A controversial Malaysian ‘polygamy club’ decides to spread its branches to Indonesia and beyond. And it has everyone concerned…
It is an issue that has been the central premise of a hit television series, Big Love, on HBO. It has been a recurring conflict that has brought the personal law and civil law in India at loggerheads. And now, a Malaysian club promoting polygamy has drawn flak for its expansion plans in Indonesia. Being a part of the culture in Islam, it isn’t surprising that a polygamy ‘club’ exists in Muslim dominated Malaysia. Equally unsurprising is the fact that it would want to spread its sphere of operations to Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation. The Ikhwan Polygamy Club was founded in Malaysia in August this year and launched in Indonesia with the opening of a branch in Bandung in October. In Big Love, a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah is shown practicing polygamy. The show’s plot line drew criticism from the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since polygamy is not allowed in Christianity. However, it is a practice that’s accepted in Islam.
There is widespread citing of Prophet Mohammed having more than one wife, including women who were widows. But what is it that makes polygamy such a touchy issue? Evolutionarily speaking, it is sort of hardwired in all living species. Says Neuro-psychiatrist Dr. Sanjay Chugh, “Polygamy is probably intrinsic to all living species. It is a direct correlate of the need to procreate and ensure furtherance of the species.” Pointing out the differences in terms of attitudes to polygamy in various cultures, he suggests that “Being monogamous is the result of social conditioning.” Adds Dr. Chugh, “Wherever the social constraint is not evident or so marked, as it is in certain religions and communities, polygamy still prevails.” That would sure explain the club and Big Love. The club is actually looking at expanding to other parts of Indonesia including Jakarta, but the clerics and women rights organisations alike are not exactly ecstatic. The Indonesian Ullema Council (a board of Muslim priests) termed it a ‘provocative campaign’ given the fact that the country is trying hard to build a modern and secular image. It’s not as if polygamy is outlawed in the country (the Marriage Act in Indonesia does allow it under certain conditions), but it is not exactly celebrated. And the strongest opposition comes from women.
Although the club tries to portray it as “panacea to win the love of God”, the practice promotes abuse, say women’s rights groups. Perhaps the brazenness with which the club openly promotes the practice is the real issue.
There is a tendency to trivialise the whole issue of polygamy in Islam, with men taking multiple wives almost as a pastime. This is a dangerous trend that could spread if organisations like these have their way. And, the founders of the club don’t exactly have the most impeccable antecedents. Many of the club’s 1,000 or so members are former members of a banned Islamic sect, Al-Arqam, outlawed 15 years back by the Malaysian government after the group’s teachings and beliefs were found to be deviating from Islam. Religiously, polygamy may be acceptable in Islam, but it comes with caveats. Trivialising the issue this way could end up making it look like a perverted deviation..
It is an issue that has been the central premise of a hit television series, Big Love, on HBO. It has been a recurring conflict that has brought the personal law and civil law in India at loggerheads. And now, a Malaysian club promoting polygamy has drawn flak for its expansion plans in Indonesia. Being a part of the culture in Islam, it isn’t surprising that a polygamy ‘club’ exists in Muslim dominated Malaysia. Equally unsurprising is the fact that it would want to spread its sphere of operations to Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation. The Ikhwan Polygamy Club was founded in Malaysia in August this year and launched in Indonesia with the opening of a branch in Bandung in October. In Big Love, a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah is shown practicing polygamy. The show’s plot line drew criticism from the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since polygamy is not allowed in Christianity. However, it is a practice that’s accepted in Islam.
There is widespread citing of Prophet Mohammed having more than one wife, including women who were widows. But what is it that makes polygamy such a touchy issue? Evolutionarily speaking, it is sort of hardwired in all living species. Says Neuro-psychiatrist Dr. Sanjay Chugh, “Polygamy is probably intrinsic to all living species. It is a direct correlate of the need to procreate and ensure furtherance of the species.” Pointing out the differences in terms of attitudes to polygamy in various cultures, he suggests that “Being monogamous is the result of social conditioning.” Adds Dr. Chugh, “Wherever the social constraint is not evident or so marked, as it is in certain religions and communities, polygamy still prevails.” That would sure explain the club and Big Love. The club is actually looking at expanding to other parts of Indonesia including Jakarta, but the clerics and women rights organisations alike are not exactly ecstatic. The Indonesian Ullema Council (a board of Muslim priests) termed it a ‘provocative campaign’ given the fact that the country is trying hard to build a modern and secular image. It’s not as if polygamy is outlawed in the country (the Marriage Act in Indonesia does allow it under certain conditions), but it is not exactly celebrated. And the strongest opposition comes from women.
Although the club tries to portray it as “panacea to win the love of God”, the practice promotes abuse, say women’s rights groups. Perhaps the brazenness with which the club openly promotes the practice is the real issue.
There is a tendency to trivialise the whole issue of polygamy in Islam, with men taking multiple wives almost as a pastime. This is a dangerous trend that could spread if organisations like these have their way. And, the founders of the club don’t exactly have the most impeccable antecedents. Many of the club’s 1,000 or so members are former members of a banned Islamic sect, Al-Arqam, outlawed 15 years back by the Malaysian government after the group’s teachings and beliefs were found to be deviating from Islam. Religiously, polygamy may be acceptable in Islam, but it comes with caveats. Trivialising the issue this way could end up making it look like a perverted deviation..
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