The Issue of Polygamy in Modern Intellectual Discorse: The Study of Contemporary Readings of Q 4:3 with the Emphasis on Al-Manār, Al-Mīzān and Min Waḥy Al-Qur'ān

One of the most important verses of the Holy Qur'an, which brings gender inequality to mind in the modern era, is Q 4:3. According to this verse, those men who are capable of observing justice among wives are allowed to marry up to four women. Mentioning the legislation of polygamy in Islamic ruling, the early and medieval Muslim exegetes devoted their efforts to some linguistic-literary discussions about the Q 4:3. However, a new generation of Muslim exegetes, paying attention to the emerging questions and doubts in the contemporary period, have disregarded the traditional interpretations and provided justifiable interpretations which are appropriate to the modern socio-cultural conditions. In this research, the authors are going to study the change of attitudes of Muslim exegetes towards the interpretation of the holy verse Q 4:3 by focusing on Al-Manār, Al-Mīzān and Min Waḥy Al-Qur'ān. This study shows that while Abduh, Tabātabāei, and Fadlallāh advocated the legislation of polygamy in Islam, Sheikh Muhammad Abduh who was influenced by the doctrine of Neo-Mo'tazelah, forbade the practice of polygamy in Egypt in order to provide a more appropriate interpretation to the expectation and interest of the audiences in contemporary period.