40 Commmon Mistakes in Salaat (part 1)

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In the name of Allaah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate  

"May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon You"

 

Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

  

Bismillaah Walhamdulillaah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullaahi Wa-Barakaatuhu

 

 

 

40 Commmon Mistakes in Salaat

Saalih Bin Abdulaziz Aal-ish-Sheikh

1. Leaving the salaah altogether. 
This is indeed kufr (disbelief) and the evidence is found within the Qur'aan the authentic sunnah and the consensus of the ummah. 
Allaah taaala states: If they repent and establish the salaah and give the zakaat, they are you brothers in faith (deen). [Al-Qur'aan 9:11] 
And Allaah taaala says: What landed you in As-Saqar (Hell)? They said: We were not of those who made salaah (al-musalleen)…[Al-Qur'aan 76:42-43] and so on. 
As far as the sunnah: The hadeeth of Jaabir that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Between a man and shirk (what protects him from shirk) is the abandonment of salaah. [Muslim] 

It is narrated by Abu Dawood, An-Nisaai, Ibn Maajah, and At-Tirmidhi on the authority of Buraidah Ibn Al-Husaib from the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) who said: The covenant between us and them (i.e. the Prophet – and/or his successors -and those who claim to be Muslims) is the salaah so whosoever abandons it has disbelieved. [ Ahmad and others and it is saheeh] 

2.    Delaying  the  salaah  from  its  appointed  time.  
This  is  a  violation  according  to  the  word  of Allaah taaala: Verily the salaah has been appointed for the believers at specific times (mawqoot). [Al-Qur'aan 4:103] Al-Mawqoot indicates a specific appointed time and the postponement of sallah beyond the obligatory time (fardh) is a major sin and Allaah is the one upon Whom we depend. 

On the authority of Anas who said: I heard the    Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saying: This is the salaat of the hypocrite (munaafiq); when he sits observing the sun until it is between the horns of Shaitaan, then he stands to perform four (rakah) remembering Allaah little. [Muslim] 

If this is the salaah of the hypocrite then what of the salaah of someone who postpones the prayer until the complete period of the salaat has passed without any excuse?

3. Abandonment of the congregational prayer in the masjid by able men either regularly or on occasion. 
The commandment has been given to perform the salaah in congregation in the masjid. Congregational (al-jamaaah) salaah is a duty except for those who have a valid excuse according to the shariah. 

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Whoever hears the call (al-adhaan) and thereafter does not answer it (i.e. attend the congregational salaah) there is no salaah for him except for a valid excuse. [Reported by Ibn Maajah and others with a strong chain (isnaad) and Al-Haafith
Ibn Hajar said "Its chain is according to the conditions of Muslim"]. 

Allaah taaala also says: And bow down with those who bow down. {Al-Qur'aan 2:43] 

4. Lack of tranquility (at-tamaneenah) within the salaat. 

This is generally done out of ignorance and it is an open sin because tranquility is a pillar (rukn) of the salaah without which the salaah is incorrect. 

The hadeeth about the man who performed his salaah badly is a clear evidence for this. The meaning of tamaneenah (tranquility) is that the one praying is tranquil in the rukoo (bending), standing (itidaal), prostration (sujood), and sitting between the two prostrations (juloos), and he should get in position where every bone settles into place, he should not hasten between portions of the prayer until he has attained tranquility in it and gives each its due time. 

The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said to the one who was rushing through his salaah without observing the proper tranquility: Go back and make salaah because you have not made the salaah. 

And in the hadeeth of Rifaaah on the story of the one who prayed badly it goes on: Then he makes takbeer and bows and puts his hands on his knees until each joint is settled and relaxed. Then he says samiallaahu liman hamida (Allaah hears the one who praises Him) then stands up straight until each bone is in its place.

5. Lack of proper reverence and humility (khushoo) in the salaat and excess movement therein. 
The place of khushoo is in the heart and it is evident in the tranquility of the limbs and humility before Allaah. 

Allaah has indeed praised His slave by His statement:Those who offer their salaah with all solemnity and full submissiveness. [Al-Qur'aan 23:2]

As well [He has praised] the prophets by his statement: Verily they used to hasten on to do good deeds and they used to call upon Us with hope and fear, and used to  humble themselves before Us. [Al-Qur'aan 21:90] 

It is incumbent. The limbs of the slave in prayer should be still and his heart should be solemn until he may be rewarded for his salaah. 

It is narrated on the authority of Ammaar Ibn Yaasir (radiallahu anhu) he said: I heard the messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saying: Verily a man leaves after completing his prayer and nothing has been written for him except a tenth of his salaah, a ninth, an eighth, a sixth, a fifth, a fourth, a third, or half of it. [Abu Dawood, An-Nisaai, and others and it is an authentic hadeeth] 

The reason for the shortcoming in its reward is the lack of khushoo in the heart of the one who prays or in the limbs.

to be contd...Inshaallaah...

 

  Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on Internet sites and to publish in full text and subject title in not-for-profit publications.

 

 

--
Aish - The Fairy Princess

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http://cutheartprincessash.blogspot.com/

Killing an animal is a ruthless act. Why then do Muslims consume non-vegetarian food?

Killing an animal is a ruthless act. Why then do Muslims consume non-vegetarian food?  ( Special Article on Eid-ul-Zuha)

EATING NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD

'Vegetarianism' is now a movement the world over. Many even associate it with animal rights. Indeed, a large number of people consider the consumption of meat and other non-vegetarian products to be a violation of animal rights.

Islam enjoins mercy and compassion for all living creatures. At the same time Islam maintains that Allah has created the earth and its wondrous flora and fauna for the benefit of mankind. It is upto mankind to use every resource in this world judiciously, as a niyamat (Divine blessing) and amanat (trust) from Allah.

Let us look at various other aspects of this argument.

1. A Muslim can be a pure vegetarian

A Muslim can be a very good Muslim despite being a pure vegetarian. It is not compulsory for a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food.

2. Qur'an permits Muslims to have non-vegetarian food

The Qur'an, however permits a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food. The following Qur'anic verses are proof of this fact:

"O ye who believe! Fulfil (all) obligations. Lawful unto you (for food) are all four-footed animals with the exceptions named."

[Al-Qur'an 5:1]

"And cattle He has created for you (men): from them Ye derive warmth, and numerous benefits, And of their (meat) ye eat."

[Al-Qur'an 16:5]

"And in cattle (too) ye have an instructive example: From within their bodies We produce (milk) for you to drink; there are, in them, (besides), numerous (other) benefits for you; and of their (meat) ye eat."

[Al-Qur'an 23:21]

3. Meat is nutritious and rich in complete protein

Non-vegetarian food is a good source of excellent protein. It contains biologically complete protein i.e. all the 8 essential amino acid that are not synthesized by the body and should be supplied in the diet. Meat also contains iron, vitamin B1 and niacin.

4. Humans have Omnivorous set of teeth

If you observe the teeth of herbivorous animals like the cow, goat and sheep, you will find something strikingly similar in all of them. All these animals have a set of flat teeth i.e. suited for herbivorous diet. If you observe the set of teeth of the carnivorous animals like the lion, tiger, or leopard, they all have a set of pointed teeth i.e. suited for a carnivorous diet. If you analyze the set of teeth of humans, you find that they have flat teeth as well as pointed teeth. Thus they have teeth suited for both herbivorous as well as carnivorous food i.e. they are omnivorous. One may ask, if Almighty God wanted humans to have only vegetables, why did He provide us also with pointed teeth? It is logical that He expected us to need and to have both vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian food.

5. Human beings can digest both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food

The digestive system of herbivorous animals can digest only vegetables. The digestive system of carnivorous animals can digest only meat. But the digestive system of humans can digest both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. If Almighty God wanted us to have only vegetables then why did He give us a digestive system that can digest both vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian food?

6. Hindu scriptures give permission to have non-vegetarian food

a. There are many Hindus who are strictly vegetarian. They think it is against their religion to consume non-vegetarian food. But the true fact is that the Hindu scriptures permit a person to have meat. The scriptures mention Hindu sages and saints consuming non-vegetarian food.

b. It is mentioned in Manu Smruti, the law book of Hindus, in chapter 5 verse 30

"The eater who eats the flesh of those to be eaten does nothing bad, even if he does it day after day, for God himself created some to be eaten and some to be eater."

c. Again next verse of Manu Smruti, that is, chapter 5 verse 31 says

"Eating meat is right for the sacrifice, this is traditionally known as a rule of the gods."

d. Further in Manu Smruti chapter 5 verse 39 and 40 says

"God himself created sacrificial animals for sacrifice, ...., therefore killing in a sacrifice is not killing."

e. Mahabharata Anushashan Parva chapter 88 narrates the discussion between Dharmaraj Yudhishthira and Pitamah Bhishma about what food one should offer to Pitris (ancestors) during the Shraddha (ceremony of dead) to keep them satisfied. Paragraph reads as follows:

"Yudhishthira said, "O thou of great puissance, tell me what that object is which, if dedicated to the Pitiris (dead ancestors), become inexhaustible! What Havi, again, (if offered) lasts for all time? What, indeed, is that which (if presented) becomes eternal?"

"Bhishma said, "Listen to me, O Yudhishthira, what those Havis are which persons conversant with the rituals of the Shraddha (the ceremony of dead) regard as suitable in view of Shraddha and what the fruits are that attach to each. With sesame seeds and rice and barely and Masha and water and roots and fruits, if given at Shraddhas, the pitris, O king, remain gratified for the period of a month. With fishes offered at Shraddhas, the pitris remain gratified for a period of two months. With the mutton they remain gratified for three months and with the hare for four months, with the flesh of the goat for five months, with the bacon (meat of pig) for six months, and with the flesh of birds for seven. With venison obtained from those deer that are called Prishata, they remaingratified for eight months, and with that obtained from the Ruru for nine months, and with the meat of Gavaya for ten months, With the meat of the bufffalo their gratification lasts for eleven months. With beef presented at the Shraddha, their gratification, it is said , lasts for a full year. Payasa mixed with ghee is as much acceptable to the pitris as beef. With the meat of Vadhrinasa (a large bull) the gratification of pitris lasts for twelve years. The flesh of rhinoceros, offered to the pitris on anniversaries of the lunar days on which they died, becomes inexhaustible. The potherb called Kalaska, the petals of kanchana flower, and meat of (red) goat also, thus offered, prove inexhaustible.

So but natural if you want to keep your ancestors satisfied forever, you should serve them the meat of red goat. 

7. Hinduism was influenced by other religions 

Though Hindu Scriptures permit its followers to have non-vegetarian food, many Hindus adopted the vegetarian system because they were influenced by other religions like Jainism. 

8. Even plants have life

Certain religions have adopted pure vegetarianism as a dietary law because they are totally against the killing of living creatures. If a person can survive without killing any living creature, I would be the first person to adopt such a way of life. In the past people thought plants were lifeless. Today it is a universal fact that even plants have life. Thus their logic of not killing living creatures is not fulfilled even by being a pure vegetarian. 

9. Even plants can feel pain 

They further argue that plants cannot feel pain, therefore killing a plant is a lesser crime as compared to killing an animal. Today science tells us that even plants can feel pain. But the cry of the plant cannot be heard by the human being. This is due to the inability of the human ear to hear sounds that are not in the audible range i.e. 20 Hertz to 20,000 Hertz. Anything below and above this range cannot be heard by a human being. A dog can hear up to 40,000 Hertz. Thus there are silent dog whistles that have a frequency of more than 20,000 Hertz and less than 40,000 Hertz. These whistles are only heard by dogs and not by human beings. The dog recognizes the masters whistle and comes to the master. There was research done by a farmer in U.S.A. who invented an instrument which converted the cry of the plant so that it could be heard by human beings. He was able to realize immediately when the plant itself cried for water. Latest researches show that the plants can even feel happy and sad. It can also cry.  

10. Killing a living creature with two senses less is not a lesser crime  

Once a vegetarian argued his case by saying that plants only have two or three senses while the animals have five senses.

Therefore killing a plant is a lesser crime than killing an animal. Suppose your brother is born deaf and dumb and has two senses less as compared to other human beings. He becomes mature and someone murders him. Would you ask the judge to give the murderer a lesser punishment because your brother has two senses less? In fact you would say that he has killed a masoom, an innocent person, and the judge should give the murderer a greater punishment.

In fact the Qur'an says:

"O ye people! Eat of what is on earth, lawful and good"

[Al-Qur'an 2:168]

11. Over population of cattle  

If every human being was a vegetarian, it would lead to overpopulation of cattle in the world, since their reproduction and multiplication is very swift. Allah (swt) in His Divine Wisdom knows how to maintain the balance of His creation appropriately. No wonder He has permitted us to have the meat of the cattle. 

12. Cost of meat is reasonable since all aren't non-vegetarians  

I do not mind if some people are pure vegetarians. However they should not condemn non-vegetarians as ruthless. In fact if all Indians become non-vegetarians then the present non-vegetarians would be losers since the prices of meat would rise.

Courtesy - 

Mr. Raghib Khan

--
Aish - The Fairy Princess

Visit my Blog - 

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WHITE WOMEN VS INDIAN WOMEN

This is long but v.interesting please read it till the end....

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THIS IS WELL WORTH READING GUYS

White woman's opinion of Indian women & an Indian brother's response.

Please take a moment and read this. Pretty Deep! Thumbs up to this Indian man.

Enjoy.

It seems that an article was written in Sister 2 Sister magazine by A Caucasian woman who requested a response from Indian men. I'm so glad she got what she asked for (and more)!!! She wrote:

Dear Jamie,

I'm sorry but I would like to challenge some of your Indian male readers.

I am a White female who is engaged to a Indian male-good-looking, educated and loving. I just don't understand a lot of Indian female's attitudes about our relationship. My man decided he wanted me because the pickings amongst Indian women were slim to none. As he said they were either too fat, too loud, too mean, too argumentative, too needy, too materialistic or carrying too much excess baggage.

Before I became engaged, whenever I went out I was constantly Approached by Indian men, willing to wine and dine me and give me the world. If Indian women are so up in arms about us being with their men, why don't they look at themselves and make some changes. I am tired of the dirty looks I get and snide remarks when we're out in public. I would like to hear from some Indian men about why we are so appealing and coveted by them.

Bryant Gumbel left his wife of 26 years for one of us. Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, the model Tyson Beckford, Montell Williams, Quincy Jones, James Earl Jones, Harry Belafonte, Sydney Poitier, Kofi Anan, Cuba Gooding Jr., Don Cornelius , Berry Gordy, Billy Blanks, Wesley Snipes... I could go on and on. But, right now, I'm a little angry and that is why I wrote this so hurriedly. Don't be mad with us, White women, Because so many of your men want us. Get your acts together and learn from us and we may lead you to treat your men better. If I'm wrong, Indian men, Let me know.

Thanx-Disgusted White Girl, Somewhere in VA!!!

RESPONSE

Dear Jamie:

I would like to respond to the letter written by A Disgusted White Girl.

Let me start by saying that I am a 28-year old Indian man. I Graduated from one of the most prestigious universities in Atlanta , Georgia With a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management. I have a good job at A major corporation and have recently purchased a house. So, I Consider myself to be among the ranks of successful Indian men.

I will not use my precious time to slander white people. I just want to set the record straight of why Indian men date white women. Back in the day, one of the biggest reasons why Indian men dated white women was because they were considered easy. The Indian girls in my neighborhood were raised in strict homes. They were very strict about when they lost their virginity and who they lost it to. Because of our impatience to wait, brothers would look for someone who would give it up easy without too much hassle. So, they turned to the white girls. Nowadays, in my opinion, a lot of brothers date white women because they are docile and easy to control. A lot of Indian men, because of insecurities, fears, and overall weaknesses, have become intimidated by the strength of our Indian women. We are afraid that our woman will be more successful than us, make more money than us, drive nicer cars and own bigger houses.

Because of this fear, many Indian men look for a more docile woman. Someone We can control.

I have talked to numerous Indian men and they continuously comment on how easy it is to control and walk over their white women. I just want to set the record straight. I want A Disgusted White Girl to know that not all successful Indian men date white women.

Brothers like Ahmad Rashad, Denzel Washington, Michael Jordan, Morris Chestnut, Will Smith, Blair Underwood, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Samuel L. Jackson, and Chris Rock all married strong black/Indian women. And, to flip the script, there are numerous white men, in and out of the spot light, who openly or secretly desire Indian women over white women. Ted Danson, Robert DeNiro, and David Bowie to name a few. I just don't Want a "Disgusted White girl" to be misinformed, Stop thinking that because you are white that you are some type of goddess. Remember, when Indian Egyptian Queens like Hatsepshut and Nitorcris were ruling Dynasties and armies of men in Egypt , you were over in the caves of Europe eating raw meat and beating each other over the head with clubs. Read your history!

It was the Indian woman that taught you how to cook and season your food.
It was the Indian woman that taught you how to raise your children.
It was Indian women who were breast feeding and raising your babies during slavery.
It is the Indian woman that had to endure watching their fathers, husbands, and children beaten, killed, and thrown in jail.

INDIAN women were born with two strikes against them: being Indian and being a woman. And, through all this, Still They Rise! It is because of the Indian women's strength, elegance, power, love and beauty that I could never date anyone except my Indian Queen. It is not just the outer beauty that captivates and draws me to them.

It is not the fact that they come in all shapes, sizes, colors and shades that I love them. Their inner beauty is what I find most appealing about Indian women. Their strong spirit, loving and nurturing souls, their integrity, their ability to overcome great obstacles, their willingness to stand for what they believe in, and their determination to succeed and reach their highest potential while enduring great pain and suffering is why I have fallen in love with Indian women.

I honestly believe that your anger is geared more toward jealousy And envy more so than snotty looks. If this were not so, then why do you continuously go to tanning salons to darken your skin? If you are so proud to be white, then why don't you just be happy with your pale skin? Why do you continue to inject your lips, hips, and breasts with unnatural and dangerous substances so you can look fuller and more voluptuous?

I think that your anger is really a result of you wanting to have What the Indian woman has...

BOTTOM LINE: If I were looking for a docile woman, someone I can Walk over and control, I would give you a call. But, unfortunately, I am looking for a Virtuous Woman. Someone that can be a good wife and mother to my children. Someone who can be my best friend and understands my struggles. I am looking for a soul mate. I am looking for a sister and; unfortunately, you do not and CANNOT fit the bill.

No offense taken, none given.

Signed, Indian Royalty


Wow!! Please pass this on to all the INDIAN QUEENS ....and INDIAN KINGS
Be proud of your women... ..... Appreciate their greatness.......!!!!

"What lies behind us and What lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us"

MEN! LOVE YOUR WOMEN FOR THEY ARE YOUR GEMS..

Start of the Day & Etiquette of going to the bathroom...

www.Quran.com   O mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other not that you may despise each other. Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allaah is he who is the most righteous amongst you. And Allaah has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things.   The Qur'aan 49:13   Etiquette of going to the bathroom You may say that this is a strange topic to be writing about. However, we all visit the bathroom and as we know, it is a place of filth where we relieve ourselves of the filth in our bodies. Have we ever stopped to think what the Islaamic etiquette is to visit the bathroom or has it become an automated everyday action? We must be aware that this beautiful religion has even instructed us on how to clean after relieving ourselves. Just observe the greatness of Islaam that nothing, major or minor, has been left out. At the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him),when one of the polytheists said to Salman Al-Farsi mockingly, "Your Prophet has taught you everything, even how to defecate!" Salman replied with pride, "Yes, indeed! He forbade us to face the Qiblah when urinating or defecating." (Al-Tirmidhi, no. 16) Therefore, we should know that this is not a matter of shame, but something we should be proud of. Below are some points are listed that we should remember when visiting the bathroom. 1. Always enter with the left leg and recite the du'a: "Allahumma innee a'oodhu bika minal-Khubthi wal-Khabaa'ith" (O Allah! I seek refuge in you from male and female noxious beings (devils or evil Jinn)." 2. Don't face the Qiblah or show your back towards it. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "When any one of you sits down to answer the call of nature, he should not face the Qiblah or turn his back towards it." (Sahih Muslim, no. 389) 3. Allaah's name should not be mentioned in the toilet, nor should anything that has the name of Allaah on it be carried inside. 4. The person should do his/her best not to clean the private parts with the right hand. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When any one of you answers the call of nature, he should not hold his private part in his right hand or clean it with his right hand; and (when drinking), he should not breathe into the vessel." (Al-Bukhari, no. 150) 5. The Sunnah is to answer the call of nature sitting, making oneself close to the ground, because this is more concealing and it will be less likely that filth will fall on one's body or clothes. 6. One should not talk while relieving as this has been classified as Makrooh (disliked) by many of scholars. 7. Many people today go into the toilet and start reading a newspaper or a book. It is common to find that people have even resorted to entering the toilet to get away from things and contemplate. This is not the place to do these things. May Allaah protect us from that. 8. When leaving you should go out with your right leg and say, "Ghufraanak" [I ask You (Allaah) for forgiveness]. Again, we should be thankful to Allaah that He has made the religion simple for us. Allaah has taught us how to protect ourselves from evil. Be sure that toilets are from among the evil and dirty places. Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah hav narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "These toilets are visited (by jinn), so when any one of you goes to the toilet, let him say, 'O Allaah, I seek refuge with You from evil and from the male and female devils.'" (Ibn Majah, authenticated by Al-Albani)

Why is a Man allowed to have more than One wife in Islaam?

In the name of Allaah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate   "May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon You"   Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.      Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu     Why is a Man allowed to have more than One wife in Islaam? i.e. why is Polygamy allowed in Islaam?     Answer: 1.  Definition of Polygamy   Polygamy means a system of marriage whereby one person has more than one spouse. Polygamy can be of two types. One is polygyny where a man marries more than one woman, and the other is polyandry, where a woman marries more than one man. In Islaam, limited polygyny is permitted; whereas polyandry is completely prohibited. Now coming to the original question, why is a man allowed to have more than one wife? 2.  The Qur'aan is the only religious scripture in the world that says,"Marry only one".   The Qur'aan is the only religious book, on the face of this earth, that contains the phrase marry only one¢. There is no other religious book that instructs men to have only one wife. In none of the other religious scriptures, whether it be the Vedas, the Ramayan, the Mahabharat, the Geeta, the Talmud or the Bible does one find a restriction on the number of wives. According to these scriptures one can marry as many as one wishes. It was only later, that the Hindu priests and the Christian Church restricted the number of wives to one. Many Hindu religious personalities, according to their scriptures, had multiple wives. King Dashrat, the father of Rama, had more than one wife. Krishna had several wives.   In earlier times, Christian men were permitted as many wives as they wished, since the Bible puts no restriction on the number of wives. It was only a few centuries ago that the Church restricted the number of wives to one. Polygyny is permitted in Judaism. According to Talmudic law, Abraham had three wives, and Solomon had hundreds of wives. The practice of polygyny continued till Rabbi Gershom ben Yehudah (95% C.E to 1030 C.E) issued an edict against it. The Jewish Sephardic communities living in Muslim countries continued the practice till as late as 1950, until an Act of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel extended the ban on marrying more than one wife. 3.  Hindus are more polygynous than Muslims   The report of the ¡Committee of The Status of Woman in Islaam¢, published in 1975 mentioned on page numbers 66 and 67 that the percentage of polygamous marriages between the years 1951 and 1961 was 5.06% among the Hindus and only 4.31% among the Muslims. According to Indian law only Muslim men are permitted to have more than one wife. It is illegal for any non-Muslim in India to have more than one wife. Despite it being illegal, Hindus have more multiple wives as compared to Muslims. Earlier, there was no restriction even on Hindu men with respect to the number of wives allowed. It was only in 1954, when the Hindu Marriage Act was passed that it became illegal for a Hindu to have more than one wife. At present it is the Indian Law that restricts a Hindu man from having more than one wife and not the Hindu scriptures.   Let us now analyse why Islaam allows a man to have more than one wife. 4.  Qur'aan permits limited polygyny   As I mentioned earlier, Qur'aan is the only religious book on the face of the earth that says ¡marry only one¢. The context of this phrase is the following verse from Surah Nisa of the Glorious Qur'aan: "Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one." [Al-Qur'aan 4:3]   Before the Qur'aan was revealed, there was no upper limit for polygyny and many men had scores of wives, some even hundreds. Islaam put an upper limit of four wives. Islaam gives a man permission to marry two, three or four women, only on the condition that he deals justly with them. In the same chapter i.e. Surah Nisa verse 129 says: "Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women...." [Al-Qur'aan 4:129]   Therefore polygyny is not a rule but an exception. Many people are under the misconception that it is compulsory for a Muslim man to have more than one wife. Broadly, Islaam has five categories of Do's and Don'ts: ¡Fard¢ i.e. compulsory or obligatory ¡Mustahab¢ i.e. recommended or encouraged ¡Mubah¢ i.e. permissible or allowed ¡Makruh¢ i.e. not recommended or discouraged ¡Haraam¢ i.e. prohibited or forbidden Polygyny falls in the middle category of things that are permissible. It cannot be said that a Muslim who has two, three or four wives is a better Muslim as compared to a Muslim who has only one wife. 5.  Average life span of females is more than that of males   By nature males and females are born in approximately the same ratio. A female child has more immunity than a male child. A female child can fight the germs and diseases better than the male child. For this reason, during the pediatric age itself there are more deaths among males as compared to the females.   During wars, there are more men killed as compared to women. More men die due to accidents and diseases than women. The average life span of females is more than that of males, and at any given time one finds more widows in the world than widowers. 6. India has more male population than female due to female foeticide and infanticide   India is one of the few countries, along with the other neighbouring countries, in which the female population is less than the male population. The reason lies in the high rate of female infanticide in India, and the fact that more than one million female foetuses are aborted every year in this country, after they are identified as females. If this evil practice is stopped, then India too will have more females as compared to males.  7.  World female population is more than male population   In the USA, women outnumber men by 7.8 million. New York alone has one million more females as compared to the number of males, and of the male population of New York one-third are gays i.e sodomites. The U.S.A as a whole has more than twenty-five million gays. This means that these people do not wish to marry women. Great Britain has four million more females as compared to males. Germany has five million more females as compared to males. Russia has nine million more females than males. God alone knows how many million more females there are in the whole world as compared to males.  8.  Restricting each and every man to have only one wife is not practical   Even if every man got married to one woman, there would still be more than thirty million females in U.S.A who would not be able to get husbands (considering that America has twenty five million gays). There would be more than four million females in Great Britain, 5 million females in Germany and nine million females in Russia alone who would not be able to find a husband. Suppose my sister happens to be one of the unmarried women living in USA, or suppose your sister happens to be one of the unmarried women in USA. The only two options remaining for her are that she either marries a man who already has a wife or becomes public property. There is no other option. All those who are modest will opt for the first.   In Western society, it is common for a man to have mistresses and/or multiple extra-marital affairs, in which case, the woman leads a disgraceful, unprotected life. The same society, however, cannot accept a man having more than one wife, in which women retain their honourable, dignified position in society and lead a protected life.   Thus the only two options before a woman who cannot find a husband is to marry a married man or to become public property. Islaam prefers giving women the honourable position by permitting the first option and disallowing the second.   There are several other reasons, why Islaam has permitted limited polygyny, but it is mainly to protect the modesty of women. source-Dr.zakir naik/irf.net