:salam2:
Question 1:
Arranged Marriage ---> A recommendation of potentially suitable partner for marriage by family..relatives..friends..and/or coworkers
Love Marriage ---> An emotional or physical attraction towards another person upon which the attracted..proposes to the one they are attracted to as to make sure that this attraction lasts a life-time.
Forced Marriage ---> Culture..selfishness..close-minded-ness!!!
The line between arranged marriages and love marriages is quite thin actually..and many times it is crossed by parents who think they are capable of making choices which will not carry any consequences..and many times..the consequences are just a huge bundle of MISERY for one or both sides of the marriage...
I am Arab..and unfortunately..there are those who still hold on to the practice of "naming" a girl for her "cousin" (from her father's side) upon birth..or sometime later in her childhood...
This girl and her cousin..will *have* to marry..even if they never like each other..and never think of each other in that manner...the girl's family turn down suitors even if they are more suitable..they don't allow the guy to marry anyone else even if he finds someone better..and sometimes...the guy and the girl are not even *notified* of such decisions..until for example someone proposes to the girl and she wants to accept or the guy tries to propose to someone..and then the parents say *no..you are for your cousin..and your cousin is for you*..
Many times..the guy will find another girl..which he likes..and he insists on marrying her..and he does..thus leaving the girl..who might've gotten to an age *culturally* considered not *good-enough* for marriage!..or because her family has turned away so many suitors..people do not want to propose for fear of disappointment and embarrassment!
So do you see the mess???
That's aside from the practice of not marrying into families from other tribes..to keep the tribe "pure"..the practice of marrying a girl so her dowry would pay off debts..having a guy marry into a family for power and/or wealth..and so on...
All of these situations..sobhanallah..take place upon the hands of those who are ignorant of the *clear rights* the Qura'an and the Sunnah have set for the woman and the man who wish to marry each other...or who know them..but still think...*my forefathers have done this for generations and I will do the same*..or *I am older and I know what is right*...
Now regarding arranged marriages (in their *sound* and *correct* sense) and love marriage..and their success...
I say...success is from Allah (swt)...sobhanallah..I have seen and heard of marriages of both natures which have been (and still are) very very very successful..mashallah!..and have heard and seen of some that have miserably failed..within *months* of their consummation!..
So it's difficult to point a finger at *one* outcome..give a specific number..or a *single* determined experience..and say...*yes..this marriage is this..and that marriage is that*
And even though I lived in my country until I was 11..and have lived here in the US until now (I will be 23 in about a month)..but I still interact with Arabs here..and have contact with my family back home..so I am aware of arranged marriages and such..it is not a new concept for me
Question 2:
Our Qura'an says *wala taqrabo al-zina* (and do not come close to zina)..
Which dictates that we *avoid* acts..emotions..and thoughts which may lead us to *it* to the best of our ability..because we may not always be able to make things "halal" (i.e. marry the person we want or love)
So in the shadow of such wisdom..I can say that I sense a preference towards *patience* and *endurance* regarding factors which may lead to marriage..meaning..we should not have our *want for marriage* be an execuse for *looking around* or *hooking up* with different people...we only need to ask Allah to aid us..and approach the issue in a sound manner not contradictive to the Qura'an and the Sunnah...so we may find that which satisfy us..inshallah
Now...the heart of man is in the hand of Allah (swt) and He turns it as He pleases..and He (swt) decrees an ample variation of destinies for His servants...in the case that one might feel an emotional attachment towards another (which sobhanallah..can happen with *anybody*)...they are to immediately seek marriage as its *seal*...if they are unable to accomplish such commitment..then they need to *battle* that emotion..or *lock it up*..until they are able to..because *again*..*love* is *never* an execuse to speak to another or interact with them because an *intention* of marriage is present
and the prophet (pbuh) had said:
“There is nothing for two who love one another like marriage.” [Ibn Majah]
So you see..though there is preference of a certain *way*..love is acknowledged as well..but with an emphasis on its *ending* result..in other words..should it exist..then it should have its *good reason* and its *honorable accompanying action*
Love is pure..until shaitan locates it within our hearts and he and begins to taint it with his evils..and though we are stronger than he is..he is *tricky* and he does not tire from trying to make us fall from grace..so we should seek refuge with Allah..and build the path of halal with bricks of taqwa and purity!
We should always rely on Allah when it comes to our qisma..never attempting to hasten it..or have it head in the direction that pleases us..those who seek what is halal will verily be encompassed by Allah's aid and success..so they should rely on Him (swt) and trust in Him..and accept what He chooses for us..for He knows everything...and we know nothing..and *patience* is divinely compensated according to its degree
Question 1:
Arranged Marriage ---> A recommendation of potentially suitable partner for marriage by family..relatives..friends..and/or coworkers
Love Marriage ---> An emotional or physical attraction towards another person upon which the attracted..proposes to the one they are attracted to as to make sure that this attraction lasts a life-time.
Forced Marriage ---> Culture..selfishness..close-minded-ness!!!
The line between arranged marriages and love marriages is quite thin actually..and many times it is crossed by parents who think they are capable of making choices which will not carry any consequences..and many times..the consequences are just a huge bundle of MISERY for one or both sides of the marriage...
I am Arab..and unfortunately..there are those who still hold on to the practice of "naming" a girl for her "cousin" (from her father's side) upon birth..or sometime later in her childhood...
This girl and her cousin..will *have* to marry..even if they never like each other..and never think of each other in that manner...the girl's family turn down suitors even if they are more suitable..they don't allow the guy to marry anyone else even if he finds someone better..and sometimes...the guy and the girl are not even *notified* of such decisions..until for example someone proposes to the girl and she wants to accept or the guy tries to propose to someone..and then the parents say *no..you are for your cousin..and your cousin is for you*..
Many times..the guy will find another girl..which he likes..and he insists on marrying her..and he does..thus leaving the girl..who might've gotten to an age *culturally* considered not *good-enough* for marriage!..or because her family has turned away so many suitors..people do not want to propose for fear of disappointment and embarrassment!
So do you see the mess???
That's aside from the practice of not marrying into families from other tribes..to keep the tribe "pure"..the practice of marrying a girl so her dowry would pay off debts..having a guy marry into a family for power and/or wealth..and so on...
All of these situations..sobhanallah..take place upon the hands of those who are ignorant of the *clear rights* the Qura'an and the Sunnah have set for the woman and the man who wish to marry each other...or who know them..but still think...*my forefathers have done this for generations and I will do the same*..or *I am older and I know what is right*...
Now regarding arranged marriages (in their *sound* and *correct* sense) and love marriage..and their success...
I say...success is from Allah (swt)...sobhanallah..I have seen and heard of marriages of both natures which have been (and still are) very very very successful..mashallah!..and have heard and seen of some that have miserably failed..within *months* of their consummation!..
So it's difficult to point a finger at *one* outcome..give a specific number..or a *single* determined experience..and say...*yes..this marriage is this..and that marriage is that*
And even though I lived in my country until I was 11..and have lived here in the US until now (I will be 23 in about a month)..but I still interact with Arabs here..and have contact with my family back home..so I am aware of arranged marriages and such..it is not a new concept for me
Question 2:
Our Qura'an says *wala taqrabo al-zina* (and do not come close to zina)..
Which dictates that we *avoid* acts..emotions..and thoughts which may lead us to *it* to the best of our ability..because we may not always be able to make things "halal" (i.e. marry the person we want or love)
So in the shadow of such wisdom..I can say that I sense a preference towards *patience* and *endurance* regarding factors which may lead to marriage..meaning..we should not have our *want for marriage* be an execuse for *looking around* or *hooking up* with different people...we only need to ask Allah to aid us..and approach the issue in a sound manner not contradictive to the Qura'an and the Sunnah...so we may find that which satisfy us..inshallah
Now...the heart of man is in the hand of Allah (swt) and He turns it as He pleases..and He (swt) decrees an ample variation of destinies for His servants...in the case that one might feel an emotional attachment towards another (which sobhanallah..can happen with *anybody*)...they are to immediately seek marriage as its *seal*...if they are unable to accomplish such commitment..then they need to *battle* that emotion..or *lock it up*..until they are able to..because *again*..*love* is *never* an execuse to speak to another or interact with them because an *intention* of marriage is present
and the prophet (pbuh) had said:
“There is nothing for two who love one another like marriage.” [Ibn Majah]
So you see..though there is preference of a certain *way*..love is acknowledged as well..but with an emphasis on its *ending* result..in other words..should it exist..then it should have its *good reason* and its *honorable accompanying action*
Love is pure..until shaitan locates it within our hearts and he and begins to taint it with his evils..and though we are stronger than he is..he is *tricky* and he does not tire from trying to make us fall from grace..so we should seek refuge with Allah..and build the path of halal with bricks of taqwa and purity!
We should always rely on Allah when it comes to our qisma..never attempting to hasten it..or have it head in the direction that pleases us..those who seek what is halal will verily be encompassed by Allah's aid and success..so they should rely on Him (swt) and trust in Him..and accept what He chooses for us..for He knows everything...and we know nothing..and *patience* is divinely compensated according to its degree