The Marital Life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): Monogamy versus Polygamy

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)'s life including his marital life have always become a reference for his followers (ummah). His monogamous life is longer than his polygamous life. However, in many occasions, his monogamy life is less paid attention than the polygamous one. As a result, many people including non-Muslim assume that polygamy is an Islamic teaching. Historically those assumption is not always true. There are many aspects that need to be considered and explored when talking about the issue of polygamy practiced by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). This paper examines the marital life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) relating to the issue of monogamy versus polygamy. This research employs a hermeneutic method and a historical study by giving an explanation of the notion of an experience about the past with critical analysis. Some question includes: What is concept of polygamy as revealed in the Qur’an and Hadith? How is the marital life of the Prophet Muhammad's life both in Makki and Madani era? This study found several themes in the literature about polygamy in Islam. First, polygamy is not only practiced in the Islamic community but also in other cultures. Additionally, early polygamy texts were designed to deal with social problems, to uplift the status of widows, to allow widows to remarry, and to limit the practice of polygamy. Polygamists must be just or ‘adl for all wives, not only physically and economically but also psychologically. In current Islamic culture, polygamy is no longer seen as an effective social justice institution to deal with the problems of women and children. Therefore, if there is no guarantee that polygamy can create a peaceful and just environment, particularly for women and children, and it may even create economic and psychological problems, then the idea of polygamy as a social justice institution should be examined again. During the Makki era the Prophet Muhammad was a monogamist for twenty- five years and during and Madani Era he was a polygamist for eight years. However, although he was polygamist he did not allowed his son in law Ali bi Abi Tholib to marry another woman except Fatimah (his daughter) during Madani era. It means that basically he was reluctant and not happy with his polygamous marriage