The Egyptian TV series Al Hag Metwalli’s Family which tackles the controversial issue of polygamy in the Arab world, has provoked arguments in press and public circles, swinging between anger and delight, according to the Egyptian press.
The series, scripted by Mustafa Moharram and directed by Mohammed Al Naqli, has managed to draw millions of viewers who watch it on 18 Arab TV channel during the holy month of Ramadan, according to AFP.
The tale of the rich fabric merchant (played by Noor Al Sherif) with a penchant for taking on ever more wives, has raised a question through most viewers minds: can a Muslim man actually treat each of his up-to-four permissible wives equally?
The story goes as follows: Metwalli begins his life as the bright and loyal right hand man of a rich merchant. The merchant likes and trusts him so much that he practically gives him the keys to the business. Metwalli also dreams of making it big. He wants to marry a rich woman who will take him to the top. And indeed, when his boss passes away at a ripe old age, he ends up marrying his widow and taking over the business.
Within seven episodes the widow had passed away, Metwalli married three other wives, and was sitting atop one of the biggest fabric empires in Egypt.
Metwalli claims he marries for political, economic and social gain to justify his passion for women. He does what he wants, but makes sure to treat each of his wives equally. He tolerates no dissention, and pays plenty to have it stay that way. Each wife is set up in a luxurious apartment, with a car and a driver. He has a schedule in his pocket that helps him remember which wife he is supposed to spend the night with on any particular night.
The series has not ended yet, but the climax seems to be when he asks for the hand of a nice young lady, who happens to be his elder son’s girlfriend.
In general, the situation is all "honey and butter" as they say, said Cairolive.com. Other than a few minor squabbles, the wives seem to get along, and they all melt at Metwalli's charms, feeling he gives them just as much of himself as he does the others.
The viewers have to wait for the end of Ramadan to know if the polygamist would learn a lesson at the end of the day.
His three wives wouldn’t stand helpless, either. Amina (Magda Zaki), Naamatalla (Ghada Abdel Razik) and Madiha (Salwa Al Khattab) start to regularly hold panicked summits to discuss the frightening possibility.
The plot has provoked women’s furious, who consider it as a return to old times, despite the fact that the Quran, scriptwriter told the press, legitimizes polygamy.
Mohammed Salah Eddin, a critic writing for the daily Al Gomhuriyya, praised the series as one which “gives the man his prestige back” – Albawaba.com
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