Answering Islam

Besides "regular" Islamic (monogamous or polygamous) marriage there are various forms of "marriage" in Islam which are less well known, and which are controversial among Muslims as well: the Shi'a institution of MUT'A MARRIAGE (for a fixed term), the Sunni arrangement of MISYAR MARIAGE (the couple does not live together and the husband is not financially responsible for the wife, often a temporary institution as well), and 'URFI MARIAGE (also with lesser cost and responsibilities).

Muhammad put considerable emphasis on marrying women who are able to give birth to many children in order to increase the power of Islam, see BIRTH RATE.

al-Baqarah 2:235; al-Furqan 25:54. See also POLYGAMY

• adultery, bani Isra'il 17:32

  • between Muslims and non-Muslims.

  • evidence required (four witnesses), an-Nur 24:4

  • false accuser's punishment, an-Nur 24:4,19,23

    • never believe their testimony afterwards, an-Nur 24:4
      * Mistah, Hassan and Hamnah is said to falsely accuse 'Aisha of infidelity, refered to in an-Nur 24:4.

    • repentence, an-Nur 24:5

  • forbidden, bani Isra'il 17:32; al-Furqan 25:68

  • if there aren't four witnesses, an-Nur 24:6-9

  • marriage after, an-Nur 24:3

  • punishment for, an-Nur 24:2

  • repentence, an-Nisa' 4:16

• appoint arbiter from among you when fearing a breach, an-Nisa' 4:35

• cannot marry forster siblings (those who suckled at the same nurse), Sahih Bukhari 1.88

• complaints, al-Mujadilah 58:1

• don't hold wives against their will, an-Nisa' 4:19
  * Interestingly, the wives of Muhammad were not allowed to remarry. al-Ahzab 33:53.

• dowry, an-Nisa' 4:4,19-21,24-25; al-Ma'idah 5:5; al-Mumtahanah 60:10-11

  • other mutually agreed arrangements, an-Nisa' 4:24

  • woman may return it, an-Nisa' 4:4

• forbidden degrees of, an-Nur 24:32

  • to certain kin, an-Nisa' 4:22-24

  • to non-believers, al-Baqarah 2:221; al-Ma'idah 5:5; al-Mumtahanah 60:10

• fornication forbidden, an-Nisa' 4:24-25,27; al-Ma'idah 5:5

• if unable, an-Nur 24:33

• if woman fears mistreatment from her husband, an-Nisa' 4:128

• love (mawaddah) and tenderness, ar-Rum 30:21

• of fugitives, al-Mumtahanah 60:10

• part-time marriages, see newspaper report

• polygamy, an-Nisa' 4:3

  • restrictions about, an-Nisa' 4:3

  • warning against, an-Nisa' 4:129

• recline with spouses in Paradise, Ya Sin 36:56; al-Mu'min 40:8; az-Zukhruf 43:70

• spouses are raiment for each other, al-Baqarah 2:187

• the Prophet's, al-Ahzab 33:50

• to adopted son's ex-wife is permitted, al-Ahzab 33:37

• to man who doesn't ascribe divinity to aught besides God, al-Baqarah 2:221

• to orphans, an-Nisa' 4:3

• to single woman only, an-Nisa' 4:24

• to a slave

  • and among slaves, an-Nur 24:32

  • woman if need arises, an-Nisa' 4:3,25

    • better if men don't marry, an-Nisa' 4:25

    • even if she's married before being captured, an-Nisa' 4:24

    • punishment only half of free women's if immoral, an-Nisa' 4:25

• to unmarried only, an-Nur 24:32

• to women believing in previous revelation, al-Ma'idah 5:5

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