“Lawful
to you in marriage are chaste women from those who were given the scripture (Jews
and Christians) before your time, when you have given their due mahr
(bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), desiring
chastity (i.e taking them in legal wedlock) not committing illegal sexual
intercourse, nor taking them as girlfriends” … (Al-maidah 5:5).
Prophet
examples of plural marriage are for the humanity to follow. Each marriage set the path to all possible
types of marriages in Islam.
To
Khadija (ra) showed that it is permissible for a man to marry a woman who is
older than him, for a poor and orphan man to marry a woman, for an employee to
marry his employer, and for a bachelor to marry widow.
To
Aisha (ra) and Hafsah (ra)- As in the case of Aisha bint Abu Bakr (ra), a man
can choose to marry a young and intelligent woman. He can marry his friend’s daughter in the
same way as the Prophet Married Aisha and Hafsah (ra), the daughters of his
closest friends. Abu Bakr (ra) and Umar
(ra) in order to foster ties of relationships.
In addition, Islam allows the practice of betrothal before entering into
the marriage to Aisha (ra)
To
Juwariyah bint Al-Harith (ra) and Umm Habiba o Ramalah (ra) – A man can marry
his enemy’s daughter as Prophet married Juwairya bint Al Harith, the head of
Bani Al - Mustaliq of khuzaah and Umm Habiba or Ramalah (ra) the daughter of
Abu Sufian (ra). Note that both Harith and Abu Sufian were bitter enemies of
Islam. Islam also permits marriage in
absece like Umm. Habiba was in Abyssinia,
when Prophet married her.
To
Maria (ra)- Marrying a woman of low social class. Maria (ra) was given to the Prophet (saw) as
a present by the ruler of Egypt. Prophet
elevated her status by marrying her instead of making her slave.
To
Saffiyah bint Huyay bin Akhtab (ra) and Juwariya bint Al Harith (ra), not only
show how Islam tolerant mixed marriages based on social status, but also shows
the high regard to woman instead of making them slaves, despite being his captives, he married them
and gave them the highest status of being among the mothers of the believers.
It further shows how the Prophet freed woman from the bondage of slavery.
Islam
permits marriage with the people of the book.
Prophet demonstrated inter religious marriages with the people of book
by marrying saffiyah bin Huyay bint Akhtab (ra) and Maria a Christian from
Egypt. Both of them embraced Islam.
To
sawda bint Zama (ra)- With the Prophet (saw) marriage to sawda a widower,Prophet
opted to marry a middle aged, kind jovial and widowed woman who can talk care
of his children.
To
Umm salamah (ra) - Had the Prophet not married Umm salamah, a widow with many
children, he would not have demonstrated his virtuous of teachings for caring
orphan. He showed his kindness to them and
love just like his own.
Prophet
marriages to Hafsh bint Umr bin Al Khattab (ra) Zainab-bint Khuzaimah (ra) and
Umm Salamah Hind bint Abi Omayah (ra), all widows, shows that men should have
sympathy and concern for widows and the same can be best provided by marrying
them.
To
zainab bint jahsh (ra) - Prophet’s marriage to his cousin Zainab bint jahsh who
divorced by his adopted son, Zaid (ra) shows, that in Islam it is lawful for
man to marry his first degree cousin. It is also lawful for a man to marry a
woman, divorced by his adopted son.
All
types of marriage are demonstrated by the Prophet show that Islam is indeed
complete, rational and practical for all times and all places.
The Ruling on
Plural Marriage in Islam
And
if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls
than you marry women of your choice, two, three or four, but if you fear that
you will not be able to deal justly, then only one.
Statistics
show that women are in greater number then men.
Therefore, one men marrying one woman will leave surplus women that will
be detrimental to the society. Men,
since exposed to dangerous profession like soldering and hazardous work with
great degree of possibility of accidents have higher death rate, further
increasing the single women numbers.
This can be logically addressed by plural marriage.
Some
men have greater physical desires, for them one woman may not be enough. If is not for plural marriage, the man may go
astray.
Plural
marriage was not prohibited in religions and nations before Islam. Prophet Solomon had ninety wives.
A
wife may be barren or she may not be able to safety her husband because of
sickness or some disability. It is fair
then, for the wife to agree and remain his wife and allow him to marry another.
It is better to marry her than to let a relative widow or sick single women to
fend for herself. Plural marriage allows
strengthening the bond.
No comments:
Post a Comment