MY_CULTURE 🧘💃

polygamy

Polygamy means a marriage with more than one wife at a time.

A husband is allowed to have at most four wedded wives at a specific time. The maximum of the number of wives is four, although he can divorce one and add another one. But a wife is not allowed to have other husbands, only one at time. Although she can be divorced, go into the mourning period and get married again.( I'll talk about the mourning period later in this chapter)

Although polygamy is allowed, there are conditions that must be fulfilled first. And there must be valid reason for a man to remarry, the reason are also specified.

CONDITIONS FOR POLYGAMY;
1) The number of wives must not exceed four at any given time.

2) the husband should be fair to all his wives in relation to life's daily needs such as providing them with the basic needs, shelter, food and clothes. Children from all wives should be treated equally, get the same level of education, and also the same quality, not that some are taken to good learning institutions and others are taken to any institution available. Other than the basic needs, all wives must get the same emotional support and also get equally times spent with each other, should spend same number of nights with each.

3) one should be able to to fulfill the wives conjugal rights before he commits himself to another one, since the main reason for marriage is fulfillment of sexual desires, legally!

4) one should be financially able to provide, sustain and support all his wives and children equally without favouring one and neglecting one.

~~if one can not commit himself to all of the  above conditions, he is not allowed to have another wife!

Reasons for polygamy:

For a man to be allowed to practice polygamy, the reason must be any of these but if not, then he is not allowed!

1)  if the wife is barren and cannot bare children after years of marriage and it has also proven medically that she can't conceive then the husband is allowed to marry again in order to have children and continue his family linage.

2) the population of women is higher than that of men so this is leave other women unmarried. To help reduce the number of unmarried women, a man is allowed to practice polygamy. This safeguards the society from social evils such as adultery or prostitution where one is trying to fulfill their sexual desires.

3) if the wife is terminally ill and is proven medically that she won't get better. If the illness is preventing her from honouring her conjugal obligations, then the husband is allowed to practice polygamy.

4) for the sake of preservation and maintenance of the society.  When a man dies, he leaves behind a widow and orphans. A man is allowed to practice polygamy in order to settle down widows and orphans.

Rights of the husband :
1) should be loved and taken care by the wife.
2) should be obeyed by his wife.
3) should be informed by his wife in case she needs to travel or visit a place.
4) should be consulted in any matters related to the family.
5) should inherit his deceased wife and children if they leave behind property.

Duties of the husband:
1) Should protect his wife from any social, physical or psychological harm.
2) should consult with his wife in kindness in matters relating to the family.
3) must be faithful to his wife and not keep any marital secrets from her.
4) should respect the feelings of his wife and treat her her with love, sympathy and understanding.
5) should fulfill the wife's matrimonial needs.
6) should establish a peaceful and religious atmosphere in the home.
7) should keep the marriage life a secret from others.

DUTIES OF THE WIFE:
1) Should not allow anybody in the house without his permission.
2) is answerable to her husband in ensuring that duties of worship are observed by all family members in the house.
3) should fulfill the conjugal rights of the husband.
4) shouldn't leave the house for visiting friends and relatives without her husband's permission.
5) should keep herself near and clean to guard her husband from external temptations.
6) should take good care of the children
7) shouldn't take advantage of her sexual obligation to manipulate the husband.
8) shouldn't receive gifts or favours from other men without the consent of her husband.
9) should take care of her husband's property in his absence.

RIGHTS OF THE WIFE:
1) has a right to be paid dowry by her husband.
2) should be respected and honoured by her husband.
3) her basic needs should be provided by her husband.
4) should contribute to the moral and religious upbringing of the children.
5) her husband should fulfill her matrimonial needs.
6) her opinion in matters related to the family should be listened to.
7) has a right to inherit her husband or children when they pass on.

DIVORCE.