Polygamy
Polygamy from an Islamic Point of View
Aisha Lemu−Director General of the Islamic Education Trust in Niger State, Nigeria−was born in England and later converted to Islam while attending College (746). Lemu, being a strong supporter of polygamy, uses her opinionated Islamic perspective in order to make clear to the reader circumstances in which polygamy may prove to be useful. In Lemu’s essay “In Defense of Polygamy,” she provides the reader with relatable examples and benefits of polygamy from an Islamic point-of-view in order to strengthen her argument.
One way that Lemu gains the sympathy of the reader is by demonstrating a common hardship that many people face around the world, war. Lemu claims, “[t]he most [prominent] example of [polygamy] occurs during the times of war when there are inevitably large number of widows and girls whose fiancés and husbands have been killed in the fighting; leaving the women and girls alone without any income or care or protection for themselves or their children(746).” This quote communicates that after the war many women and girls are left behind, while the men are out fighting the battle. The unfortunate event of the female and children losing their husbands, or fiancés is tragic; therefore, leaving a large number of widows and unwedded young girl without a support system. Lemu incorporates the difficulty of war and the importance of having support to appeal to the audience emotionally, to assist with amplifying her argument for polygamy.
In addition, Lemu provides a more personal approach. Lemu discusses the possibility of a woman not being able to have children; therefore, making polygamy acceptable in Islam if the husband desires to have children. According to the Western Law, in order for the husband to marry another wife he must divorce the first wife if he chooses or he may keep her and marry a second one to provide him with the children he desires (747). Lemu relates to the audience with this example because
Aisha Lemu−Director General of the Islamic Education Trust in Niger State, Nigeria−was born in England and later converted to Islam while attending College (746). Lemu, being a strong supporter of polygamy, uses her opinionated Islamic perspective in order to make clear to the reader circumstances in which polygamy may prove to be useful. In Lemu’s essay “In Defense of Polygamy,” she provides the reader with relatable examples and benefits of polygamy from an Islamic point-of-view in order to strengthen her argument.
One way that Lemu gains the sympathy of the reader is by demonstrating a common hardship that many people face around the world, war. Lemu claims, “[t]he most [prominent] example of [polygamy] occurs during the times of war when there are inevitably large number of widows and girls whose fiancés and husbands have been killed in the fighting; leaving the women and girls alone without any income or care or protection for themselves or their children(746).” This quote communicates that after the war many women and girls are left behind, while the men are out fighting the battle. The unfortunate event of the female and children losing their husbands, or fiancés is tragic; therefore, leaving a large number of widows and unwedded young girl without a support system. Lemu incorporates the difficulty of war and the importance of having support to appeal to the audience emotionally, to assist with amplifying her argument for polygamy.
In addition, Lemu provides a more personal approach. Lemu discusses the possibility of a woman not being able to have children; therefore, making polygamy acceptable in Islam if the husband desires to have children. According to the Western Law, in order for the husband to marry another wife he must divorce the first wife if he chooses or he may keep her and marry a second one to provide him with the children he desires (747). Lemu relates to the audience with this example because
Cited: list according to the MLA format in LBH - 56b.445