QUESTION NO. 10
POLYGAMY AS PER QURAN
This point carries on from the previous one, but the injunction for males to marry up to four women merits a separate point on its own.
- Even if “interpretative acrobatics” would have us believe that men are only allowed to marry multiple women in times of wars and emergencies, it begs the question of why only men have been allowed this right (polygamy). Why aren’t women allowed to have more than one husband at a time (polyandry)? The answer is again the Qur’an’s insistence on a patriarchal, male-dominated society.
- Those who defend polygamy say that the concept of polyandry is simply out of the question, and it is a great surprise to them when they are told that numerous cultures across the globe have practiced polyandry, and continue to do so even today. So, in times of emergencies or otherwise, it is conceivably just as sensible for women to acquire multiple husbands as it is for men to acquire multiple wives. In fact, some societies that are hindered by scarce environmental resources have utilized polyandry as a practical tool: for example, the scarcity of land in the Himalayan mountains influences polyandry in some societies there. The marriage of all brothers in a family to the same wife allows the family land to remain intact and undivided. If every brother married separately and had children, family land would be split into unsustainable small plots.
- One may find polyandry grotesque and incomprehensible, but this is only due to his environmental conditioning: he has been brought up with a male-dominated worldview in which any other marital arrangement is simply inconceivable. But a person brought up with a completely divergent worldview would similarly find the Islamic male-dominated mindset equally revolting and dumbfounding. The point has to be therefore approached objectively and without the influence of subjective environmental associations.
ANSWER NO. 10 BY AURANGZAIB:
There is no allowance of polygamy in the Quran, even in times of wars and emergencies.
A pair, according to the Quran’s Arabic, and as per all the worldwide dictionaries of languages, is always one plus one, i.e., if Quran and all other Scriptures claim equal rights for men and women. And the Quran manifestly does so.
Again here, in this particular context of four marriages, the Verse about adoption of Orphans (minor children, both males and females) has been viciously misconstrued and mistranslated by vested interests, in the past. It is this verse from where the injunction of four marriages by men has been fraudulently derived; whereas the verse never once endorses this negative claim.
The Verse in question from An-Nisaa’ is defined, along with some other related verses, in its real essence, and reads like this :-
وَآتُوا الْيَتَامَىٰ أَمْوَالَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَتَبَدَّلُوا الْخَبِيثَ بِالطَّيِّبِ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلَىٰ أَمْوَالِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حُوبًا كَبِيرًا ﴿٢﴾
“And hand over the possessions of Orphans to them in due manner. And in this respect, do not substitute your pious ways with evil i.e. do not grab and add their possessions to yours. This act is regarded a major crime."
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تُقْسِطُوا فِي الْيَتَامَىٰ فَانكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُم مِّنَ النِّسَاءِ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا فَوَاحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَلَّا تَعُولُوا ﴿٣﴾
“Then, if you fear you are not doing justice in relation with the issue of Orphans, then you are ordered to adopt from this neglected class of society, what is thought befitting your own status, two, three or four of them. Again if you fear you won’t make justice with many, then sponsor a single one, or continue with what you already employ, sponsor or finance under a binding agreement. It saves you from over burdening yourself.”
وآتُوا النِّسَاءَ صَدُقَاتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً ۚ فَإِن طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَن شَيْءٍ مِّنْهُ نَفْسًا فَكُلُوهُ هَنِيئًا مَّرِيئًا ﴿٤﴾
“Always pay this weaker segment of society their rights and dues unconditionally. In case they deem it pleasing for them to give a part of it to you, you may accept it in a pleasing and grateful way."
وَلَا تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهَاءَ أَمْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِي جَعَلَ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ قِيَامًا وَارْزُقُوهُمْ فِيهَا وَاكْسُوهُمْ وَقُولُوا لَهُمْ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا ﴿٥﴾
“Take care not to entrust to those among them who are weak of judgment the wealth which Allah has given in your charge for their support and economic stability. But do give them their sustenance out of it and treat them generally in a dignified way.”
وَابْتَلُوا الْيَتَامَىٰ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغُوا النِّكَاحَ فَإِنْ آنَسْتُم مِّنْهُمْ رُشْدًا فَادْفَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوهَا إِسْرَافًا وَبِدَارًا أَن يَكْبَرُوا ۚ وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فَأَشْهِدُوا عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّـهِ حَسِيبًا ﴿٦﴾
“It is also necessary to give these orphans opportunities of self evolution by exposing them to difficult situations until they reach the stage of taking over. Then if you see in them maturity of thought and righteousness, hand over their possessions to them. Do not misappropriate their money when you find them growing up by showing exaggerated expenses. Those among you who are opulent should keep their greed subdued while those who may be needy, may receive from their wealth only as much as is fair and legitimate. And when you hand over their inheritance to them you appoint witnesses to this act. And remember that Allah has his own system of monitoring which is self-sufficient.”
So you can clearly see that there is not even a simple mention of four marriages in those Verses of the Quran from where it has been misconstrued maliciously. The verses presented in support of those marriages are in fact dealing exclusively with the sponsoring and upbringing of Yataama (minor children), in as many numbers as you have the financial means for. 
Hence, this reformed and rational explanation from Quran also disposes of the other related points you raised in connection with Polygamy and polyandry issues.
Always look for the most up-to-date rational translations of Quranic Verses being attempted presently.