Islam and Polygamy
Assalam alykom wa rahmat Allah wa Barakato. I have been extremely troubled by the issue of polygamy in Islam. I am a new Muslim and originally from the West. I am so dedicated to the idea that God created one mate for each person, just as Adam had his Eve. If not, then does true love not exist or loyalty and love to one person? How is it possible to love two (or more) people at the same time? I have read countless explanations of how the nature of man differs with the woman, whose loyalty can only be to one, or men sometimes need to satisfy sexual needs that the first wife can't always provide. These answers/explanations seem faulty to me for the husbands are just being led by materialistic desires. It is understandable that in some ages, it was necessary to have polygamy because of certain situations (Muhammad's (Pbuh) time in which the wars left many widows and orphans in desperate need). But those times are not current any longer, why is polygamy so permissable? I am trying to come to terms with the whole issue, I have believed Islam to be the True Path, but I am being tortured by this clashing subject-- it leads me to doubt because it seems to be so unanswerable. I know that if my husband wanted to take a second wife I would not be able to bear it-- I love only him and I would have to divorce him if he truly wanted to marry again. I can only love one person and have that person remain true to me. Does Islam support the idea of a one (true) love?
