Polygyny is the form of marriage practiced in Africa, it is the practice of one man having more than one wife at one time while Polygamy is the practice of having more than one wife or husband at one time (just felt the need to state the difference).
In Africa it has been a cultural and/or a traditional practice for a very long time. Although some cultures, due to a level of westernization of religion will only look at it as old relic and outdated practice, it is still highly practiced in some societies and culture. I understand that the rationale given for the practice of polygyny in Africa is provided by two schools of thought - the Social and Economic .Proponents of the Social School explained that at the time polygyny was established as the legal form of marriage, the ratio of women to men in Africa was about 10 to 1. As the result, those who were responsible for establishing social institutions - the elders, including women, decided to come up with a marriage system that would address this problem. Their aim at the time was to provide a balance and equal distribution of social, material, security and economic benefits to both women and men.
Islam allows men to engage in polygyny. They may have two, three, or four wives at the same time and may have one wife and be monogamous. Nonetheless, the number of wives that a man may have in Islam, if he chooses to engage in polygyny, must not exceed four at any given time . Contrary to the believe that Muslims practice polygamy, I am certain no one has ever heard a Muslim woman has had more than one husband at the same time – NEVER in Islam. It is called polyandry and it is unacceptable. The passage in the Qur'an dealing directly with the topic of polygamy is in Surah 4 Verse 3:
And if you fear that you cannot act equitably towards orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two and three and four; but if you fear that you will not do justice (between them), then (marry) only one or what your right hands possess; this is more proper, that you may not deviate from the right course.
it saddens me that most men use religion an tradition as excuses for their infidelity in marriages. According to the modernists, man just cannot take more than one wife simply because he likes some other woman or gets enamored of her beauty . Considering the high prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases around the world , having multiple spouses is linked to the spread of HIV . Also, putting into consideration the economic recession ,managing a polygynous family is really expensive . There is also a Verse that discourages the practice of polygyny in the Quran (Verse 129 in Surah 4) which is a sort of response to the Verse 3 in Surah 4:
You will never be able to do perfect justice between wives even if it is your ardent desire, so do not incline too much to one of them (by giving her more of your time and provision) so as to leave the other hanging (i.e. neither divorced nor married). And if you do justice, and do all that is right and fear Allâh by keeping away from all that is wrong, then Allâh is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful..
Although I hope to get married someday but thinking of marriage as an African woman and also a Muslim scares me . A cheating husband is a lot to contend with let alone having my husband marry other wives because my culture and religion allows it beats me. In view of this I think it is only proper for men to think deeply about their reasons rather than practice it for using religion or tradition as their excuse.
