Polygamy: its religious roots and present world

Of course not in US, Canada, UK or other countries where even bigamy is not legal. However, there are many countries where polygamy is considered legal by law and by civil society. In some instances, like India, polygamy is illegal by law, but it is still practiced by the civil society.

Polygamy is where a man has two or more than two wives. Not essentially, all wives may or may not live in the same house. There is another term that is similar to polygamy called bigamy which refers to a man having two wives.

Polygamy is a phenomena since the essence of time but after Adam and Eve. Its is one of the ancient practices that is prevalent today. Here are what populace religions talk about polygamy according to their religious scriptures:

Christianity

"A man can marry an infinite amount of women without any limits to how many he can marry", Exodus 21:10

Judaism

"King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines", 1 Kings 11:3

Islam

"Marry of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four; and if ye fear that ye cannot do justice (to so many) then one (only) or (the captives) that your right hands possess", Quran 4:3

Hinduism

"A Brahmana can take three wives. A Kshatriya can take two wives. As regards the Vaishya, he should take a wife from only his own order. The children born of these wives should be regarded as equal." (Anusasana Parva, Section XLIV)

Many societies, cultures and constitutions across the globe not only supports polygamy but also legalizes it. However, present world diction by scholars, researchers and populace insights have made case against polygamous relationships so as so forth unrecognises where it is legalized. For instance, Canadian immigration laws prohibit people with polygamous relations to come to Canada.

New generation find it hard to digest that men can have more than one mate legally even where its supported by religion as well as law.

Almost all Muslim countries where Sharia (Muslim law) prevails and many Asian cultures permits polygamous relationships. Countries that permits polygamy are:

1. Afghanistan
2. Algeria
3. Bahrain
4. Bangladesh
5. Brunei
6. Burkina Faso
7. Cameroon
8. Central African
9. RepublicChad
10. Comoros
11. Djibouti
12. Gabon
13. Gambia
14. Indonesia
15. Iran
16. Iraq
17. Jordan
18. Kuwait
19. Lebanon
20. Maldives
21. Mali
22. Mauritania
23. Mongolia
24. Morocco
25. Myanmar
26. Niger
27. Northern Nigeria
28. Oman
29. Pakistan
30. Qatar
31. Republic of Congo
32. Saudia Arabia
33. Senegal Eritrea
34. Somalia
35. Sudan
36. Syria
37. Tanzania
38. Togo
39. Uganda
40. United Arab Emirates
41. Western Sahara
42. Yemen
43. Zambia

Countries where it is recognized or the cultural norms but not legalized are:

1. Bhutan
2. Botswana
3. Equatorial Guinea
4. Kazakhstan
5. Kenya
6. Lesotho
7. Liberia
8. Malawi
9. Mozambique
10. Namibia
11. Nigeria
12. Sierra Leone
13. South Africa
14. Swaziland
15. Tajikistan
16. Thailand
17. Zimbabwe

In India and in countries where polygamy is prevalent since ancient times, the institution of polygamous marriages continues. Though the government has made it illegal to marry two or more women at a time, yet there are people marrying 2, 3 or more women. Main reason being old age cultural norms and freedom to practice religion. In India where 30%-40% people belong to Islam, and where constitution clearly says that everyone can follow their religion, prohibiting polygamy in its entirety is not possible.

Even in moderate Muslim societies like Pakistan and Egypt, where constitution does state that man cannot have more than one wife without the permission of first ones, there are people engaged in polygamous relationships just because its permitted by Sharia.

Jokes apart, its a heavy responsibility. With many wives and their all the more children, its hard to imagine that all their needs are met unless the man earns heavy. Moreover, what makes the situation really difficult is the span of attention and the favoritism towards wives/children living in the same dwelling.

Practically speaking, nothing. Some people do advocate shelter and livelihood, but emotionally, its a rollercoaster ride.

Most probably a happy ending with great many siblings.

That depends on one's values, customs and religion. For some people is quite normal while for some its outrageous. As we cannot say to anyone what to wear and what not to, similarly we cannot dictate cultural norms and ways of life to some people just because other have a problem with it. Only where its believed that its harmful for the society as a whole, then only it can be judged at in its entirety, not otherwise.

1. Egypt
2. Gaza
3. India
4. Malaysia
5. Maldives
6. Mauritius
7. Singapore
8. Sri Lanka
9. West Bank