End of unit revision Marriage and family

Muslim attitudes towards… The purpose of marriage in Islam. The marriage ceremony. Sex outside marriage. Family Life. How the mosque helps families. Divorce. Contraception. Homosexuality. Marriage, divorce, family life and homosexuality in the UK marriage and the family has been presented in the media

The purpose of marriage in Islam. Marriage is a serious commitment and should not be taken lightly. Your partner should be your choice for life. For a marriage to be valid certain conditions must be met. Marriage has 5 purposes in Islam:  To share love and companionship.  To enjoy sex in the only way Allah intended.  To procreate children  To bring up a Muslim family.  To follow the example of the prophet. Marriage has 5 purposes in Islam:  To share love and companionship.  To enjoy sex in the only way Allah intended.  To procreate children  To bring up a Muslim family.  To follow the example of the prophet. Islam is a strong supporter of marriage. All Muslims are expected to get married because marriage is the only allowed way to have sex and procreate children. Parents often arrange marriages and will look for a good marriage partner for their son/daughter. It is the husbands role to go out to work and provide for the family.

The marriage ceremony. The actual wedding is a short ceremony with readings from the Quran, prayers and an exchange of vows in front of two witnesses. Muslims in the UK would also need to go through a registry service as well to make the marriage legal. The prophet said that couples should be allowed to see each other before they commit to marriage. The couple, however, are not allowed to be alone in a closed room or go out together alone. As the hadith says "when a man and a woman are together alone, there is a third presence i.e. satan The prophet said that couples should be allowed to see each other before they commit to marriage. The couple, however, are not allowed to be alone in a closed room or go out together alone. As the hadith says "when a man and a woman are together alone, there is a third presence i.e. satan There are very strict rules in the Quran about sexual relationships. Couples are not allowed to ‘go out’ together alone before marriage. Walimah is a party given for the friends and family of the couple to celebrate their marriage. This is to celebrate the marriage publicly and there are usually lots of guests. At Muslim weddings it is traditional for the bride to wear red. Everyone dresses up as it is a time for celebration. During the ceremony:  * there are readings from the Quran on the nature if marriage.  * the guests pray for the couple, wishing them wealth, long life and many children  * there may be a wedding feast called a walimah. During the ceremony:  * there are readings from the Quran on the nature if marriage.  * the guests pray for the couple, wishing them wealth, long life and many children  * there may be a wedding feast called a walimah. Before the marriage both people set out what they expect within the marriage. This forms a contract which they must both sign Nikah (marriage contract). 1) Both people have to agree to marry each other. 2) " Mahr" a gift from the groom to his bride. 3) Witnesses- 2 male or female. 1) Both people have to agree to marry each other. 2) " Mahr" a gift from the groom to his bride. 3) Witnesses- 2 male or female.

Sex outside marriage. Muslims believe that sex before marriage and adultery are both wrong because the Qur’an teaches this. The Shar’iah says that sex should only take place in marriage and the Shar’iah is the law for all Muslims. Islam teaches the primary purpose for sex is procreation of children and children should only be born in a family where the mother and father are married. Adultery is condemned by God in the Qur’an, which says anyone committing adultery should be punished severely. Adultery breaks the marriage contract that both husband and wide agreed of their own free will. Adultery is likely to harm the family. Both the Qur’an and Shari’ah teach that nothing should be done to harm the family, and so adultery must be avoided.

Islam and Family Life. Islam teaches that children are a gift from God and that, on the last day, Muslim parents will be judged by God on how well they have brought up their children. The Quran teaches that the family was created by God and is the only place in which children should be brought up. Family must be the most important part of society and without the family society would collapse. The prophet Muhammed (pbuh) married and raised a family. All Muslims believe that Muhammad (pbuh) is the perfect example for them to follow, so therefore they must also marry and raise a family. Islam teaches that the family is the place where children learn the difference between right & wrong, so without the family there would be more evil in the world.

How the mosque helps families Most mosques run madrasahs in the evening to teach young Muslims about their faith. This teaches them from right and wrong and encourages them to be good citizens Many mosques have family committees that help Muslim families with divorce or family problems. Some mosques use their Zakah funds to help families experiencing financial difficulties. There are some Muslim day schools where Muslims can follow the National Curriculum in a Muslim way. This helps them to keep the faith. Many mosques also provide social activities, including children's and young peoples groups that give young Muslims a moral social life and keep them away from bad influences.

Divorce Muhammad is reported to have said that divorce is the most hated of lawful things. Many Muslims regard the hadith of Muhammed as almost as important as the Quran. Some Muslims believe that the teaching of the Quran about families trying all they can to rescue the marriage during the three month waiting period (iddah) means that there should be no divorce. Islam teaches that on the Last Day, Muslims will be judges on how well they have treated their children is a big incentive against divorce for Muslims. Most marriages are arranged by families so there is parental pressure against divorce to avoid family conflict. Marriage is a contract in Islam. The contract has clauses about what is to happen if the couple divorce (for example, the husband must give his wife the money he put in trust for her – the mahr). Therefore divorce is allowed, Islam teaches that in some situations, Muslims must choose the lesser of two evils. They believe divorce is a lesser evil than forcing a couple to live in hatred and bitterness. The shariah permits divorce and had many laws about hoe divorce and re- marriage should operate. As the shariah is the holy law of Islam, divorce must be permitted for Muslims. The Quran clealy permits divorce. It sets out the terms of the iddah, custody of children and care for divorce wives and so divorce must be allowed for Muslims Some Muslims think that marriage should be for life and they would not divorce because: Most Muslims believe that divorce should be allowed if the marriage cannot work because:

Contraception What is contraception? Contraception is the use of various devices, drugs, agents, sexual practices, or surgical procedures to prevent conception. Such as: Condoms (male or female) Morning after pill Contraceptive implant Injection Cap Some Muslims believe that all forms of contraception are wrong. The reasons for this view are: God created sex for having children; Contraception is unnatural and Muslims should do what is natural because that is what God created; God intended humans to have large families Surah ‘Do not kill yourselves: for verily God hath been to you Most Merciful’ Some Muslims believe that all forms of contraception are wrong. The reasons for this view are: God created sex for having children; Contraception is unnatural and Muslims should do what is natural because that is what God created; God intended humans to have large families Surah ‘Do not kill yourselves: for verily God hath been to you Most Merciful’ Most Muslims believe that contraception can be used to limit the size of a family, but it must not be used to stop having a family. The reasons for this view are; There are several hadith which give the Prophet’s approval for the type of contraception available at the time; If a woman does not use contraceptives when pregnancy could kill her, it is like suicide which is banned in the Qur’an. The Qur’an says that God does not want to put burdens on his followers; All Muslim lawyers agree that contraception is different from abortion Most Muslims believe that contraception can be used to limit the size of a family, but it must not be used to stop having a family. The reasons for this view are; There are several hadith which give the Prophet’s approval for the type of contraception available at the time; If a woman does not use contraceptives when pregnancy could kill her, it is like suicide which is banned in the Qur’an. The Qur’an says that God does not want to put burdens on his followers; All Muslim lawyers agree that contraception is different from abortion

Homosexuality Most Muslims believe that homosexuality is wrong because: Homosexuality is condemned by the Quran and the Quran is the final word of God. All Muslims should try to have a family, but homosexuals cannot. Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) condemned homosexuality in several hadith, and Muslims should follow his teachings. God says in the Quran that marriage between a man and a woman is the only lawful form of sex. Within Islam there is general consensus that homosexuality is not permissible. However, a minority of Muslims believe that homosexuality is acceptable because: They believe that God created and loves all people whatever their sexual orientation. They believe that Islam is a religion of tolerance, not hate.

Marriage and family life key words Adultery a sexual act between a married person and someone other than their marriage partner Civil partnership a legal ceremony giving a homosexual couple the same legal rights as a husband and wife Cohabitation living together without being married Contraception intentionally preventing pregnancy from occurring Contract the legal document of marriage Homosexuality sexual attraction to the same sex Mahr a sum of money placed in trust for a bride by her husband at the wedding Nuclear family mother, father and children living as a unit Pre-marital sex sex before marriage Procreation making a new life Promiscuity having sex with a number of partners without commitment Re-constituted family where two sets of children (stepbrothers and stepsisters) become one family when their divorced parents marry each other