About Islamic Marriage Laws
Islamic marriage laws differ greatly in many aspects from Western marriage regulations, yet also share significant similarities. The laws regulating marriage between a Muslim man and woman are derived from the book of Allah, or the Quran, which mentions specific sets of restrictions and rules for any Islamic couple planning to wed.
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Function
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Muslim marriage is considered both a sacred and social contract under Allah. According to Islamic law, certain rules must apply for a marriage to be considered legitimate. Islamic marriages must include a clear proposal and acceptance, there must be at least two witnesses present during a marriage ceremony and the marriage must include some type of wedding gift from the groom to the bride. These requirements are thought to safeguard the validity of marriage under Islam.
Features
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There are several distinct features of Islamic marriage mentioned in the Quran. For example, a Muslim man has the right to see the woman he hopes to marry before proposing. One characteristic of Islamic marriage law which differs from marriage under most other faiths is a man's right to marry multiple women. All the wives involved must explicitly agree to the multiple marriages, which are allowed in order to prevent extramarital affairs or relations with prostitutes, which are rejected under Islam.
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Types
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In the Quran there are two different types of marriage referenced; Nikah and Nikā al-Mut'ah. The first type, Nikah, is a contract between a bride and groom that is finalized when the couple meets certain conditions. To obtain this marriage contract, the bride-to-be must consent freely to the marriage or communicate her consent through a close relative. Nikah marriages also require that a specific amount of money offered to the bride be agreed upon before the marriage takes place. Finally, there must be two male adult witnesses present at the ceremony, and the marriage must be widely publicized.
Nika al-Mut'ah, known as Sigeh in Iran, is a less traditional Islamic marriage contract that is set for a fixed amount of time and which ends automatically once this time period is over. Couples who have a Nikah Mut'ah marriage agree that they will cancel the marriage after the preplanned date, and aren't required to divorce in order to end the marriage.
Restrictions
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Some key restrictions are stipulated under Islamic marriage law, which the bride and groom must follow for the marriage to be considered valid. Firstly, a Muslim man cannot marry a woman whom he is related to in any fashion, with the exception of a cousin. This law is to prevent any type of incest and to promote trust among the family circle. Another primary prohibition according to the Quran is that a Muslim man or woman must not marry a partner who worships another god than Allah.
Misconceptions
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Though a widespread preconceived notion in Western society holds that women have few rights under Islam, this is not the case when it comes to the faith's true marriage laws. In fact, Islamic law clearly stipulates that a girl or woman has complete say over whom she chooses to marry, and that her wishes cannot be ignored by her father or other guardian. In the Quran, the Prophet Muhammed states that a woman who has already been married has more say over her life than her father does, and a virgin who protests a marriage must be heard.
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