POLYGYNY AND EUROCENTRISM

 

©Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

One of the most targeted aspects of Islām for consistent attack by west and non Muslims is polygyny. They consider it a system that deprives women their rights and freedoms. One of the problems I was able to identify in my research on "Human Rights and Hijab Cases in Nigeria" is eurocentrism. This is the problem of viewing other cultures of the world with European or Western lens. It would never work.

There is no way the west will view other people's culture using their own yardsticks without falling into many errors. Their errors are more monumental when they attempt to view any Islamic concept from their own perspective. This is because they lack knowledge of Islām and its principles. If someone attempts to speak about any aspect of Islam without knowledge, he or she will only subject him or herself to intellectual ridicule. The sharī'ah is perfect and comprehensive. Polygyny is one of the perfect solutions to many social problems.

If polygyny constitutes violation of rights of women, does that mean women subsequently married by men are less women than the first wives? Women who are denied by some women from being married by their husbands will never be happy with them. Why is women enemies of women especially when it comes to polygyny? Why is it that most women do not understand the plight of their fellow women who lack husband until they find themselves in their shoes?

At the end of the day, it is very clear that the beneficiaries of polygyny are still women. So, the germaine question now is: whose right is being violated?