Woman in Islamic Shari‘ah
8. Polygamy and Islam
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THE SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM RATHER
THAN A COMMANDMENT
The above discussion makes it clear that the
difference in number of men and women is a
permanent problem existing in both war and peace.
Now the question arises as to how to solve this
problem. What should those women do to satisfy
their natural urges when they have failed to find a
husband in a monogamous society? And how are
they to secure an honorable life in that society?
One way — hallowed in Indian tradition — is for
widows to bum themselves to death, so that neither
they nor their problems survive. The alternative is
to allow themselves to be turned out of their homes-
on to the streets. The state of Hindu society
resulting from adherence to this principle can be
judged from a detailed report published in
India
Today
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entitled “Widows: Wrecks of Humanity.”
Now there is no need to discuss this further,
because it is inconceivable that in present times any
sensible person would advocate this as a solution.
The other possible solution’ to be found in the
