Challenges facing Islamic marriage
Fatwa No: 91024

Question

What are the challenges Islam is facing on marriage?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

The enemies of Islam are keen on spoiling the true image of Islam by raising some misconceptions about marriage in Islam, they raise for instance the following issues:

1)     Polygamy, which is that a man is permitted to marry up to four wives and this is legislated by the text of the Quran, provided that one is able to be just between them. Allaah Says (which means): {…then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one….}[Quran 4:3].

2)     Allaah stated that it is the husband who is in charge of his wife [and he is her protector as he spends on her and provides for her from his wealth] because the family could not be set up except if there is someone who is running the affairs of the family, and Allaah put this task in the hands of the husband as He Knows that he is more appropriate to fulfil this task; it is He Who created all the creation and He Knows what benefits them. Allaah Says (which means): {Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth.}[Quran: 4:34].

3)     In principle a woman should remain in her house and she should not mix with men in their work as this causes the loss of the family and children.

4)     A woman should not go out of her home or travel except with her husband's permission.

They also raise misconceptions on other issues which Allaah or His Prophet legislated. In sum, they want to change the Law of Allaah and His Prophet . Some of them claim that following one's desires is better for this contemporary era but in reality they do not realize that what is good for mankind at all times and all places is what Allaah and His Messenger chose for them. If the matter is left to them, they would probably choose what would destroy them and spoil their life; and reality testifies to this. Allaah Says (which means): {… and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allaah knows but you do not know.}[Quran 2:216].

Allaah Knows best.

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