Sunday, August 12, 2018

Principles For Dating Muslims To Follow

By Ann Turner


Islam has a very elaborate guide on courtship and marriage. Dating Muslims are required to follow the guide, whether they met online or in the real world. There is punishment if you fail to observe these rules. Beyond being punished by the community, you will face the wrath of Allah, one whose punishment is severe.

A Muslim is at liberty to love anyone and even proceed to marry him or her. This is anchored in Islamic faith whereby people are encouraged to love and extend this love to all creation by Allah. The rules are only meant to protect those involved from hurting and also ensure that the society is not dysfunctional. This is why relationships, engagement, premarital contact and marriage are strictly guided.

The Quran does not restrict partners or a couple on where they should meet or who to fall in love with. These restrictions were prominent in traditional societies because people lived together. Courtship was easier because families knew the behaviors and characters of others through close monitoring. Courtships would also happen in full glare of everyone.

There is a growing trend of Muslims meeting over the internet. This has arisen because of the fact that people no longer live in exclusive communities. Further, they want to make personal choices and even date people from distant countries or cities. The fact that they are meeting online does not herald an end to supervised courtship. The rule on separation until marriage must be observed whenever you meet.

The main principle guiding courtship for a Muslim is to keep away from private spaces when alone with your potential partner. Being in a secluded place alone gives room for temptations that might lead you to sex. When you meet online, you must still not organize a session where you will be alone. In case elders in your life discover that this has happened, the courtship will be annulled.

Chaperon was responsible for supervising the courtship process in the traditional society. Where this is impossible, group activities are encouraged. Gather friends, age mates or even join families during gatherings. You are not even allowed to exchange a kiss until you get married. If the family learns that you have engaged in any of the prohibited activities, you will be sanctioned. The engagement might be broken for that reason.

Halal dating is the new version that is approved by clerics around the world. You are allowed to keep in contact with your target partner through the phone or via the internet. Even introduction by parents and relatives is allowed. Once you feel compatible and decide to spend your life together, you will sign a nikah, a contract that is just as binding as the marriage certificate.

Do not mistake courtship in Islam to be devoid of love and emotions. There are enough opportunities for the couple to make up their mind about each other. They are only restricted from private interactions before marriage to protect them from being hurt as well as protect the society from broken marriages. Whether you meet online or in real life, you must adhere to the principle of separation till marriage.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment