Posted on 10/22/2001 10:06:54 AM PDT by laureldrive
Al-Amin case brings unusual custom to light: Islam and polygamy
Jamil Al-Amin's family life caught attention last week when bankruptcy papers revealed the Muslim cleric has more than one wife.
To the typical American Christian, this revelation concerning the former H. Rap Brown was sensational, even sordid. But in fact polygamy, though relatively rare, is permissible under Islamic law.
"Polygamy was al-Islam's way of making men responsible for every relationship they have with women," said Salwa Abd-Allah, 53, Qur'anic scholar at the American Ijtihaad Institute in Brockton, Mass.
Multiple marriage is a contentious issue both outside and within Muslim communities and raises some interesting questions about family dynamics and human nature. Its roots lie buried in antiquity.
Muslims believe that the Qur'an, though revealed 1,400-plus years ago, is a book of reference for all times. Muslims study the text as well as the life example of the prophet Muhammad. During Muhammad's time men married an unlimited number of women, who were considered to be the property of their husbands. Most times wives, along with land and livestock, were inherited by other male family members.
Also, throughout the life of the prophet, wars left many families and/or whole villages without male family members. Polygamy was set up in the culture of Islam as a protection of women, not an exploitation. The widow, orphan, slave or any other woman in dire straits is to be offered the protection of marriage for the stability of the community by those men who can afford to marry, or to take on another wife.
"There is no real distinction set up between wives," said Abd-Allah, a wife of 23 years and mother of three adult sons. She says the Qur'an permits men to marry more than one woman, if the man can be just and not favor one wife over another. Abd-Allah adds: "Later on, the Qur'an says you can never be just."
Muhammad limited the number of wives to four and set up rules involving the social and financial dynamics of such relationships. Among other things, women were given the right to own and inherit property.
In theory, there should be no such thing as an affair or illegitimate children. Men are compelled to take full responsibility for the children they bring into the world. To that end, fathers, technically, always retain full custodial rights. "It is a system of taking care of your own," said Abd-Allah, who cofounded the Clara Mohammed Elementary School in Boston.
Those drawn to polygamy because they wish to exploit women will have a rough time with Islamic rules governing multiple marriages. Husbands must be able to provide equally for two or more households -- financially, emotionally, etc. -- and not play favorites. Note: Many times this is relative to what the parties agree on. Different women have different goals.
Some households may be combined, but wives are under no obligation to live together. They also are under no obligation to work outside the home. Even if they do, the money they make is their own.
"The rule about equity has become an issue, especially financially, in modern times," said Abd-Allah, who has studied Muslim culture around the globe. "That has cut down a great deal on polygamy; and there is much less loss of life."
The practice is more prevalent in other parts of the world where it may be seen as more practical or where pre-Islamic cultures were already entrenched in multiple marriages. Even so, polygamous marriages account for less than 5 percent of all Muslim unions.
Also, Muslims are to live by both Islamic law and the law of the land in which they reside. Polygamy is illegal under American law.
For those who feel compelled to practice polygamy and stay within the law, there will be only one American marriage license with one wife. The other(s), married by Muslim clerics, would then be considered mistresses by American law.
For many Muslims it seems strange that people in the West are more comfortable with the idea of a mistress and "sugar daddy" than with the practice of polygamy. "The West is so sex-saturated," Abd-Allah said. "When you have that, what others think about polygamy is ironic."
That may be the case, but few can argue that it is that exact attitude toward women that draws some men to the idea of polygamy. Moreover, in the West, "high-profile men are surrounded by women," making encounters much more likely.
Even so, the economics of polygamy as well as the culture of American Muslims make it a marginal practice. "There's a lot of hit and miss and fumbling around," explains Abd-Allah. "It really depends on the intention and knowledge of the people involved."
Abd-Allah and Al-Amin have spoken on the same panels and lecture circuits throughout the years. She considers him a colleague. "Jamil's struggle to Islam was a real, painful struggle," she said. "It was almost perfect in giving him the answers he was looking for. He was always stringent in living the Shariah [Islamic law]. It was almost a foregone conclusion polygamy would become an issue." Nadirah Z. Sabir is an online editor for ajc.com
Among the many advances brought by Christianity was stopping this evil systematic oppression of women. Of course, the Feminazis won't admit this since they hate western civilization.
For those who feel compelled to practice polygamy and stay within the law, there will be only one American marriage license with one wife. The other(s), married by Muslim clerics, would then be considered mistresses by American law.”
So, Al Amin’s case is unusual because he married more than one women under American law, and not because he had more than one “wife.” (Notice how the writer does not state how many wives he has.)
Funny, but I can’t think of any other religion in which a cleric would marry someone to a second, third or fourth wife, knowing full well he’s legally married to the first wife in the eyes of the law.
As yes... This is "religion of peace" in which the founder conducted 66 wars in 10 years, murdering tens of thousands of innocents. The fringe benefit: A downpayment on the unlimited sex of the "afterlife".
"To the typical American Christian, this revelation concerning the former H. Rap Brown was sensational, even sordid. But in fact polygamy, though relatively rare, is permissible under Islamic law.
Hello, may of the prophets of the Old Testament had plural marriages and it was condoned by Jehovah. The point being that plural marriage has been at times implemented by God for his purposes. Not to say that this moslem has anything to do with that.
Precisely so. The AJC's Cynthia Tucker is a prime example. I live just a short distance from the area where Al-Amin and his Muslims settled. The practice of polygamy in the Muslim households here has long been a subject of controversy among the locals, especially since some of the women have left in great anger, claiming they and their children were virtually enslaved. How much publicity did this engender? Zero. Nothing. Not a word in print--or, for that matter, on the airwaves--til this murder case brought it to light.
So, Islam, which is it. Women to be "protected", or "treated as property"??
the infowarrior
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