Polygamy,it is facilely assumed by non-muslims,is a special privilege of the muslim make and so,that system is below civilized norms.This is a misstatement.

Yusuf Ali in his commentary on the Holy Quran has pointed out with refernce to the original text,in its original context,the prophet first strictly limited the unrestricted number of wives of the "Times of Ignorance"(Ayyamul jahiliya) to a maximum of four,'Provided you could trest them with perfect equality in material things as well as in affection and immaterial things.As this condition is most difficult to fullfil the recommendation was understood to wards the practice of Monogamy.

Islam had to provide for these widows and orphans.It was in order to meet such emergencies that Islam permitted a man to have more than one.There may be other circumstances,too,neccessitating polygamy-far instance physical mability on the part of a married woman to fullfil the duties of marriage of her mability to bear an issue.

According to the Quran,monogamy is the general rule,and polygamy is only a provision for emergencies.This is quite evident from the text to the verse in which the provision has been made.and even this provision is not inconditional.It is conditioned with justice and equality.The verse of polygamy run as follows.

"If ye that ye shall not fairly with the (female) orphan wards under you,(do not marry any of them) but marry other women whom you like,two or three or four;and if ye shall fear that ye shall not act equitably,then marry one only(from free women) or from female captives under your charge.

It is noted that this verse was revealed after the battle of U had when the muslim community was left with many orphans,widows and captives.As Abdullab Yousuf Ali in his translation of the Quran points out.

Their treatment was to be governed by principles of the greatest humanity and equity.The occuasion is past,but the principles remain.Hence the perfomance of polygamy may be restricted or regulated in the light of the spirit of the true tenants of Islam.But the interest of those who may be genuinely in need of having a second wife must not be jeopardized.

The view of Bernard Shaw on this subject is more practical.He says the "one man,one wife" formula which in unnatural situations.We are now witnessing the ugly tentacles of AIDS and unlawful activities like Drugs,Smuggling,Rape,Murder and Theft commited largely by the illegitimate society farmed because of illegal marriage.The life of the law is not logic but practical experience.

In most of the muslim contries polygamy has not been postively fobidden,but considerably restricted.By legislation which has been promulgated providing that a man who already has one wife may not marry another without first obtaining the consent of the family court and that this should be given only if it seemed probable that the conditions would be fullfilled.All marriages should be made compulsorily registered before the marriage registrar appointed for this purpose.