Meer Hassan Ali, B.: Observations on the Mussulmauns of India: descriptive of their manners, customs, habits, and religious opinions ; made during a twelve years residence in their immediate Society (Band 1) (London, 1832)

33G PLURALITY Or WIVES.

LETTER XIII.

Plurality of wives.—Mahumud's motive for permitting this
privilege.—State of society at the commencement of the
Prophet's mission.—His injunctions respecting marriage.
—Parents invariably determine on the selection of a hus-
band.—First marriages attended by a public ceremony.
—The first wife takes precedence of all others.—
Generosity of disposition evinced by the Mussulmaun
ladies.—Divorces obtained under certain restrictions.—
Period of solemnizing marriage.—Method adopted in
choosing a husband or wife.—Overtures and contracts of
marriage, how regulated.—Mugganee, the first con-
tract.—Dress of the bride elect on this occasion.—The
ceremonies described as witnessed.—Remarks on the
bride.—Present from the bridegroom on Buckrah Eade.

The Mussulmauns have permission from
their Lawgiver to be pluralists in wives, as well
as the Israelites of old. Mahumud's motive
for restricting the number of wives each man
might lawfully marry, was, say his biographers,
for the purpose of reforming the then existing