Women + Family

Teachings on Women + Family

The family is irreplacable - considered the fount of the human race, it's culture, society and civilisation, the stability of any civilisation hinges on healthy families
Islamic law priviledges family law over other institutins - no longer a reliable guide to social practice
Harim = part of the household reserved for women
Mahram = The kinship group women are forbidden sexually by law but are free to associate with
Because woman can bare children, they have primary responsibility over home and family - mean have the duty to share such burdens and set an example of manhood
Role of Children - obey parents

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Women have a symbolic role - seen as the heart of the religion
Parents must nuture children
Idea of maintaining Izzat - honour and prestige
Family members = distinct roles, husband supports financially, wife maintains and supports religious tradition - women must keep a halal home
A muslim woman can disobey her husband if he orders her to do something against the will of God - e.g. cruel, nasty, selfish or dishonest

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The importance of a woman's rights and responsibilities is in the Qur'an and Hadiths
A sister only shares half the proportion of her brothers inheritance, men are the protectors of woman and this is to provide for them
In certain legal proceedings, a woman's testimony is worth half of a man's
Muhammad greatly improved the position of women of his time - guaranteeing them basic rights of marriage and inheritance, a husband was obliged to proved for his wife/wives - whom he had to treat equally
'Marry such women as seem good to you, 2, 3, 4; but if you fear you will not be equitable, then only one, or what your right hands own (i.e. slave girls)' Qur'an 4:3

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The marriage contract - Nikah is a legal contract sanctioned by divine law - it is not a sacrament (to be under the influence of love is considered a state of intoxication which clouds judgement) but a social contract which brings rights to ordinary men and women - it is only successful when they are mutually respected and cherished
Marriage was recommended by Muhammad
Forced marriages: parents forbidden to force their children to marry (HARAM), if they tricked/forced the marriage it is invalid under Shar'iah law
Arranged marriage: it is usually done for 1st marriages, Muslims have the right to refuse to be married off and it is a cultural practice (inc. non Muslim cultures)
A marriage is a 'mithaq' - a firm contract between 2 adults (of sound body and mind) to which everyone is accountable for thei own deeds and actions

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'Whoever has married has completed half of his faith' (Bayhaqi)
'Shighar' marriage is where one bride and her dowry is exchanged for another bride and her dowry (therefore dowrys don't have to be paid - not legal)
Marriage = widely publicised
Nikah Mutah - a marital agreement with a set time limit (a few years or a few minutes), a way of fulfilling sexual and emotional needs without comitting adultery - FORBIDDEN for Sunni Muslims
Dowry/Mahr is a symbolic understanding of economic responsibilities, it is an agreed settlement the man is obliged to pay upon marriage
Only the Shi'a view the woman as a 'full legal entity coequal with her male counterpoint'
Wale = a supervising guardian who assists someone in need of a spouse
Wedding = very simple, the bride doesn't have to attend (she can have two winesses to her agreement) - what she wears is cultural

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Divorce is allowed but frowned upon, it is accepted in behaviour (becoming cruel, abusive, unfaithful etc.) or morality and ethics (concealing information, husband = sterile, insanity, desertion)
Both parties must be conscious, sane, have no pressure/influences and not be overly angry
A Khul divorce is when a woman wants a divorce without the above grounds and the husband doesn't wish it
Talaq = divorce, the couple must wait 3 months (try and reconcile) and after this period, the divorce is valid
- If she is preganant, she has the right to stay in the house and be treated well until the child is up to 2 years

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