The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 319
Women 319 wife feels that her rights as a wife will be placed in jeop- ardy by the second marriage of her husband, she can seek a way out of the situation by demanding a divorce; and should the husband be unwilling to comply with her de- mand, she can enforce separation through the court. If the prospective second wife considers the situation to be un- acceptable, she is the better judge of her own rights and interests. It is unwarranted and idle to object that justice is com- promised in this situation. God Almighty has directed that a husband who has more than one wife should deal equitably with each of them, otherwise he should confine himself to only one wife. 227 It is mere prejudice and sheer ignorance to suggest that polygamy is resorted to out of a desire for sexual indul- gence. I have known people who were inclined towards such indulgence, but were able to save themselves by re- course to blessed system of polygamy a system which helps such people to lead virtuous and pious lives. Fail- ing this, many who are carried away by the fierce storm of carnal passions, end up at the doors of women of ill fame, and contract venereal and other dangerous dis- eases. They indulge openly and covertly in such evil practices to which those who are happily married to two or three wives never succumb. Such people restrain themselves for a short while and then yield suddenly to the fierce onslaught of their passions like the bursting of a dam, whereby vast areas are flooded and ruined. The truth is that actions are judged by their intentions. Those who feel that by taking a second wife they will be 227 The reference is to Al-Nisa', 4:4 [Publisher]