Islam GCSE RS revision – Marriage and the family – Edexcel - BBC Bitesize (2024)

• According to most Muslims, Islam teaches that family should be part of Islamic society, providing security for all its members.

• Many Muslims see marriage as an essential part of life but divorce and remarriage are allowed in certain circ*mstances.

• According to the Qur’an, Allah made male and female to complete each other. Many Muslims believe this to mean that relationships are part of Allah's plan.

• Muslims believe that all humans have been created by Allah from a single soul but there are differing interpretations on the roles of men and women in Islamic worship.

Remember

There are two main branches of Islam - Sunni and Shi’a.

Find out more about the different branches of Islam.

For most Muslims, the family is an important institution and can include traditional , step-families or .

Depending on their culture, some Muslims see the extended family as the basis for the , therefore, different generations of families often live together. Other Muslims encourage living in a nuclear family, in order for there to be privacy. Regardless of the living situation, most Muslims are encouraged to keep a strong relationship with their extended family.

Teachings from the remind Muslims to: “Be fair and just to your children,” and “Blessed is he who is good to his parents.” Qur'an 46:15 encourages Muslims to be grateful for their parents and all they have done for the family. Further teachings refer to children honouring their parents:

Be kind to parents … do not say to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour.”

Qur'an 17:23

In Islam, the purpose of the family can include:

• To procreate – “For every tree there is a fruit, and the fruit of the heart is the child,” (Hadith of Prophet Muhammad). Many Muslims interpret this as evidence that children are a blessing from God.

• To provide stability and protection of children – “Honour your children and perfect their manners,” (Hadith of Prophet Muhammad). Many Muslim parents believe that they will be judged on how well they have raised their children.

• To raise children in the Islamic faith – Surah 3 encourages all Muslims to: "Hold onto the rope of Allah and not be divided”. For many Muslim parents, this duty includes demonstrating how to pray, how to keep food laws and to live a good Muslim life: “Command your children to pray,” (Hadith of Prophet Muhammad). Children may also be sent to a to learn how to read the Qur’an in Arabic.
  

Exam top tip

For your exam, it is important to know the definitions of key terms.

Take our quiz below to test your knowledge.

The nature and purpose of marriage

According to most Muslims, Islam teaches that marriage provides a stable and secure environment for the family. For many Muslims, marriage represents a faithful lifelong partnership and a social contract between two families which affects the whole . Many Muslims believe that Allah created marriage for the sharing of love and companionship.

There is nothing like marriage, for two who love one another.”

Hadith of Prophet Muhammad

Many Muslims believe that marriage is the foundation for family life. Young men are encouraged to marry because: “When a man marries, he has fulfilled half of his religion,” (Hadith of Prophet Muhammad).

Many Muslims see marriage and procreation as a duty, and the life-choice to remain unmarried and is viewed as going against the teachings of Muhammad.

The wedding ceremony in Islam

Polygamy

is illegal in the UK, but it is allowed under certain circ*mstances under Islamic Law where the laws of the country permit it.

Divorce

In Islam marriage is seen as an unbreakable bond. The teaches: "Marry and do not divorce; the throne of Allah shakes due to divorce".

The Hadith also teaches:

Of all the lawful acts the most detestable to Allah is divorce.”

Hadith of Prophet Muhammad

A Muslim couple and their families are expected to work hard towards reconciliation to save their marriage:

If you anticipate a split between them, appoint a mediator from his family and another from hers. If they desire reconciliation, Allah will restore harmony between them.”

Qur’an 4:35

However, if divorce becomes inevitable then many Muslims believe that as it's stated in Surah 2 of the Qur’an that: “Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing… All-Forgiving, All-Forbearing,” then a divorce can take place.

Divorce can be declared verbally or in writing according to Sharia law however, in the UK, a legal civil divorce is also required.

Remarriage

According to the Qur'an, if divorce occurs then the man should ensure that the wife is cared for until remarriage: “For divorced women maintenance must be given on a reasonable level. This is a duty on the righteous,” (Qur'an 2:241).

The Qur'an teaches that sex should only take place within marriage and that procreation is part of Allah's plan. Therefore, many Muslims would forbid hom*osexual relationships, since marriage can only take place between a man and a woman and procreation isn’t possible for a couple.

The Qur’an suggests that people who feel same-sex attraction shouldn’t act upon their feelings:

Why do you [men] lust after fellow men, leaving the wives that your Lord has created for you? In fact, you are a transgressing people.”

Qur’an 26:165-166

Despite this, some Muslims accept that same-sex attraction itself isn’t considered sinful, since feelings cannot be controlled; only acting upon these feelings is forbidden. For such Muslims, is encouraged.

Many Muslims believe that sex is a gift from Allah. The Qur’an teaches that the best place for a sexual relationship should be within marriage since your spouse should be a source of comfort:

They (women) are garments for you (men) and you are garments for them.”

Qur’an 2:187

Therefore, most Muslims believe in being before marriage and cohabitation is often viewed as wrong.

Teachings in the suggest that a man and woman should not be alone with one another unless they are to each other.

The Qur'an forbids sex before marriage as it is viewed as unlawful sex in Islamic law.

Most Muslims believe that faithfulness is very important within marriage and Islam teaches that is wrong.

And do not come near to adultery, for it is an outrageous act, and an evil way to act.”

Qur’an 17:32

For many Muslims, adultery is seen as a very serious sin because of the pain and disharmony it can cause in the .

When a man commits adultery, faith departs from him as if it were a cloud overhead.”

Hadith of Prophet Muhammad

Most Muslims believe that children are a gift and blessing from Allah: “He creates whatever He wills. He blesses whoever He wills with daughters, and blesses whoever He wills with sons,” (Qur’an 42:49).

Therefore, some Muslims oppose the use of contraception and believe that it contradicts what Allah expects and some of Muhammad’s teachings on procreation:

Marry the one who is fertile and loving, for I will boast of your great numbers.”

Hadith of Prophet Muhammad

However, most Muslims accept the use of contraception within marriage and some Muslims believe that there are times when bringing a child into the world would be irresponsible and cause suffering.

Muslims believe that Allah created men and women, and they are therefore equal.

But who so does good works, whether male or female, and is a believer, such shall enter heaven.”

Qur’an 4:124

However, there are some key women in Islamic history who hold great importance. For example, there are four women in Islamic sources, both , who are given the status of the most women in Islam: Asiya wife of Pharaoh, Mary mother of Jesus, Khadija wife of the Prophet, and Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet and Khadija.

In Islam today it is unusual for women to be imams, unless it is leading a women-only mosque. For example, female Imam Yonghua Zheng leads Friday prayers at a women's only mosque in China.

There are several Islamic teachings that place a high value on a mother bringing up her children, whilst men are expected to financially provide.

Some Muslims believe that women can perform religious duties at home, but they may also believe that when going on , a female should be accompanied by a male member of the family.

However, other Muslims believe that women can perform religious duties at the mosque as well as at home, and don’t need to be accompanied by a male relative during Hajj.

Men are the caretakers of women, as men have been provisioned by Allah over women and tasked with supporting them financially. And righteous women are devoutly obedient.”

Qur’an 4:34