Musawah?

It is always a headache when SIS talked about liberal thinking in Islam. This weekend, they gathered so called ‘eminent’ Muslim scholars,activist, and legal practitioners from across globe in Kuala Lumpur to talk about equality and justice within Muslim family. Then, here comes a Musawah meeting…

On behalf of a muslim sister, I thinks Islam has fairly liberated me. I’m happy with a title of Muslimah, happy with the hijab that covering my head and breast, happy with inherent rules in islam,happy with the rules of polygamy which neither mandatory nor encouraged,but merely permitted that plausibly help widows and orphans rather than associated with mere satisfaction of passion.

Let’s talk about polygamy.
They said "polygamy is a classic examples where the woman relegated as a second-class citizen by men’s interpretation of the religion text" (refer NST 13feb2009, page 11). Maybe it’s true if they glimpse on one or two misused Islamic law by irresponsible husband.

But then, the true Islam is far more reasonable.
If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with them), then (marry) only one…. (Qur’an 4:3)

Clearly dealing justly with one wife is an obligation in islam. Meaning, you (husbands) should applies it to housings, kind treatment, food, clothing and ect to your wife justly.

Then Allah give us another verses says;
“You are never able to be fair and just as between women even if it is your ardent desire…” (Qur’an 4: 129)

This shows some discouragement of such plural marriage. The requirement of justice rules out the fantasy that man can “own as any as he pleases.” It also rules out the concept of “secondary wife,” for all wives have exactly the same status and are entitled to identical rights and claims over their husband. It also implies, according to the Islamic Law, that should the husband fail to provide enough support for any of his wives, she can go to the court and ask for a divorce.

In other side, you’ll see polygamy can be such a better solution in some cases;

Scenario 1;
A man who discovers that his wife is infertile and who at the same time instinctively aspires to have children and heirs
In a situation as this, the man would either have to:
-Suffer the deprivation of fatherhood for life.
-Divorce his barren wife and get married to another woman who is not barren.
In many cases, neither solution can be considered as the best alternative. Polygamy would have the advantage of preserving the martial relationship without depriving the man of fathering children of his own.

Scenario 2;
A man whose wife becomes chronically ill would have one of possible alternatives:

Solution 1: He may suppress his instinctive sexual needs for the rest of his life.
Comment: Even it looks loyal and devoted husband. Clearly, it is against human nature. Islam recognizes sex and sexual needs and provides for legitimate means for their satisfaction. After all, Islam by its very nature, is a universal religion which is revealed by God guide people in all places and at all times.

Solution 2: He may divorce his sick wife at the time when she needs his compassion most, and get married to another woman, thus legally satisfying his instinctive needs.
Comment: Clearly less compassionate, especially where there is love between the two parties. Further more divorce is described by Prophet Muhammad PBUH as the “permitted thing which is hated most by God.

Solution 3: Or he could compromise by keeping his sick wife, and secretly take for himself one or more illicit sex partners.
Comment: This solution is plainly against the Islamic teachings which forbid illicit illegal sexual relations in any form!

Islam is complete enough. It covers all aspect and facet of life. Clearly, polygamy is neither mandatory nor encouraged,but merely permitted as a solution for many problems and needs of human.

Then,these so called ‘modern-day liberate woman’ ask another question why not poly’andry’ (plurality of husband in same woman)?

I'm sure most of us know how John Gray describing Venusians in his well-admired book ‘Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus’; love,beuty,relationship, supporting,helping, nurturing one another, bla..bla..bla(which some, not applicable and not true to all women.heh) and loyal! They are monogamous by her very nature. Ask yourself sister!

So, what kind of Musawah (equality) u r looking for?
May Allah swt bless and protect us from being influenced by liberal thinking, ideas which are not from the al-Quran and Sunnah.Amin

Lessons learned;
1. Islam is complete enough
2. Maybe these issues aroused when they observing the attitude of a muslim and not learned it from the first hand of al-Quran and Sunnah. So,bro and sis, look how important for us to practice the true Islam. We are reflecting Islam.