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Polygamy: A serious issue is a joke for lawmakers in Pakistan
Lawmakers clash over issue in ordinary and Islamic laws
By Hasan Khan
2010-03-08
Islamabad -- The serious issue of polygamy turned out to be a source of amusement for lawmakers in Pakistan.
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![A veiled Pakistani woman carries a child as she marches in a rally on the eve of International Women’s Day in Lahore March 7. While women turned out Sunday to demonstrate for their rights in a country that lacks laws on domestic abuse, lawmakers are debating whether polygamy should be allowed. [Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images]](/shared/images/2010/03/08/PakPoly-218_172.jpg)
A veiled Pakistani woman carries a child as she marches in a rally on the eve of International Women’s Day in Lahore March 7. While women turned out Sunday to demonstrate for their rights in a country that lacks laws on domestic abuse, lawmakers are debating whether polygamy should be allowed. [Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images]
![A veiled Pakistani woman carries a child as she marches in a rally on the eve of International Women’s Day in Lahore March 7. While women turned out Sunday to demonstrate for their rights in a country that lacks laws on domestic abuse, lawmakers are debating whether polygamy should be allowed. [Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images]](/shared/images/2010/03/08/PakPoly.jpg)
Pakistani laws allow a man to contract a second marriage only after obtaining the express consent of his first wife.
Pakistani and Islamic laws exist to discourage this practice by imposing stringent restrictions on polygamy; however, the culture of contracting more than one marriage is still prevalent, particularly in rural societies.
It came as a surprise for women in Pakistan when a female legislator in the Punjab Assembly, Samina Khawar Hayat, forcefully pleaded the case for amending the existing laws that bar men from contracting second marriage without the consent of first wife.
“We need to amend laws and allow men to marry a second, third, even a fourth time without seeking permission from the first wife”, Samina, of the Pakistan Muslim League, told lawmakers in the Punjab assembly.
The issue of polygamy came up for discussion in the last week of February during a debate on a motion regarding recruitment of unmarried women in government departments.
“I stand by my words”, Samina told Central Asia Online by phone from Lahore. “I will not talk on this issue anymore”, she said before disconnecting the phone.
Polygamy also provided some entertainment for lawmakers in the national parliament.
“More than 80% of lawmakers (in the National Assembly) have contracted two or more marriages”, Nabeel Gabool, a landlord from Sind and senior leader of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, told the National Assembly.
Gabool’s unverified statistic prompted several lawmakers to laugh loudly, but, it embarrassed many others — the polygamist parliamentarians.
Talking in parliament hallways to journalists, Gabool said he was joking. However, he also said he strongly believes most parliamentarians have contracted either secret or publicly accepted marriages.
Gabool was speaking on polygamy during a debate started by Sherry Rehman, his party colleague and a former federal information minister.
“This august house shall seek the resignation of Punjab Assembly (provincial) member Samina Khawar Hayat for advocating polygamy in contravention of the law”, Rehman said from the floor of the assembly.
Polygamy was no joking matter for the visibly agitated conservatives, particularly the clerics sitting on the floor.
“Islam allows men to marry four (wives)”, Maulana Abdul Malik, of the Jamiat Ulmai-e-Islam party, told the house. “No law whatsoever can stop what the Quran allows us categorically to do“.
Pressure was already mounting on Samina to resign for speaking in favour of polygamy, and Rehman’s timely push in the National Assembly would have essentially sealed Samina’s fate, if Gabool had not blunted the campaign’s momentum.
Condemning what Gabool said in the National Assembly and what Samina said in the Punjab assembly, National Assembly member Bushra Gohar said the parliamentarians have turned a very serious issue into farce.
Bushra said polygamy is an issue of life and death for women and children.
“It is sickening that elected representatives in parliament are making joke of it”, Bushra said, adding that the attitude shows the feudal mentality of parliamentarians toward women’s problems.
Bushra, who was a women’s rights activist before entering politics and joining the nationalist Awami National Party, said that Samina might be fed up with her own husband when she publicly asked him to marry more than two wives.
Talking to a television reporter in front of the Punjab Assembly building in Lahore, Samina addressed her husband in full-throated voice, “Khawar Hayat sahib, you can marry two, three but four wives, I have no objection”.
Bushra said both ordinary and Islamic laws do not allow men to marry a second wife, adding that Islam is often misinterpreted.
“If I interpret Islamic law, it gives no permission for second marriage, but if a Molvi does it, then there is allowance for four wives”, Bushra said. “Permission from the first wife carries no weight in Pakistani society”.
A housewife, Najma Jehan, said no sane woman would support repealing of laws barring men from contracting a second marriage without the consent of the first wife.
“For a woman, it is better to die than to accept a suthan (second wife of a husband in local dialect)”, Najma said, adding immediately, “Once somebody else shares your husband, life becomes hell for you”.
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Reader Comments
Polygamy is animal's job. To those men who support polygamy on the pretense of humanitarian and Islamic gestures, I want to say, "will you allow a woman to marry several men? Will you allow me to marry your wife? Do not be silly! Prophet, his close friends, ... belong to 1400 years ago in the uncultured Saudi Arabian peninsula. It has nothing to do with you!
The fact that Islam allows polygamy in Nesa (women) Sura on the condition of observing justice between the wives, is a religious matter and if the law gives the same permission, it will become a legal matter. But during the enforcement of such a law, no one can guarantee that the man is able to satisfy the condition of treating his wives with justice. In other words, one shouldn’t count his chickens before they are hatched, i. e. that we will only notice its consequences when it is already too late. But such a law has psychological effects on women in society. Even if this never happened to a woman in marital life as the first wife, the woman would live constantly under stress that her husband, when indulged in desire of remarriage, considers the 2nd and … wife conically allowable. The least reaction of this woman would be that the woman wouldn’t try commiseratively for economical development of the family. The losing of peace of mind is considered as a serious social trauma for all women of society and must be investigated objectively and humanely. I pray to the exalted God to guide me and you. God knows everything.
In the Name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful. I would like to add here the whole issue in context of \"Justice\", anything which is not justice can not be Islam that is for granted even critics of Islam shall admit. The matter of polygamy, is miss understood not only by the critics of Islam but also by its own followers. It must be made clear that it is something \"mandatory\" and not \"optional or obligatory\" in true spiritual context of the teachings of Islam and justice. It happens through Will of Allah, if someone earns status through his deeds which Allah knows better, and becomes a real man with real moral character then Allah May confer upon him, the responsibility of taking care of more than one Eve\'s Daughter as his wife. More than one marriages done under the scope of which is written above, always stay successful as women do love their husband whole heartedly as it comes out of Will and not the lust of a man for bed. Polygamy is something sacred and not enigma. Muslims must feel proud that Allah provided clear directions in Quran and Sunnah on the topic and we should not bring in our own statements. It is allowed and it will continue to be practiced with chin up. A study tells on average singly man in USA sleeps with eight women in his life, beyond wed lock. It is really Allah\'s blessing to sleep with eve\'s daughter as wife and not for sex purpose. This is the true respect Islam gives to a woman. May Allah guide my sisters also who take it as enigma. And the men whom Allah Guides towards polygamy should also justify it the way Allah\'s system of justice requires them to indulge in it. Amen!
If you are muslim then you have to obey verdict of Islam in true sprits otherwise labeling of Islam has no sense.
waseem
We Muslims should follow Quran n Sunna in evry walk of life. Nobody dare change the verdict contained in Quran al Kareem Unfortunately Most of our country\'s laws are UN-ISLAMIC It is surprising HOW people in Pakistan call themselves Muslim whenI slamic Laws are not practiced in letter n spirit. We don\'t have in our hearts :Allah Ka Khauf\" n this is most importantly needed. Undoubtedly Islam allows Muslims to have upto 4 wives dpending equal treatment with them.No permission required from 1st wife to marry another. No such thing available in AHADEETH about this from Nabi Kareem SAW or Khulfa-e Rashedeen or Ulma o Mashaikh or Buzurgan-e deen.Same about Divorce No Permission required from anybody. Allah hamrey dilon mein IMAAN dein our Munafaqat khatam ker dein Aameen
Polygamy - the opposite of Monogamy - is not a simple word. The issue being discussed in Pakistani parliament is related to \"POLYGYNY\", not \"POLYGAMY\". Polygamy generally includes: I- Polygyny (one husband, many wives) II- Polyandry (one wife, many husbands) III- Group Marriages (many husbands, many wives) So while discussing the issue, you must use the word \"polygyny\" which is the only accepted form of polygamous marriage in Islam, with absolute consent of the earlier wife/wives. Islam asks the husband to do the justice between/among the wives, and adds that justice is not easy. Gender ratio in Pakistan, according to reliable sources, is 108 WOMEN to 100 MEN. So Polygyny is not a scandalous phenomenon. In such a situation, it is essential to creat a general content, social justice and an adultery-free society. Polygyny being a social accommodation for the widows, unmarried women or other special cases is a scalpel, not cancer. I\'m unable to understand why people take it as a permit for everyone, and why our legislators laugh at such sensitive deliberations. W need the clear understandings and the learned legislators need to be careful...
this issue about Multiple marriages (polygamy in the west) should NOT be taken out of context!!-- The Koran only allows it under certain conditions--NOT FOR GOOD SEX!! When women were (BEHVA) and Slaves etc etc-it was allowed--- Not for every Mullah to have a (GOOD TIME!!) However from a Sociological point of view- Man is adulterous by nature and looked at it medically it takes the edge off the man-woman relationships!! Therefore as thinking humans who are evolving intellectually and through History people should be made aware of the tremendous responsibilities that go with it---The Prophet(SAW) was clestially blessd and his thinking should be studied and ghen decisions made in both contexts--without emotion and fighting --May ALLAH be praised
Let us not make a mockery of our great religion Islam. There are very stringent conditions laid down in Islam for contracting one or more wives. We MUST first read the commandments and then comment on them. We MUSY read the statistics and news on adultery in the West where polygamy is \'outlawed.\' We cant blame religion or try to amend the commandments in the Holy Quran and Hadith of our free will under the garb of modernism. Nabeel Gabol or Sherry Rehman are no authority on the subject. Punjab Assembly member Samina Khawar had the guts to tell the truth. We MUST salute her for upholding the truth and refrain from casting aspersions on her.
Polygamy is a very appalling activity. It is justified through the self-oriented interpretation with the reference of Quran and Sunnah to fulfill sexual lust by some laggards in society. There is nothing as pleasurable as \"monogamy\" to live a happy and joyful life. Husband and wife must be co-operative, loving, helpful and caring to each other in the matrimonial circle of life. If these both magnetic forces are loyal and sacrificial with each other than \"polygamy\" stands nowhere to earn. Although, the practice of polygamy is taken for the timely or unnecessary concerns, yet we have a very conscious propensity for the justification of polygamy. Ali Imran Chadhar 0300-7070494
The consent/permission for 2nd marriage from first wife is not necessary according the Islamic Sharia because in Islam there is no any kind of restrictions on a Muslim male for having more wives if he can manage rather than going for illegal sex. Being a Law student, I have read many Books and consulted the religious scholars for this point of view and I can’t find any restriction of 2nd marriage on Muslim male and the permission/consent from first wife is also un Islamic clause available in Muslim personal Law of Pakistan. There is no other remedy for Widowed and divorced ladies to get a shared husband rather than going for prostitution. I agree that there is a sacrifice of first wife but it could bring the happiness in society. I have firm believe in Islamic teachings and I also believe there is no harm/hurt by following the Quran and Sunnah. This theme is designed by God and there are vested benefits hidden in this theory and it is good for social setup. (either we can understand it or not, due to our low mental capacity), (God forbid) God is not cruel and he is the God of Male & Female. So he knows better. I have seen/realized it very closely, My wife,s, Grand father, and my many other relatives have 2 wives and they are living a very happy life. Not a big problem to follow the Islamic Sharia rather than going for illegal activities. I am also fully prepared for 2nd marriage and if anyone wants to contact me regarding any Muslim divorced/widow/un married lady to become my 2nd wife. OR for proving me wrong for 2nd marriage decision.i am husnain,islamabad,dreamperishes@yahoo.com
Have we already left Islam aside? Who are we to change the laws laid down in Quran and practised by the Prophet (P.B.U.H). Go and read Surra-e-Nisa in Al-quran, and you will see that the conditions are very clearly laid out and even a suggestion is made that you should marry one for you are not the one to be equal in all things to all. But no where it is forbidden in Islam. To make something Haram when Allah has made it Halal is changing the religion which is a major sin. I myself have 1 wife, and may Allah bless her am very happy with her. But to say that I cannot marry a second one given that I meet the conditions laid out by the religion, that should not be acceptable to any man or women who are Muslim and believe in the Quran and what it says.
In Europe they change a girl friend on regular basis and that is not wrong, they allowed Gay marriage that is also not wrong for them but when a Muslim male goes only for a legal relation to provide a shelter and protection to a female that become a Major issue. P.s. Muslim brothers and sister should get a through knowledge on the specific topic before commenting on a religious issue otherwise its better to remain quite rather than issuing their own false and base less anti islamic statements.
I Salute the courage of Madam Samina Khawar, The consent/permission for 2nd marriage from first wife is not necessary according the Islamic Sharia because in Islam there is no any kind of restrictions on a Muslim male for having more wives if he can manage rather than going for illegal sex. Being a Law student, I have read many Books and consulted the religious scholars for this point of view and I can’t find any restriction of 2nd marriage on Muslim male and the permission/consent from first wife is also un Islamic clause available in Muslim personal Law of Pakistan. There is no other remedy for Widowed and divorced ladies to get a shared husband rather than going for prostitution. I agree that there is a sacrifice of first wife but it could bring the happiness in society. I have firm believe in Islamic teachings and I also believe there is no harm/hurt by following the Quran and Sunnah. This theme is designed by God and there are vested benefits hidden in this theory and it is good for social setup. (either we can understand it or not, due to our low mental capacity), (God forbid) God is not cruel and he is the God of Male & Female. So he knows better. I have seen/realized it very closely, My father, Grand father, Father in Law and my many other relatives have 2 wives and they are living a very happy life. Not a big problem to follow the Islamic Sharia rather than going for illegal activities. I am also fully prepared for 2nd marriage and if anyone wants to contact me regarding any Muslim divorced/widow/un married lady to become my 2nd wife. OR for proving me wrong for 2nd marriage decision. Usman Khan,Multan,Punjab,Pakistan.(an IT consultant) usman1875@yahoo.com
i agree all the comments on wall.
men r not allowed 2 marry 4 times in islam. Quran\'s statement is being quoted out of contex. Quran says dat 4 times marriage 4 a men is only acceptatble if he does justice wid all 4 wives and if he fails 2 do so, he would be given \"DOHRA AZAB\" do u know wot \'dohra zab\' means?? it means dat on qayamat, he would be blind. imagine!!! a man is blind and sky is falling, mountains r flying. in dis 21st century, even an angel cannot do justice 2 all his 4 wives so how can an ordinary man do?? dat means islam does not allows 4 marriages.
aoa i dont know who muhtarama bushra is but it seems as if she doesnt know islam at all, such people dont hav any right to talk about it and tell people wat islam is according to thier own thinking... instead of wat it realy says.
To Allah, we belong and to him, we shall return..We must look at things in their full prospect..We must explore in full what are the obligations on a man who want to have two (alive) wives..can we full fill those set by ALLAH (S.A.W.T)..Let us all make a habit;let our HEAD rule our HEARTS..
dose not like it.
Lets state the uncontroversial. We can all agree that those who strive to prohibit polygamy in Pakistan are doing it for one reason- their white masters order them to do so. This is quite obvious to a Pakistani. The Quran allows up to FOUR wives. Everyone can read it for themselves in the first ruku of Surah Nisa, Para 4. People like Hasan Khan just want us to be ashamed about it.
Non Muslims or their touts take one law in Islam; make it a fuss due to their hold on media; try to corner the Musli think-tanks [if any is there]. Why the other relegions\' customs & rules are not touched. Every body has the right to live according to his customs except a muslim. Why ?
Islam allows a man to marry more than once only if he can do justice to both wives
no surprises here
Polygamy is an evil practice. Whoever does it does not hold any grounds for being sane to humanity.
Islam allows mone than one marriage (to a maximum of 4)for a man provided he can mantain equality in all respects vis-a-vis his wives; which under normal circumstances is an impossibility. In such a situation -- which then becomes the norm -- the Quran clearly ordians marrying ONLY ONE. In the historical perspective the reason why this institution had arisen in the first place was there was a lot of female infanticide in the pre-islamic period, and during the holy wars many women were widowed so to disallow the possibility of women turning to prostitution the institution of polgamy was introduced. Arif ur Rehamn
I think polygamy is good thing and any one have right to marry two or three wives at a time. There is no issue no problem. No lawmaker can stop it as it is lawful activity in Pakistan. I also have three wives and they are happy with each others.
polygamy is a natural necessity in some situations.
This is sheer stupidity. A totally baseless discussion. Since there is a lack of study and survey about this concept, people just make noise about it. Let me assure you that permission of marriages is nothing to do with polygamy. Let me tell you that in my 40 years of public interaction, I have met less than 10 couples like such. What is the percentage? What is the ratio? What is the impact? Acutally muslims, due to their media defenceless status, cannot defend them. If we start thinking with open mind, nothing is there and its not even an issue. There are more important issues than this one.
Thinking
All should know that Quran/allows upto 4 wives - but it is CONDITIONAL - unfotunately we read/follow only one part of the ayaat that pleases us - but do not go ahead and never try to read and understand full text that fix conditions to additional marriages. The first and foremost condition that the Almighty Allah fix is \"IF YOU DO JUSTICE\" - please think it is possible to do justice in the prevailing circumstances. No we cannot do justice with four wives - we are even unable to do justice with one wife. It is pitty that our ulema do not preach correct text with full background, conditions and justifications -
I see some comments here about \"interpretations\" of the Quran and Islamic rulings. The article itself quotes a politician as saying “If I interpret Islamic law, it gives no permission for second marriage, but if a Molvi does it, then there is allowance for four wives”. We must remember that the truth of any branch of knowledge can only come from recognized experts in that field. Dismissing all experts out of hand by lumping them in the category of \"Molvi\" (a word which is respected by many and denigrated by many others); this cannot be considered a reasonable and unbiased approach. It is the equivalent of saying, \"I don\'t care what Einstein thinks, I interpret the theory of relativity in such & such way\". The problem is, when it comes to islamic laws and interpretations, everyone thinks they are experts. Either that, or they cite references to some pseudo-scholar who is himself ignorant. Secondly, to all those people who are using abusive/improper language while defending the classical Islamic position, I can only say this.... we could do without your rudeness because its really not representative of this polite religion.
Polygamy, the topic is very clearly presented in Quran, it allows to have upto four wives if one can maintain balance amongst them all, and Quran teaches that it is difficult to have balance amongst them. Its also very important to note that according to Quran one can not MATE/ HAVE SEX with any woman without marriage, which is a common practice for other then Muslims or Non-believers of Quran. So they think Polygamy should stop. However Non-believers of Allah\'s Quran, do have sex without marriage and for them it is quite convenient to keep on visiting other women and be ready for hell. So in-order to save oneself from hell one should be very careful in propagating for something for which Allah has provided relief for all men.
Long live Pakistan!
I am married to one but ,I believe to contract another as there is no proper facility of shelter for the deworced and widows as even therte brothers and sisters are not willing to give shelter to such affecties or , one has not the option to recontract they simply live a miserable life ,at the merci of man , in this way atleast they are able to have joice and if all goes well a settled life.
Islam has set laws for us and we have to follow all that blindly. At resently female folk is outnumbered then male so today muslim can adjust social problems belonging to male and female. In MAGHRIB and AMERICA, one beds dozens of women but Islam gives a legal way to bring man and woman togather in a martal way.
This is disgusting! .. I just found out ... men have to ask permission from their wives to marry other women ... in Pakistaan ... since when did this become the sunnah of people of Pakistaan?
Oh really, does anybody really really think that they will be able to change the shari\'ah of Allaah and His messenger? We still have blood running in our veins. It is either your blood or our blood ... come on!
To Allah, we belong and to him, we shall return.
It is allowed in Islam. And no one has the authority to stop Muslim men from polygamy. Not even God damn Pakistani PPP government, God damn all Secular dis-obedient people. all the non-Muslims can do whateva they want, I dont giva a damn. But If anyone tries to change our \'Deen\' then ready to get Kill or get Killed. No one has the authority to change \'Halal\' into Haram. Got that you all, illegitimate children. promoters of Ho culture.
The lawmakers of Pakistan have yet to prove tehmselves to the Pakistani Citizens by dissimminating teh fruits of Legislature to the common man. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, CANNOT make fun of The Shariya :)
Samina Khawar Haya should be ashamed of herself for setting back the already deplorable women\'s rights in our country. When Mr. Khan said that she hung up the phone on him her lack of breeding, civility and intelligence on the subject shines brightly. Why can she not defend her misguided stance to a reporter? She should be forced to resign and apologize for her stone-age remarks. People\'s interpretation of the Quran is so misaligned with reality it is a joke that they even call themselves Muslims. - Los Angeles, CA
Dear Hassan. asalam o aliakum. much is alraedy known to both men and women of Pakistan and thier lawmakers.Islam came to makran area in hazrat Umar(RA), sindh in 712 AD by Muhammad bin Qasim and whole subcontinent remained under rule of Hindu, sikhs, muslims, chistianty and so many other nations.....to cut short we have a mixed culture.what is culture? it is ruled by women....see concepts and traditions of hindu women before and after marriage and even after the death of huasband.Nothing have changed in women concept even after making Pakistan(A sepreate land to Practice xyz religion).So as the law and Lawmaker and NADRA. My duaghter name is Unza Zulfiqar on Form B, she will be same on 18 year. on marriage she will be UNZA Husband.....So far english rules,...if she is unlucky and her husband die or he divorce according to islamic law, will she be \'unza ex husband?? if she remarry she will be \"Unza new husband\" after losing pension of ex husband if he was govt servant.BAN on marriage in the name of social security or new form of SATTI. if she had minor kids at that time she will be UNZA independent or Unza zulfiqar(if i am alive) or unza Saif(my sons name or mamu of her kids)Islamic Cultural Obligation;-)IF she has grown up son She will be UNZA...AAmer(Hypothetical name of her son) Dear sir Islam is yet to come in our woman kind. it has not penetrated Culture of women. you know why \"TALEEM AND TARBIYAT KI KAMI\".....other wise IMAGINE if NADRA was there at time of Prophet or khalifite what they would have done to register multiple wifes and divorc\'e ,widow and yateem girls in the light of Quran And Sunnah of our forefathers and manymothers of momaneen. Teach Mothers to have GOOD mothers to have a GOOD Nation\"-allma Iqbal\"KHAS HEY TARKEEB MEIN QUAM-i-RASOOL-i HASHMI\"
If Prophet (SAW) allowed and Suhaba did it.Sheri has not right to talk about this.Terms and conditions for polygamy fixed by islam should be full filled
The law makers in Pakistan are their own self TERRORISTS