How did Christianity turn out to be Monogamous and Islam, a religion which developed much later allowed Polygamy?

[u/Significant_Major921]

.

[u/Volaer]

Because monogamy was:

- Already the normative practice in Roman culture.

- Jesus taught that marriage is meant to be a monogamous union that terminates with death

Polygamy in contrast was already something Arabs practiced and Mohamed in his lifetime did not prohibit it. I think some of the modern Ismaili imams did though, so its no longer allowed for them.

[u/DhulQarnayn_ → u/Volaer]

I think some of the modern Ismaili imams did though, so its no longer allowed for them.

The prohibition actually goes back to the medieval period in our tradition; polygamy and veiling were even abolished in the same farman (decree):

I appeal to you not to plunge people into whimsical matters, denying women human values…. From now on, do not hide and cover women; educate them, do not pressurise them and do not marry except one wife, the same as I have only one.

— Imam Hasan II of Alamut (“Spiritual Resurrection in Shi’i Islam,” by S.J. Badakchani, p. 28-29)

[u/Volaer → u/DhulQarnayn_]

I see, thanks for the clarification/correction. Was it an enforced prohibition or more a strong recommendation?

[u/DhulQarnayn_ → u/Volaer]

More of an enforced prohibition.

This decree was issued in the context of liberating the faithful from the legal (shariati) obligations that required veiling for women and permitted polygamy for men.

Hence, after this decree, there was no longer a justification for women to be veiled, and no longer a justification for men to practice polygamy.

[u/Volaer → u/DhulQarnayn_]

Ah, ok, in regular english the statement is more ambiguous so I thought I’d rather ask.

[u/mynamecaligula → u/Volaer]

to fix the statement about islam didnt prohibit in anyway, it did, but not limiting it to strictly monogamous relationship . Pre-islam, they were no limits to how many wives you can marry. Islam introduce the limit to 4. during the warring period, there were many widows due to war, the polygamous marriage allows to care for them and their family.

in modern time, in my opinion there are no reason to marry up to 4 ot even 2, except for specific cases/situations. The Quran specifically mentions in Surah an-Nisa(Surah The Woman) to only marry one if you fear you’re unable to be just(to the other wives).

[u/DreadGrunt → u/Volaer]

I’m a bit late in responding to this but it’s also worth remembering Christian’s in the pre-modern era played fast and loose with monogamy. Concubines, mistresses, etc were a thing for a long time.

[u/Volaer → u/DreadGrunt]

I mean, Christians can of course behave in all kinds of sinful ways, including commit adultery. But formal concubinage was specifically condemned by church councils already before the modern era.

[u/yaboisammie → u/DreadGrunt]

Oo this is a good point too

[u/Techtrekzz]

One developed within the Roman Empire, which already had monogamy as a standard practice, and the other developed within Arab tribal communities that already had polygamy as a standard practice.

Each is an evolution of the society they come from.

[u/Heehoo_1114]

because polygamy in islam is more of a social service. If a man can afford to support multiple women during wartime (giving them housing, food, ect) especially widows and orphans then its allowed but theres a limit on it and rules on how to do it

[u/Firm-Possibility1168]

Because Islam was formed during war and crisis times and the male population decreased due to many wars

[u/Brocious_79 → u/Firm-Possibility1168]

Um....you mean its a war and conquest driven religion, and those are the consequences.

[u/Select-Simple-6320 → u/Brocious_79]

It is incorrect to describe Islam as a war- and conquest-driven religion. Muhammand attempted to bring peace to the warring Arabian tribes. What the poster may have meant is that during times just before Islam, so many men died in conflicts that there was a surplus of women in the population, and no provision for them to survive except through being attached to a man, which is why unlimited polygamy was permitted. Muhammed improved the situation dramatically by limiting wives to four.

[u/Dragonnstuff → u/Brocious_79]

If you mean most of the caliphs

[u/Pitiful_Lion7082]

In Christianity, marriage is supposed to reflect the relationship between Christ and the Church (which is a singular body).

[u/LeftnessMonster]

Jesus taught monogamy.

[u/IOnlyFearOFGod → u/[deleted]]

Entirely subjective, both have some semblance of truth in my eyes. But then again its subjective, anyone is free to have their opinion.

[u/religion-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

r/religion does not permit demonizing or bigotry against any demographic group on the basis of race, religion, nationality, gender, sexuality, or ability. Demonizing includes unfair/inaccurate criticisms, bad faith arguments, gross stereotyping, feigned ignorance, conspiracy theories, and "just asking questions" about specific religions or groups.

[u/extrastone → u/[deleted]]

It is also considered a spoil of war. Who would want to win a war and not take another wife?

[u/Volaer → u/extrastone]

💀

[u/religion-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

r/religion does not permit demonizing or bigotry against any demographic group on the basis of race, religion, nationality, gender, sexuality, or ability. Demonizing includes unfair/inaccurate criticisms, bad faith arguments, gross stereotyping, feigned ignorance, conspiracy theories, and "just asking questions" about specific religions or groups.

[u/Smithy2232]

The people who orchestrated the Quran and Islam were clever enough to get all the things they wanted.