Polygamy
There is no record of Prophet Jesus (pbuh) opposing polygamy. If he did so, it would have meant that the condemned the practice of the prophets before him. There are a number of examples of polygamous marriages among the prophets.(…)
According to Father Eugene Hillman, “Nowhere in the New Testament is there any explicit commandment that marriage should be monogamous or any explicit commandment forbidding polygamy.” He further stressed the fact that the Church in Rome banned polygamy in order to conform to Graeco-Roman culture which prescribed only one legal wife while tolerating concubinage and prostitution.
Islam limited polygamy to a maximum of four wives at one time and stipulated the maintenance of justice as a basic condition for polygamy. In Chapter an-Nisaa (4):3, God states:
} فَانْكِحُواْ مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ مَثْنَى وَثُلاَثَ وَرُبَاعَ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُواْ فَوَاحِدَةً … {
“Marry of the women that please you two, three or four. But if you fear that you will not be able to deal justly, then [marry only] one …”
Muslims are therefore following Prophet Jesus (pbuh) in not opposing polygamy.
Give me one example in the Bible where God litterally calls polygamy good?
You cannot. But Islam does when it elevates polygamy as an example of the perfect life. Adam and Eve were created for each other exclusively. Only after the fall do we see the appearance of polygamous practices.
The taking of Hagar as a wife for Abraham besides Sarah herself was precisely a sign that Sarah did not trust in God for the promises of a son from her and Abraham. and it created a mess for future generations.
The whole Catholic tradition sees polygamy as a sign of the sinfulness of mankind. Original sin. Also we do not hold the Old Testament people to be perfect like you do(which gets you into sooo deep trouble when you feel you have to depend so many horrible things)
Even when God says: " If a man has two wives" he does not say that this is in any way good for man to act in this way nor does He institute this as an acceptable institution. God worked with man’s sinfullness, yes, but He did not command it, like your prophet did.
The whole of Christianity (and modern Judaism) finds even the polygamy of David and Solomo a sad sign of their fallen state. They had good qualities, these men… like Abraham was very obedient to God in the test at mount Moriah and David was mercifull towards Saul and repented after his sin with another man’s wife. These traits ALONE we hold as examples to be followed. But never the iniquity comitted.
This is a case for Islam alone.
As for your words that there are no direct quotes in the NT indicating that marriage should be monagomous, is simply false. Paul is very clear in his letters that marriage is between one man and one woman and that a man should be willing to die for his wife. He compares Holy Matrimony to Christ and the Church… the bride and the bridegroom. This is a pure, faithful and exclusive relationship.
Furthermore, you yourself should note that you use the OT to justifies sins that are perpetuated by your prophet, however we as Christians see the OT as an imperfect law.
(You ignored my post about this point on another thread), and we see Christ as the ONLY ONE in whom the perfect will of the Father is made manifest.
The OT is a mirror of man’s sinfulness. It’s a story about a line of Covenants that were broken by the chosen people, and where God was working with the human sinner instead of wiping him out completely or perfecting him in a day.
You are therefore right: its sad that polygamy is found in the OT. But its not the final thing!!
However, God has in Christ reconciled us to Himself.
The problem with Islam is that it calls people perfect, who are not perfect but perverted through weaknesses and sins in many ways. This is especially seen in Muhammad. The problem is that you believe he must be perfect so you have to claim his abominable actions were perfect too. This is the tragedy of it all.
Open your eyes man. You have a conscience too!
Peace.
Grace
