Definition of ‘Polygamy’

’Polygamy’ means a system of marriage whereby one person has more than one spouse.
Polygamy can be of two types. One is polygyny where a man marries more than one woman,
and the other is polyandry, where a woman marries more than one man. In Islam, limited
polygyny is permitted; whereas polyandry is completely prohibited.

The Qur’an is the only religious scripture in the world that says, “marry only one”

The Qur’an is the only religious book, on the face of this earth, that contains the phrase ‘marry
only one’. There is no other religious book that instructs men to have only one wife. In none
of the other religious scriptures, whether it be the Vedas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata,
the Geeta, the Talmud or the Bible does one find a restriction on the number of wives.
According to these scriptures one can marry as many as one wishes. It was only later, that the
Hindu priests and the Christian Church restricted the number of wives to one.

Many Hindu religious personalities, according to their scriptures, had multiple wives. King
Dashrat, the father of Rama, had more than one wife. Krishna had several wives.

In earlier times, Christian men were permitted as many wives as they wished, since the Bible
puts no restriction on the number of wives. It was only a few centuries ago that the Church
restricted the number of wives to one.

Polygyny is permitted in Judaism. According to Talmudic law, Abraham had three wives, and
Solomon had hundreds of wives. The practice of polygyny continued till Rabbi Gershom ben
Yehudah (960 CE to 1030 CE) issued an edict against it. The Jewish Sephardic communities
living in Muslim countries continued the practice till as late as 1950, until an Act of the Chief
Rabbinate of Israel extended the ban on marrying more than one wife.

Qur’an permits limited polygyny

As I mentioned earlier, Qur’an is the only religious book on the face of the earth that says
‘marry only one’. The context of this phrase is the following verse from Surah An Nisa’ of the
Glorious Qur’an:

“Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not
be able to deal justly (with them), then only one.”
[Al Qur’an 4:3]

Before the Qur’an was revealed, there was no upper limit for polygyny and many men had
scores of wives, some even hundreds. Islam put an upper limit of four wives. Islam gives a
man permission to marry two, three or four women, only on the condition that he deals justly
with them.

In the same chapter i.e. Surah An Nisa’ Verse 129 says:
“Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women….”
[Al Qur’an 4:129]
Therefore polygyny is not a rule but an exception. Many people are under the misconception
that it is compulsory for a Muslim man to have more than one wife.

Broadly, Islam has five categories of Do’s and Don’ts:

(i) ‘Fardh’ i.e. compulsory or obligatory

(ii) ‘Mustahab’ i.e. recommended or encouraged

(iii) ‘Mubah’ i.e. permissible or allowed

(iv) ‘Makrooh’ i.e. not recommended or discouraged

(v) ‘Haraam’ i.e. prohibited or forbidden

Polygyny falls in the middle category of things that are permissible. It cannot be said that a
Muslim who has two, three or four wives is a better Muslim as compared to a Muslim who
has only one wife.


Average life span of females is more than that of males

By nature males and females are born in approximately the same ratio. A female child has
more immunity than a male child. A female child can fight the germs and diseases better than
the male child. For this reason, during the paediatric age itself there are more deaths among
males as compared to the females.

During wars, there are more men killed as compared to women. More men die due to
accidents and diseases than women. The average life span of females is more than that of
males, and at any given time one finds more widows in the world than widowers.

World female population is more than male population

In the USA, women outnumber men by 7.8 million New York alone has one million more
females as compared to the number of males, and of the male population of New York onethird are gays i.e sodomites. The USA as a whole has more than twenty-five million gays. This
means that these people do not wish to marry women. Great Britain four million more
females as compared to males. Germany has five million more females as compared to males.
Russia has nine million more females than males. God alone knows how many million more
females there are in the whole world as compared to males.

Restricting each and every man to have only one wife is not practical

Even if every man got married to one woman, there would still be more than thirty million
females in USA who would not be able to get husbands (considering that America has twentyfive million gays). There would be more than four million females in Great Britain, five million
females in Germany and nine million females in Russia alone who would not be able to find a
husband.

Suppose my sister happens to be one of the unmarried women living in USA, or suppose your
sister happens to be one of the unmarried women in USA. The only two options remaining
for her are that she either marries a man who already has a wife or becomes public property.
There is no other option. All those who are modest will opt for the first.

The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular media. The ‘hijaab’
or the Islamic dress is cited by many as an example of the ‘subjugation’ of women under
Islamic law. Before we analyze the reasoning behind the religiously mandated ‘hijaab’, let us
first study the status of women in societies before the advent of Islam.

In the past women were degraded and used as objects of lust

The following examples from history amply illustrate the fact that the status of women in
earlier civilizations was very low to the extent that they were denied basic human dignity:

1. Babylonian Civilization:
The women were degraded and were denied all rights under the Babylonian law. If a man
murdered a woman, instead of him being punished, his wife was put to death.

2. Greek Civilization:
Greek Civilization is considered the most glorious of all ancient civilizations. Under this
very ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights and were looked down upon.
In Greek mythology, an ‘imaginary woman’ called ‘Pandora’ is the root cause of
misfortune of human beings. The Greeks considered women to be subhuman and inferior
to men. Though chastity of women was precious, and women were held in high esteem,
the Greeks were later overwhelmed by ego and sexual perversions. Prostitution became
a regular practice amongst all classes of Greek society.

3. Roman Civilization:
When Roman Civilization was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had the right to take
the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were common amongst the Romans.

4. Egyptian Civilization:
The Egyptian considered women evil and as a sign of a devil.

5. Pre-Islamic Arabia:
Before Islam spread in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women and very often when
a female child was born, she was buried alive.

Islam uplifted women and gave them equality and expects them to maintain

Islam uplifted the status of women and granted them their just rights 1400 years ago. Islam
expects women to maintain their status.

Hijaab for men

People usually only discuss ‘hijaab’ in the context of women. However, in the Glorious Qur’an,
Allah (swt) first mentions ‘hijaab’ for men before ‘hijaab’ for the women. The Qur’an mentions
in Surah An Noor:

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their
modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted
with all that they do.”

[Al Qur’an 24:30]

The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his
mind, he should lower his gaze.

Hijaab for women.

The next verse of Surah An Noor, says:

“ And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their
modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what
(must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw veils over their bosoms and
not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’
fathers, their sons…”

[Al Qur’an 24:31]

Six criteria for Hijaab.

According to Qur’an and Sunnah there are basically six criteria for observing hijaab:

1. Extent:
The first criterion is the extent of the body that should be covered. This is different for men
and women. The extent of covering obligatory on the male is to cover the body at least
from the navel to the knees. For women, the extent of covering obligatory is to cover the
complete body except the face and the hands upto the wrists. If they wish to, they can
cover even these parts of the body. Some scholars of Islam insist that the face and the
hands are part of the obligatory extent of ‘hijaab’.
All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women.

2. The clothes worn should be loose and should not reveal the figure.

3. The clothes worn should not be transparent or translucent such that one can see through
them.

4. The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.

5. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the opposite sex.

6. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the unbelievers i.e. they should not wear
clothes that are specifically identities or symbols of the unbelievers’ religions.

Hijaab includes conduct and behaviour among other things

Complete ‘hijaab’, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral conduct,
behaviour, attitude and intention of the individual. A person only fulfilling the criteria of
‘hijaab’ of the clothes is observing ‘hijaab’ in a limited sense. ‘Hijaab’ of the clothes should be
accompanied by ‘hijaab’ of the eyes, ‘hijaab’ of the heart, ‘hijaab’ of thought and ‘hijaab’ of
intention. It also includes the way a person walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves,
etc.

Hijaab prevents molestation

The reason why hijaab is prescribed for women is mentioned in the Qur’an in the following
verse of Surah Al Ahzaab:

“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women that they should
cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad); that is most
convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

[Al Qur’an 33:59]

The Qur’an says that Hijaab has been prescribed for the women so that they are recognized
as modest women and this will also prevent them from being molested.

Muslims should be united

It is a fact that Muslims today, are divided amongst themselves. The tragedy is that such
divisions are not endorsed by Islam at all. Islam believes in fostering unity amongst its
followers.
The Glorious Qur’an says:

“And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be
not divided among yourselves;”

[Al Qur’an 3:103]

Which is the rope of Allah that is being referred to in this verse? It is the Glorious Qur’an. The
Glorious Qur’an is the rope of Allah which all Muslims should hold fast together. There is
double emphasis in this verse. Besides saying ‘hold fast all together’ it also says, ‘be not
divided’.
The Qur’an further says:

“Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger”

[Al Qur’an 4:59]

All the Muslims should follow the Qur’an and authentic ahadith and be not divided among
themselves.

It is prohibited to make sects and divisions in Islam

The Glorious Qur’an says:
“As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou hast no part in
them in the least: Their affair is with Allah: He will in the end tell them the truth of
all that they did.”

[Al Qur’an 6:159]

In this verse Allah (swt) says that one should disassociate oneself from those who divide their
religion and break it up into sects.

But when one asks a Muslim, “who are you?”, the common answer is either ‘I am a Sunni, or
‘I am Shia’. Some call themselves Hanafi, or Shafa’ee or Maliki or Hambali. Some say ‘I am a
Deobandi’, while some others say ‘I am a Barelvi’.

Our Prophet was a Muslim

One may ask such Muslims, “what was our beloved prophet (pbuh)? Was he a Hanafi or a
Shafa’ee, or a Hambali or a Maliki?” No! He was a Muslim, like all the other prophets and
messengers of Allah before him.

It is mentioned in Chapter 3 Verse 52 of Al Qur’an that Jesus (pbuh) was a Muslim.
Further, in Chapter 3 Verse 67, Al Qur’an says that Ibraheem (pbuh) was not a Jew or a
Christian but was a Muslim.

Qur’an says call yourselves Muslim

A) If anyone poses a Muslim the question who are you, he should say “I am a MUSLIM, not
a Hanafi or a Shafa’ee”. Surah Fussilat Chapter 41 Verse 33 says

“Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to Allah, works righteousness,
and says, ‘I am of those Who bow in Islam (Muslim)?’ ”

[Al Qur’an 41:33]

The Qur’an says “Say I am of those who bow in Islam”. In other words, say, “I am a
Muslim”.

B) The Prophet (pbuh) dictated letters to non- Muslim kings and rulers inviting them to
accept Islam. In these letters he mentioned the verse of the Qur’an from Surah Ale Imran
Chapter 3 Verse 64:

Say ye: “Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah’s Will).”

[Al Qur’an 3:64]

Respect all the great Scholars of Islam

We must respect all the great scholars of Islam, including the four Imaams, Imam Abu Hanifa,
Imam Shafa’ee, Imam Humbal and Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on all of them). They
were great scholars and may Allah reward them for their research and hardwork. One can
have no objection if someone agrees with the views and research of Imam Abu Hanifa or
Imam Shafa’ee, etc. But when posed a question, ‘who are you?’, the reply should only be ‘I am
a Muslim’.

Some may argue by quoting the hadith of our beloved Prophet (pbuh) from Sunan Abu
Dawood, Vol. 5 Hadith 4596. In this hadith the prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, “My
community will be split up into seventy-three sects.”

This hadith reports that the prophet(pbuh) predicted the emergence of seventy-three sects.
He did not say that Muslims should be active in dividing themselves into sects. The Glorious
Qur’an commands us not to create sects. Those who follow the teachings of the Qur’an and
Sahih Hadith, and do not create sects are the people who are on the true path.

According to Tirmidhi, Vol. 5, Hadith 2641, Abdullah ibn Amr narrated that the Messenger of
Allah (pbuh) said, “My Ummah will split into seventy-three sects. All of them are in the Fire
except one sect”. He said: “And which is it O! Messenger of Allah?” He said: “What I am upon
and my Companions.”

The Glorious Qur’an mentions in several verses, “Obey Allah and obey His Messenger”. A true
Muslim should only follow the Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith. He can agree with the
views of any scholar as long as they conform to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith.
If such views go against the Word of Allah, or the Sunnah of His Prophet, (pbuh) then they
carry no weight, regardless of how learned the scholar might be.

If only all Muslims read the Qur’an with understanding and adhere to Sahih Hadith,
InshAllah most of these differences would be solved and we could be one united Muslim
Ummah.

‘Vegetarianism’ is now a movement the world over. Many even associate it with animal rights.
Indeed, a large number of people consider the consumption of meat and other non-vegetarian
products to be a violation of animal rights.

Islam enjoins mercy and compassion for all living creatures. At the same time Islam
humaintains that Allah has created the earth and its wondrous flora and fauna for the benefit
of humankind. It is upto humankind to use every resource in this world judiciously, as a
Ne’mah (Divine blessing) and Amaanah (trust) from Allah.

Let us look at various other aspects of this argument.

A Muslim can be a pure vegetarian

A Muslim can be a very good Muslim despite being a pure vegetarian. It is not compulsory
for a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food.

Qur’an permits Muslims to have non-vegetarian food

The Qur’an, however permits a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food. The following Qur’anic
verses are proof of this fact:

“O ye who believe! Fulfil (all) obligations. Lawful unto you (for food) are all fourfooted animals with the exceptions named.”

[Al Qur’an 5:1]

“And cattle He has created for you (men): from them ye derive warmth, and
numerous benefits, and of their (meat) ye eat.”

[Al Qur’an 16:5]

“And in cattle (too) ye have an instructive example: from within their bodies We
produce (milk) for you to drink; there are, in them, (besides), numerous (other)
benefits for you; and of their (meat) ye eat.”

[Al Qur’an 23:21]

Meat is nutritious and rich in complete protein

Non-vegetarian food is a good source of excellent protein. It contains biologically complete
protein i.e. all the 8 essential amino acid that are not synthesized by the body and should
be supplied in the diet. Meat also contains iron, vitamin B1 and niacin.

Humans have Omnivorous set of teeth

If you observe the teeth of herbivorous animals like the cow, goat and sheep, you will find
something strikingly similar in all of them. All these animals have a set of flat teeth i.e. suited
for herbivorous diet. If you observe the set of teeth of the carnivorous animals like the lion,
tiger or leopard, they all have a set of pointed teeth i.e. suited for a carnivorous diet. If you
analyze the set of teeth of humans, you find that they have flat teeth as well as pointed teeth.
Thus they have teeth suited for both herbivorous as well as carnivorous food i.e. they are
omnivorous. One may ask, if Almighty God wanted humans to have only vegetables, why did
He provide us also with pointed teeth? It is logical that He expected us to need and to have
both vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian food.

Human beings can digest both vege-tarian and non-vegetarian food

The digestive system of herbivorous animals can digest only vegetables. The digestive
system of carnivorous animals can digest only meat. But the digestive system of humans
can digest both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. If Almighty God wanted us to have only
vegetables then why did He give us a digestive system that can digest both vegetarian as
well as non-vegetarian food?

Even plants have life

Certain religions have adopted pure vegetarianism as a dietary law because they are totally
against the killing of living creatures. If a person can survive without killing any living
creature, I would be the first person to adopt such a way of life. In the past people thought
plants were lifeless. Today it is a universal fact that even plants have life. Thus their logic of
not killing living creatures is not fulfilled even by being a pure vegetarian.

Even plants can feel pain

They further argue that plants cannot feel pain, therefore killing a plant is a lesser crime as
compared to killing an animal. Today science tells us that even plants can feel pain. But the
cry of the plant cannot be heard by the human being. This is due to the inability of the human
ear to hear sounds that are not in the audible range i.e. 20 Hertz to 20,000 Hertz. Anything
below and above this range cannot be heard by a human being. A dog can hear upto 40,000
Hertz. Thus there are silent dog whistles that have a frequency of more than 20,000 Hertz
and less than 40,000 Hertz. These whistles are only heard by dogs and not by human beings.
The dog recognizes the masters’ whistle and comes to the master. There was research done
by a farmer in USA who invented an instrument which converted the cry of the plant so that
it could be heard by human beings. He was able to realize immediately when the plant itself
cried for water. Latest researches show that the plants can even feel happy and sad. It can
also cry.

Ka’bah is the Qibla i.e. the direction Muslims face during their prayers. It is important to note
that though Muslims face the Ka’bah during prayers, they do not worship the Ka’bah. Muslims
worship and bow to none but Allah.

It is mentioned in Surah Al Baqarah:

“We see the turning of thy face (for guidance) to the heavens: now shall We turn
thee to a Qiblah that shall please thee. Turn then thy face in the direction of the
Sacred Mosque: wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction.”

[Al Qur’an 2:144]

Islam believes in fostering unity

For instance, if Muslims want to offer Salaah (Prayer), it is possible that some may wish to
face north, while some may wish to face south. In order to unite Muslims in their worship of
the One True God, Muslims, wherever they may be, are asked to face in only one direction i.e.
towards the Ka’bah. If some Muslims live towards the west of the Ka’bah they face the east.
Similarly if they live towards the east of the Ka’bah they face the west.

Ka’bah is at the Centre of the World Map

The Muslims were the first people to draw the map of the world. They drew the map with the
south facing upwards and north downwards. The Ka’bah was at the centre. Later, western
cartographers drew the map upside down with the north facing upwards and south
downwards. Yet, Alhamdullilah the Ka’bah is at the centre of the world map.

Tawaaf around Ka’bah for indicating one God

When the Muslims go to Masjid-e-Haram in Makkah, they perform tawaaf or
circumambulation round the Ka’bah. This act symbolizes the belief and worship of One God,
since, just as every circle has one centre, so also there is only one Allah (swt) worthy of
worship.

Hadith of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)

Regarding the black stone, hajr-e-aswad, there is a hadith (tradition), attributed to the
illustrious companion of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Umar (may Allah be pleased with
him).

According to Sahih Al Bukhari, Volume 2, Book of Hajj, Chapter 57, Hadith 1605. Umar (ra)
said, “I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit nor harm. Had I not seen the Prophet
(pbuh) touching (and kissing) you, I would never have touched (and kissed) you”.

People stood on Ka’bah and gave the ‘adhaan’

At the time of the Prophet (pbuh), people even stood on the Ka’bah and gave the ‘adhaan’
or the call to prayer. One may ask those who allege that Muslims worship the Ka’bah; which
idol worshipper stands on the idol he worships?

Belief in the hereafter is not based on blind faith

Many people wonder as to how a person with a scientific and logical temperament, can lend
any credence to the belief of life after death. People assume that anyone believing in the
hereafter is doing so on the basis of blind belief.
My belief in the hereafter is based on a logical argument.

‘Hereafter’ is a logical belief

There are more than a thousand verses in the Glorious Qur’an, containing scientific facts
(refer my book “Qur’an and Modern Science – Compatible or Incompatible?”). Many facts
mentioned in the Qur’an have been discovered in the last few centuries. But science has not
advanced to a level where it can confirm every statement of the Qur’an.

Suppose 80% of all that is mentioned in the Qur’an has been proved 100% correct. About
the remaining 20%,

science makes no categorical statement, since it has not advanced to a level, where it can
either prove or disprove these statements. With the limited knowledge that we have, we
cannot say for sure whether even a single percentage or a single verse of the Qur’an from this
20% portion is wrong. Thus when 80% of the Qur’an is 100% correct and the remaining 20%
is not disproved, logic says that even the 20% portion is correct. The existence of the
hereafter, which is mentioned in the Qur’an, falls in the 20% ambiguous portion which my
logic says is correct.

Concept of peace and human values is useless without the concept of hereafter

Is robbing a good or an evil act? A normal balanced person would say it is evil. How would a
person who does not believe in the hereafter convince a powerful and influential criminal
that robbing is evil?

Suppose I am the most powerful and influential criminal in the world. At the same time I am
an Intelligent and a logical person. I say that robbing is good because it helps me lead a
luxurious life. Thus robbing is good for me.

If anybody can put forward a single logical argument as to why it is evil for me, I will stop
immediately. People usually put forward the following arguments:

a. The person who is robbed will face difficulties
Some may say that the person who is robbed will face difficulties. I certainly agree that it is
bad for the person who is robbed. But it is good for me. If I rob a thousand dollars, I can enjoy
a good meal at a 5 star restaurant.

b. Someone may rob you
Some people argue that someday I may be robbed. No one can rob me because I am a very
powerful criminal and I have hundreds of bodyguards. I can rob anybody but nobody can rob
me. Robbing may be a risky profession for a common man but not for an influential person
like me.

c. The police may arrest you
Some may say, if you rob, you can be arrested by the police. The police cannot arrest me
because I have the police on my payroll. I have the ministers on my payroll. I agree that if a
common man robs, he will be arrested and it will be bad for him, but I am an extraordinarily
influential and powerful criminal.

Give me one logical reason why it is bad for me and I will stop robbing.

d. It’s easy money
Some may say it’s easy money and not hard-earned money. I agree completely that it is easy
money, and that is one of the main reasons why I rob. If a person has the option of earning
money the easy as well as the hard way, any logical person would choose the easy way.

7. All religions basically teach followers to do good deeds. Why should a person only follow
Islam? Can he not follow any of the religions?

e. It is against humanity
Some may say it is against humanity and that a person should care for other human beings. I
counter argue by asking as to who wrote this law called ‘humanity’ and why should I follow
it?

This law may be good for the emotional and sentimental people but I am a logical person and
I see no benefit in caring for other human beings.

f. It is a selfish act
Some may say that robbing is being selfish. It is true that robbing is a selfish act; but then why
should I not be selfish? It helps me enjoy life.

No logical reason for robbing being an evil act

Hence all arguments that attempt to prove that robbing is an evil act are futile. These
arguments may satisfy a common man but not a powerful and influential criminal like me.
None of the arguments can be defended on the strength of reason and logic. It is no surprise
that there are so many criminals in this world.

Similarly raping, cheating, etc. can be justified as good for a person like me and there is no
logical argument that can convince me that these things are bad.

A Muslim can convince a powerful and influential criminal

Now let us switch sides. Suppose you are the most powerful and influential criminal in the
world, who has the police and the ministers on his payroll. You have army of thugs to protect
you. I am a Muslim who will convince you that robbing, raping, cheating, etc. are evil acts.

Even if I put forth the same arguments to prove that robbing is evil, the criminal will respond
the same way as he did earlier.

I agree that the criminal is being logical and all his arguments are true only when he is the
most powerful and influential criminal.

Every human being wants justice

Each and every human being desires justice. Even if he does not want justice for others he
wants justice for himself. Some people are intoxicated by power and influence and inflict
pain and suffering on others. The same people, however, would surely object if some
injustice was done to them. The reason such people become insensitive to the suffering of
others is that they worship power and influence. Power and influence, they feel, not only
allow them to inflict injustice on others but also prevent others from doing likewise to them.

God is Most Powerful and Just

As a Muslim I would convince the criminal about the existence of Almighty God (refer to
answer proving the existence of God). This God is more powerful than you and at the same
time is also just. The Glorious Qur’an says:

“Allah is never unjust in the least degree:”

[Al Qur’an 4:40]

Why doesn’t God punish me?

The criminal, being a logical and scientific person, agrees that God exists, after being
presented with scientific facts from the Qur’an. He may argue as to why God, if He is Powerful
and Just, does not punish him.

The people who do injustice should be punished

Every person who has suffered injustice, irrespective of financial or social status, almost
certainly wants the perpetrator of injustice to be punished. Every normal person would like
the robber or the rapist to be taught a lesson. Though a large number of criminals are
punished, many even go scot-free. They lead a pleasant, luxurious life, and even enjoy a
peaceful existence. If injustice is done to a powerful and influential person, by someone
more powerful and more influential than him, even such a person would want that
perpetrator of injustice to be punished.

This life is a test for the hereafter

This life is a test for the hereafter. The Glorious Qur’an says:

“He who created death and life, that He may try which of you is best in deed; and
He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving”

[Al Qur’an 67:2]

Final justice on the day of judgement

The Glorious Qur’an says:

“Every soul shall have a taste of death: and only on the Day of Judgement shall you
be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted
to the Garden will have attained the object (of life): for the life of this world is but
goods and chattels of deception.”

[Al Qur’an 3:185]

Final justice will be meted out on the day of judgement. After a person dies, he will be
resurrected on the day of judgement along with the rest of humankind. It is possible that a
person receives part of his punishment in this world. The final reward and punishment will
only be in the hereafter. God Almighty may not punish a robber or a rapist in this world but
he will surely be held accountable on the day of judgement and will be punished in the
hereafter i.e. life after death.

No concept of human values or good and bad without concept of hereafter

It is clear that without convincing a person about the hereafter, i.e. life after death, the
concept of human values and the good or evil nature of acts is impossible to prove to any
person who is doing injustice especially when he is influential and powerful.

The Qur’an, in Surah Al Nisaa’, Chapter 4 Verse 3, states that a Muslim is allowed to marry a
maximum of only four wives. Another verse in the Qur’an makes Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) an exception to this rule.

In Surah Al Ahzaab Chapter 33 Verse 52:

“It is not lawful for thee (to marry more) women after this, nor to change them for (other)
wives, even though their beauty attract thee, except any thy right hand should possess (as
hand maidens) and Allah doth watch over all things.”

[Al-Qur’an 33:52]

This verse clearly gives Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) the permission to keep all his previous
wives but prohibits him to marry any more women except those which his right hand
possessed i.e. slave girls.

The Prophet (pbuh) was allowed to keep all his previous wives because no one was allowed
to marry the Prophet’s wives (ra) after they were divorced or widowed as they were ummulmu’mineen (mothers of the believers).

“Nor is it right for you that ye should annoy Allah’s Messenger, or that ye should marry his
widows after him at any time”

[Al-Qur’an 33:53]

People falsely accuse the Prophet (pbuh) of being hypersexual, because he had eleven
wives. If you read the life history of the Prophet (pbuh), only two of his marriages, one with
Khadija (ra), and the other, with Ayesha (ra) were marriages in the normal course. All his
other marriages were contracted as a necessity and were based on various considerations.

The first marriage of the Prophet (pbuh) took place when he was 25 years of age and he
married Khadija (ra) who was twice widowed, and was 40 years old. If the Prophet (pbuh)
was hypersexual, why would he marry a woman who was 15 years older than him and
already twice widowed?

Until his first wife, Khadija (ra) was alive, he never took a second wife. Khadija (ra) expired
when the Prophet (pbuh) was 50 years of age and only after this, did he marry the others. If
he married eleven wives for sexual reasons, he should have had multiple wives during his
youth. Contrary to this, history tells us that all his marriages with his remaining ten wives
took place when he was between the age of 53 and 59 years.

All his wives (ra) were between the age of 36 to 50 years, except for two wives (ra). His
reputation had spread far and wide, not only in Arabia, but also in the neighbouring
countries. Could he not have easily got younger and lovelier girls to marry? Most of his
marriages were for political gain and for the spread of Islam.

In Arabia, no one could carry on the work of reform and upliftment unless he belonged to, or
was related to some specific and respectable tribe. Thus, in the interest of his mission, the
Prophet (pbuh) needed inter-tribal relationships. He wanted to weld the quarrelling tribal
and clannish factions into one Muslim ummah, as brethren in faith (Ikhwaan fid-Deen).

For instance, his wife Juwayriyya (ra) belonged to the Banu Mustaliq clan, which was very
powerful. The entire clan was a bitter enemy of Islam from the start, and they were finally
suppressed by military action. When the Prophet (pbuh) married Juwayriyya (ra), the
Muslims released all their prisoners, saying that they could not keep the prophet’s relatives
in bondage. It was due to this marriage that the whole clan of Banu Mustaliq accepted
Islam and became peaceful and obedient to the laws of the new Islamic state.

Maymoonah (ra) also came from a very powerful and recalcitrant clan from Najd and was
the sister of the wife of the chief of the clan in those days. It was this clan, which had
brutally murdered seventy members of an Islamic missionary deputation. The Prophet’s
(pbuh) marriage with Maymoonah (ra) changed the whole atmosphere and Najd accepted
Madinah’s authority under the leadership of the Prophet (pbuh).

Umm Habibah (ra) was the daughter of the Quraysh chief, Abu Sufyan. It was after the
Prophet’s (pbuh) marriage to Umm Habibah, that Abu Sufyan never fought against the
Prophet (pbuh). This marriage was largely responsible for the conquest of Makkah.
Furthermore, Umm Habibah was first married to a certain Ubaydullah and emigrated with
him to Abyssinia, where Ubaydullah became a Christian and a drunkard. Excessive
consumption of wine killed him since it was a double shock to her that her husband had
become a Christian and later died, she was badly in need of solace.

Safiyyah (ra) was the daughter of a very prominent Jewish chief, Huyyah ibn Akhtab. In
consideration of her family status, she could not be merged into an ordinary household. So
the Prophet (pbuh) himself married her. After this marriage, the Jews did not dare to revive
their opposition to the Prophet (pbuh) and his mission.

In the case of Hafsah (ra), it was the Prophet’s (pbuh) desire to bind in relationship with
those of his great companions (sahaabah) who were his advisers and who were trained for
future leadership. He had married Abu Bakr’s (ra) daughter, married two of his own
daughters to Uthmaan (ra) and one to ‘Ali (ra). ‘Umar (ra) could not be kept outside this
wide circle of relationship. By marrying Umar’s daughter Hafsah (ra), the Prophet (pbuh)
forged a strong bond of relationship within the Islamic movement thus strengthening the
pillars of the ummah.

The Prophet (pbuh) had married his first cousin, Zaynab (ra), to his freed slave, Zayd ibn
Haritha (ra), whom he had adopted as his son. This marriage of Zaynab (ra) with Zayd (ra)
was intended to break the family and social barriers, but the marriage did not prove to be
successful and ended in divorce.

The Prophet (pbuh) was then ordered by Allah to marry Zaynab (ra), which he did in 5 AH.
Allah also broke another convention, according to which an adopted son became a real
son. This difficult problem was solved by the Prophet’s (pbuh) marriage to Zaynab (ra) (as
mentioned in the Qur’an, in Surah Al Ahzaab, Chapter 33 Verse 37) to annul that pre-Islamic
conception and promulgate an Islamic law instead.

Another lady Zaynab (ra), Umm al Masaakeen (mother of the poor and helpless), daughter
of Khuzayma ibn Al-Haarith, belonged to the Hawaazin clan. Her husband was killed in the
battle of Uhud. To rescue her from widowhood, the Prophet (pbuh) took her as his wife.

After the revelation of the verse in Surah Al Ahzaab, Chapter 33 Verse 52, the Prophet
(pbuh) only married Mary the Copt who was a slave girl sent as a present by the Christian
Muq-awqis of Egypt. Since the Christian Chieftain of Egypt sent Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
a slave girl as a present, he could not refuse this gift, as a refusal would have disturbed the
political alliance. He could not keep her as a slave girl, since Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
preached that slaves should be freed. The only option left with him was to marry her, since
the Qur’an gave him the permission to do so. Later on she became the mother of Ibraheem
(ra) who died in his infancy.

People wonder and ask, ‘Did the Prophet (pbuh) marry a child?’ ‘Was this a normal practice
1400 years ago?’ ‘What was the wisdom behind it?’

It is mentioned in Sahih Al Bukhari, Vol. 5, The Book of the Merits of the Ansaar, Chapter 44,
Hadith No. 3896:

“Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) conducted the marriage contract with Ayesha (ra) when she
was six years old and the marriage was consummated after she turned nine.”

However it’s important to understand the things in their historical context. One must first
understand the things 1400 years ago were very different from now, times have changed
and so humans have. 1400 years ago, it was very common for women to marry at a young
age. It is a historical fact that the girls from the ages of 9 to 15 were married off in Europe,
Asia, Africa and America. For example,

1. Saint Augustine (350 AD) – He married a 10 year old girl

2. King Richard II (1400 AD) – He married a 7 year old girl.

3. Henry VIII (1500 AD) – He married a 6 year old girl

According to Catholic Encyclopaedia, “Mary the mother of Jesus Christ (pbuh) was 12 when
she married 99 years old Joseph.”

Before 1929 C.E. Church of England Ministers would marry 12 year olds in Britain.

Before 1983 C.E. Catholic Canon Laws permitted priests to marry off brides at the age of
12.

The legal age of marriage in India for females is 18 years. The legal age of marriage for
females in USA is 16 years.

A lot of people are unaware that in USA in the state of Delaware in 1880, the minimum age
for marriage for females was 7 years and in California the age of marriage for females was
10 years. Even now the age of marriage for females for some states are:-

i. 12 years (Massachusetts)

ii. 13 years (New Hampshire)

iii. 14 years (New York)

At the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) those who refused his message tried every
method and strategy to discredit him. They were always looking for opportunities to attack
him verbally and even physically. Some of these verbal abuse consisted of calling him a
Magician or a Soothsayer or a Crazy person

However, they never thought to point out or object his marriage to Ayesha (ra). Why?
Because this was the norm of society, meaning it was completely normal.

We know that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), had only one wife, Khadeejah (ra) throughout
the first 54 years of his life. We know that she was a widow and 15 years older than him.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) spent his entire youth with her. He was committed to her until
and after her death by keeping ties with her relatives.

But what about Ayesha (ra)? Was she a child when she agreed to consummate her marriage
with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)?

First, it’s important to note that it is strictly prohibited in Islam to consummate the marriage
with someone before the age of puberty.

Allah says in Surah Al Nisaa’ Chapter 4 Verse 6:

“Make trial of orphans until they reach the age of marriage”

[Al-Qur’an 4:6]

Note that the age of puberty varies throughout different times and different places.

According to scientific references girls might enter full-blown puberty any time between
ages 9 and 15 (LiveScience.com).

Also the average temperature of the country is considered the chief factor with regard to
menstruation and sexual puberty (Women: A Historical, Gynaecological and
Anthropological Compendium, Vol. 1, Lord and Bransby, 1988, Pg. 563).

So was Ayesha (ra) a child? No, she was not! She herself testified that she had attained
puberty when her marriage with the Prophet (pbuh) was consummated. It is mentioned in
Sunan Al Tirmidhi, Vol. 2, The Book of Marriage, Chapter 19, Hadith No. 1109, Ayesha (ra)
said:

“When a girl reaches nine then she is a woman.”

The marriage of Ayesha (ra) was an instruction from Allah (swt).

[Sahih Al Bukhari, Vol. 5, The Book of the Merits of the Ansaar, Chapter 44,
Hadith No. 3895]

So what was the wisdom behind this marriage? Allah (swt) always knows the best.

Ayesha (ra) narrated to us more than 2,200 Ahaadith i.e. sayings of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh). Ayesha (ra) was exceptionally intelligent, and since she married Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) at a young age, she was able to learn so much from him. She later
played an important role as a teacher, expert and interpreter of Islam. So there was much
wisdom behind this marriage.

The Qur’an prohibits Muslims to marry unbelievers

Qur’an mentions in Surah Al Baqarah Chapter 2 Verse 221

“Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters), until they believe: A slave woman who believes is
better than an unbelieving woman, even though she allures you. Nor marry (your girls) to
unbelievers until they believe: A man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever, even
though he allures you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the Fire. But Allah beckons by His
Grace to the Garden (of bliss) and forgiveness, and makes His Signs clear to mankind: That they
may celebrate His praise.”

[Al-Qur’an 2:221]

This life is a test for Hereafter According to the Qur’an in Surah Al Mulk Chapter 67 Verse 2

“He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the
Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving.”

[Al-Qur’an 67:2]

Concept of Salvation cannot differ amongst Life Partners The ultimate goal and salvation for
every Muslim is to attain paradise in the Hereafter. A true husband or a wife will also want
his/her spouse to attain paradise in the hereafter. How can two life partners live together if their
ultimate goal i.e. Salvation differs? Such a marriage would be like a vehicle whose one tyre is
that of a cycle while the other tyre is that of a truck. How will the vehicle run smoothly? Similarly
if the beliefs or concepts of salvation of the spouses differ then how can they live in peacefully
and achieve marital harmony?

The fact that consumption of pork is prohibited in Islam is well-known. The following points
explain various aspects of this prohibition:

Pork prohibited in the Qur’an

The Qur’an prohibits the consumption of pork in no less than four different places. It is
prohibited in 2:173, 5:3, 6:145 and 16:115.

“Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on
which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah.”

[Al Qur’an 5:3]

The above verses of the Glorious Qur’an are sufficient to satisfy a Muslim as to why pork is
forbidden.

Pork prohibited in the Bible

The Christian is likely to be convinced by his religious scriptures. The Bible prohibits the
consumption of pork, in the Book of Leviticus:

“And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth
not the cud; he is unclean to you.”

“Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch, they are unclean
to you.”

[Book of Leviticus 11:7-8]

Pork is also prohibited in the Bible in the Book of Deuteronomy:

“And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean
unto you. Ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.”

[Book of Deuteronomy 14:8]

A similar prohibition is repeated in the Bible in the Book of Isaiah Chapter 65 Verses 2-5.

Consumption of pork causes several diseases

The other non-Muslims and atheists will agree only if convinced through reason, logic and
science. Eating of pork can cause no less than seventy different types of diseases. A person
can have various helminths like roundworm, pinworm, hookworm, etc. One of the most
dangerous is Taenia Solium, which is in lay man’s terminology called tapeworm. It harbours
in the intestine and is very long. Its ova i.e. eggs, enter the blood stream and can reach
almost all the organs of the body. If it enters the brain it can cause memory loss. If it enters
the heart it can cause heart attack, if it enters the eye it can cause blindness, if it enters the
liver it can cause liver damage. It can damage almost all the organs of the body.

Another dangerous helminthes is Trichuris trichiura. A common misconception about pork
is that if it is cooked well, these ova die. In a research project undertaken in America, it was
found that out of twenty-four people suffering from Trichuris trichiura, twenty-two had
cooked the pork very well. This indicates that the ova present in the pork do not die under
normal cooking temperature.

Pork has fat building material

Pork has very little muscle building material and contains excess of fat. This fat gets deposited
in the vessels and can cause hypertension and heart attack. It is not surprising that over 50
million Americans suffer from hypertension.

Pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth

The pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth. It lives and thrives on muck, faeces and dirt. It
is the best scavenger that I know that God has produced. In the villages they don’t have
modern toilets and the villagers excrete in the open air. Very often excreta is cleared by pigs.

Some may argue that in advanced countries like Australia, pigs are bred in very clean and
hygienic conditions. Even in these hygienic conditions the pigs are kept together in sties. No
matter how hard you try to keep them clean they are filthy by nature. They eat and enjoy
their own as well as their neighbour’s excreta.