UK Muslims Test the Waters with Temporary Marriages
- 11 years ago
UK Muslims test the waters with temporary marriages.
Practicing Shia Muslims in the UK working to meld their religion with their Western lifestyles are re-examining the option of temporary marriages.
The practice was once popular among males who traveled long distances and desired companionship on their journey.
Sara, a Birmingham pharmacist, said she and her now permanent husband did it because, “It allowed us to meet without breaking the bounds of Islamic law. We both wanted to date, to go out for dinner or go shopping and just get to know each other better before getting married, which we wouldn't have been able to do otherwise.”
She described it as a contract in which both parties negotiate the timeline and their own conditions.
While there are many who oppose traditional marriages, supporters of the option note that among the stipulations placed into the contract, limitations on physical contact are permissible.
Interfaith marriages in the United Kingdom are also on the rise.
With Muslim and Christian or Jewish pairings becoming increasingly common, a handful of religious clerics and support groups have emerged. They assist in forming unions without requiring either party to convert to the other’s faith.
Practicing Shia Muslims in the UK working to meld their religion with their Western lifestyles are re-examining the option of temporary marriages.
The practice was once popular among males who traveled long distances and desired companionship on their journey.
Sara, a Birmingham pharmacist, said she and her now permanent husband did it because, “It allowed us to meet without breaking the bounds of Islamic law. We both wanted to date, to go out for dinner or go shopping and just get to know each other better before getting married, which we wouldn't have been able to do otherwise.”
She described it as a contract in which both parties negotiate the timeline and their own conditions.
While there are many who oppose traditional marriages, supporters of the option note that among the stipulations placed into the contract, limitations on physical contact are permissible.
Interfaith marriages in the United Kingdom are also on the rise.
With Muslim and Christian or Jewish pairings becoming increasingly common, a handful of religious clerics and support groups have emerged. They assist in forming unions without requiring either party to convert to the other’s faith.