marriage, family, gender
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Going In Sorrow, But Not in Grief: Islam, Tolkien & Dying Well
It was the summer of 1979 that I visited the local Harrow Green library to borrow Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Around about four years earlier, over the course of a few months in morning assemblies, the head teacher of my primary school, one silver haired Mr. Smith, read to us Tolkien’s The Hobbit. I was expecting… Continue reading
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Searching for the Spouse-To-Be
Continuing our exploration into marriage, meaning, intimacy and cultural change, this blog discusses the matter of spousal selection. The first two parts of the blog may be read here and here. Let us re-commence, then, with the following prophetic remark: ‘A woman is married for four reasons: for her wealth, her lineage, her beauty and… Continue reading
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Marriage: Law, Spirit & Meaning
One hadith states: “Marraige is of my guidance; one who acts contrary to my guidance is not of me. Thus marry, that I may outnumber other nations by you. Those of you who possess the means should marry. If he cannot, let him fast, for fasting is a shield.”1 The Qur’an says: And of His… Continue reading
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Meditations on Marriage
This is not meant to be a detailed portrait of nikah, or marriage in Islam. What I do intend is to try and offer some thoughts and meditations on some hadiths exploring aspects of marriage and meaning, love and intimacy, as well as cultural change. As a sanctified social and legal institution, marriage is regarded in Islam… Continue reading