of such wedlock is admitted in school, and when the mother is asked the name of the father, she would have to give two or more names!

I am aware that recent advances in science have made it possible for both the mother and father to be identified with the help of genetic testing. Thus this point which was applicable for the past may not be applicable for the present.

 

 

Ah! Thanks for the rare display of intellectual honesty Dr. Naik.

 

2. Man is more polygamous by nature as compared to a woman.

 

Men maybe more promiscuous by nature, however I haven’t come across any biologically conclusive evidence to suggest that men are more polygamous/promiscuous than women. But does that mean we should allow men to do what they please and keep women under bounds. What sort of fairness would that be? Applying that same logic, we can say that since men are physically stronger than women, men should be allowed to use more physically hard-handed and abusive tactics to resolve conflicts with women. Would that make it right? Such sexist statements show clearly the hidden agenda and prejudices of Islamic scholars who propagate such methods.

 

3. Biologically, it is easier for a man to perform his duties as a husband despite having several wives. A woman, in a similar position, having several husbands, will not find it possible to perform her duties as a wife. A woman undergoes several psychological and behavioral changes due to different phases of the menstrual cycle.

 

That is a baseless remark with no scientific proof or precedence. In an age when we see increasing number of women in the leadership positions in politics, science/technology, industry and education - women who manage their duties as well as men or better - such narrow-minded biased opinions are a reflection of the bigotry and brainwashing of fundamentalist Islamic scholars who refuse to concede their positions in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. These are claims made with only one goal – to keep women subjugated and subservient to men.  

 

 

 

4. A woman who has more than one husband will have several sexual partners at the same time and has a high chance of acquiring venereal or sexually transmitted diseases which can also be transmitted back to her husband even if all of them have no extra-marital sex. This is not the case in a man having more than one wife, and none of them having extra-marital sex.

 

What?! He can’t be serious can he. It’s just moronic logic and I am sure this was not the reason for prohibiting polyandry in 7th century Arabia, when such diseases were hardly known. Even though women may be more prone to certain types of STDs, that doesn’t mean men are immune to STDs. How is “high chance” and low chance of getting a disease any justification for indulging in multiple sexual partners? What are probabilities and statistics have to do with justification for an act ? Can we say that since men are more prone to developing liver cancer, men should not be allowed to eat fatty or sugary food? Just making nonsense claims using fallacious logic to justify or prohibit an act is a sign of bigotry or even quackery.

 

The above reasons are those that one can easily identify. There are probably many more reasons why Allah, in His Infinite Wisdom, has prohibited polyandry

 

The above reasons were not given by Allah but by men with the sole motive of keeping women under their control. They were lent Allah’s name so that people do not question them and accept them inspite of their doubts and problems. Unfortunately Islam is not alone in such wickedness. Most of the major religions of the world are parochial in their beliefs and mete out laws which limit the freedom of women and the freedom of their expression and speech. However the fault in Islam is that it takes a much more hardline and rigid view and is much less open to discussion or debate, which seriously impedes it’s growth or evolution compared to other religions. The only hope of stamping out such practices is to allow people to critically question these dogmas and rules and follow what rationality, reason and fair-mindedness dictate them to follow – not blind adherence to foolish laws.

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