Islamic Marriage Laws

An Islamic Marriage recognizes the importance of a partner or a companion in every human being’s life which is why Islam does not recommend celibacy. The need of a spouse and family is a natural and instinctive need, which Allah, through His Wisdom, has placed in human beings and is awakened at its particular time and season, when it makes its demand. If it is answered on time and its requirement is fulfilled, it traverses its natural course and makes the person perfect. If it is delayed or answered in an incorrect and unnatural mode, then it deviates from its natural course and in surges and rebels, and not only becomes corrupt itself, but also corrupts the man. Hence every Muslim is required to get married according to Muslim wedding traditions.

For a valid Muslim marriage, the following conditions must be satisfied:

•There must be a clear proposal.

•There must be a clear acceptance.

•There must be at least two competent witnesses.

•There must be a marriage gift, little or more, by the bridegroom to the bride.

The dowry or marriage gift from the bridegroom to the bride is a symbolic expression of the groom's cognizance of the economic responsibilities of marriage and of his readiness to assume all such responsibilities subsequent to marriage. Dowry is not any price paid either to wife or family of the wife.

As against a popular misnomer amongst traditional Muslim families, it is permissible for a Muslim man to see the women to whom he intends to propose marriage before taking further steps so that he can enter into the marriage with complete knowledge. This has been permitted in Islam to avoid further misunderstanding. However, generally it is not a good thing for a man to be alone with a woman in the name of selection of spouse.

Also, it is the girl's right to make decisions concerning her marriage and her father or guardian has no right to override her objections or ignore her wishes.

It is permanently prohibited for a Muslim to marry a woman of the following categories:

•Father's wife, whether divorced or widowed,

•The mother including grand mothers,

•The daughter including grand daughter,

•The sisters including half and step sisters,

•The paternal aunt, whether real, half or step sister of the father,

•The maternal aunt, whether real, half or step sister of mother,

•The brother's daughter and

•The sister's daughter.

These restrictions have been imposed by Allah in his wisdom to increase trust among close relations by prohibiting incestuous relations, increase love and affection among close relations, expand family ties beyond close circle etc. In Islam marriage is also prohibited with foster mother who has suckled him during the period of weaning and with foster sisters, foster aunt and foster nieces.

Muslim wedding laws also prohibit marriage with mother in law, the stepdaughter, and the daughter in law. Islam has also forbidden having two sisters as co-wives. It is also prohibited to marry a woman who is a Mushrik (that is who worships idols or associates other deities with Allah). It is however lawful for Muslim men to marry chaste women (that is women of virtue and character) from among the Jews and the Christians.

Islamic marriage laws allow a man to marry more than one woman but put serious restrictions on this. It requires agreement of the new wife, his ability to maintain more than one wife, equality among the wives, etc. It is for this reason that very few Muslim men marry more than one woman. Islam has allowed this to man to curb illicit sex. Illicit sex is a very degenerating thing for humanity and leads to the debasement of women through prostitution. Islam has totally rejected prostitution.

To conclude, the law governing the organizing of an Islamic marriage may seem a little harsh to some people, but in truth it is easy, practical, rational and in keeping with human nature. Mankind can only benefit by following these regulations in true spirit.