A Letter to friends of mine

Dear guys,

Thanks a lot for the news.

'Every woman has the right to be under the shelter of a man', in terms of Muslim married women within Muslim communities, in my opinion the statement is true. This is the women's rights to have any protection from her husband (in many aspects, including financial and social life) and the are sort of the husband's responsibilities. If the husband cannot meet their responsibilities, the wife can weigh up the alternative to divorce. I think it does not mean that Islam places women status in the below and men in the upper.

Even though everybody has same status in the God's eye (s), in terms of human rights, but they have been created with different functions and responsibilities. I hope my short explanation makes sense. Polygamy is not easy to do by Muslim men. There are so so many conditionality that should be considered. You can find this in Al-Quran. You can start from Al-Quran if you want to understand Islam and its law in the complete form. Or you will get very tiny knowledge of Islamic law if you only pick it from particular issues and discourses separately; polygamy, veil, jihad. etc... and less knowledge of Islam leads to misunderstanding and unfair perspectives.

I agree with the Gender Minister of Malawi that the ban/bill should be communicated to Muslim communities before the bill is implemented in order to avoid the angers and conflicts, vertically and horizontally. However, the bill could not rely on "men could not give their full attention to more than one woman"... of course a man can not ignore his feeling to one wive more than others, its natural feeling. Hence, in terms of polygamy, the main conditionality is EQUITY. If the man can not give the Equity for all of his wives, My God says one wife is better (you can find the text in Al-Quran).

If the state concern on women' problems who live in that kind of community (polygamy), the bill/ban is not only the way to solve the problems. I believe you know a lot about women's empowerment though. Moreover, in Islam, as I believe, the polygamy is one of many ways to avoid adultery (zina) or sexual intercourse before married within Muslim communities.

I have an interesting link which discusses about women, men and marriage in Islam. It's not all about polygamy but it tells Muslim women' dilemma in most Muslim communities. http://www.emel.com/article?id=71&a_id=1964

Cheers,
Me



Source :

An email from a friend who sent me a news about: Muslims in Malawi have been angered by government plans to ban polygamy.

Emel magazine, Vol 67. April 2010.
Imam Zahid Shakir (Emel-Reflection)
Jeremy Henzell-Thomas (Emel-Reflection)