Egypt’s grand imam calls polygamy an ‘injustice’ for women

Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb argues practice comes from ‘lack of understanding of the Quran and the tradition of the prophet’

Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb denounced polygamy on his weekly television programme on state TV (AP)

The grand imam of Egypt’s top Islamic institution, Al-Azhar, has stirred up controversy after saying that polygamy is an “injustice” for women.

Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, Sunni Islam’s highest authority, said “those who say that marriage must be polygamous are all wrong”.

He made the comment on his weekly television programme and on Twitter.

Mr Tayeb said polygamy is restricted in Islam and requires fairness. “If there is not fairness it is forbidden to have more than one wife,” he said.

He added that polygamy came from “a lack of understanding of the Quran and the tradition of the prophet”.

Mr Tayeb’s comments, broadcast on Friday on state TV, sparked a heated debate on social media, with some siding with scholars calling for a ban on the practice.

Al-Azhar sought on Saturday to clarify the comments, saying that Mr Tayeb wasn’t calling for a ban on polygamy.

AP