In Islam, there is no permission to have a boy or girl friend. Because we are human beings and not animals.
Islam gives full protection to a lady, who has been abused by a man, even before Islam, after Islam and in today's world.
Before Islam, new-born girls were buried alive, even up to the age of puberty. And this was the customs of the "high" pre-Islamic society, about 1400 years ago. Islamic laws stopped this evil practice.
After Islam, up to the a 100 years ago, the Christian church was arguing whether a lady is a human or a animal, or if she is a human, then she would be a sub-human.
Menahoth 43b-44a. A Jewish man is
obligated to say the following prayer every
day: Thank you God for not making me a gentile, a woman or a slave.
When a man goes after a lady, he is willing to do anything in order to please the lady, and after, he uses the lady, and throws her away like a dirty tissue, or a dirty laundry, and this is very common in today's "modern" and "high" society.
The lady is fooled up to the age of 30, and after, the lady goes back to her boy friends, and they have no time to talk with her even. And they are willing to spend all kinds of money to find a companion, but they lose there status because of the down side of there beauty due to there age.
Now what does Islam offer as a respect to women, to allow up to 4 marriages?
In order to give complete shelter and respect to the lady, because the lady is not allowed to be alone, helpless and homeless. Regardless of her age group, this is the way Allah has created the lady to be as a companion to the lady.
A man has a very big responsibility towards a lady, regardless it be his mother, sister, daughter, or wife.
Ladies need a full shelter and support all the time, and should never be in another man's hands who is not a immediate relative, like her father, brother, or husband.
Religion comes for the entire world, and Allah is our creator. And Allah knows the situation of this world, 80% of the population of this world is poor. Regardless it be Canada, United States, or Europe, poor people are everywhere.
Because of poverty, most of the time she ends up in prostitution. Her husband dies, and children are left behind, or the father and mother dies in a accident, or because of war.
Now this lady is young and beautiful, who has no idea how to earn money, every man is after that lady, and to take advantage from her. Regardless what she is going through, Allah is the creator of that lady, who knows the best of the man's attitudes, manners, and habits, who has the intention to fool the lady to fulfill there evil desires. Islamic law, forbids this so this world's system is not mismanaged.
This is why the man can marry up to four wives, who can equally treat each wife.
Because there is no girlfriend, or unreal sister in Islam. Islam is based only on facts. If a man wants to help a lady, except calling her a wife, that man's wife would be very upset, she will become suspicious and upset, because why is there monthly money going to that lady. If that man says that she is his girl friend or I made her my sister, she will reply never mind about sister or girlfriend, stop this business. But if that man says that she is my wife, just like the way you are, so that means one piece of bread is for you and one piece for her.
The responsibilities of the man who has more than one wife. He has to buy, regardless of what age group his wife is, young or old, he has to balanced. To buy a separate house, with the standard, same quality furniture, same quality jewelry, and same standard of living style for each wife.
If the man does discrimination because of age and beauty, instead of earning a reward in the hereafter, he would be in a great punishment.
Most of the ladies who are suffering in the world today, is because people are, thinking about society and are scared of what people would say. And they are getting old, and they are trying there best to survive, and the same man who are very wealthy but they will think they would be laughed at if they marry another wife.
May Allah guide us to have a peaceful life in this one and in the next.