Nikkah SS3 Islamic Studies Lesson Note

THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN ISLAM

1. Women’s status in pre-Islamic societies. In some parts of the world, women have been treated little better than slaves, forced to do heavy work for little reward. In some place women were regarded in law as chattels- the property of the husband or family to be inherited on his death along with his other possessions. Some societies have regarded women as playthings, to be passed from man to man for his entertainment. Some have seen women ads not only without a soul but as an agent of the devil.

Consequently, the birth of a girl would be greeted with either a sigh or a curse. Some societies, such as that of Arabia before Islam, even sanctioned the burial of female infants.

1. Islam and Women: A Revolutionary Change. No other religion can compare with Islam in the revolutionary changes it introduced in the status of women. These changes required a major readjustment in the way women were to be evaluated and treated, both legally and morally.

Islam considered women and treated them very well in different status such as: 

1. Spiritual status
2. Intellectual status
3. Property-owning status
4. Status in marriage
5. The spirit of kindness towards women
6. The status of the mother.

POLYGAMY

The word “Polygamy” is used to refer to the marriage of a man with more than one wife at the same time while a woman who has more than two husbands at a time is practising polyandry. Monogamy is having only one spouse. Islam prohibits polyandry and allows monogamy and polygamy.

RULES THAT GOVERN IT

LIMITS OF POLYGAMY IN ISLAM

Islam allows a male Muslim to marry up to four wives concurrently if he is able to maintain justice and equity among the wives

Allah says in Qur’an 4:3. “Then marry women of your choice, two, three, or four but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with them, then (Marry) only one…that is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice.”

Equity and justice among wives are conditions for marrying more than one wife. The prophet said: ‘Whoever marries more than one wife and does not maintain justice among the wives shall be raised paralyzed on the last day.

JUSTICE AND EQUAL TREATMENT OF WIVES MUST BE MAINTAINED

In particular, equality should be maintained among wives in the following ways by providing: 

1. Food
2. Shelter
3. Clothing 
4. Company or intimate relations/sharing of bed with the wife. The husband must share his time (day and night) equally among the wives in rotation.

CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH MIGHT NECESSITATE POLYGAMY

Polygamy has a role to play under some circumstances. For example, problems sometimes arise as the result of a disability in the first wife, such as: 

1. Infertility
2. Serious illness, physical handicap, disablement or serious injuries due to accidents etc. 
3. Mental illness.

Another circumstance which may make polygamy preferable is:

1. In a situation where the husband is too virile for one wife.

In wartime where married men are killed, leaving thousands or even millions of widows, orphans, and unmarried young women. By allowing for polygamy the women can be protected, taken care of and enabled to enjoy the satisfactions of family life and children.