‘It was for unusual circumstances, which aren’t relevant today’: how Australian Muslim women interpret polygyny and its application in contemporary Australia

The permissibility of polygyny in Islam is a contentious topic both within and outside of Muslim communities. Various scholars and jurists have engaged with the Qur’ānic verses pertaining to polygyny to determine the permissibility of the practice and the conditions under which it can be ethically practiced. Feminist Islamic scholarship has predominantly focused on polygyny in relation to women’s rights and wellbeing in light of contemporary gender norms. What is less known is how Muslim women personally view the practice and its applicability in their own lives. This study explores this topic. A total of 49 Australian Muslim women who believe in gender equality were interviewed to discuss their views on and understanding of polygyny and the associated Qur’ānic verses. The data was thematically analyzed to draw out common interpretations. Results showed that participants believed that polygyny is best understood in the socio-historical context of the revelation of Qur’ān 4:2–3; that polygyny has conditions attached; and that polygyny can be a solution in specific and limited circumstances, such as infertility or illness. However, polygyny was not something that participants were open to adopting in their own lives, and the vast majority of participants believed that polygyny should not be practiced in contemporary Australia due to the lack of contextual relevance. In addition to outlining common interpretations of polygyny, this study highlights Australian Muslim women’s agency in directly engaging with and performing exegesis on their religious texts to determine applicability within their own lives.