As stated above, marriage is a contract entered into by voluntary
agreement of the partners. It is a solemn contract. It can still be
annulled, but for good reasons when there is no way out and all
attempts to save it have failed. Even when such a situation arises, the
husband and wife should try to save the contract by an agreeable
compromise. When this attempt has also failed, the society should
intervene to bring about a reconciliation. They – the husband and the
wife – should each choose a representative, and the representatives
should try to settle the dispute in an amicable way (4:35). If their
efforts too are fruitless, the marriage may be formally dissolved.
As we have already seen, the purpose of marriage is to create and
live in an atmosphere of love, harmony and companionship to fulfil
the higher purpose of life. The idea of a man having more than one
wife at a time does not fit into the purposeful scheme of such a
partnership. Monogamy – one man with one woman – is, therefore,
the normal rule according to the Qur'an, There might, however,
arise an occasion in which a relaxation of this rule becomes a
necessity in the over-all interest of the society. For instance,
prolonged war may reduce considerably the number of young men
in the society thereby leaving a large number of widowed women,
generally with children, and unmarried girls unprovided for. These
women and girls must be protected and looked after in the
fulfilment of their human needs without hurting or undermining
their dignity and honour. Establishing orphanages, or "old age
homes", or even making these destitutes otherwise economically
independent, is no remedy. Obviously, the problem is not economic
only: it is much wider and deeper. It would be for the society to
handle this delicate situation protecting the individual dignity of
those affected, as well as the moral fabric of the society. For this, the
Qur'an has suggested a feasible alternative by relaxing the rule of
monogamy:
And if you fear that it will not be possible to find an equitable solution
of the problem of widows and orphans in the society otherwise, then
marry from amongst them those who seem suitable, by twos, threes or
fours (as the situation demands), but if you fear that you will not do
justice, then marry only one (4:3).
This is the only verse in the Qur'an that bears on the question of
polygamy. It will be observed from the concluding portion thereof
Woman 298