Islamic marital jurisprudence explained

In Islamic law (sharia), marriage (nikāḥ نکاح) is a legal and social contract between two individuals.[1] Marriage is an act of Islam[2] and is strongly recommended.[1] [3] Polygyny is permitted in Islam under some conditions, but polyandry is forbidden.[4]

Types of marriage

Nikāḥ

See main article: article and Marriage in Islam. The Nikāḥ (Arabic: نكاح, literally, "to collect and bind together")[5] is the first - and most common - form of marriage for Muslims. It is described in the Qur'an in Surah 4:4.[6]

Regulations:

Requirement of witnesses:

Permission from Wali:[8]

Nikah Halala

See main article: Nikah Halala. Nikah halala is also known as tahleel marriage[9] and is a practice in which a woman, after being divorced by a final divorce, marries another man, consummates the marriage, and divorces immediately for the sole purpose of remarrying her former husband. It is prohibited in Islamic law.[10]

Nikāḥ Ijtimaa

See main article: Nikah Ijtimah. Nikah ijtimaa, or combined marriage, is a form of marriage practiced in pre-Islamic Arabia, in which multiple men would have intercourse with a woman, and if she bore a child, she would choose one of the men to be the father of the child.[11] This form of marriage was outlawed by Islam, and traditional jurisprudence requires that any man and woman be married prior to sexual intercourse.[12]

Nikah Istibdaa

Nikah Istibdaa is a marriage (نکاح استبضاع) in which a husband would send his wife to another person, usually of noble lineage, to have sexual relations with him. The husband would refrain from sexual relations with his wife until she became pregnant by the other man. Afterwards, the man would claim paternity of the conceived child. This was done to get a child of noble breed. It was eradicated by Islam.[13]

Nikāḥ Misyar

See main article: article and Nikah Misyar. Nikāḥ Misyaar is a nikāḥ for Sunnis carried out via the normal contractual procedure, with the specificity that the husband and wife give up several rights by their own free will, such as living together, equal division of nights between wives in cases of polygamy, the wife's rights to housing, and maintenance money ("nafaqa"), and the husband's right of homekeeping, and access etc.[14] The difference between this and Mut'ah is that Mut'ah has the condition of a definite time period and a separation date prior to a marriage contract. Sunnah scholars have said it is permissible to marry a woman with the intention of getting divorced, if the wife is not informed or expecting a divorce during a marriage contract.[15]

Nikāḥ Mut‘ah

See main article: article and Nikah Mut‘ah. Nikah mut'ah[16] Arabic: نكاح المتعة|nikāḥ al-mutʿah, literally "pleasure marriage"; temporary marriage[17] or sigheh[18] (Persian: صیغه ، ازدواج موقت) is a private and verbal temporary marriage contract that is practiced in Twelver Shia Islam[19] in which the duration of the marriage and the mahr must be specified and agreed upon in advance.[20] [21] [22] It is a private contract made in a verbal or written format. A declaration of the intent to marry and an acceptance of the terms are required as in other forms of marriage in Islam.[23]

According to Shia Muslims, Muhammad sanctioned nikah mut'ah (fixed-term marriage, called muta'a in Iraq and sigheh in Iran), which has instead been used as a legitimizing cover for sex workers in a culture where prostitution is otherwise forbidden. Some Western writers have argued that mut'ah approximates prostitution.[24]

Some sources say the Nikah mut'ah has no prescribed minimum or maximum duration,[25] but others, such as The Oxford Dictionary of Islam, indicate the minimum duration of the marriage is debatable and durations of at least three days, three months or one year have been suggested.[26]

Some Muslims and Western scholars have stated that both Nikah mut'ah[27] and Nikah misyar[28] are Islamically void attempts to religiously sanction prostitution which is otherwise forbidden.[29] The Zaidi Shia reject Mutah marriage.

Nikāḥ Shighār

Nikāḥ Shighā is marriage (نکاح شغار) in which two men would exchange their daughters, sisters or other close women for marriage without paying mahr. It was prohibited by Muhammad.[30]

Interfaith marriage

See main article: article and Interfaith marriage in Islam.

Interfaith marriages are recognized between Muslims and Non-Muslim People of the Book (usually enumerated as Jews, Christians, and Sabians).[31] Historically, in Islamic culture and traditional Islamic law Muslim women have been forbidden from marrying Christian or Jewish men, whereas Muslim men have been permitted to marry Christian or Jewish women.[32] [33]

Although historically Sunni Islam prohibited Muslim women to marry Non-Muslim men in interfaith marriages, in various parts of the world interfaith marriages between Muslim women and Non-Muslim men take place at substantial rates, contravening the traditional Sunni understanding of ijma.[33] For example, in the United States, about 10% of Muslim women are married to Non-Muslim men.[34] The tradition of reformist and progressive Islam does permit marriage between Muslim women and Non-Muslim men;[33] Islamic scholars opining this view include Hassan Al-Turabi, and some others.[35]

Restrictions on marriage

Polygyny

See main article: article and Polygyny in Islam. Muslim men are allowed to practise polygyny, that is, they can have more than one wife at the same time, up to four, per Sura 4 Verse 3.

Polyandry, the practice of a woman having more than one husband, by contrast, is not permitted. One of the main reasons for this would be the potential questioning of paternal lineage.

Permissible age

Sahih Muslim permits marriage once a person reaches sexual maturity (i.e.: menstruation, voice changing, wet dreams) (baligh). Sexual maturity in Sharia law is typically understood to mean puberty.[36] At the same time, intercourse is forbidden until they are able to physically bear it.[37]

Other religions

See main article: article and Interfaith marriage in Islam. 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.[38] [39]

Arranged and forced marriages

An engagement may be arranged between families for their children, but Islamic requirements for a legal marriage include the requirement that both parties, bride, groom and guardian for the bride (wali), give their legal consent. A marriage without the consent of the bride or performed under coercion is illegal according to the majority of scholars.

If a girl has not attained the age of puberty, the vast majority of scholars hold that she cannot be married; and many stipulate that it must be in her best interest in order to be considered a valid marriage. There is some dispute as to whether or not an under-age bride can leave her family's custody and be transferred to her husband's custody, if she has not yet reached puberty. Some evidence supporting both sides can be seen in the following narrations from Muhammad:

Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 65 Narrated 'Aisha: that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old. Hisham said: I have been informed that 'Aisha remained with the Prophet for nine years (i.e. till his death).

Sahih Bukhari 7.18 Narrated 'Ursa: The Prophet asked Abu Bakr for 'Aisha's hand in marriage. Abu Bakr said "But I am your brother." The Prophet said, "You are my brother in Allah's religion and His Book, but she (Aisha) is lawful for me to marry."

However, evidence from other Islamic sources seems to suggest that this is not something allowed for all Muslims; rather specifically for Muhammad. The evidence for this view is as follows:

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said: "A non-virgin woman may not be married without her command, and a virgin may not be married without her permission; and it is permission enough for her to remain silent (because of her natural shyness)." [Al-Bukhari:6455, Muslim & Others]

It is reported in a hadith that A'ishah related that she once asked the Prophet: "In the case of a young girl whose parents marry her off, should her permission be sought or not?" He replied: "Yes, she must give her permission." She then said: "But a virgin would be shy, O Messenger of Allaah!" He replied: "Her silence is [considered as] her permission." [Al-Bukhari, Muslim, & Others]

It appears that the permission of an under-age bride is indeed necessary for her marriage to be considered valid; the above narrations seem to clearly make the approval of the bride a condition for a valid marriage contract.

Fornicators

Islam does not give fornicatorous men the right to marry a chaste woman, nor may a fornicatorous 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.[40] [41]

Other

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

Homosexual marriage between Muslims is not recognized within Islamic law, based on explicit verses of the Qur'an and the traditional view of homosexual practices as illicit.

Wedding rings were not widespread across Muslim cultures in antiquity; however, many Muslims today have adopted the tradition of wearing a wedding band alongside other practices originated from European tradition.

Mahr

See main article: article and 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.

Islamic marriage contract

See main article: article and 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, but 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.

Walima

See main article: article and 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 the earliest possible day after the Nikah.

Behavior within marriage

Spousal rights and obligations

See main article: article. Islam advocates a role-based relationship between husband and wife.

Abd Allah ibn Umar narrated:

It puts the main responsibility of earning over the husband. Both are obliged to fulfill the other's sexual needs. Both are obliged to treat each other with kindness.

Separate accommodation for wife

The wife has the right to live in separate accommodation with her husband and children, if she does not want 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 indicates that a wife is responsible for the house of her husband. Also that a man should be the guardian of his family, i.e., after his marriage he moves out of his father's house, and runs his own family affairs and is guardian of his family. In a joint family, typically the head is either the father of the husband, or mother of the husband. This also indicates that a husband should look after his parents' house, as "a man is a guardian of his father's property". So the wife should not object to her husband when he is looking after affairs of his parents.[42]

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 (see haya) 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:

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.

Islam has an open and playful approach to sex[43] [44] so long as it is within marriage, free of lewdness, fornication and adultery.

Gender roles

The Qur'an asserts that there are innate differences between women and men.[45] Therefore, Islam places different rights over the husband and wife.

Some similar rights which both the husband and wife owe to each other are:

Some rights which the husband owes to his wife are:

To treat her like an equal human being.

Some rights which the wife owes to her husband are:

These are some of the rights which spouses owe one another.[46] [47]

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Importance of Marriage in Islam . 22 October 2012 . al-islam.org . 10 June 2015.
  2. Web site: The Quran, sura 4, verse 4. www.perseus.tufts.edu.
  3. Web site: onislam.net . Muslim character. Marriage is the Prophet's sunnah . 20 April 2023.
  4. Web site: Women in polygamous marriages suffering psychological torture - Arab News . 2011-03-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110311202547/http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article308231.ece . 2011-03-11 .
  5. Web site: Nikah.com : Definition of Nikah (Islamic marriage). nikah.com.
  6. ,. ref.
  7. Web site: Witnesses for Marriage. https://web.archive.org/web/20051110182956/http://al-islam.org/organizations/aalimnetwork/msg00200.html. dead. November 10, 2005.
  8. Web site: Central-Mosque.com redirector to the new design. https://web.archive.org/web/20110708133650/http://www.central-mosque.com/fiqh/nikwhwali.htm. dead. July 8, 2011. www.central-mosque.com.
  9. Book: From Transnational Relations to Transnational Laws: Northern European Laws at the Crossroads. Ali. Shaheen Sardar. Griffiths. Anne. 2016-04-15. Routledge. 9781317131588. en.
  10. Web site: Singh . Vatsala . What Does Quran Say About Nikah Halala? Will Banning it Help? . The Quint . 24 July 2018 . Bloomberg LP . 20 May 2019.
  11. Although the Salafi Islamic scholar, Muhsin Khan, did not translate it in the English, the original Arabic text has Ayesha (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2 Chapter 37, pages 44-45) Web site: Answering-Ansar.org :: Mu'awiya . 2020-05-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060209101630/http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/muawiya/en/chap11.php . 2006-02-09 .
  12. Although the Salafi Islamic scholar, Muhsin Khan, did not translate it in the English, the original Arabic text has Ayesha (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2 Chapter 37, pages 44-45) Web site: Answering-Ansar.org :: Mu'awiya . 2006-02-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060209101630/http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/muawiya/en/chap11.php . 2006-02-09 .
  13. Sahih Bukhari 5127
  14. Web site: Misyar marriage . Yusuf . Al-Qaradawi . https://web.archive.org/web/20110104035953/http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar%2FFatwaE%2FFatwaE&cid=1119503544160 . 2011-01-04 . 2011-01-04 .
  15. [Misyar marriage]
  16. News: Temporary 'Enjoyment Marriages' in Vogue Again with Some Iraqis . . 6 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170303015306/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/19/AR2007011901850.html . 3 March 2017 . live . dmy-all .
  17. http://ejtaal.net/aa/#hw4=1058,ll=2783,ls=38,la=4127,sg=968,ha=718,pr=145,vi=350,mgf=779,mr=647,mn=1306,aan=617,kz=2459,ulq=1576,uqa=389,uqw=1523,umr=1012,ums=848,umj=778,uqq=365,bdw=829,amr=594,asb=911,auh=1501,dhq=525,mht=842,msb=221,tla=92,amj=766,ens=287,mis=2024,br=890 Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic: a compact version of the internationally recognized fourth edition
  18. News: Love Finds a Way in Iran: 'Temporary Marriage' . 6 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170913211804/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/04/world/love-finds-a-way-in-iran-temporary-marriage.html . 13 September 2017 . live . dmy-all . The New York Times . 4 October 2000 . Sciolino . Elaine .
  19. News: Mahmood . Shabnam . Nye . Catrin . I do, for now anyway . BBC News . 13 May 2013.
  20. Berg H. "Method and theory in the study of Islamic origins". Brill 2003, 9789004126022. Accessed at Google Books 15 March 2014. pp. 167-171,176
  21. Hughes T. A Dictionary of Islam. Asian Educational Services 1 December 1995. Accessed 15 April 2014.
  22. Pohl F. "Muslim world: modern muslim societies." Marshall Cavendish, 2010., 1780761479277 Accessed at Google Books 15 March 2014.
  23. News: I do... for now. UK Muslims revive temporary marriages. 21 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180722123210/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-22354201. 22 July 2018. live. dmy-all. BBC News. 13 May 2013.
  24. Book: İlkkaracan, Pınar . Deconstructing Sexuality in the Middle East: Challenges and Discourses . 2008 . Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. . 9780754672357 . en . 36.
  25. Web site: Labi. Nadya. Married for a Minute. Mother Jones. 22 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140614152756/http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2010/03/temporary-marriage-iran-islam. 14 June 2014. live. dmy-all.
  26. Esposito J. "The Oxford Dictionary of Islam." Oxford University Press 2003 p221 Accessed 15 March 2014.
  27. Book: Medieval Islamic Civilization: L-Z, index. Taylor & Francis. 1 January 2006. 9780415966924. en. Josef W.. Meri. Jere L.. Bacharach.
  28. Book: Muslim World: Modern Muslim Societies . Marshall Cavendish . 1 September 2010 . 5 April 2013 . Pohl, Florian . 52–53. 9780761479277 .
  29. Book: Turner, Bryan S.. Islam: Islam, gender and family. 1 January 2003. Taylor & Francis US. 9780415123501. 157. en.
  30. Sahih Bukhari 6960
  31. Encyclopedia: Ahl al-Kitab. John L. Esposito. The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford University Press. Oxford. 2014. dmy-all. 10.1093/acref/9780195125580.001.0001. 9780195125580.
  32. Book: Elmali-Karakaya . Ayse . 2020 . Being Married to a Non-Muslim Husband: Religious Identity in Muslim Women's Interfaith Marriages . Hood . Ralph W. . Cheruvallil-Contractor . Sariya . Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion: A Diversity of Paradigms . 31 . 388–410 . . . 10.1163/9789004443969_020 . 978-90-04-44348-8 . 234539750 . 1046-8064.
  33. Leeman . A. B. . Spring 2009 . Interfaith Marriage in Islam: An Examination of the Legal Theory Behind the Traditional and Reformist Positions . live . . . . 84 . 2 . 743–772 . 0019-6665 . 52224503 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181123062516/https://ilj.law.indiana.edu/articles/84/84_2_Leeman.pdf . 23 November 2018 . 25 August 2021.
  34. Web site: . 25 July 2017 . Roughly one-in-ten married Muslims have a non-Muslim spouse . live . . . The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life . https://web.archive.org/web/20181016061221/https://www.pewforum.org/2017/07/26/identity-assimilation-and-community/pf_2017-06-26_muslimamericans-02new-04/ . 16 October 2018 . 25 August 2021.
  35. Web site: Jahangir . Junaid . 21 March 2017 . Muslim Women Can Marry Outside The Faith . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20170325020231/https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/junaid-jahangir/muslim-women-marriage_b_15472982.html . 25 March 2017 . 25 August 2021.
  36. Islam and the Everyday World: Public Policy Dilemmas Page 102, Sohrab Behdad, Farhad Nomani, Farhad Nomani 2006
  37. Web site: Requirement for Marriage. https://web.archive.org/web/20150509101836/http://www.islamicislamic.com/marriage_old_divorce.htm. dead. May 9, 2015.
  38. ,. ref.
  39. Web site: On Christian Men marrying Muslim Women . 2008-01-20 . El Fadl . Abou . 2006 . Scholar of the House.
  40. ref., ref.
  41. [Javed Ahmed Ghamidi]
  42. Web site: yl6809永利·主頁(欢迎您). learndeen.com.
  43. Web site: What Muslim women really want in the bedroom . 2023-06-29 . www.telegraph.co.uk. 2 May 2013 .
  44. http://facts.randomhistory.com/islam-facts.html, 100 Interesting Facts About …
  45. Web site: Surah Ali 'Imran - 36. Quran.com.
  46. Web site: Islams Women - Fiqh of Marriage - Rights and Duties. www.islamswomen.com.
  47. Web site: See Section 18. https://web.archive.org/web/20150509101836/http://www.islamicislamic.com/marriage_old_divorce.htm. dead. May 9, 2015.