why cant muslim women have 4 husbands?

Question

if a muslim man can have 4 wives, why cant a muslim woman have 4 husbands?
where is the equality that islam so produly talks about?

Answer 1

1) Yes, one of the reasons that a Muslim woman can't marry more than once is because it would make it difficult to determine WHO THE FATHER of each child is, and that would make things like iINHERITANCE difficult.

But it's not just that paternity tests were not available at that time--Islam is for all people and all times. Even now, most people in most parts of the world DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OR CANNOT AFFORD PATERNITY TESTS. So not allowing women to have more than 1 husband is really ABOUT PRACTICALITY, NOT EQUALITY.

2) 99% of all cultures that have ever existed were polygamous. Only 1% of civilizations engaged in polyandry, i.e. women having more than one husband. The only known culture to do this is a particular Native American tribe that had a matriarchal structure. So it is consistent with NATURE.

3) It should be noted that MONOGAMY IS THE NORM in Islam. The Quran makes polygamy PERMISSIBLE, but does not necessarily encourage it. Islam is a FLEXIBLE religion that tries to accomodate varying lifestyles and cultures around the world. Polygamy is also useful in situations where many men have been wiped out in a war, and women and children are left without financial support--polygamy can BENEFIT THE SOCIETY in these situations.

Also, the Quran, and Hadith, say that a MAN WILL BE PUNISHED in his afterlife if he does not treat his wives equally in time, money, affection, etc. and that if he is fearful in not treating them equally, he should only marry one (4:3).The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) then said that it is IMPOSSIBLE for any man to treat more than one wife exactly equally. Therefore, this can be viewed as a sort of discouragement of polygamy because it is so difficult to do properly.

4) It should be noted that JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY ALLOW POLYGAMY, and not polyandry. Does this mean that women are not treated equally in Judaism and Christianity either? Of course not!

In fact, in the OLD TESTAMENT, there are some situations in which FORCIBLE MARRIAGE is allowed! See Deut. 25:5-7, which explains that a childless widow, who lived in the same house with the brother in-law, must marry her husband's brother, even if he is already married, regardless of her or his consent. Also see Deut. 22:28-29, which says that a girl who was raped must marry the man who raped her.

So at least Islam isn't forcing anyone to marry anyone else. Even in situations where a man wants to marry a second time, he must get the PERMISSION of his first wife in Islam! (a little-known fact)

5) Women ARE EQUAL to men in Islam. And yes, we are proud of it!

You should read "Women in Islam," by Jamal Badawi. Here's a link: http://www.islamfortoday.com/womensright... Here are some of the basic points...

1. Men and women are equal in the Quran and in the eyes of God.

"O Mankind, keep your duty to your Lord who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate (of same kind) and from them twain has spread a multitude of men and women" (Qur'an 4: 1).

The Creator of heavens and earth: He has made for you pairs from among yourselves ...Qur'an 42:1 1

Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, verily to him will We give a new life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to the their actions. (Qur'an 16:97, see also 4:124).

2. Eve is not blamed for Adam's (AS) downfall in Islam, as in Judaism and Christianity. There is no concept of Original Sin in Islam. Both were jointly wrong in their disobedience to God, both repented, and both were forgiven. (Qur'an 2:36, 7:20 - 24). In one verse in fact (20:121), Adam specifically, was blamed.

3. The Quran forbade the Arab custom of female infaticide: "And when the female (infant) buried alive - is questioned, for what crime she was killed." (Qur'an 81:8-9).

Among the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (P.) in this regard are the following:

Whosoever has a daughter and he does not bury her alive, does not insult her, and does not favor his son over her, God will enter him into Paradise. (Ibn Hanbal, No. 1957).

Whosoever supports two daughters till they mature, he and I will come in the day of judgment as this (and he pointed with his two fingers held together).

4. Marriage

Men and women are partners in marriage: "And among His signs is this: That He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest, peace of mind in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Lo, herein indeed are signs for people who reflect." (Qur'an 30:2 1).

The Quran says, "And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them, and men are a degree above them." (Qur'an 2:228). BUT Such degree is Quiwama (maintenance and protection). This refers to that natural difference between the sexes PHYSICALLY. It implies NO superiority or advantage before the law.

Muhammad (SAW) said, The most perfect believers are the best in conduct and best of you are those who are best to their wives. (Ibn-Hanbal, No. 7396)

5. Mothers

Islam considered kindness to parents next to the worship of God.

"And we have enjoined upon man (to be good) to his parents: His mother bears him in weakness upon weakness..." (Qur'an 31:14) (See also Qur'an 46:15, 29:8).

Moreover, the Qur'an has a special recommendation for the good treatment of mothers:

"Your Lord has decreed that you worship none save Him, and that you be kind to your parents. . ." (Qur'an 17:23).

A man came to Prophet Muhammad (P) asking:

O Messenger of God, who among the people is the most worthy of my good company? The Prophet (P) said, Your mother. The man said then who else: The Prophet (P) said, Your mother. The man asked, Then who else? Only then did the Prophet (P) say, Your father. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

A famous saying of The Prophet is "Paradise is at the feet of mothers." (In Al'Nisa'I, Ibn Majah, Ahmad).

6. Inheritance

Islam is the first religion to formally recognize economic and inheritance rights of women. Although women get half the inheritance of men, the reason is that man's share of inheritance is not his own but his entire family's. BUT a woman's share is hers exclusively and she does not share it with anyone else.

So actually, women end up getting inheritance for themselves (which they can keep in a separate account), and they also get a share of their father's, husband's, brother's, or son's inheritance.

This is the same with wages from employment. Men's wages are for his whole family, and women's wages are for herself only, and she can choose how and on whom to spend it.

7. Politics

In Islam, women got the right to vote 1400 years ago. In the U.S. women only got the right to vote in the 20th century.

If a head of state is also the prayer leader, the woman can't be the head of state, because only men lead the prayer if the prayer includes other men. However, in modern times, heads of state don't lead prayers.

Also, 4 out of 7 of the countries that have had women heads of state have been Muslim countries (Pakistan, Turkey, Bangladesh twice). So clearly, there is no barrier to women being involved in politics, or even leading their countries. How come the U.S. has not yet had a female president?

Also, why are 4 out of 5 converts to Islam in U.S./Europe are women? Clearly they don't find Islam oppressive.


Allahu Alam (God Knows Best). May God forgive me for any mistakes.

Peace Be Upon You All.

Answer 2

The reason that men are allowed 4 wives in in special cases where a widow or orphan for example, has no family or husband to support them. In a way, it is charity. While it is possible now, it was impossible for a single woman to survive in the time of Muhammad. It's even verdy difficult now, though not impossible. It is a practical thing, not a discriminatory one. Women with more than one husband doesn't make too much sense wince most jobs allow a single man to survive. It could be considered greedy. Keep in mind that most Muslim men only have one wife and that polygamy is extremely rare and not neccesarily sought after. It is only permitted, not recommended.

Answer 3

So what is this? Because you're not comfortable with the arrangement set by Allah (SWT), you're gonna change it or force Muslims to alter their faith to the way YOU think it should be?

It is not written that a woman should have 4 husbands, that's why. As for equality, is it equal for a woman to never have to work and persue her education at the husband's expense?

Do all of us a favor. Crack a book BEFORE you ask a question. Trust me, you chances of looking like a bigoted numbskull decrease dramatically...

Answer 4

LOL I don't know and I am not Muslim but why would she want 4? One is difficult enough at times. Try pleasing 4. Too much work.

Answer 5

In Islam, men and women are equal. Equality does not mean identicality.

You can overcome your jealousy of Islam by accepting it.

Peace.

Answer 6

This is more a question of familial authority, and not of equality.

Men are usually considered the "head" of a family in most cultures, especially in the Abrahamic traditional religions. Only the "head" of the family has the authority to have multiple spouses.

I don't agree with multiple marriage (polygyny), but that is how I understand it.

Answer 7

I think there's a practical reason behind it. Imagine, a man having 4 wives can easily tell that if each gets pregnant they will be carrying his child (assuming all wives are faithful to him). However, if one woman had 4 husbands, if she gets pregnant she wouldn't know who the baby's father is. (Don't tell me about paternity tests, there weren't such things back then).

Another reason behind this is that Mohammed encouraged men to have multiple wives (up to four) in order to increase their population quickly.

More can be done if you plant seeds in more fields :-)

Answer 8

Before Islam, Arabic women had as many Husbands as they wished; they chose their mates and threw them out when they were tired of them. Islam put a stop to all this.

Answer 9

Because four bulls for one heifer is a waste of bull semen, and middle eastern patriarchal monotheism arose among nomadic herdsmen who thought women and livestock of more or less equal value with somewhat of a prejudice in favor of the livestock.

All Muslims are equal. Some are just more equal than others.

Answer 10

I don't know about Muslim culture.. that would be a taboo there but in my culture...celtic craft..polyamory IS for ALL who want it.. men and women can have as many as they like..

Most holy book based religions pretty much negate the womenfolk.. here's a couple of fire starters for ya.. did you know that Mary Magdelene was NO whore?.. She was Jesus' wife.. And Adam?.. Was married to Lilith before Eve enticed his loins..

Answer 11

Hay-------- the Q says 3 not 4.

Men are the top dogs in islam. Surat 2:228
Wives are posessions Surat 3:14
Women are unclean Surt 4:43
Women must be veiled Surah 24;31
A woman is a sex object Surat 2:223

Enough?
\