Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-17
MARRIAGE IN TURKEY
PoIygamy the Exception In
stead of the Rule.
PRACTICED By THE RICH
Number of Wives Allowed Under
the Law Is Four.
WEDDINGS ARE VERY COSTLY
Concubinage Is Pretty General
Throughout Ottoman Empire, Be-
ing Permitted by Koran.
ARE VERY COSTLY
Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.

Foreign Correspondence Of The Star
CONSTANTINOPLE July ), 1911.
There exists In Europe and America
mistaken notion that almost every mar
ried Turk has several wives. that he Is
at liberty to marry many times as he
likes. and that it is for him just as easy
to divorce a wife as to change an over
coat. Now polygamy in Turkey is the
exception. and not the rule. the majority
of the Osmanlis having only one wife. In
the metropolis itself polygamy does not
amount to 3 per cent. 1t Is very rarely
met with in other big centers Of the
Ottoman empire, save among the richest
and most powerful functionaries, and even
then plurality of wives is an exception.
The legal number of wives is four. Only
the padishah and khalif is allowed to
have more, being a person beyond and
above limitations and restrictions of that
kind. The Prophet Mohammed had seven
wives, and Ali, the fourth in the success
sion Of the khalifate, had nine
One Of the chief causes Of the plurality
of wives being SO rare among the Turks
Is that. while the prophet and the Koran
permit the faithful worshipers of Islam
to marry four times, they also provide
strict injunctions of a religious and eth
ical nature: which every Mussulman has
to adhere to, II he does not want to be
communicated from the fold Of ortho-
doX lSlamism. Thus. a Turk who is de-
sirous of ntracting a second marriage
is bound by an explicit law to provide
for his new 1ife-CompaniOn a separate
dWeiling-place. in every respect similar to
that of his first wife, well as an equal
number Of slaves. servants and eunuchs
This is done not only for the sake of the
principle of equity so highly pronounced
in Mohammedan matrimonial relation
ships, but chiefly, in order not to excite
jealousy and rivalry. The same principle
must be observed in the third and fourth
marriage.
Another welghty reason for Turkish
monogamy is the practice of concubnage,
which is permitted by the sacred writings
or the Koran. In most Mohammedan
countries female slaves are used as con-
cubines. In Turkey they even enjoy
certain status. Sometimes contract is
made between the effendi and his female
save by which she acquires certain
rights and privileges. and, not rarely,
legal claims upon part of his property.
Wedding Ceremony Intricate
Another reason for the rarity of polyg-
amous practice among Moslems is the
very intricate character of the wedding
ceremony. The purely religious part of
it is always small. inasmuch as Turkish
couple can be considered married If they
express their desire to be so in the pres
ence of one witness and an imam
tpriest). But the difficult and costly con-
ditions preceding this simple religious act
have at all times been an obstacle not
only to polygamy, but to marriage gen.
orally.
To begin WITH Turk DESTROYS Of mar
rying has to hand over to his brides par
ents a sum of between $50 and $500. or
even much more according to the means
and social position of the couple, in order
to furnish the nuptial chamber. Besides.
the prospective wife demands a large
number of presents very often extremely
costly, and frequently beyond the means
of the bridegroom. These presents con-
sist,' as rule of bracelets, earrings,
brooches. rings. gems, etc. and are sine
qua non of Turkish wedding. If they
are inferior to the extravagant anticipa
tons and pretensions of the bride or her
parents, they are Immediately sent back.
This is often given and taken as hint
that the engagement is declared off.
The expense connected with the mar
riage ceremony and with the frequent
receptions following, are betrayed by the
fiancee They. require large sum OF
money, as they are always costly as well
as SNOWY. All the orientals, as a matter
of fact. are extraordinarily fond Of the
glitter and glimmer of the east. and love
to make gaudy. ostentatious exhibitions
at marriage ceremonies and on other fes-
tive occasions. However poor a Turk
may be. he will try to make his wedding
day as memorable and as snowy anevent
as he possibly can. He will pawn all he
possesses, he will beg. he will sell all his
belongings, he will steal in order not to
be subject to the opprobrium or having
had a plain, dull wedding day.