Islam is the only major religion whose sacred texts arguably advocate polygamy. Verse 3 of Sura 4 An-Nisa (women) explains that under certain (and disputed) circumstances, a man can marry up to four wives. According to this text, many Muslim countries allow a man to have up to four wives. However, many also require the man to indicate whether he plans to be monogamous or polygamous under the marriage contract with his first wife, and if she does not allow it, he cannot marry another woman as long as he is married to her. In addition, polyandry, in which a wife has several husbands, is still strictly prohibited. The legal status of polygamy varies widely around the world. Polygamy is legal in 58 of the approximately 200 sovereign states, the vast majority of which are Muslim-majority countries. Polyandry is illegal in virtually all countries and strictly forbidden in Islam. [ref. needed] Several non-Muslim countries (particularly in sub-Saharan Africa) allow polygamy among Muslims in their communities. Some countries that allow polygamy have restrictions, such as requiring the first wife to give consent. A family that practices polygamy but does not seek legal benefits for it does not run the risk of being charged with a criminal or civil offence. A 2019 Pew Research Center report on life forms in 130 countries and territories analyzed the number of people living in polygamous households as well as other household types.
Here are some of the key findings of this report and a separate study of customs and laws around the world. Yes, maybe more pink on the unforced illegal would also be good 1. Afghanistan: The Quran allows men to have up to four wives in Afghanistan. All of a man`s wives are treated equally. As a result, polygamy is recognized and widespread in Afghanistan. However, the rules are rarely followed. Afghans are also allowed to have an unlimited number of spouses or concubines. On 5 May 2011, long-term cohabitation between unmarried people, known as união estável (“stable union”), was extended to same-sex couples, recognized as a family unit and recognized as the set of 112 rights of married couples – the only legal difference with marriage is that it does not change individual marital status from single to married. [ref. needed] The legal status of polygamy varies from country to country, with each country prohibiting, accepting or promoting polygamy. In countries that accept or promote polygamy, polygamy is the most common.
In countries where only monogamous marriage is legally valid, de facto polygamy is generally permitted, as long as adultery is not illegal. In areas like these, where polygamy is prohibited but tolerated, there is no legal recognition for more spouses after the first. Polygamy is a practice in which a person is married to more than one person at a time, most often to a man with several wives. Polygamy is often based on traditional cultural practices or religious beliefs. Usually, it is practiced legally in some Muslim countries and is limited to men of the Islamic faith. Polygamy is legal in Algeria, where a man can take up to four wives. But recent amendments to Algeria`s Family Code have made it difficult to conclude such marriages. Therefore, the occurrence of polygamy was rare.
Currently, however, only 3% of the population practices polygamy. Polygamy is prohibited by civil law in several African countries, but acceptable under customary law, which allows for activities that society has long recognized. Another unusual loophole is that many Muslim countries recognize polygamous marriages as long as the husband, before marrying his first wife, informs her that he intends to add more wives and accepts them. If the first wife does not agree, the husband cannot marry any other woman as long as he is married to her. The Muslim acceptance of polygamy is illustrated by the fact that polygamy is more common in the Middle East and North and Central Africa, the regions of the world with the highest concentrations of Muslims, and illegal in most other regions. In addition, several countries recognize polygamous marriages between Muslims, but not between practitioners of other religions. De facto polygamy is common in countries where only monogamous marriage is legally legitimate. There is no legal recognition for additional spouses after the first one in places like these, where polygamy is prohibited but tolerated.
Nearly a dozen countries that do not allow polygamous civil marriages recognize polygamous marriages at common law. All states in northern Nigeria governed by Islamic Sharia law recognize polygamous marriages. The autonomous regions of Somaliland and Puntland in northern Somalia recognize polygamy, as does the country`s transitional government itself, as the country is subject to Sharia law. Newly independent South Sudan also recognizes polygamy. Under the 1961 law, the Muslim majority is allowed to practice polygamy in Pakistan. Men of the Islamic faith can take a maximum of four wives. However, before entering into a second marriage, he must obtain the legal consent of his first wife. Polyandry is the de facto norm in rural Tibet, although it is illegal under Chinese family law.
Polygamy continues in Bhutan[35] in various forms, as it has done since ancient times. It is also found in parts of Nepal,[142] despite its formal illegality in the country. [143] Many countries that allow polygamy have Muslim majorities, and the practice is rare in many of them. Less than 1% of Muslim men live with more than one spouse in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Egypt – all countries where the practice is legal, at least for Muslims. Polygamy is also legal in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other neighboring countries, but they were not included in the study due to data limitations. Muslim adherents of polygamy often quote Quranic verse 4:3, which commands men to take as many wives as they can provide, up to four, and they also point out that the Prophet Muhammad had several wives. Historians have noted that Islamic guidelines on polygamy were issued in the midst of the wars in Arabia in the seventh century, when there were many widows and orphans in need of financial support, and that polygamy created a system in which they had to be treated. To date, polygamy is more common in places where people, and especially men, tend to die young. 5. Cameroon: For Cameron`s men, polygamy symbolizes wealth and status.
It is mainly used in rural areas. Unlike other countries, men in Cameroon have no limit on the number of spouses they can have. On the other hand, polygamy is declining due to economic and social factors. The legality of the practice of polygamy differs from country to country, with each country prohibiting, permitting or encouraging the practice. Polygamy is more common in countries that recognize or promote polygamy. Polygamy is practiced in Cameron as a symbol of wealth and status for men. It is practiced mainly in rural areas. Unlike other countries, men in Cameroon do not limit the number of women a man can take. However, polygamy is slowly decreasing for economic and social reasons. 4.
United Arab Emirates (UAE): According to UAE legislation, polygamy is legal in the UAE, but only for men of the Islamic faith. A man can only have four wives if he can treat them all equally and take care of them. Polygamy was historically legal due to the devastation caused by war and pandemics. A man was supposed to take care of his brother`s wife when his brother died and to make everything “easier”, they simply got married and moved into the same house. Well, if you`ve ever had one wife, greet two women. And if you`ve had several married brothers who have died, then good luck. However, due to economic and social constraints, this tradition is fading. Polygamy is allowed in many countries around the world. Here are ten of those countries. Religion often plays a role in how polygamy is governed and practiced in a single country.
In Nigeria, for example, polygamous marriage is not allowed at the federal level, but the ban only applies to civil marriages. Twelve Muslim-majority northern states recognize these unions as Islamic or customary marriages. In India, Muslim men are allowed to marry multiple women, men of other groups are not. However, in countries where polygamy is common, it is often practiced by people of all faiths. This is the case in Gambia, Niger, Mali, Chad, and Burkina Faso, where at least one in ten people from each religious group measured live in households where husbands live with more than one spouse. The data on the prevalence of polygamous households was part of a Pew Research Center report on household composition by religion around the world. Not all people who practice polygamy live in polygamous households. Sometimes two or more wives of the same man each have their own home. Details of the categories of household types can be found in the methodology. Details of polygamy laws around the world can be found from the OECD Development Centre and the UN Human Rights Office.
A map uploaded to Reddit by user lursh123 shows the country`s legal status in terms of polygamy – more than a wife or husband. Group marriage is an umbrella term for marriages involving multiple husbands as well as multiple wives. Polyamory is the practice of having multiple romantic relationships, with all parties having complete knowledge and giving full consent. Not related to marriage. Polygeny is the (outdated) theory that the different races of humanity evolved from different ancestral groups. This term has nothing to do with polygamy, but is sometimes confused with “polygyny”, so it is included here for clarity. According to a Politico article, legalizing polygamy is the “most natural next step” in countries where it is currently banned. With the exception of Solomon Islands, polygamous marriages are not recognized in Europe and Oceania.