Grand imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar calls polygamy 'injustice to women'

The grand imam of Egypt’s famed Al-Azhar institution, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, has described polygamy as an “injustice” for women.

“Polygamy is often an injustice to women and children,” said the influential cleric, in quotes published on Twitter late Friday by Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam’s most prestigious seat of learning.

The practice is the result of “a lack of understanding of the Quran and the tradition of the Prophet,” he added.

Tayeb also addressed the issue in a weekly Friday television show, telling viewers: “Those who say that marriage must be polygamous are all wrong.”

He added the Quran says that in order for a Muslim man to have multiple wives, he “must obey conditions of fairness – and if there is not fairness it is forbidden to have multiple wives.”

Source: New Straits Times