the strength of the community. I think it was difficult for me to believe at first because I couldn't imagine a many Christian women placing their religious obligation to their community before their own needs in finding a husband, though I'm sure there are many who would. I'm learning
Hi John,
I'm a non-Muslim and have been here for over a year. Think of it this way...
Example 1) When making bread, the most important ingredient is yeast. To activate the yeast you need heat and water. The whole purpose of the yeast is to make the dough rise which will eventually lead to soft, light bread..
In Islam, you can liken the yeast to faith (Imaan) and water and heat as Ummah (Muslim community). The eventual goal of all Muslims is to reach Jannah (paradise..or in this example, soft, white bread). Without the support of each member working correctly, that goal is not reached. The more members there are in the Ummah, the more bread you get....and who doesn't like sharing a good thing?! Right?
So that is an example of the general mentality of the Ummah, now for a more narrowed focus, of marriage. I personally do not agree with a polygamy marriage, BUT, I can understand the reasoning..
Example 2) If you've ever done any sort of mountain climbing that requires ropes, you know that the safest way is with two people, each supporting the other. One climbs up, stops, anchors in and the other climbs up and over, stops, anchors in and the whole process is repeated until the top is reached.
In a Muslim marriage, a matched pair of people work as a team in order to reach the top (Jannah). Each holding fast to their ropes (Iman) and using the rock (Deen, which means the religion of Islam) anchors (Ummah ) assisting each other to gain Jannah. Each member of the marriage has duties which they have to do (compulsary) like maintain personal supplies like spikes and hammers and anchors (The Five Pillars) , duties like assisting someone else carry the common load (enjoining good and forbidding evil), and duties that are recommended (Mustahabb) like Dawah (spreading the message of Islam) which keeps people secured in Deen and Iman. The climb itself, is life (dunya) and the struggles it presents.
I hope this helps you to understand Islam and Muslims and how interwoven each is with the other.