Difference Between Catholic & Islamic Marriage

Islam and Catholicism define many parts of marriage differently.

Muslims and Catholics view marriage in contractual, practical, and spiritual terms, but stark differences exist in the details of these views. Catholics view marriage as a sacrament that requires monogamy and does not permit divorce. Islamic marriages start with a mutual contract and regards spiritual unity and mutual protection of honor highly.

Ceremony

Relevant sacred texts are read as part of wedding ceremonies.

The Islamic marriage ceremony is called "nikah," and includes a contractual agreement between husband and wife, and their families. The Catholic Rite of Marriage is considered one of Roman Catholicism's seven sacraments, where God specifically gives grace to each spouse during the ceremony and married life afterward.

Clothing Rules

The Hijab: a head covering worn by traditional Muslim women.

Though traditional Islamic garb is not exclusive to married women, these coverings take on new significance within an Islamic marriage as a method of guarding each spouse's honor. Even the most conservative Catholic spouses don't adhere to a specific clothing "policy" though the Church softly encourages a general modesty.

How Unity Occurs

The Qur'an says, "It is He Who created you from a single person, and made his mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her (in love)"(Surah 7:189). Initial unity of soul defines an Islamic marriage. Contrastingly, Roman Catholic spouses believe they were created separately, but purposed for one another. Biblical texts speak to this sense of marital destiny saying, "It is not good that the man should be alone" (Genesis 2:18 ESV), and "So they are no longer two but one flesh" (Matthew 19:6 ESV).

Divorce

In Islam, divorce is permitted but it's not a popular option considering the strong underlying spiritual beliefs associated with unity. The marriage contract may force a husband to pay a significant amount of money to the wife he's divorcing. In Catholicism, divorce is simply not an option. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops state it this way: "permission given to Moses to divorce one's wife was a concession to the hardness of hearts. The matrimonial union of man and woman is indissoluble: God himself has determined it."

Polygamy

Muslim husbands may have four wives, but no more, and each wife must be cared for well. Paul Flesher, director of the University of Wyoming Religious Studies Department notes that numerous regulations have made polygamy in modern Islamic marriages rare. Roman Catholic marriages require monogamy and view human marriage as a reflection of Christ and the Church.

References

• Islam From Inside: Marriage (Nikiah) in Islam
• University of Wyoming: Exploring Religions: Life Cycle Observances in Islam
• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: Marriage As a Sacrament

Resources

• University of Southern California Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement: Translation of the Qu'ran
• The Holy Bible English Standard Version