Women One - Where women come first

The Islamic provision for a man to marry up to 4 times is generally misunderstood. First of all, he must support all of his wives equally, giving each a separate home and supporting her and her children, and he cannot favour one over another financially, with his time, affection or sexual favours.

As you can imagine, being fair in these circumstances is virtually impossible, and unless he can treat them fairly, he is not allowed to take more than one wife. In any case, the provision for polygamy is intended to correct a situation where there is a shortage of men (for example, after a war), as the women who are left without men may otherwise compete with the wives for the attention of men. They may also need a man's support as in many parts of the world women cannot easily support themselves in honourable ways, especially if she is a widow with children.

This is intended to protect women from the need to become prostitutes or mistresses, and from deliberately tempting a married man to commit adultery or abandon his wife and children for a new wife. Another circumstance, which may arise is where a woman is unable to have children and her husband feels a strong need to have children of his own. If there is a rising number of unmarried women in Malaysia, the reasons should be investigated and addressed - perhaps women there do not wish to marry for some reason? In any case, it takes special people to make polygamy work and this is not something to be undertaken lightly.

No, I don�t agree, only if the person is financially, physically and mentally sound and strong enough then he can go for 2 or 3 marriage or else he would do injustice to the wives.

I think rather than allowing him to practice polygamy, the leader should urge the women to allow their husbands to have more wives, which is allowed in Islam. I'm myself a woman, it's hard to imagine how you can share your husband with another woman. The best solution is to let men have 2-3 wives.

As it is in the western countries and non-Islamic countries men are involved in polygamy more than Muslim men take multiple wives though it's forbidden in their religion and constitution. Which leads to high rate of divorces, broken families thus affecting children's lives and which also leads to choosing same sex partners which is very common now in the western countries.

I once asked a lesbian what was the reason the chose a partner of the same sex, her response was I was married and my husband was cheating with other women. What solution do you've for that?

I don't think it is a good idea because a man having too many wives may not have commitment and moreover the offspring like having many children from too many wives. All children will not have importance and they will not respect their father when they grow up.

Syed S. Ahmed, Bangalore

If it is in line with the teachings of noble Quran and the guide lines of the Prophet (may allah's blessings and peace be upon him), only then it is acceptable.

There is nothing wrong in it. In Islam, permission for more than one marriage is given considering this aspect of society.

I have to side with Nik Abdul Aziz.

I am a woman too and I understand that it�s very difficult to share your husband, but at least its better than what usually happens in the west (to some extent even in the east), man having extra marital affairs.

And then we shouldn't forget that these women too get a chance to live a respectable life.

Farah Shah

Yes, I agree that if a man marries more than one woman (if he can take care and keep justice between them) it will decrease the number of unmarried women. But don�t use the word polygamy instead say keep two wives or three wives together, if possible.

This is a formalisation of a practice that is already widespread. Many women are in relationships with men who are in long term relationships with other women. The situation is often known by all parties but not publicly acknowledged.

It�s great that somebody has at least taken up this issue. Otherwise all our politicians are hiding under women�s votes and not considering the plight of women who are unmarried.

That call for women is timely and nice, men need to have women on their side every moment.

I think that it's better to allow polygamy rather than have a man use household finances to support an illegitimate family.