The Importance & Purpose of Marriage in Islam (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B)

Significance of Marriage in Muslim Life

What is the Significance of Marriage in Muslim Life?

• Marriage is known as nikah

• It is very important in Islam

• Muslims are advised to marry, as the Qur’an teaches:

•  There are several reasons why marriage is significant to Muslims

  • It is a religious duty which was valued and practiced by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as the Hadith teaches:

• Marriage promotes love and companionship between two people

• It provides the foundation for a family – a couple can have children and raise them within the Islamic faith

• It is a moral safeguard against casual relationships which do not treat sex as special

• It strengthens and brings stability to society by bringing families, friends and others together

Muslim Teachings About Marriage

What are Muslim Teachings About Marriage?

• Muslims believe that Allah created men and women for each other

• Muslims are encouraged to follow the prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) example and marry

• It is seen as equal to half a person’s faith, as the Hadith teaches:

• Muslims see marriage as a life-long commitment

• Muslims accept arranged marriages

• Their parents or other family members will help them to find a suitable partner

  • Some might use Muslim matchmaking services such as Muzmatch to help

  • Although arranged marriages are acceptable, forced marriages are not

  • The Qur’an specifically teaches this, saying ‘You who believe, it is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will’ (Qur’an, Surah 4:19) meaning that all marriages must be the will of the people entering into them

• Muslim women are expected to marry someone within the faith so that any children will be raised as Muslim

• Muslim men can marry women outside the faith, for example, a Christian. This is because any children will be brought up in the father’s faith, so they will still be Muslim
  

• Muslim men can marry up to four women, but only if they are able to treat each wife equally

  • The Qur’an states ‘you may marry whichever [other] women seem good to you, two, three, or four. If you fear you cannot be equitable to them, then marry only one’ (Qur’an, Surah 4:3)

  • Because of this teaching, many men only have one wife, even if they live in a country where the law allows them to have more

• Muslim women can only have one husband

• One of the purposes of life is procreation, which Muslims believe should only happen within a marriage

• Once a couple is married, the Qur’an teaches that they should ‘lower their eyes and guard their private parts’ (Qur’an, Surah 24:30-31)

  • This means that they must remain committed to each other and not look outside the relationship for fulfilment anywhere else

Divergent Muslim & Non-Religious Views on Marriage

What are Divergent Muslim Views on Marriage?

• All Muslims have similar ideas about the importance of marriage, but some may have different views about polygamy

• Although polygamy is allowed by the Qur’an for a man

  • They can take up to four wives if they can treat them all equally, this is not acceptable to all Muslims

• Some would say that it is unfair that the rule only applies to men, and that women can only take one husband

• Polygamy is illegal in the UK, where you can only be married to one person at a time

  • However, polygamous marriages are accepted if they took place elsewhere

What are Non-Religious Views on Marriage?

• While Muslims believe that marriage is a religious duty, non-religious people see it differently

• Marriage is still popular, but the number of marriages occurring is falling each year

• Changing attitudes towards marriage means that many people choose cohabitation instead

  • This is when a couple live together without getting married

• For non-religious people, including atheists and humanists, marriage is still valued because:

  • It is a way of publicly declaring love for one another

  • It confirms the commitment they have already made to each other

  • It can provide comfort and stability for a family

• However, others do not see the purpose of marriage:

  • It is not necessarily permanent and can lead to divorce

  • It is not necessary and cohabitation is enough, as long as the couple have committed themselves fully to each other

  • It requires a wedding ceremony, which may be expensive and which many people cannot afford

Muslim Responses to Divergent & Non-Religious Views

How Would Muslims Respond to Non-Religious Views About Marriage?

• For Muslims, marriage is a religious duty

• Although Muslims would recognise that society is changing, most would still  oppose alternatives to marriage such as cohabitation because:

  • Sex is only permitted within marriage

  • Marriage helps to protect the couple from sin or temptations they might face if not married

  • Performing the nikah means the relationship is to be taken seriously