Cairo -
The statement of the Professor of Comparative Jurisprudence at Al-Azhar University, Ahmed Karima, about polygamy sparked a societal debate in Egypt, that controversy expanded with the responses of some women's rights stakeholders on the issue.
Rania Yahya, a member of the National Council for Women, tried to oppose Professor Al-Azhari's statements, but when she wanted to demonstrate her position, she went to an unexpected extent, as she said that the Prophet Adam did not have 4 wives, but only one.
In press statements, Rania, a professor at the Academy of Arts, described the views of the Azharite world as shameful and provocative, and that they return women to pre-Islamic times, as well as cause confusion within society, she said.
The statements of a member of the National Council for Women received sharp criticism on the communication sites, especially with regard to her saying that Adam married one woman. About the painful reality, and others saw that there is an increasing tone by societal forces aiming to deviate from the law of God.
A member of the National Women’s Association on the polygamy crisis: Our master Adam had one wife, not 4
For details: https://t.co/tH49km3FmM pic.twitter.com/OTNPSMd0GI
- Cairo 24 (@cairo24_) May 25, 2022
Ignorance at its best
, it is assumed that before you speak, understand the subject you are going to talk about,
not
any information that
you know.
— Mohamad Ragab (@Mohamad28863049) May 25, 2022
This is the ignorance in his eyes from a woman from a responsible woman who is a member of the National Women’s Association, she does not know and does not know that our master Adam was created the first from dust and his wife Eve was created after him from his rib and there is no other woman at that time
— dahdah bouali (@DahdahBouali) May 25, 2022
Member of the National Council for Women on the polygamy crisis:
Our master Adam had one wife, not 4
Imagine that this statement, which reflects ignorance and stupidity at the same time, comes from a council that has the power to propose new legislation concerning the Egyptian family!
- Dr.
Mohamed Hisham Ragheb (@M_H_Ragheb) May 25, 2022
Logic, I was not on earth for our master Adam other than Hawa, but
not 4 of the women, nor did Hawa seek to marry our master Adam to another for fear of committing immorality
— ♑️ρнɪℓσsσρнy ωσмαи (@philosophywoma1) May 25, 2022
What marriage are you talking about, Egypt? This is half of Egypt’s youth unemployed, man, and spinsterhood. 10 million. What marriage are you talking about? There are 20 million without work, without apartments, without marriage?? It is amazing, Egypt, who talk about marriage. F. Soliman https://t.co/2jLhkMDNV5
— Doctor Ali (@HassanM22294) May 25, 2022
in a country of one hundred million;
More than half of its population is below the poverty line;
People talk about polygamy.
The percentage of men who leave their homes to escape economic pressures and their inability to meet the needs of their families is higher than the percentage of those who marry more than one wife.
— Negad El Borai (@negadelborai) May 25, 2022
Why the invitation to the second marriage.. what is the reason for that.. one wife is sufficient.. but if it is due to the husband’s presence in another country.. then he must fast.. since his wife lives after her without any complaints from her.. or any
— Ahmed ramadan (@Ahmedra79472383) May 24, 2022
It is expected that the Egyptian parliament will discuss a draft law submitted by the government regarding the Personal Status Law, and its articles include regulating the engagement, the marriage contract, the effects of marriage and its provisions, divorce, khul’, lineage, alimony, custody, and the Egyptian Family Welfare Fund.
The vision of the National Council for Women - which was announced a few days ago, on the new Personal Status Law - included several demands;
Including the regulation of the second marriage, by verifying the condition of the first wife’s consent and ensuring that justice is met between them, and granting the judge the authority to authorize the second marriage after the conditions are met.
The legality of polygamy
During televised statements, Professor of Jurisprudence at Al-Azhar University, Ahmed Karima, spoke about the second marriage of a man, and touched on matters that differ radically with civil and feminist visions presented for regulating second marriage within the new draft personal status law.
He explained that Sharia allows the husband to marry another woman without the consent of the first;
Rather, he thought that not informing her might be in the interest of the family.
Karima stressed the need for the wife to appreciate her husband's desire for chastity and not to commit forbidden things, noting that most wives accept that her husband commits an indecency to marry another woman.
Rather, his opinion extended to the necessity of the first wife helping her husband to marry another, rather than committing an indecency.
With the state of widespread controversy raised by the university professor's opinion, he published what he called an explanation of the truth of his statements on his personal page on the social networking site Facebook, saying that his statements relate to the expatriate husband who wants to marry in order to abstain from the forbidden.
And he went on, "Here he can marry another woman so that he does not commit fornication, and if telling the first wife about marriage can affect the cohesion of the family, it is better not to tell her because this is not stipulated in Sharia."
One wife is enough
In the face of the societal controversy over the second marriage, the newspaper, "Voice of Al-Azhar" newspaper, repeated previous statements of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, about polygamy, in which he said that one wife is sufficient, considering those who say that the origin in Islam is polygamy are mistaken, as the issue witnesses injustice to women and children in many times.
He added that polygamy is one of the things that has witnessed a distortion of the correct understanding of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet, stressing that a Muslim is not free to marry his first wife, "This is a license restricted with restrictions and conditions, and polygamy is a right for the husband, but it is a restricted right," as he put it.
He said, "Polygamy is conditional on justice, and if it does not exist, it is forbidden, and justice is not left to experience, but by mere fear of unfairness or harm, polygamy is prohibited. The Qur'an says (If you fear that you will not be fair, then one).”
The Sheikh of Al-Azhar stressed that he did not call for legislation that abolishes a legitimate right, but he rejects the abuse of the legitimate right and deviating from its purposes.
Is there anything in Sharia or custom that obligates the husband to take permission from his first wife to marry the second? I have not heard of anything like this before. Are there new provisions in Sharia?
— Abdullah (@holako4500) May 25, 2022
There is no text in Sharia that says that the man asks the wife’s permission, nor in Sharia it says that the wife has the right to divorce when she knows that her husband married another woman, this name is
manipulation and deception of Sharia.
- Saidi Bass Iskandarani (@6cNIKINyKiMyaAW) May 25, 2022
Is there anything in Sharia or custom that obligates the husband to take permission from his first wife to marry the second? I have not heard of anything like this before. Are there new provisions in Sharia?
— Abdullah (@holako4500) May 25, 2022