Conversion For Convenience- Polygamy In Islam
Muslims have always been accused of using Islam as springboard to spread terrorism in the name of jihad, but what should Muslims do when their religion is used by people of other religions only to satiate their sexual needs in an illegal manner, which neither their religion nor Islam ever permits.
Religious conversion has become the subject of passionate debate in contemporary India. Specially for the convenience of second marriage. Islam is the most misunderstood religion in the world. Many people from different religions & even the followers of Islam misuse the concept of polygamy in Islam for satisfying their sexual hunger & other evil desires.
Recently the renowned Muslim scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan said “adopting Islam with an intention for second marriage is not only un-Islamic but against reason as well,"
Islam permits conversion from any religion to Islam, but it disallows force and use of unethical means.
There is an interesting case that came up before the Supreme Court recently. A Hindu who was already married wanted to marry another woman without divorcing the first wife, knowing fully well that Hindu law does not permit a second wife without divorcing the first wife. The way he chose was to embrace Islam so that he can legitimise taking a second wife. This was turned down by the Supreme Court.
The court said that the very intention of this Hindu gentleman was mala fide. He embraced Islam not out of conviction but out of compulsion. This is also not the spirit of Islam. Conversion is allowed in Islam if there is a real desire to embrace Islam after being satisfied with its message to humanity.
The religious conversion into Islam by a person from non Islamic faith is not valid if the conversion is done for the purpose of polygamy. Neither Islam nor the law recognizing any such conversion in India.
Conversion should not be for the sake of marriage or any personal motive. The motive of conversion should be truth... The realisation of the truth in a religion can be achieved only after in-depth study and discussions about the religion. Adopting Islam with the intention to have a second wife is un-Islamic, incorrect and not justifiable," said Qari Usman, an pro-vice chancellor & expert on hadith.
Now coming on to the main topic Polygamy,Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) had allowed the followers of Islam to keep four wives at one time because of the contemporary reasons.
During the life of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh)the Arabian society was the society of innumerable tribal communities and war was constant phenomenon of those days in Islam.
Many wars were fought amongst those tribals can themselves, sometimes in the name of Jehad, sometimes in the name of religion, sometimes for the sake of established political hegemony.
Only men were allowed to participate in the wars and not the women. One of the obvious consequences of these wars was that innumerable women became widows.
One of the most burning problem before the prophet was that how to manage the lives f these destitute widows and the children. Nobody was there take care for these helpless widows and children. So the prophet Mohammed (pbuh) evolved out a workable solution of the problem. He permitted the men that every man would keep as many as four wives along with their children. So that no widow or child would die out hunger starvation or illness. Through the system every widow and her children were taken care of.
The permission given by the prophet to keep more than one wives was not a permanent prescription for all the times to come. But it was only a temporary provision just to manage the cotemporary problems.
Dear friends hope you have understood the concept of polygamy in Islam .The acceptance of polygamy in Islam is not to have fun & enjoy the sexual desires with more than one wife, it is to protect & support the helpless women from the evils of society.
Regarding the convenience of conversion , It is not possible to check such conversions. We are living in a society which provides freedom on such aspects to every one. The only thing we can do is to educate people about the seriousness and sanctity of marriage. Marriage is not a fun thing and we need to make people understand this.
