Marriage, according to Islam, is the fundamental institution which aims at establishing the family, the first unit of society. Thus marriage is a sacred institution tha must be protected from any harm. Marriage in Islam partly aims at the multiplication of human race. Psychologists and sociologists agree that the best environment for the growth of child in his familiy. That is why Islam encourages marriage and protects family againts all forms of corruption in order to develop the psychological health of men, women and children. Without marriage, there would be no family; without the family, there will be no psychological-balanced human life for adult or for children.
When a man plans to marry a certain woman, he makes a proposal of marriage to her or to her parents or he guardian. In the meantime, no man else can propose to the same woman, until the first man withdraws his proposal or is rejected. The reason here is to avoid any enmity caused by quarrelling over marrying a certain woman.
In Islam marriage should be based on the consent of both side; husband and wife. The husband gives the wife a dowry specified in the marriage contract and this dowry is paid to the wife at the time or contracting the marriage. The amount of the dowry in Islam depends on the financial ability of the husbnad and on the social position of the wife. In many cases, the dowry in the Islam is divided into two parts: an advance dowry and a deferred dowry. The advance dowry is paid upon contracting marriage and the deferred dowry is paid upon the termination of the marriage whether by death or separation.
A muslim is allowed to marry a non-Muslim woman who believes in revealed religion. Thus a Muslim is allowed to marry a Christian or Jewish woman. However, a muslim woman is not allowed to get married to an non-Muslim man, because, being the leader of the family, the husband may render his muslim wife directly or indirectly a non- Muslim. Moreover, a Muslim believes in the true Christianity and true Judaism, but a Christian or a Jew does not believe in Islam.
Men have the right to choose their wifes and women have right to choose their husbands. Of course a young girl might not have enough experience to choose the right man; therefore, the advice or her father or guardian has its justification. But no father or guardian has the right to force the girl to get married to a man whom she does not accept. In other words, in Islam, the consent of the woman to marry a certain man is essential.
It is due to the teaching of the Qur’an that the Prophet (PBUH) declared divorce to be the most hateful of permitted practices. Therefore, in spite of the facility with which divorce may be effected, it takes place only rarely among muslims, compared with the large number of divorces in non-Mulims societies. A true Muslim faces the difficulties of married life and avoids the disruption of family relations as long as possible, turning to divorce only as last resort.
Not only must there be a good reason for divorce, but also all means to effect reconciliation must be exhausted before resorting to this extreme measure. The impression that a Muslim husband may divorce his wife for no good reason is a grave misunderstanding of the Islamic institution of divorce. The Qur’an refers to several reasons when divorce may become necessary, but it does not cite all them.
When either husband or wife find that it is impossible to continue living together, divorce must follow. It is not, of course, meant that every disagreement should result in divorce. In the Qur’an such disagreement si called “Shiqoq” (from the word syaqqo, meaning breaking into two) . The Qur’an says: “And if you fear a breach (shiqoq) between the two appoint a judge from his kin and a judge from her kin; if they both desire agreement, Allah will effect harmony between them.” (4:35)
A divorced woman or a widow in Islam must wait for a certain period before she gets married to another man. A divorced pregnant woman cannot get married before giving birth. One reason for the regulations is to avoid any confusion that may arise concerning the father of any probable embryo.
Picture by Kawan Imut
When a man plans to marry a certain woman, he makes a proposal of marriage to her or to her parents or he guardian. In the meantime, no man else can propose to the same woman, until the first man withdraws his proposal or is rejected. The reason here is to avoid any enmity caused by quarrelling over marrying a certain woman.
In Islam marriage should be based on the consent of both side; husband and wife. The husband gives the wife a dowry specified in the marriage contract and this dowry is paid to the wife at the time or contracting the marriage. The amount of the dowry in Islam depends on the financial ability of the husbnad and on the social position of the wife. In many cases, the dowry in the Islam is divided into two parts: an advance dowry and a deferred dowry. The advance dowry is paid upon contracting marriage and the deferred dowry is paid upon the termination of the marriage whether by death or separation.
A dowry in Indonesian Muslim tradition: a Qur'an and shalat equipments
A muslim is allowed to marry a non-Muslim woman who believes in revealed religion. Thus a Muslim is allowed to marry a Christian or Jewish woman. However, a muslim woman is not allowed to get married to an non-Muslim man, because, being the leader of the family, the husband may render his muslim wife directly or indirectly a non- Muslim. Moreover, a Muslim believes in the true Christianity and true Judaism, but a Christian or a Jew does not believe in Islam.
Men have the right to choose their wifes and women have right to choose their husbands. Of course a young girl might not have enough experience to choose the right man; therefore, the advice or her father or guardian has its justification. But no father or guardian has the right to force the girl to get married to a man whom she does not accept. In other words, in Islam, the consent of the woman to marry a certain man is essential.
It is due to the teaching of the Qur’an that the Prophet (PBUH) declared divorce to be the most hateful of permitted practices. Therefore, in spite of the facility with which divorce may be effected, it takes place only rarely among muslims, compared with the large number of divorces in non-Mulims societies. A true Muslim faces the difficulties of married life and avoids the disruption of family relations as long as possible, turning to divorce only as last resort.
Not only must there be a good reason for divorce, but also all means to effect reconciliation must be exhausted before resorting to this extreme measure. The impression that a Muslim husband may divorce his wife for no good reason is a grave misunderstanding of the Islamic institution of divorce. The Qur’an refers to several reasons when divorce may become necessary, but it does not cite all them.
When either husband or wife find that it is impossible to continue living together, divorce must follow. It is not, of course, meant that every disagreement should result in divorce. In the Qur’an such disagreement si called “Shiqoq” (from the word syaqqo, meaning breaking into two) . The Qur’an says: “And if you fear a breach (shiqoq) between the two appoint a judge from his kin and a judge from her kin; if they both desire agreement, Allah will effect harmony between them.” (4:35)
A divorced woman or a widow in Islam must wait for a certain period before she gets married to another man. A divorced pregnant woman cannot get married before giving birth. One reason for the regulations is to avoid any confusion that may arise concerning the father of any probable embryo.