THE NATURE AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE INSTITUTION OF POLYGAMY IN ISLAMIC

Polygamy means the plurality of mates, 1.e. on¢:man marrying more than one wife. More specifically, ifa man has more than one wifeat the same time, he is said to be polygamous. On the other hand, if a woman has more than one husband, it is called polyandry. Although social scientists apply the term “polygamy” both to the practice in which a woman is married to more than one husband precisely called “polyandry” and to the more frequent practice in which a man is married to more than one wife, which they also referred to as “polygamy”. The latter view of what constitutes polygamy is essentially Subscribed for. Early human societies realized the danger inherent in the practice of polyandry, and it was therefore rarely practiced. The danger lies not only in the severe competition that would arise between jealous husbands but mainly in the confusion over determining the paternity of children. That confusion does not arise in the practice of polygamy. It also seems that the interruption of the female sexual capacity, the monthly and postnatal menstrual periods and the lack of such interruption in males had something to do with the greater frequency of polygamy.