the road (Shariati, 22).Weems 6Women do have quite a significant role in the religion of Islam. The female and male characters are particularly important to demonstrate certain ideas about guidance (Wadud, 32). Womens religious and moral duties vary according to social and marital status. Even an unmarried woman or one whose husband is not mentioned is linked with some male (Wadud, 33). A woman is regarded as little more than a possession, first of her father and her family, and subsequently, of her husband and his family (Esposito, 96). The status of woman and the family in the Muslim family law was the product of Arab culture, Quranic reforms, and foreign ideas and values assimilated from conquered peoples (Esposito, 96). Marriage in Islam is strongly recommended on religious, moral, social, psychological and physiological grounds (Abdul-Ruaf, 13). Marriage is regarded as the norm, a safeguard on chastity, and essential to the growth and stability of the family, which is the basic unit of society. Being regarded as a sacred covenant, marriage legalizes intercourse and the procreation of children. This ceremony also symbolizes two families coming together. Marriages are usually arranged by the families. They identify a worthy partner and finalize the marriage contract. The official marriage ceremony is quite simple. It consists of an offer (usually by the males family) and an acceptance by the parties at a meeting before at least two witnesses. A celebration follows shortly after. The preferred marriage is between two Muslims. However, while a Muslim man can marry a non-Muslim woman, Muslim women are prohibited from marrying a non-Muslim (Esposito, 97). ...
