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Edmonton Journal
 
Re: "B.C. polygamy trial ramifications huge for religious freedom; Rights of women and children at stake in East Kootenays courtroom," by Daphne Bramham, Ideas, July 14.

Daphne Bramham did an excellent job in analyzing the dilemma Canadian society will face if the Supreme Court decides in favour of religious freedom.

However, I think she did not do full justice to the Islamic viewpoint and practices regarding four wives.

This is the most commonly-asked question and objection against Islamic teachings, after terrorism. Bramham should have provided a context where up to four wives are allowed in Islam. This applies to certain situations when it becomes necessary for both preserving the health of society and the rights of women.

It is evident from a study of the Qur'an that a special situation of a post-war period is being discussed. It is a time when a society is left with a large number of orphans and young widows, and the balance of the male and female population is severely disturbed. A similar situation prevailed in Germany after the Second World War. Islam, not being the predominant religion of Germany, was left with no solution to resolve the problem. The strictly monogamous religion of Christianity could offer no relief. As such, the people of Germany had to suffer the consequences of these imbalances. There was a large number of young women for whom there was no prospect of marriage.

If one examines Islamic teaching in that context, then the only answer to such problematic disturbances is to permit men to marry more than once.

This is not intended to satiate their sensual desires, but to meet the genuine requirements of a large number of women. It should also be remembered that Islam only permits marriage more than once with the proviso that men accept the challenge of such difficult and specific situation with full responsibility to all the wives.

This explanation also distinguishes the teachings of Islam from what is happening in Bountiful, B.C.

Mohyuddin Mirza, Edmonton
 
canada.com
Originally published Thursday, July 26, 2007
 
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