In previous discussions, we read that feminists have a problem with polygamy and consider it an injustice against women, claiming that Islam has committed one of the biggest crimes against women by allowing polygamy. Now we want to find out whether Islam has truly oppressed women, or if there are people and governments that have seemingly banned polygamy but opened other avenues for opportunistic men to exploit women.
Western scientists have well understood that there is a strong connection between the prohibition of polygamy and the increase in the number of abortions and babies left on the streets. In a meeting held in France in 1901, the topic discussed was the control of prostitution and its adverse effects. It was stated that the number of orphaned children kept in various orphanages reaches 50,000. What is worse is that the officials of these orphanages, who are supposed to care for them, are often teenage girls or boys from those orphanages who abuse them. More tragically, these illegitimate children, who are deprived of the education and compassion of caring fathers and mothers, do bad things to each other and seek pleasure from one another, and there is no real deterrent to stop them.
A young girl and an English writer write about this: “Street girls have increased, and plagues have spread to everyone, and there is no one to look for the causes. As a woman, I look at these wandering girls, and my heart is broken because of their condition; however, it is not useful to just sympathize and write about their situation.”
This is the disease that European countries have brought to those nations as a result of banning polygamy.
Polygamy in the West, unlike in Islam, is neither humane nor ethical. Even one of the Western writers challenged the people of the West and said: “Consider a person who is in the last moments of his life and confesses to the spiritual father to forgive his sins. Now, if we listen to this person’s words, we will see that most of them have had a relationship with at least one woman.”
Multiplicity of wives among Westerners is not legal; but it exists in different forms and with different titles and is carried out freely under the supervision of the law. In the West, these relationships do not occur under the name of polygamy, because polygamy is a crime; rather, they occur in the name of friendship, camaraderie, and lovemaking. This form of relationship does not end with just four women like polygamy; rather, it is endless and continues indefinitely. Whenever a man wants to enter into a relationship with other women, he simply moves on from his previous partners without any commitment.
Additionally, these types of relationships are not conducted openly, so that families can celebrate together like a marriage contract; rather, they are formed secretly so that no one knows. And this relationship between a man and a woman does not resemble a marriage contract, as it does not bring any responsibility to the man. The man is not obligated to address the financial issues and expenses of the woman with whom he has entered into a relationship. Only as long as the man desires her, he objectifies her, defiling her dignity and personality, and then he abandons her to a world of shame. After the man leaves, that woman has to endure the pain of carrying and caring for her illegitimate child.
Furthermore, the man is not required to adopt the child resulting from this relationship; as a result, this child is considered illegitimate in society, carrying the same shame and disgrace as long as he is alive, and his head will always be held low in society.
Taking a friend and lover is similar to polygamy, as it legally allows a man to be in a relationship with several women at the same time. It seems that polygamy is permitted in other forms in the West, and the man has no obligation to this relationship. This type of relationship lacks any moral commitment and has no place for an awakened conscience or human feeling; it reduces women to mere objects of desire for men. In this way, it represents a means for men to shirk responsibility.
