When a Muslim can marry many wives at a time, Why is it illegal in other religion?

Answer 1

let me turn the question around: why isn't it illegal in islam?

Answer 2

Each religion has their own rules, beliefs and practices set out by people generations ago. There are many variations where religion is concerned especially when the law is involved because there can be a clash of ethics.

Muslim men can have many wives within his own community but if he branches out into a different community where the women either do not want this or the woman is of a different religion then there will be issues and many conflictions.

It is illegal because whoever created the many branches of religion made it that way. One person decided that the Muslim community can have many wives. Another man decided Catholics can't. Law and religion clash on so many levels.

Answer 3

Most of the legal system in this world either based on certain secular code which are modified to suit certain country/beliefs or they are totally secular. Only country that adopt Islamic law woud have a consistency for both religious and civil purpose.

Islam should be adopted in totality not only certain parts that suit you. Most Muslims would like to have 4 wives (the maximum limit allowed by the Qur'an). However, they forgot the 2nd part of the requirements. All the wifes must be treated equal mentally, physically, spiritually and materially).

The Muslims say, ISLAM IS A WAY OF LIFE. It is not just a religion.

Answer 4

First it is not illegal to marry in all other religions, it is illegal to marry several in other cultures or countries. For instance, in the US you may only have one wife/husband at a time. You must either be a widow(er) or completely divorced from your first (2nd, 3rd, etc). This also happens in other cultures. Now as to other religions, if you read your bible you will notice that the men of the bible had many wives or concubines. Mormons also accept other wives theory. So don't lump all categories together without first researching your theory.

Answer 5

A muslim can marry 4 wives at a time and he can't just go find the young pretty girls to marry. This practice was to ensure widows and orphans and divorced women would still be taken care of finacially by a husband. The husband must be fair with all his wives. It's not really a common practice today though.

Answer 6

I don't know for sure but your question and some of the answers got me thinking.... I live in Dubai (British expat) and as you may know its a muslim country. I've found generally here that if a man has more than one wife its more a status symbol than anything else. He has to provide for each wife equally, he has to love each wife equally and he has to treat each wife equally. I don't know if this rule applies to all countries in the middle east but here thats how it is. You don't find many men with several wives. But yeah its kind of funny to think how that one girl said it's fine for a muslim guy to have several wives according to his religion yet its illegal buy british law. Fine. Imagine you get a catholic guy in muslim country who's rich enough and fancies havin a couple more wives..... obviously it wouldn't happen but in the world we now live in where communities contain many different races and religions it all boils down to the country you're living in and respecting their laws and traditions and if they dont suit you or agree with your way of life then you need to consider an alternative......
With regards to why it's illegal in other religions, I don't know. Its all about belief I guess.

Answer 7

I am not sure what the Koran says about polygamy, although it is obviously allowed in Sharia law. It is the national law that matters not the religious belief. I see it as a custom or allowable convention rather than anything else and this is what makes races different. I think it is a classic example of the very poor way that women are treated in countries with these conventions - not acceptable to me. Equality has been one of the most useful advances we have made. So men and women would both have to have the same option - better organised through open relationships as we have in the West.

Answer 8

it is a custom and legality of it only comes into play if the country adopts muslim law - for example a muslim in UK may not marry more than one woman. by the way mormons also believe in multiple wives but are not permitted by law to practise this in US where the population is the greatest.

Answer 9

it is not only the religion, if a muslim is in england and does this, then it is illegal in british law. i think this only ever matters if the wives dont want it, and they go to court. if the wives are happy then obviously nothing happens

Answer 10

Actually they also cannot marry as they like. But you should remember that each religion will have their own principles.

Answer 11

it is not Islam that allows multiply wives it is the tribal traditions that allow it and that was only allowed to populate the area! some brands of the Jewish faith allow polygamy as well as Mormons