With regard to the article "Women's dignity" (Nov. 29), I would like to point out that in Islam polygamy is an allowance and not a command. Men who tend toward it often completely disregard the conditions required and twist everything for their own benefit. We even find cases where an 80-year-old man wants a 16-year-old girl for his tenth marriage. Justice is a tough condition if you truly fear Allah. Furthermore, Muslim societies in Pakistan and India are doing fine with predominately monogamous marriages. A. Z., Online response II. More than one wife is permitted under a severe condition: You will treat all of them equally. If you are not able to, you are not allowed to be unjust and you are not allowed to marry more than one. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that the best of Muslims were the three generations following him. Then there would come people who will not deserve trust and will not hold to their promises. Umm Sultan, Online response III. A lack of Islamic knowledge and of a firm conviction in the Almighty are two of the many reasons that Asian women feel that polygamy demeans or lowers women's dignity. Mormon women in the United States accept it as to most Arab women, with the possible of exception of those influenced by the West. Tarique Aziz, Online response
