10 - Women: Right to Choose when it Comes to Marriage - Ramadan Reflections 2023

On the tenth day of Ramadan 2023/1444, we review the theme of "Women: Right to Choose when it Comes to Marriage." When we look at the private and personal lives of Muslims, we see that there are many issues which come into play. As much as we are individuals, we also seek to lead communal lives – and one of the most interesting relationships which Allah has given is that of marriage. A bond in which two people of perhaps completely opposite backgrounds, from two different parts of the world, two complete strangers, can meet and then live together for the rest of their lives. Marriage, between a man and a woman, and the creation of a family with, if Allah permits, children, is so important that Allah considers it as one of His signs. In this area, history shows us that in pre-Islamic Arabia, to an extent, women did not have freedom of choice of who to marry. In fact, in the minds of some of tribal groups, a woman was ‘inherited’ from the time of her death to then be the property/wife of another person – against her will! However, the Quran brought forth revolutionary teachings and ingrained in its verses, and Prophet Muḥammad showed us all practically – through his own personal example and that of his daughter, Fatima az-Zahra that women are free to choose their husband. Today, we review verse 232 of Sūrah al-Baqarah, although there are multiple verses of the Quran in regard to marriage: "When you divorce women and they have reached the end of their waiting term, (then, you judges, and you who are guardians of either party,) do not debar them from marrying their (former) husbands, (and O former husbands of them), from marrying other men, if they have come to an agreement between them on equitable terms. This is an admonition to whoever among you truly believes in Allah and the Last Day; that is a cleaner and purer way for you. And Allah knows, and you do not know."