Did anyone read the article in yesterday's Evening Standard about how Abu Izzadeen (Omar Brookes), the ex-Muhajiroun activist who heckled John Reid at his Leyton speech last week, is "looking for a second, third or fourth wife"? It was on page 10 and headlined, "Wanted: three more wives for Reid's Islamist heckler", which, as anyone who's ever used the service in question knows, stretches the truth more than a little.
The funny thing about this story is that it's nearly a week old: it was first posted, in response to a reader alert, to the Harry's Place blog last Thursday; you can see the complete advert there or you can read the original at MuslimIntro.com.
As I said before, I've not got much time for Abu Izzadeen and his group, but the people who make a big thing about this would do this to any Muslim, or indeed anyone who had the slightest notoriety of any sort. The most offensive thing they find is that his marital status reads that he is "looking for a 2nd, 3rd or 4th wife", which they translate as meaning he wants three more. Anyone who's ever used the service knows that the marital status question is a multiple-choice one. If you are looking even for a second wife, it will leave your profile saying that. The same is true of the entry on which Abu Izzadeen selected "there is nothing except Islam".
The website does not promote polygamy; sisters are able to (and often do) clearly state that they are not willing to enter into it. I'm not sure where it's based, but it caters for Muslims around the world (they have a lot of profiles of people in Malaysia and Indonesia) and in many countries polygamy is perfectly legal. Even here, no Muslim has ever been prosecuted for it; what is illegal, it seems, is contracting more than one official marriage.
Rings a bell. Take a look at Islamica's recent take on the creation of a "monster".
http://www.islamicamagazine.com/issue-17/
creating-the-bakri-monster.html
I dont think the site promotes polygamy; but thats what he was there looking for and I just find him to be a comical character
Whatever his political and religious views, what business is his private life to the Evening Standard or Harry's Place?
Typical liberal hypocrisy.
The fact that a man is only allowed one wife in this country is another sign of oppresion against muslims. We need polygamy now!
Its far more civilized for him to be looking for another girlfriend I suppose.
Yusuf, sup?
Its far more civilized for him to be looking for another girlfriend I suppose.
That is not the only alternative. He could just be faithful - being so pious and all, it can't be difficult.
Well, I have to agree with bikhair, it is better than looking for a gf, if he had the money to do it or an understanding, and to Old Pickler that is an option but I do not think monogamy is in the nature of man.
Well it isn't in the nature of woman either, but Christianity, unlike Islam, imposes discipline on both sexes equally.
I think it is in the nature of women. We are wired different no matter what they tell you on campus and every one knows it just as a matter of common sense.
As-Salaamu 'alaikum,
Actually, men are perfectly capable of taking one wife and sticking with her for decades, and if not doing that, then of ending a relationship with one woman and then beginning one with another. I know this from my own family. I get very suspicious of talk about polygamy being closer to man's nature than monogamy, because it's often used to excuse men playing around (as I have heard, on more than one occasion, from Muslim brothers about Prince Charles whom some believe to be a Muslim). Even in Muslim societies, most men had one wife and a few had two. Of course, the temptation exists, but men should be advised that keeping two wives is a big responsibility and that most men aren't really capable of living up to it.
Old Pimple,
You really inspire mysoginy.
"Well it isn't in the nature of woman either, but Christianity, unlike Islam, imposes discipline on both sexes equally."
Christianity doesnt impose any discipline on both sexes eqaully. Have you read any of the gospels as it pertains to the bahavior of women?
I agree with that Yusuf
Hi Bikhair. Maybe you should be a bit more precise. I can't think of anything much in the Gospels that's anti-women's equality; and, for instance, there is a famous passage which suggests that they shouldn't be stoned to death for adultery. Now, when you get on to the writings of St Paul, well that's a different matter ...
i dont believe that there is any thing wrong with abu izzadeen veiw on islam.
Why not let the women decide? What about if some wome prefer to share one alpha male than being the only one for a loser?