Islamic Matrimonials Hit the Net
Meeting a potential Muslim spouse can now be done through cyberspace
Marriage in Islam represents the cornerstone of society. Marriage for Muslims does not only denote a major change in a person's life but one for the better. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) reminded his followers that once a young man marries, half of his faith is guarded, and all he needs to do is tend to the other half (Bukhari). In the Qur'an too, husbands and wives are said to be garments for one another (al-Baqarah: 187), protecting each other from external factors such as illicit temptations.
Garments also hide imperfections by having the couple complement each other; act as a guard against bad weather and diseases; and restore modesty within a person.
In many Muslim countries, matchmaking potential spouses is usually done by family members, with the consent of the potential bride and groom. Once a match begins to incubate, the couple would meet via chaperone to get to know one another and for them to ascertain that they were in favour of spending the rest of their lives in each other's company.
Dating, in conventional terms, is disallowed in Islam, as men and women are only allowed to interact at a professional level - be it at work or at school. Relationships that are taken to the next level are to be endorsed in marriage. The Qur'an has prescribed that Muslims are to lower their gazes when in the presence of the opposite gender and to protect their modesty at all times (an-Nur: 30-31).
Protecting one's modesty dictates that no Muslim should be violated sexually, or indulge in activities that may or may not lead to sexual conduct - consensual or not - before the solemnisation of a marriage. This acts as a protection physically, spiritually, socially and mentally.
In today's fast-track society however, with more Muslim men and women occupied with their daily lives, finding a spouse is usually not a priority, especially when it comes to time constraints. With globalisation at its heights, many youngsters no longer stay with their families and find they move on and out of their home while they are still single. Parents too are busy with their own activities that sometimes interacting with one another with a match make in mind, is usually, not in mind.
Heather El-Khiyari is just one of many Muslims who have stepped in to facilitate Muslim matchmaking on the internet. Her website, Meet Muslim Singles, is a free site that is geared to allow potential Muslim brides and grooms to browse through marriageable candidates in search of a spouse.
She started the service to combat deregoratory sites that have multiplied on the internet, leering immodest behaviour and overall un-Islamic practice. Her site, she hopes, will reach out to the millions of Muslims across the world who have the intention of starting a family and building them on the grounds of Islamic principles. With strong familial bonds in place, a robust Islamic community or ummah is set to flourish.
Skeptics have questioned the viability of such sites, in case they violate Islamic teaching with respects to the interaction between the genders. Meet Muslim Singles has pro-actively seen to the concern by providing an advice article on soul searching through cyberspace. Furthermore, it is up to the individual on how he or she conducts him or herself when speaking to the opposite gender, even through the internet. After all, lowering one's gaze is stated in the Qur'an and the Qur'an is written for every Muslim individual.
Twenty-five year old, Heather, an American revert, is pleased and grateful of the progress her site has made. Her satisfaction soars when she receives emails from couples who have found their partners through her site and look forward to building a new Muslim family.
Marriage is so important in Islam that social interaction between a Muslim man and woman should be done only in the vicinity of marriage. With less and less time to focus on building this strong cornerstone of a Muslim society, the internet has opened up avenues for busy young Muslim men and women to meet. Online matrimonials, like Meet Muslim SIngles are stepping in as the foundation for many marriage solemnisations for Muslims today.
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