Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 244
244 Some people describe polygamy as a cruel prac- tice. But it is the absence of such permission which is cruel in many cases. For instance, if a man’s wife becomes mad or contracts an incurable disorder, or turns out to be barren, what is the remedy? If the hus- band does not marry a second wife, he may be forced into vice, which would be a cruelty to himself and to society. If he is compelled to live with a lunatic it would be cruelty towards future generations and towards society. If he goes on living with a leprous wife, for instance, it would be cruelty to himself. If his wife is barren and he does not marry a second time, it would be cruelty towards his country and people. If in any of these cases he divorces his first wife, it would be a shame and a disgrace for him, for he lived with her as long as she was whole and deserted her at a time when she most needed his protection. Hence situations may arise in which a second marriage would not only be justified or necessary, but would become a patriotic or religious duty. The next relationship that requires consideration is that of parents and children. Marriage lays the foun- dation of this relationship. Islam enjoins upon parents the proper upbringing of children. It prohibits infanti- cide practised on account of poverty, as was the custom in some savage tribes; or the killing of daughters out of a false sense of pride as was prevalent among some warlike people. If the husband does not desire children, he must obtain the permission of the wife before having recourse to any means designed to prevent procreation. Again, Islam enjoins upon parents the moral training of