Woman in Islamic Shari‘ah
8. Polygamy and Islam
~ 188 ~
This happened in Medina, the capital of the Islamic
State. Among the rejected suitors was the reigning
Caliph. But no one expressed even surprise or
dismay, the reason being that in Islam, a woman is
completely free to make her own decisions. This is a
right that no one can take away from her — not
even the ruler of the day.
These
incidents
show
that
the
Islamic
commandments giving permission to many up to
four women does not mean having the right to seize
four women and shut them up inside one’s home.
Marriage is a matter of mutual consent. Only that
woman can be made a second or a third wife who is
willing to be so. And when this matter rests wholly
on the willingness of the woman, there is no cause
for objection.
The present age gives great importance to freedom
of choice. This value is fully supported by Islamic
law. On the other hand, the upholders of
“feminism” want to turn freedom of choice into
restriction of choice.
158. Ibn Kathir,
Al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah
, 7/153.
