Muslim Attitudes to Marriage

Muslim Attitudes to Marriage

In Islam, marriage is a partnership. Muslim women accept only Allah as

their master, and do not therefore consider themselves to be inferior

to a husband. It is basic in Muslim society that the man is

responsible for the family's welfare and business outside the home,

but the woman has virtually absolute rights within it so long as her

behaviour does not shame her provider or husband.

No institution works well without a clear leader, and therefore there

should be one in every family. Most Muslim women are quite happy for

this leader to be the man. If the man is not worth respecting, divorce

is a straightforward matter, and the woman may look for a better one.

Sometimes the woman in a household is more intelligent or organized or

practical than the man, so he will quite sensibly leave most matters

to her-but in Islam he is still responsible for her and therefore must

take care of her and try to provide for her as much as he could and

not just take advantage of her advantage of her. The women usually

live with the husband's family but must be treated with the same

respect and not considered an outsider.

Marriage and family life are considered to be very important in Islam.

Traditionally the man's duty is to go out to work to support the

family and the woman's duty is to bring up the children and look after

the household. The father makes the main decisions whilst the mother

is important within the home and must be shown respect by her husband

and children. This is seen as the natural order of things and the way

Allah intended men and women to live. The man was also considered to

be the provider for the family.

Muslims believe that their household is an institution founded by God

and intended to give a secure atmosphere for the growth and progress

of all its members. Anything, which weakens or disrupts it, therefore

it is regarded as a serious matter. The home is considered to be far

more important, sacred, creative and rewarding than any place

'outside'. There is a great importance placed on the family as the

cradle for developing the younger children.

The family is a complex interwoven unit consisting of many people. It

is not just a husband and wife plus their parents and children. It

includes brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts and cousins. In most

Muslim household aunts uncles and other relatives live in or near the

house to each other to keep a close relationship, which also helps to

build a cradle and support for younger children so that they have the

right environment to grow stable. In the atmosphere of a loving,

outgoing unit, it also includes friends and neighbours, and anyone who

falls within the sphere of that love and who needs help.

'Those who show the most perfect faith are those who possess the best

disposition and are kindest to their families.'

'May his nose be rubbed in dust who found his parents approaching old

age and did not enter Paradise by serving him.'

A good marriage and good household teaches the children of Muslim

families the aspects needed to bee a good Muslim and servant to Allah.