In Islamic law (sharia), marriage (zawaj زواج) is a legal bond and social contract between a man and a woman.

[edit] Types of marriage

[edit] Nikah

Nikah (Arabic: نكاح, literally: contract^[1]) is the first, and most common, form of marriage for Muslims. It is described in the Qur'an in 4:4.^[2]

A Muslim bride signing the nikkah nama or marriage certificate.

Regulations:

• It is aimed to be permanent, but can be terminated by husband engaging in the divorce process or the wife seeking a divorce.
• The couple inherit from each other.
• A legal contract is signed when entering the marriage.

If a divorce date is determined in the Nikah contract:

• In Sunni jurisprudence, the contract is voided.
• In Shia jurisprudence, the contract is transformed into a nikah mut'ah.

Requirement of witnesses:

• Sunni: two
• Shia: none^[3]

[edit] Nikah mut‘ah

Nikah mut‘ah (Arabic: نكاح متعة,, temporary marriage^[4]), often referred as fixed-time marriage Many of these marriages have a time limit, and is the second form of marriage, although it is not stated in the Qur'an. There is controversy on the Islamic legality of this type of marriage, since Sunnis believe it was abrogated by Muhammad. Nikah mut‘ah sometimes has a preset time period to the marriage. Traditionally the couple do not inherit from each other. The man usually is not responsible for the economic welfare of the woman and she usually may leave her home at her own discretion. For these reasons Sunnis rarely compare this type of marriage to adultery or prostitution. Nikah mut‘ah also does not count toward a maximum of wives (four according to the Qur'an). However, similar to normal marriages that are common among Sunnis and Shi'ias, the woman still is given her mahr,and the woman must still observe the iddah, a period of four months at the end of the marriage where she is not permitted to marry in the case she may have become pregnant before the divorce took place. This maintains the proper lineage of children.

The Shi'ia sect allows this type of marriage; however, the Sunni sect Strongly prohibits it.

[edit] Nikah misyar

[edit] Restrictions on marriage

[edit] Polygyny

Polygyny in Islam is permitted under restricted conditions. Polyandry, on the other hand, is strictly prohibited.

[edit] Permissible age

The Kitab al Nikah permits marriage by reaching maturity sexually and mentally.

[edit] Other religions

Traditionally, Muslim jurists hold that Muslim women may only enter into marriage with Muslim men. The Qur'an explicitly allows Muslim men to marry chaste women of the People of the Book, a term which includes Jews and Christians.^[5][6]

Some jurists say that Muslim men are prohibited from marrying a woman of the People of the Book if they live in non-Muslim countries.^[6]

[edit] Restricted relations

Marriage is forbidden between very close blood relations and between those individuals who were both breastfed by the same woman (see wet nurse). See also mahram for a fuller discussion of unmarriageable kin; Muslims are free to marry anyone not in these prohibited classes.

Abu Hurairah narrated:

The Prophet forbade that a woman should be married to a man along with her paternal aunt or with her maternal aunt (at the same time). Az-Zuhri (the sub-narrator) said: There is a similar order for the paternal aunt of the father of one's wife, for 'Ursa told me that 'Aisha said, "What is unlawful because of blood relations, is also unlawful because of the corresponding foster suckling relations."

—Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62, Number 46

`Abd Allah ibn `Abbas narrated:

It was said to the Prophet, "Won't you marry the daughter of Hamza?" He said, "She is my foster niece (brother's daughter)."

—Volume 7, Book 62, Number 37

[edit] Arranged marriages

An engagement may be arranged between families for their children, but Islamic requirements for a legal marriage include the requirement that both parties are able to give informed legal consent (ijab-o-qubul). A marriage without this consent or performed under coercion is considered void and may be annulled on those grounds.

It is Islamic tradition that a wedding not commence until both parties are fit for sexual relations.^[7]

[edit] Adulterers

Islam does not give adulterous men the right to marry a chaste woman and nor may an adulterous woman marry a chaste man, except if the matter has not gone to court and the two purify themselves of this sin by sincere repentance.^[8][9]

Women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity

—Qur'an 24:26

[edit] Other

A woman or man may propose marriage directly or through an intermediary (matchmaker).

Recognition or celebration of same sex marriage is completely unjustified in the view of Islamic law. Islam forbids homosexuality in Qur'anic injunctions and Islamic tradition.

A marriage is registered by the Qadi who performs the short ceremony.

Unlike the wedding ring in Western societies, there is no visible sign worn to show a woman or a man is married. However, some Muslims have found the wedding ring to be a non-religious tradition and have used a ring.

[edit] Mahr

Mahr is a mandatory gift given by the groom to the bride. Unlike a bride price, however, it is given directly to the bride and not to her father. Although the gift is often money, it can be anything agreed upon by bride and groom such as a house or viable business that is put in her name and can be run and owned entirely by her if she chooses.

[edit] Islamic marriage contract

The purpose, rules, and regulations of the Islamic marriage contract. A Muslim marriage is not a sacrament, but a simple, legal agreement in which either partner is free to include conditions. These conditions are stipulated in a written contract. Violating any of the conditions stipulated in this contract is legal grounds for a partner seeking divorce. The first part of the Nikah, marriage ceremony is the signing of the marriage contract itself.

Various traditions may differ in how Nikah is performed because different groups accept different texts as authoritative. Therefore, Sunnis will likely accept the hadith of Muhammad al-Bukhari, while Shia will have their own collections, for example Furu al-Kafi, thus producing different procedures. This contract requires the consent of both parties. There is a tradition, outside of the religion, in some Muslim countries to pre-arrange a marriage for young children. However, the marriage still requires consent for the wedding to legally take place.

Divorce is not forbidden as a last resort, however the dissolution of the contract, Talaq, is often described as the most disliked of permissible things in Islam and should be used as a last resort.

[edit] Walima

The Walima is a dinner given by the groom's side of the family to celebrate the welcoming of the bride to the family. It is a strong sunnah (the repetition of an action of Muhammad) and it is recommended to be held earliest possible day after the Nikah.

[edit] Behavior within marriage

[edit] Rights and obligations of spouses

Islam advocates a role-based relationship between husband and wife.

`Abd Allah ibn `Umar narrated:

The Prophet said, "All of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards. The ruler is a guardian and the man is a guardian of his family; the lady is a guardian and is responsible for her husband's house and his offspring; and so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards."

—Sahih al-Bukhari: Volume 7, Book 62, Number 128

It puts the main responsibility of earning over the husband. Both are obliged to fulfill the other's sexual needs. Husbands are asked to be kind to their wives and wives are asked to be obedient to their husbands.

[edit] Separate accommodation for wife

The wife has the right to live in separate accommodation with her husband and children, if she does not like to share it with anyone like her in-law or relatives. This is the view of most of the Hanafi, Shaafa’i and Hanbali fuqaha. She also has the right to refuse to live with her husband's father, mother and siblings.

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: That he heard Allah's Apostle saying, "Everyone of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charge; the ruler is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects; the man is a guardian in his family and responsible for his charges; a woman is a guardian of her husband's house and responsible for her charges; and the servant is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible for his charge." I definitely heard the above from the Prophet and think that the Prophet also said, "A man is a guardian of his father's property and responsible for his charges; so everyone of you is a guardian and responsible for his charges."[Sahih Bukhari]

This indicate that wife is responsible for house of the husband. Also that man should be guardian of his family. i.e. after his marriage he moves out of his father's house, and run his own family affairs and is guardian of his family. In joint family, typically the head is either the father of husband, or mother of husband. This also indicate that husband should look after their parent's house, as " A man is a guardian of his father's property". So wife should not object to her husband when he is looking after affairs of his parents.^[10]

[edit] Sexuality

Sexuality in Islam is largely described by the Qur'an, Islamic tradition, and religious leaders both past and present as being confined to marital relationships between men and women. While most traditions discourage celibacy, all encourage strict chastity and modesty with regards to any relationships across gender lines, holding forth that intimacy as perceived within Islam (encompassing a swath of life more broad than strictly sex) is to be reserved for marriage.

Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud narrated:

We were with the Prophet while we were young and had no wealth whatever. So Allah's Apostle said, "O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e., his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual desire."

—Volume 7, Book 62, Number 4:^[11]

While adulterous relationships are strictly forbidden, permissible sexual relationships within marriage are described in Islamic sources as great wells of love and closeness for the couple involved. Sexual relationship between married couples are even source of rewards from God as doing the opposite; i.e., satisfying sexual needs through illicit means has punishment. Specific occasions (most notably daytime fasting (see sawm) and menstruation) are times forbidden for intercourse, though not for other ways of touching and being close to one another. Anal sex with one's wife is also strictly prohibited.

[edit] Gender roles

In Islamic theology, both sexes are generally considered to be equal in value and differences between the sexes are recognized, resulting in different rights, obligations, and distinct roles.

Mistakingly, some muslim men expect women to be home-makers and caregivers to their children, although early Islamic scholars decreed that there was no requirement for them to do either. It is generally considered a good thing if they are educated as well. Cultural interpretations of Islam support the traditional division of labour whereby women assume the main responsibility for the home while men are responsible for supporting their wives. Motherhood is seen as one of the most important roles in society. Muslim wives and mothers should be granted the respect due to all women for the struggles and sacrifices they make for the sake of their families. Mother has been given three times higher status over father. In some interpretations of Islam, Muslim women may seek a higher education, work outside the home or volunteer their services to benefit the community as long as their primary responsibilities are taken care of, they have the permission of their husbands and they do not compromise their faith in doing so (i.e., jobs that require them to dress in a fashion that is contrary to the Sharia Hijab).

[edit] Childrearing

[edit] Adoption

Islam has its own rules of regulations regarding adoption, with distinct rules and regulations prior to and after the legal adoption. Muslims are allowed to adopt as long as they do not change the name of the child they adopt. Muslims are usually required to let any such children continue the lineage of their birth parents, and are not allowed to make the children follow the adopting parents' lineage.

Adoption is almost impossible in several Arabic-speaking countries such as Egypt that follow Islam due to complex Islamic laws and bureaucracy.^[12]

[edit] Divorce

The typical way to end a marriage is through Talaq, a legal Islamic divorce. However, it is still legal and can be practised.

[edit] Shia Islam

In Shia Islam, a divorce is a procedure that is threefold:

Initiation

the divorce is announced publicly (triple talaq is illegal)

Reconciliation

the couple will try to reconcile differences

Completion

with two witnesses and after the Iddah period has expired, the divorce is complete.

[edit] Sunni Islam

In Sunni Islam there is triple talaq, it is a (controversial) practice in which the couple instantly divorces by declaring the intention three times and thus making sexual relations between them haram for each other. However Islamic tradition maintains that divorce cannot be final until after a period called Iddah, that is the period of three months or more specifically three menstrual cycles, so that it is evident that the wife is not pregnant. Furthermore, after the divorce is final the couple may not remarry until the wife has married and divorced another.

Abu Suhail an-Nafi narrated:

Ibn 'Umar bin Al-Khattab divorced his wife during her menses. Allah's Apostle ordered him to take her back till she became clean, and when she got another period while she was with him, she should wait till she became clean again and only then, if he wanted to divorce her, he could do so before having sexual relations with her. And that is the period Allah has fixed for divorcing women. Whenever 'Abdullah (bin 'Umar) was asked about that, he would say to the questioner, "If you divorced her thrice, she is no longer lawful for you unless she marries another man (and the other man divorces her in his turn).' Ibn 'Umar further said, 'Would that you (people) only give one or two divorces, because the Prophet has ordered me so."

—Sahih al-Bukhari: Volume 7, Book 63, Number 249

Sa'id ibn Jubayr narrated:

Ibn 'Umar divorced his wife while she was having her menses. 'Umar asked the Prophet who said, "Order him (your son) to take her back, and then divorced her before her period of the 'Iddah has elapsed." I asked Ibn 'Umar, "Will that divorce (during the menses) be counted?" He replied, "If somebody behaves foolishly (will his foolishness be an excuse for his misbehavior)?"

—Sahih al-Bukhari Volume 7, Book 63, Number 250

[edit] See also

• Women in Islam
• Nikah Ijtimah
• Islam and slavery#Marriage and concubinage
• Nikah Halala
• Beena - a form of marriage used in pre-Islamic Arabia
• The Sermon for Necessities

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Rights of husband and wife, and issues with joint family system
• The Etiquettes of Muslim Marriage
• Islamic Philosophy of Marriage
• VIDEO: British Man and French Woman talk about Becoming Muslims and how they got married.
• VIDEO: A French Muslim Convert Talks about Hijab and Marriage
• crescentlife.com's "Fundamentals of a happy marriage", credited to Shahina Siddiqui. A Muslim view of marriage structured around "21 F's", words beginning in F such as Faith, Forgiving, Forget, Forbearance, and so on. Similar content exists in multiple other sources, credited to various authors or uncredited.
• Why Muslim Singles Cannot Get Married
• The Wali in Islam:1,2,3,4,5