Haj Metwalli, imam of Zayuna Mosque in Baghdad, lashed out in his sermon on the occasion of Id al-Fitr on Sunday at an Egyptian soap whose protagonist carries his same name.
The fictional Haj Metwalli married four women and sparked a heated debate in the Egyptian as well as the Arab social quarters about the legitimacy as well as logic of this conduct.
The Iraqi Haj Metwalli approved of his fictional prototype's first and second marriages in the episodes but said Metwalli's third and fourth marriages were driven by personal interest solely, a matter that puts the marriage in question, according to Islam.
The imam advised Iraqis to be satisfied with one or two wives, taking into account the poor economic conditions being encountered by Iraq.
Iraqi families split over the pros and cons of Metwalli's character and conduct, according to MENA correspondent. The majority of his advocates were men while the majority of women mumbled and grumbled at the fictional character which has been skilfully played on the screen by veteran Egyptian actor Nur al-Sharif.
A wide debate broke out almost in all Arab states over the bold and daring address of the thorny question of polygamy and recorded the highest TV viewing rates in Iraq during Ramadan. (Albawaba.com)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
