By: AHARON LAYISH
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The ban on polygamy seems to have been transmitted to the Druzes by the Isma'iliyya along with some dogmatic-theological inspiration; it subjects the offender to a religious-ethical sanction reinforced by a social one. Lebanese legislation, which has been adopted by the Israeli Druzes, goes further by negating the validity of the polygamous marriage. Israel prohibits polygamy by criminal legislation. There is evidence of polygamy subsisting among the Druzes though on a very small scale. The qadis' approach to polygamy reflects an ongoing, probably unconscious, synthesis of the religious and secular norms. It seems that they wish to use the secular (Lebanese and Israeli) legislation to buttress the religious norm.