Marriage & Relationship in Islam

Islam considers marriage as a solemn family relationship between a man and a woman, based on mercy and love.

More information about marriage and married life in Islam, including courtship, the marriage ceremony, and the spousal relationship.

In Islam, marriage is a contract between a man and woman to live as husband and wife.  A formal, binding contract is considered integral to a religiously valid Islamic marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom and bride. The marriage must be declared publicly. Divorce is permitted.

In addition to the usual marriage until death or divorce, there is a different fixed-term marriage known as Nikāh It was a Sunnah (custom) of earlier prophets which the Islamic Prophet  Muhammad (SAW) re-instituted and passed on to his community ummah. The Arabic word for marriage is Nikah (Arabic: نكاح‎ nikāḥ), which is generally used to refer to Islamic marriages.

The Islamic marriage is declared publicly by a responsible person after delivering a sermon to counsel and guide the couple. It is not required, though customary, that the person marrying the couple should be religiously qualified. The Qur'an tells believers that even if they are poor they should marry to protect themselves from immorality

[Quran 24:33]. The Qur'an asserts that marriage is the only legitimate way to satisfy one's sexual desire.

[2] Islam recognizes the value of sex and companionship and advocates marriage as the foundation for families. Marriage is highly valued and regarded as being half of faith, according to a saying of Muhammad: "Marriage is my Sunnah (practice or action of the Prophet) and whoever does not follow my Sunnah is not my true follower." (Ibn Haiah, Babun Nikah).

Dowry/Mahr Although mahr is often translated into English as dowry (as in the Quran translations below), either from translators lack of knowledge of the true English meaning, or want of a better word, a more accurate translation would be "marriage gift".

Mahr is mentioned several times in the Qur’an. Dowry is inaccurate as strictly speaking it is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage, usually provided by her parents or family.

Qur’an [4:4] you shall give the women their due dowries, equitably. If they willingly forfeit anything, then you may accept it; it is rightfully yours

[3] [5:5] today, all good food is made lawful for you. The food of the people of the scripture is lawful for you. Also, you may marry the chaste women among the believers, as well as the chaste women among the followers of previous scripture, provided you pay them their due dowries. You shall maintain chastity, not committing adultery, nor taking secret lovers.

Anyone who rejects faith, all his work will be in vain, and in the Hereafter he will be with the losers

[4] [60:10] O you who believe, when believing women (abandon the enemy and) ask for asylum with you, you shall test them. GOD is fully aware of their belief. Once you establish that they are believers, you shall not return them to the disbelievers. They are not lawful to remain married to them, nor shall the disbelievers be allowed to marry them. Give back the dowries that the disbelievers have paid. You commit no error by marrying them, so long as you pay them their due dowries. Do not keep disbelieving wives (if they wish to join the enemy). You may ask them for the dowry you had paid, and they may ask for what they paid. This is GOD's rule; He rules among you. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise

 Rights and obligations of spouses According to Islam, both man and woman have rights when they enter into a Marriage contract and the husband is supposed to head the family-unit

[Quran 4:34]. This guardianship has two aspects for both partners:

·         The husband's financial responsibility for the welfare of his wife and any children they may produce. In return, it is the duty of the wife to be obedient with regards to how the husband's wealth should be spent. However if the wife has wealth in her own capacity she is not obliged to spend it upon the husband or children, as she can own property and assets in her own capacity, unlike some other faiths and societies where the wife and her wealth are deemed the chattel of the husband. An indication of the financial expectation from the husband is in the mahr given by him to the wife, according to the custom of the society.

The husband's physical and emotional strength and honour.

·         In return, the wife is supposed to guard the secrets of her husband and to be faithful. Several commentators have stated that the superiority of a husband over his wife is relative and the obedience of the wife is also restrictive.

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The Quran advises men that if they are certain of a rebellious attitude by the woman, they should first admonish her, then refuse to share beds, and finally hit her (without leaving a mark and not on the face, as established by the Hadith). This refers to serious breaches of behavior such as being promiscuous according to renowned 20th Century scholar Muhammad Hamidullah which is not expected from a dutiful wife, and not for simple disobedience to the husband. In explaining this, Ibn Abbas  gives an example of striking with a tooth stick (a very tiny piece of wood, incapable of creating any pain).

Women are also reminded that in case the husband is not fulfilling his responsibilities; there is no stigma on them in seeking divorce [Quran 4:128]. The Quran re-emphasizes that justice for the woman includes

emotional support, and reminds men that there can be no taking back of the gifts given to women, however if a divorce is initiated by the wife the husband can insist on the return of what he gave her in order to agree to the dissolution of the marriage. This is taken from Hadith in which the wife of Thabith bin Qais is told to return the orchard her husband gave in order to proceed with the divorce.

However, many Islamic societies restrict women's rights despite their Quranic rights; women are often mistreated and sometimes suffer penalties, supported by the community,