21 So, the position of women in Afghanistan is lower than men. Afghanistan
limits women’s movement. Afghanistan gives many rules for women but not for men.
2. Islamic view of polygamy
Polygamy is almost a historical phenomenon in the social life of human beings.
Islam permits polygamy. As an islamic country, there are so many polygamy families in Afghanistan. In Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid
Suns, the readers may find an example of polygamy case between a man, named Rashed and his two wives, Mariam and Laila.
According to Dr. M. Imran Al-Haq in Polygamy in Islam, polygamy means a system of marriage included one person has more than one spouse.
Polygamy can be divided into two types. They are polygamy and polyandry. Polygamy is a man marries more than one woman. Polyandry is a woman marries
more than one man http: park2.itc.tokyo.ac.jptuics KhotbaKhutbah- 070119_Polygyny.doc.
Polygamy in Islam is permitted, but polyandry is completely prohibited. According to Rodwell 50 there is a verse in Koran which says that a man may
marry to the orphans or other women. However, he may marry one up to four women, and if he is still fearful that he shall not act fairly, he may marry one
woman only. In this verse, it is clearly stated that the polygamy is permitted. Further, polygamy in Islam has limitation. A man may mary up to four women.
22 In Islam, polyandry is strongly prohibited. Islam believes that men are
superior to women. According to Rodwell 54 there is a verse in Koran which says that men are superior.
Men are superior to women on account of the qualities with which God hath gifted the one above the othet, and on account of the outlay they make
from their substance for them. Virtous women are obedient, careful, during the husband’s absence, because God hath of them been careful. But chide
those for whose refractoriness you have cause to fear; remove them into beds apart, and scourge them: but if they are obedient to you, then seek not
occasion against them: verily, God is high, great Rodwell 54 So, Islam believes that men are more powerful than women in all
conditions. Women are asked to serve men. When a wife could not serve well, her husband may leave her. It is like what Rodwell 64 says that there is also a verse
in Koran that says a man may leave his wife if she refuses his fain. However, men are asked to keep women by asking the orphans or other women to be their wives.
Men as the strong God’s creature are asked to be fair. They are not allowed to do polygamy if they are not have a good social and economic condition in order to
keep his big family. Islam allows a man to have more than one wife, in a condition that the
husband should be fair with all his wives, and treat them equally. However, in fact, it is very difficult. Dr M. Imran Al-Haq in Polygamy in Islam
http:park2.itc.tokyo.ac.jptuics KhotbaKhutbah070119_Polygyny.doc also says that Islam does allow polygamy, but the reason is not to satisfy men’s desire.
The main purpose is to help women. Another requirement of polygamy is a man who can not be a father because a sterile wife. So, the man may find another wife
who gives him a chance of being a father.
23 The reason for multiple wives in Islam was not to satisfy men’s desire and
thats it, but for the welfare of the widows and the orphans of the wars. During war times, many women are unable to find husbands, and they might
prefer to be a co-wife than no wife. Allowing multiple marriages is useful in case a mans wife is sterile and cant give him the chance of being a father;
here he has the right to marry another wife, and leaving the choice to her whether she wants to continue being his wife if he marries another woman
or not. http:park2.itc.tokyo.ac.jptuicsKhotbaKhutbah070119_Polygyny. doc
Wars and conflicts become one reason of doing polygamy. Many women,
widows and orphans have no safe places. In order to be saver, they choose to be the wives of a man who already has had a wife even wives.
3. Polygamy in Afghanistan
Afghanistan is an Islamic country that allows polygamy. However, there is an article in 1355 civil law of Afghanistan that mentions the requirements of
having polygamy. Polygamy in 1355 civil law of Afghanistan article 86 says that polygamy is permitted after the following conditions are fulfilled when there is no
fear of discrimination between the wives, when the person has a good financial to treat the wives that is when he can provide food, clothes, appropriate houses and
medical care, and when there is legal convenience, that is when the first wife is childless or when she suffers from diseases which are hard to be
treatedhttp:www.wclrf.org.afEnglisheng_pagesResearchesPolygamy20In 20Afghanistan.pdf.
By having a special law for polygamy, it means that Afghanistan accepts polygamy. Many men practice polygamy in Afghanistan. It is usual for a man to
have more than one woman. A man would have a pride if he has more than one wife. However, war and conflict become one of the reasons of practicing
24 polygamy. There are so many orphans and women who need helps and also
salvation. Men as the creatures who have strong power are really needed. They are hoped to guide and save women.
D. Theoretical Framework
