Polygamy+in+the+Arab+World

=Polygamy in Arab Cultures= toc

Arab World
Arab is a term to describe an ethnicity, linked by first language or by the location of one's ancestors. The modern Arab World is vast, stretching from the Arab Peninsula, through North Africa, to Mauritania on the West coast of Africa. Arabic culture and ethnicity spread through the Islamic Caliphates. In order to spread the monotheist religion of Islam to areas that practiced polytheism, the Arabic empire expanded away from the Arabian Peninsula, the birthplace of Islam. The empire lasted from the death of the Prophet Muhammed in 632 CE, to the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1918 CE.

Due to this history of Muslim Arab empire, the current Arab World encompasses many different histories and understandings of Islam, and includes many different cultures. Regardless, the laws of these countries are based in Arabic religion and values, and the current laws and practices closely resemble each other.



Arabic Values
Arabic values are based on the religion of Islam and Sharia. Sharia is biblical law based on the Qu'ran, Sunnah, and hadiths. The Qu'ran is the literal word of God (Allah, the same god of Judaism and Christianity). The Sunnah is the traditional way of life for Muslims. Hadiths are the teachings and quotations attributed to the Prophet Muhammed.

The Arabic culture is considered a collectivist culture since the extended family is the most important unit of survival. Arabs trust other family members, and tend to hire from within family or work with other family members. This is the practice called //wasta//, using one's connections to get to desired ends (Sidani & Thornberry, 2013).

The most important member of the family is the first born son. The first born son will be the one to take over protection of the family as well as the family business once the family patriarch dies. When the first son is born, the father and mother take on a new name: for example, "Umm Amir", Mother of Amir or, "Abu Amir", Father of Amir. (Brooks, 1995, p. 67)

Arabic Sexual Worldview
In the Arabic sexual worldview, the sexual drive is natural, but it is strong and must be reigned in by rules and law (Kotb, 2004). The woman is seen as the sexual aggressor, arousing the sexual instinct in men (Kotb, 2004). Therefore, to have an orderly society, women and men must be separated.

Marriage
Marriage is a contract between the groom and the bride's family (Rehman, 2007). The match is arranged by the bride's family and should be beneficial to both families (Brooks, 1995). The marriage contract can contain many points of negotiation, such as wether the wife can go to school, if the wife can initiate divorce, if the husband can have multiple wives, and many more (Rehman, 2007). The marriage contract also includes the amount of the bride price, and what form the bride price will take (Rehman, 2007). The traditional bride price is in 22k or 24k gold which is owned by the bride (Brooks, 1995). It is her insurance in case of divorce.

Marriage is the symbolic start of adulthood for both men and women (Brooks, 1995). In marriage the wife leaves her family, and joins the husband's family (Brooks, 1995). The wedding is paid for by the husband's family. The groom buys the home and home furnishings, and is not considered ready for marriage if he cannot buy these things (Brooks, 1995).

In marriage the responsibilities are separated by gender. The husband is the head of the household, provides the financial support, and makes all the decisions. The wife takes care of the cooking, cleaning, and other household chores. The responsibility of childrearing, moral and religious education is for both husband and wife. However, in case of divorce, the wife only has custody until the child is seven years of age, then the child is automatically in the custody of the husband (Muslim Women's League, 1995).

The husband and wife are mutually responsible for the sexual satisfaction of each other (Muslim Women's League, 1995). Sex is a marital duty for both husband and wife, and the inability to perform sexual duties grounds for divorce (Muslim Women's League, 1995).

Multiple Marriages
These Quranic verses legislate polygamous marriage in Islamic countries:

// "If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then (marry) only one…" (Quran 4:3) //

//"You cannot be equitable in a polygamous relationship, no matter how hard you try." (4:129)// (as quoted by Kotb, 2007)

Men are allowed up to four wives. Men are responsible for providing each wife her own room or house. He is also responsible for providing equally for each wife and household. This includes any gifts and travel; if the husband buys a gift for one wife, he must give an equal gift to all of his wives. The husband is responsible for each wife's sexual needs.

Women are allowed one husband.

Men are expected to get the permission of the first wife. In some countries, the permission of the first wife is required (Rehman, 2007).

Women in a multiple marriage are not expected to like each other or work together (this is in contrast with some formations of polyamory in the U.S.). However, the separate living quarters in the house for women are sometimes portrayed as places for women to bond, talk about family issues, and exchange knowledge and wisdom (Brooks, 1995).