The Marriage Project: A Project Nation
This started as a comment on the article with the same title done by Rami Elsawah and turned into another article in its own right on the same subject. Jazaka Allahu khayran Rami for bringing this up.
In my career as an instructor of “Fiqh of Love” and “Love Notes” with AlMaghrib Institute, the activity and survey sessions conducted in the class environment included many personal questions submitted by students (both men and women), regarding marriage and marital life. Through this, and the overwhelming marriage counseling sessions and advices given in the course of the past four to five years, I was able to collect enough data and statistics to open a window on the status of social life in the Muslim community in America and provide an insight into the crisis of marriage we face here. The findings com from multiple locations all around the country including places such as Houston, New Jersey, New York, Chicago, The Bay Area and elsewhere - and the results were startling. The marriage crisis is a big crisis indeed, and while many of our respected older generation are unaware of it, or at least act like that, the youth were left helpless and sometimes hopeless.
In my lecture at Ilmfest in NY “The Crisis of Marriage” back in March 2008, I attempted to speak for the youth, voice their concern and highlight some of these findings, which I’m working on publishing as a separate research insha’Allah. Many of these problems fall into systematic categories that can be summarized into three:
1. Conventional -mixed- views of marriage.
This includes, but not exclusively, issues such as ideals of love and marriage, the premarital life and experience and the determination of readiness in terms of education, career and finances.
2. Gender issues (and yes we do have a gender issue in the Muslim community).
This in this age is a natural contribution of the western culture to the American Muslim community. It includes issues of feminism, gender expectations, sexuality and marriage patterns especially egalitarian marriage and its challenge to the traditional Islamic version of patriarchy.
3. The cultural expectations.
We cannot deny the existence of at least two generations from two different cultures widely misconstrued as one culture, first generation of Muslim immigrants and the second generation of Muslims who were born or grew up in America.
The Muslim community in America is also one of the, if not the most, diverse community in America in terms of ethnicity, race, culture, education, economy, background and religious affiliation (on juristic, political and sometimes sectarian ground). With all this diversity and without getting into the details of this matter, different cultural expectations arise.
Parents (for too many different reasons) are unfortunately rated as the number one reason why too many men and women are delaying their marriages. Surveying the youth, they admit that once they hit the road of career -per their parent’s demands- and pass the emotional cycle of love and enamor, the desire for marriage becomes for no more than a social requirement that influences their choice. Hence the decision for marriage is usually pragmatic. These marriages are what I call ‘Technical Marriages’ and many people today are technically married but not wholeheartedly married. Some decide to delay their marriages further fearing they might fall into this abyss of technical marriage not realizing that by doing so are increasing their chances of falling into it.
One other crisis facing the Muslim community largely overlooked by many observers is the issue of sustaining the few marriages available among the youth in America and the West. There is an illusive feeling of satisfaction among the crowd that once the marriage is done, the job is also done. Well, not so fast.
One of the very famous statements repeated in my love and marriage lectures is when you decide to get married: “Never Make Failure an Option” i.e. do not just try it; commit to it and put all your heart and effort into make it successful. Your spouse does not come with a 30 day return policy or ‘satisfaction guaranteed’, so stop whining and do not waste your time looking for the 1-800 number on your marriage contract…you won’t find it.
The divorce rate among Muslim families is higher than it should be, and higher than it used to be. Muslims who once were proud of their marriage institution as one of the most successful in the world can no longer take pride in that. We are facing a serious problem here; “Divorce.” It seems that most of the solutions presented to the market are focusing on one single issue, initiating the marriage. Now that I’m married, as someone might say, what shall I do next? That’s a question that many matrimonial services do not answer and hence increase the chances of divorce.
Many young men and women are left to experience marital life on their own once they initiate the marriage, thinking that if my parents managed their life, I can do so as well. The complexity of our time and life does not permit this simplicity anymore. There has to be a premarital education plan for those who are seriously thinking about marriage, and truly it should also include those who are not serious at all as well. Let them learn to be serious for once. Special programs, and that is another challenge by itself, should also be designed to educated parents - the in-laws to be.
This educational program should include, besides the conventional lectures on marital relations, topics pertinent to spiritual life after marriage, parenting in the west, economics and finances of marriage, psychology of marriage, the sociality of marital life and any area that experts believe essential to build a healthy marital life. Remember that sooner or later you will at least have to deal with the delicate issue of the in-laws. In short even marriage requires ‘coaching’. Our youth need ‘Marriage Coach’ services for at least the first year of marriage.
Once the marriage is been established and life starts going smooth for the first year, change will begin. Some changes happen rapidly and faster than the couple can comprehend in a timely manner, for instance a newborn child. Once this rapid change settles down - the child starts going to PK school - it becomes a new norm and the change turns slow and creating a routine. This, as it sounds, brings boredom to the marital life. Both scenarios put too much pressure on the family and cause lots of problems. The solution?! Regular or conscious marriage counseling. Muslims inherited the cultural bias against marriage counseling as a mean of intrusion. For some, a marriage that requires counseling is not worth saving. This view has to change and a professional ‘Muslim Counseling’ needs to be developed on national level.
My proposal for a solution, therefore, lies in developing three services:
- Practical and realistic eHarmony Islamic style ‘Matrimonial Services’ with clear comprehensive criteria.
- ‘Marriage Coaching’ educational service that springs from Islamic teachings and Muslim culture.
- Long term ‘Marriage Counseling’ to handle sever scenarios of difficult marriages.
As ambitious and idealistic this project might appear, I do not see it impossible to achieve, but it requires the participation of diverse sectors of the Muslim community in America and the West. This is not a one local Imam job or a single Islamic center or organization work. It’s a polycentric Islamic social movement on a national level that should involve think tanks and experts of multi groups of Imams, psychologists, sociologists, economists, educators, community leaders, parents and many more, and most importantly ‘the youth’. It is ‘A Project Nation’ - a Marriage Project.
Discussing the details of this project is beyond the scope of this article, but I hope by bringing this issue up for discussion we can further contribute to the solution.
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Why not use eHarmony itself? It’s something that’s out there and it’s working. Of course the religious component is missing, but, I am fond of the idea of seperating “personality” from “religious-identity”, people get caught up in the latter and end up being clouded on the former.
salaam,
Very, very insightful article. Love to see your more comprehensive work on this topic. Few comments and questions:
It was stated:
“Surveying the youth, they admit that once they hit the road of career -per their parent’s demands- and pass the emotional cycle of love and enamor, the desire for marriage becomes for no more than a social requirement that influences their choice. Hence the decision for marriage is usually pragmatic.”
I was really surprised to hear this. I though the desire would still be there even in later age. Do you see this more for one gender then the other ?
“Now that I’m married, as someone might say, what shall I do next? ”
I’d like to mention TheMuslimHousewife.com as a good source of inspiration and information for young Muslim Women
“The complexity of our time and life does not permit this simplicity anymore.”
I’d also like to note, it is much easier to divorce. If a marriage is going sour, wife can easily leave because she has higher education in which she can start working on her own. In the previous generations, the women didn’t have such skill set to exercise this option. Also, in America, compared to ‘back home”, it is much more socially acceptable to get divorced.
” 1. Practical and realistic eHarmony Islamic style ‘Matrimonial Services’ with clear comprehensive criteria.”
I am seeing so many people, especially sisters, struggling to find suitable mates. The halal avenue isn’t there.
” 2. ‘Marriage Coaching’ educational service that springs from Islamic teachings and Muslim culture.”
As a life coach, my strong desire is to start a coaching service. AfterNikah is in the works.
” 3. Long term ‘Marriage Counseling’ to handle sever scenarios of difficult marriages.”
Even if the marriage was done for the wrong reasons, human beings have the amazing ability to change their attitudes and paradigms. Inshallah, more Muslims would consider this before abruptly announcing their divorce.
Sh. Yaser, few questions:
- What is the top problems do you see in husbands ? in wives ? in America.
- What non-Islamic resources do a good job tackling the issues Muslims are facing ?
- Would it be fair to say that problem are beyond the ignorance of Islamic guidelines (Fiqh rulings) ? It is more attitude issues and/or lack of iman ?
Barikhallah feek
Asalaam Aleikum Warahmatullah Wabaraktu,
Sh. Yaser, Jazzakum Allah Khair for your analysis and efforts for change. In our most recent Almaghrib class Sh. Yaser Qadhi was talking about the Usul al Fiqh class you will be teaching and said in high regards for you (paraphrasing): ‘W’Allahi, when I heard Sh. Yaser was coming to America I was so happy for America itself.’
Do you think we should try to go through eHarmony itself or start our own thing. I wrote up a letter to eHarmony. If you think we should try going through them, let me know insha Allah and I will send it out.
Many of the brothers & sisters on this site have expressed interest in building a service from scratch. Personally, even though it will take a lot of effort and expert advice from specialists, we will have more interest in making the site Halal then they will, and I always prefer Muslims to be independent.
Otherwise, brothers and sisters who want to benefit the society and get in on this project, MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD!
as Brother Amad said:
Bineabble,
As we teach the young and adults about marriage today we try hard to get them out of the conventional view of looking for someone who is –just- religious. When Ibn Taymiyyah was asked regarding the selection of a Muslim leader, who should be selected, a righteous who is not skillful or a skillful leader who is less righteous? His answer was amazing: Select the skillful and surround him with righteous ones. This was taken from hadith Abu Dhar who asked the Prophet salla allahu alayhi wa sallam for an executive position. He was denied based on his weakness in this area, even though he was one of the early Muslims who accepted Islam.
Not all religious or righteous people –men and women- are skillful in marital life. When seeking for a religious spouse you should be looking beyond the image of religious-identity; you should be looking for religious who is skillful. How do you determine that? That’s when the idea of personality comes in. Practicing the deen is an indication of good religion, and this quality should not be compromised per hadith of Rasulillah salla allahu alayhi wa sallam, then comes the issue of personality which should be shaped by religion and piety (mannerism) plus personal experience and attitude.
I guess eHarmony cannot get deep enough in the mind of the practicing Muslims. Like many conventional banks do today, they hire a Muslim specialist to help manage an Islamic or semi-Islamic investment department. eHarmony can think of that as well. Remember, many practicing Muslims might have issues regarding posting their profile on a non-Muslim site. A Muslim supervised service might do the job.
The question comes up, are Muslims well prepared enough to start a project of that magnitude?
It depends on the circumstances, and I agree case discussed is more with women than men.
That is one of the gender issues that cause lots of problems. Families insist their daughters should finish their education first before marriage, a way to ensure a backdoor exit from any sour marital relation i.e. they are making failure an option. Their concern is understood and legitimate but this whole issue creates lots of controversy when not discussed thoroughly or if not understood and dealt with objectively.
My recommendation, between two extremes, for women -and I’m being transitional here- is to marry before they continue their education and for men to be more receptive to the idea of helping their wives find their selfworth beyond the conventional views of marriage if thats what they desire. Now the issue of career oriented spouse -husband or wife - at home thats another issue.
Ahmad,
I believe lack of patience and forbearance is one big problem between a husband and wife. Conflicting views on the value of sacrifice and the self-worth within the family from both partners bring up lots of challenging less family oriented decisions but more personal ones. It seems that the culture of individualism still works even after someone gets married. After marriage the couple should think more as a family, not withholding back any personal ambitions though but in a moderate and realistic manner. They have to adapt to the change. Rights and obligation and authority are other common areas for marital discord.
These are universal issues and human based cases and many books tackle them from this perspective. Any Muslim with decent knowledge of Islam and marital rights can figure out what is right and what is wrong. For example, in a recent article on the subject of the rights of wives, the author –who was a female- said: “We the wives have the right to flirt!!” with other men of course and then justified that with some repugnant reasoning that does not fit the Muslim code of modesty at all. I guess its obvious why this is wrong.
Rami,
I guess my earlier comment answers your question.
Subhann Allah,
You know, our problem is not that we don’t have the talented minds to do the job…but that we can’t unite them.
We have Dr. Mohammed Sadiq, over 30 years of psychology/counseling experience, and gives workshops all across North America
We have Al-Yaserain (or Yasirain), who have access to a national audience and are well respected students of knowledge.
We have all the Techie Muslims you could imagine
We have Muslim Lawyers, who could set up a Beit DIn (I hope Sh Yasir can write a follow up article on this issue insha Allah, under the Marriage project).
We just need to get all these people to get organized insha Allah.
On point, Shaykh Yaser. With the way that the higher education process is set up today, the prime age for people to get married is right amidst their undergraduate education. Getting a nikkah and delaying the walimah is an (even if not the ideal) option. It trains the couple in patience, discipline, and how to make it through difficult and busy times without serious financial consequence or burden hanging over their heads. This is an option that is ignored, albeit forgotten even, in our communities. It’s coming back slowly, insha Allah it’ll be restored to it’s potential. An article about the intricacies of nikkah/katb al-kitaab can be found here. Included in the article is a post on AlMaghrib’s forums by Shaykh Yaser about the proofs and reasons for nikkah.
Another issue that I have seen all too many times is when two people who are interested in marriage rush into a marriage. While engagement is not a formal institution necessarily, it still provides options for the couple to test each other’s compatibility with their own. Typically, practicing Muslims will rush into a marriage thinking that if they both practice Islam, everything else will work out. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. While both the brother and the sister may love Allah and His Messenger (saw), they may in fact have different personalities, hobbies, likes, dislikes, etc. Things like this need to be researched, and the waters need to be tested via the correct halal avenues.
Brilliant article, jazakAllahu khair!
Having passed the first step (getting married), it’s step 2 that’s important to me now… alHamdulillaah I’ve been observing my parents and their friends discuss marriage issues and help w/ marriage counselling for a long time, so I figure I’ve picked up some important things and will insha’Allah be able to implement that in my own marriage…
Anyway, again thanks to watching my parents at work, I definitely agree about the importance of points 2 and 3… also, the idea of getting “specialists” together to deal with these issues rather than leaving individual Imams or Islamic centres to do their best in their own communities is certainly intriguing, needed, and insha’Allah will be feasible!
It’s being worked on as we speak (or write)
Siraaj
Asalaam Aleikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatu,
Sh. Yaser,
Sh Waleed just recently hosted the 5th annual AMJA Imam’s conference where they dealt with career issues (Parameters of Lawful Trade and Professional Practices in Western Society).
Do you think it would it be possible to have Sh. Waleed use his influence with AMJA to have a similar conference on the issue of family counseling and coaching (from an Imam’s persepctive, how to take the place of a vacuum where we have no Qudaa and Islamic court). It would need to be on a larger scale though. If every Imam can push this topic into the heads of parents during Jumu’a Khutbah and really make a big issue out of then insha Alalh perhaps some change can be made. Also, the ICNA conference is coming up and we will have three Almaghrib Instructors speaking insha Allah. Is there any way to bring up these issues there, to the parents, the ones who really need to hear it.
Also, I gave a homework assignment to my sunday school kids (highschoolers), in which the assignment to was develop a 5-10 year plan with their parents as to marriage. I told them to ask questions like a) What can I do if I find someone I like when I go to college, b) what race am I allowed to marry from c) Do you already have someone picked out for me back home d) If I find someone but don’t have money will you support me? Alhamdullilah it worked pretty well. I think kids need to talk about this subject from high school, and really find out what they can and cannot do before they become surprised later on when they do want to get married.
Oh Br Siraj, Awesomeness!
Assalamu alaikum,
Jazakullahu Khair for the article Sh. Yasir,
With this wonderful introduction, I would like to announce the upcoming launch of a Muslim Marriage Mentoring Service under the supervision of our beloved Sh. Yasir Birjas himself. We will focusing on issues that cause major strains on Muslim marriages of today. We also have with us counselors that specialize in money matters, intimacy, conflict resolutions, parenting, goal setting, and much more. This will be a 12 month program that will take a couple through the thick and thin of marriage, and leave them with the tools necessary to continue a strong foundation towards marital bliss inshallah.
More details to follow soon inshallah.
Atiq
Siraaj, can you fill us in please?
“Al-Yasirain” - Love it!
Just to clarify — this would be counseling for people in their first year of marriage?
You’re not suggesting year-long pre-marriage counseling, are you? Because if you were, I have an idea, start a counseling program in which single people can join. By the end of the counseling, two results could happen (1) the Muslims running the program suggest to you a match from someone else in the program, or (2) if at that time there is not a match in the program, the Muslims running the program would match you up with someone when they come along.
There are lots of benefits possible — though I am brainstorming here, so comments would be welcome:
1) in the course of counseling, the counselors will get a really good idea of what kind of person the applicant is. A lot better idea than any eHarmony survey ever could.
2) eHarmony might ask a ton of questions, but that survey is static, a snapshot of a person. not as useful as an evolving picture of a person developed by a counselor over the course of time. counseling would show a person’s potential to growth and willingness to change.
3) it is not even necessary that your “ideal” match be in the program with you, not even that they be in the program in the same city (if it is offered in multiple cities), and who knows — your match may have entered the program with someone else! a couple enters the counseling program and alhamdolillah alaa kulli haal finds out that they are not compatible at all. not just good for them, good for each of them, because continuing with the counseling now as individuals means they can still be matched to someone else.
4) single people could probably attend any session that would be beneficial to a “couple” in pre-marriage counseling. why? any component of counseling that is so sensitive/intimate that it must be done in-couple, is one for which the participants do not yet qualify.
I am so glad I am getting my masters in psychology then I can help the Muslims in Marriage crises and actually contribute to these kind of programs.
Salamalikum Sheikh!
How much communication and in by what means (email/chat/phone/direct meetings) is appropriate between two interested individuals before nikah/wedding? I always see two extremes when looking at potentials either they want to get to you know too well thru lengthy phone calls/emails/chats or they they think meeting once or twice is good enough and the rest can be found out after getting married. How much should I “get to know” my potential mate and by what means without delving into the haram zone?
Jazakallah khair
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem:
Hey folks, I and my wife used E-harmony, and we got married back in 2006.
I think from the time we met on E-harmony to our marriage was within a month.
It was our experience that E-harmony system for narrowing down your potential spouse (based on your sincere entry/questionnaire) is pretty good.
Anyways, if some muslims can duplicate this service and enhance it for muslims then that would be great, but till then, dont rule out E-Harmony as a viable alternative.
Also, Rami, its nice to hear that you are doing good and contributing to your community, its been long since the Hidayaonline days.
Shk. Yaser, I will probably see you soon again in Irvine for your class. Insha’Allah.
Assalaamu Alaikum
I’m down to join the web development team for this site.
Catch: Plug halaltube.com
I am also one that is getting a masters in counseling and more than happy to provide premarital and/or counseling, it is totaly necessary in this time for the success of Muslim families and the children that will come out of the marriages and form the growing Ummah.
I would like to say that I believe this is an amazing idea, and I’m so glad that finally the issue has come out of the closet. I am willing to help this project in any way I can insha’allah.
I believe there is two major things that seriously need to be exaggerated and implemented n order for this huge project to go into full throttle.
1. The du’ah, we need to absolutely make du’ah for help and success.
2. As mentioned in Sheikh Muhammad AlShareef’s Fiqh of Da’wah class:::
Marketing, marketing, MARKETING!
And I plan to be working soon insha’Allah with a major Islamic Magazine, *Ya Rabb insha’Allah*. So I am willing to go ahead with the proactive approach in writing about this project if it’s okayed with the PM insha’allah.
As salaam ‘alaikum Sh. Yaser,
Jazaaka Allahu khairan for taking the time to write this. I’m most definitely looking forward to reading your combined research. Likewise, in the future if you can touch on how one goes about acquiring the necessary skills in being a Muslim Marital Counselor I would be greatly obliged.
Waffaqakum Allah.
Was salaam ‘alaikum
Salaam Alaikum,
Navaid, in response to your question “if you can touch on how one goes about acquiring the necessary skills in being a Muslim Marital Counselor I would be greatly obliged
In the USA there are only 2 persons that can provide any level of counseling or therapy 1. a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Clinical Social Worker, Psychologist or Professional Counselor; requiring at least a masters degree in those fields, 2. a person that is considered a religious leader aka Imam, Sheikh etc, and then that is legally considered pastoral counseling ; but on this level you cannot handle clinical issues and still are held to the standards of the law on certain issues of lethality etc.
If a person desires to put together a program that assists people without providing “counseling” that is another issue… which is how a program like AA can exist without having licensed professionals working in it because they have the 12-steps without providing “counseling or therapy”; although they have a system, format and group meetings. It gets sticky because you can get in hot water if you use the wrong wording, but also the level of training for working with couples that you get in a masters program better prepares for general couples work. The Islamic aspect of it is one that I intend to shape for myself by attending the Hartford Seminary program and get a MA in Islamic Chaplaincy, thus adding to my ability to work in depth with Muslim couples and incorporate Islamic approaches to healing, healthy relationships and practice into the sessions.
I would indeed like to talk further with anyone who is interested in this kind of work, my mother and I acttually conducted a marriage study a few years back at a large Masjid in the SF Bay Area and were left astonished by what we found.
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem:
You guys have probably seen/read this:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0428/p20s01-woam.html
Part of the article says,
“Hanaa Soltan, a newlywed in her late 20s, is grateful for the new dating flexibility. Her family allowed her to take advantage of nikah, an old tradition that allows something close to American dating. Under Islamic law, nikah is a legal marriage that entitles couples to all the privileges of marriage. In practice, most using a nikah remain chaste until their wedding night. If the couple decides to break up during the nikah, there’s far less stigma than getting divorced after the marriage ceremony.”
I am quiet amazed that Nikah can now be used as a potential “Islamic dating service” or get to know step for young muslims, before the actual consummation of marriage….I am pretty sure I have not heard any other muslim community living in the West (like UK, Australia and other countries, have tried this before)…
Not sure what are the social impacts of this to our muslim families and its long term effects on future muslim generations in US….Allahu Aalim
Assalaamu Alaikum
Brother Asif, the concept of doing the nikaah and having a period of “get-to-know-each-other” time before the waleemah is actually pretty common, I think… in fact, that’s what I did/ am doing - my husband and I have had our nikaah, but the waleemah will still be in quite a few months’ time.
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem:
Yes sister AnonyMouse, you are correct…and may Allah bless you and your husband, and your families through this marriage, and may you all be dwellers of Jannatul Firdaus…Ameen
I am aware of getting Nikah done earlier and then doing walimah later…this is actually nothing new, this was even done at the time of the Prophet (sallallahualehewasallam) in his marriage to our Mother Aiesha (radi-Allahu-anha).
This, however, is not what I am reading in this article…it somehow connotates that Nikah is used as a dating (to get to know in the American terminology)… Assuming if I am reading this correctly, then that would be different from the norm.
However, if I am reading this wrong, then pardon my interruption.
Allahu Aaalim
Assalaamu Alaikum
Using Nikah as a “Islamic dating” concept is just asking for the marriage to fail. Usually people delay the rukhsati and walimah for various reasons either financially, due to immigration, etc. however I think Nikah should be taken seriously and not just some “date”.
Yes, to be counseling as a profession you need to go to grad school (masters). To be considered a “psychologist” you need your PH.D.
Tasneem I am interested in what your findings for your study were!! Did you get it published yet? I am in beginning stages of masters program and focusing more on research methods and statistics. I eventually want to get ph.d in clinical psychology and maybe specialize in marriage counseling and/or PTSD. Have you seen studies done on positive psychology? That is very interesting to me!!
Could someone please tell me where we went wrong here. The idea of anything like dating is unlawful in islam period according to my limitted understanding. lets look at the word Nikah itself. ask your self some questions regarding the meaning of the word. do research and if anyone can come up with concrete evidance stating that anything such as dateing or anything like dating in islam is halal please look again. because we all know that what is halal is clear what is haram is clear than there are doubtful things if we stay away from those things we are more likely to not get into what is Haram IMashallah so let us help each other. A misunderstanding such as this 1 may be, just what someone who may be new to islam or less knowledgable needs, to be directed on the wrong path. May ALLAH Subhanahu watallah guide and protect us all and keep us on sirat.
As-salaamoulaikoum wa rahmtAllah,
Dear Sheikh Yaser, is it possible that you may authorize me to use excerpts of this article in Al Jumuah magazine for the sake of da’wah?
JezakAllah khair, please do let me know as soon as possible.
salam.
This would allow readers to visit this article online to review comments as well as to notice any corrections that the author might make later. Also, it publicizes the site, which is good for everyone… “Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa” (5.2)
Sister Oum… as with all our articles, you are free to include all/excerpts in any dawah, non-profit publication or distribution as long as you clearly reference muslimmatters.org as the source. If it is the whole article or a significant portion of it, then that reference should be highlighted, not hidden in foot-notes
I believe the original intent behind suggesting celibate marriages was not that Muslims spend time getting to know one another, and dating, so to speak.
It’s purpose was to combat the problem of parents on the one hand, allowing the couple to commit to marriage in an “engagement”, while not marrying. As a result, fitnah ensued as the couples would spend hours on end talking with one another, meeting at family gatherings, and so forth.
So instead of this being questionable and / or haraam, the solution was celibate marriage. The whole “get-to-know-you” aspect of it is not meant for a couple to get to know one another in terms of testing out the waters to see if they’re compatible - that part should have been completed BEFORE the nikaah.
This “get-to-know-you” phase is more like how married couples get to learn more about one another through being together post-marriage, but without physical intimacy.
Siraaj
I agree with brother Siraaj, celibate marriage is not for testing the water, it is to ‘reserve’ one another as some might call it, until they both are able to live together. Meaning, they have already made up their minds.
Using Nikah as a dating technique is wrong. If both parties had the Nikah done with the intention of checking one another it would violate one of the main intents of the marriage contract, ‘Continuity’. Temporarily contracts are not legal in the Islamic rule on marriage as they violate the principle of continuity and this one to me looks similar to the temporary marriage in this respect. In case the relationship does not work out, divorce is the legal exit out of it; and divorce is not the thing we would like to introduce to the youth and rush them to it.
And yes, Oum Abdurrahman, just follow what brother Amad said, and jazakillahu khayran.
Dear Sheikh Yaser and Brother Amad,
I’m sorry to announce that the word from my supervisor at Al Jumuah will not allow me to use this article as a reference because Al Jumuah is not a non-profit distribution, and for other reasons that I cannot completely mention here . IF you are willing to negotiate your stipulations do let me know by email. My supervisor said that perhaps we may be of some help for this website in the future insha’Allah.
Asalamu alaikum, I am looking for a muslim marriage counselor or a program like the one stated above (12 month program). How do I go about finding such information? jazakumullahu khair.