12/06/2019 Reading: Polygamy and Monogamy | The Quran and Law | HDS3221.

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Reading: Polygamy and Monogamy

This reading concerns the practice of polygamy in Muslim societies. Violet and Lewis
Jones begin their discussion with an examination of the justi cation of polygamy in
Islamic law on the basis of certain Quranic verses (in particular 4:3) and Muhammad's
example. They then consider the debates on this practice in early twentieth century
India, with several Muslim reformers asserting that the Quranic revelation, in reality,
enjoins monogamy and not polygamy.

Read pp. 177-193 (Chapter 5: Polygamy) of Jones, V. R. and B. L. Woman in Islam: A

Manual with Special Reference to India

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