Marriage & Family

• Adultery


  Sex with someone other than your spouse, considered a sin and completely forbidden (haram)
• Premarital sex


  Sex before marriage, wrong as sex is for procreation which should take place within a marriage
• Premarital sex encourages promiscuity
• The Qur'an suggests both men and women should remain virgins until after marriage
• Muslims are expected to marry and then have a family, as Allah has provided this for all Muslims
• Qur'an: 'Stay well away from committing obscenities'
• Qur'an: 'And do not approach adultery - it is indeed a shameful deed; and a very evil way'
• Qur'an: 'Women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity'
• Qur'an: 'And we have already sent messengers before you and assigned to them wives and descendants'
• Men and women have different roles in Islam

  According to the Qur'an, men and women were created differently by Allah, therefore Muslims believe that for biological reasons a woman should have a family and care for the children and a man should protect his wife and children
• Qur'an: '"Mankind! We created you from a male and female…"'
• Men and women should have different roles in the family and society

  According to the Qur'an, "Men are in charge of women by (right of) what Allah has given one over the other…"
• Prophet: '"The seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim"'
• The Prophet allowed women to lead prayers in a household which contained men and women
• Women were treated very badly in the Arab society before Islam arrived
• The prophet worked hard to transform the treatment of women
• Rights given to women in Islam

  • Right to education
  • Right to marry someone of their choice
  • Right to retain their identity after marriage
  • Right to divorce
  • Right to work
  • Right to own and sell property
  • Right to seek protection by the law
  • Right to vote
  • Right to participate in civic and political engagement
• Muslim views on contraception

  • Acceptable to use
  • Many choose not to use
  • Natural means given by God
  • Coitus interruptus tolerated by Prophet
  • Some artificial methods offer protection for mother
  • Allah may allow contraception to space out children
  • Artificial methods could be against God's will
• Prophet Muhammad had children
• Prophet Muhammad: '"And indeed We sent messengers before & made for them wives & offspring."'
• All Muslims should have a family as Allah intended
• Allah: '"He creates whatever He will."'
• Children are a gift from Allah, so it is not a person's choice to decide when they should have children
• Muslim Ummah


  Muslim community
• Family in Islam


  • At the heart of the Muslim Ummah
  • Helps Muslims be moral and guide them towards Allah's path
  • Crucial role in ensuring children are raised well, as good and faithful Muslims
• Muslims are encouraged to marry within Islam
• Prophet Muhammad: '"A woman is married for four [reasons]: her wealth, her family [status], her beauty, and her religion. Choose a religious woman, you will prosper."'
• Islam


  • Promotes love and kindness between members of family
  • Expects married couples to have children if they are able to
• The key purpose of human life is procreation
• Prophet Muhammad: '"Honour your children and make provisions for their proper upbringing"'
• Parents must give the best possible care to children
• Quran: '"We have commanded man to be good to his parents - his mother struggled to carry him and struggled to give birth to him…"'
• Prophet Muhammad: '"Paradise lies at the feet of your mothers."'
• Some Muslims today recognise the need for different family types because divorce is allowed in Islam and so blended families may result after a couple divorce and meet someone new
• Marriage


  A contract of family life, known as Nikah
• Marriage


  • A religious duty
  • Follows the practice of the Prophet
  • Promotes sharing of mutual love, support, companionship
• Qur'an encourages both men and women to get married
• Marriage


  • Acts as a moral safeguard
  • Prevents Muslims from having casual relationships or not seeing sex as special
  • Provides framework for couple to have children and raise them as Muslims
  • Symbolises religious and social unity as it bring family & friends together
  • Creates a stable society
• Prophet: '"No house has been built in Islam more beloved in the sight of Allah than through marriage."'
• Prophet: '"…the worst people of my nation are those who have kept away from marriage and are passing their lives as bachelors."'