Islam_in_Focus_text

1 . In
some societies women outnumber men; This is es-
pecially true of industrial and commercial regions, and also
of countries that get involved in wars. Now if a Muslim soci-
ety is in this category, and if Islam were to forbid polygamy
and restrict legal marriage to one wife only, what would the
unmarried ones do? Where and how would they find sympa-
thy, understanding, support and protection? The implications
of the problem are not simply physical; they are also moral,
sentimental, social, emotionai and natural. Every normal
woman - whether she is in business or in foreign service or
in the intelligence department - longs for a home. a family of
her own. She needs some one to care for and some one to
care for her. She desires to belong socially and familiarly.
Even if we look at it from a strictly physically and familiar-
ly. Even if we look at it from a strictly physical point of
view, the implications are still very serious, and we cannot
just ignore them; otherwise, psychological complexes, ner-
vous breaks, social disgust and mental instability would de-
velop as legitimate results of leaving the problem unsolved.
Clinical evidence of this is overwhelming.
These natural desires and sentimental aspirations have to
be realized. These needs to belong, and to care, and to be
cared for, have to be satisfied somehow or other. Women in
such a situation do not usually transform their nature or lead
an angelic course of life. They feel that they have every right
to enjoy life and obtain their share. If they cannot have it in a