1. Human
Relationships
Topics to revise
•Roles of men and women in the family
•Marriage and marriage ceremonies
•Divorce
•Sexual Relationships and Contraception
Learning Objectives
Know the Key words for this topic
Understand how to use relevant quotes
Be able to practise exam questions on this topic

2. Describe:
The roles of man / woman / child in a Muslim family
What you should be able to do….
A Muslim wedding ceremony.
List:
The vows taken in a Muslim wedding ceremony.
The main Muslim teachings about marriage.
Explain:
Different Muslim views about sexual relationships
Different Muslim views about contraception
Different Muslim views about divorce

3. Roles of men and women in the family
Topics to revise
Traditional Roles – Men are superior
Women are expected to take care of the home and
children and men are expected to support their wives.
- “Men are in charge of women....” Qur’an 4:34
However, it is quite acceptable for women to seek an
education, or go out to work if their husbands agree.
Even thought they’re not the head of the family mothers
have a very high status in Muslim families.

4. Roles of men and women in the family
Topics to revise
Alternative / Modern View –
• Teachings of the Qur’an say that husbands should consider what’s normal in
society when dealing with their wives and that family decisions should be
taken together.

5. Marriage and marriage ceremonies
“Whoever among
you can marry
Marriage is recommended for three reasons: should because it
Marriage provides companionship helps him lower his
To provide a secure environment for having
children and bringing them up as practising gaze and guard his
Muslims. modesty” (Prophet
The sexual instinct is very strong and need Mohammad)
to be channelled.

6. Choosing a partner
Arranged marriages - Parents also have a
in most Muslim responsibility to help
Most Muslim believe if the marriage goes
communities,
that it is unwise for wrong.
parents search for
young men and
women to mix freely, suitable partners for
and dating is often their children.
discouraged.
The contract give both
the husband and wife
The marriage contract is rights and
considered to be more a “secular” responsibilities but
contract than a religious joining Muslims believe that it
contract. This is why both will only work out if the
partners must consent to it for it to couple respect each
be valid. other.

7. Marriage and marriage ceremonies
• Marriage ceremonies differ in different Islamic cultures, but there is
always a religious ceremony and a public ceremony.
• A contract (nikah) is drawn up in advance by the families of the bride
and groom and dowry (mahr) paid by the groom to the bride.
• At the ceremony vows are exchanged, and a marriage declaration is
made by each partner. There may be a reading for the Qur’an or a
speech (khutbah).
• There will be a big feast afterwards, though the men and women may
enjoy this separately.
• The marriage can take place anywhere but it is often held in a
Mosques or in the bride or groom’s home.

8. Civil Partnerships
• Wrong
• Homosexuality is strictly forbidden by Islamic Shari’ah law in may
Muslim countries it is still illegal. In some countries i.e. Saudi
Arabia, homosexuality act between men carry the death penalty.
• So Muslims do not approve of same sex relationships, or of civil
partnerships.

9. •
Divorce If things aren’t going
Divorce is permitted but only as a very last resort.
well an arbiter from each family should be appointed to try to sort
things out.
• Muslims see reconciliation as particularly important whe the couple
have children.
• But, in Islam, marriage is a contract, and like any other contract it can
be ended.
• When the man says “I divorce you” three times, the marriage is said to
be over. However, there’s often a period of three months after the first
of these declarations. The allows time for the reflection, and also to
ensure the women is not pregnant.
• A woman can divorce a man in the same way, if it was written into her
marriage contract. Otherwise she has to apply to a Shari’ah court for a
divorce.
• After the divorce, both men and women can remarry.

10. Sexual Relationships
Sex in a marriage relationship – ENCOURAGED
Sex before marriage and outside of marriage – FORBIDDEN – It is
very important to most Muslims that people, especially girls,
remain virgins until marriage.
Islam permits, but doesn’t encourage polygamy. A man may have up
to four wives, but only if he can support them and treat them
equally. (Muhammad actually had 11 wives)
However, in the UK the number of marriages is decreasing and it
becoming more popular for couples to cohabit instead of getting
married.

11. Contraception
• The Qur’an encourages procreation and Muslims believe that
conception is the will of Allah. So although contraception isn’t
specifically mentioned in the Qur’an, it’s often seen an unwelcome.
• Most Muslims feel that it’s the right of both husband and wife to try for
children, so both partners must agree to any contraception.
• Different Muslims have different views on contraception, eg in Iran,
contraception for family planning is actively encouraged. But more
conservative scholars and clerics have campaigned against
contraception.
• In most Muslim countries, contraception is permitted if:
There is a threat the mother’s health
It could help a women who already has children
There is a greater than average chance of the child being born
with a disability
The family is too poor to raise a child