Polygamy in Islam: Reasons, Benefits and Corruptions

Polygamy has been one of the rules of Islam and a common tradition among Muslims; this rule has been challenged by some Muslims, and it is one pretext with which the opposition attacks Islam. The purpose of this study is to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of polygamy and to examine the reasons for and against it in an analytical and deductive manner. The reasons for permission for polygamy arethe Holy Quran, Sunna, manners of Muslims. The reasons for opponents are incompatibility with human nature, non-observance of justice by men, being unjust and masculine rule, a factor for men's voluptuousness, and the tradition of Prophet and Imam Ali when Hazrat Khadija and Fatima were alive. If we consider the rulings as subject to interests and corruption, the ruling on polygamy can be considered a function of time.It is permissible if its expedience is more than its corruption. If moral laws of Islam are implemented, the individual interests of polygamy are as follows: meeting the needs of women, personality development, upbreeding the orphans, the existence of male and female behavior models for orphans, maintaining the nobility of women and engaging men in a special commitment. If the moral laws of Islam are not observed, some of the evils of polygamy include inciting jealousy among women and enmity among children, as well as the prevalence of lust in men. The rules in Shiite jurisprudence are subject to interests and corruptions, and polygamy requires moral education in the society.