Young Muslims face most problems, as in modernised countries such as Britain, it is normal for people to date. However Muslims are not permitted to date and so when they live in these countries it is hard for them to resist as every one around them does it. They may start to feel alienated and become withdrawn from their friends and due to this they may be pressurised into having a relationship to blend in with others.
In Muslim countries like Pakistan all Muslims have arranged marriages, but the couple must agree to the match or it cannot go ahead, because if a couple are forced to marry it is believed that the marriage is doomed to failure. They are stricter in Muslim countries and stick to their traditions about marriage. They complete the whole ceremony exactly how it should be and not break any rules. Whereas sometimes in Britain some of the traditions are lost and sometimes even rules are broken, like if a Muslim girl decides to go against her religion and marry a non-Muslim boy.
Such an action, in most Muslim families, results in the woman being isolated from her family with no support. As a result, when marital disputes start, parental support, which is there for most Muslim couples, is not there for these women. These Muslim women might also start to feel guilty for disobeying Allah and going against their religion as well as their parents.
An example of some of the problems that Muslims face in British society would be, some Muslims are not allowed to make any physical contact with the opposite sex. So if a Muslim was going for a job interview and the employer put their hand out to shake theirs, the Muslim would not be allowed to shake hands with them. This causes problems for Muslims to find work as even though it is for their religion the employer might find it rude and disrespectful and not give the Muslim the job just because of a minor thing. Also some young Muslims still face discrimination about their beliefs and their religious clothing.
Muslim men have more freedom on who they can marry than Muslim women because, men can marry Christians and Jews but under no conditions is a Muslim woman permitted to marry anyone but a Muslim man.
Muslim men can marry Christians and Jews because it is said that Christians and Jews share similar religious views and beliefs (e.g. the belief in one God), but if the couple do split up and the children go to the mother they would no longer be raised as Muslims, but as Jews or Christians. Muslim girls cannot marry non-muslims because, the children take the fathers religion, and so if a girl marries a non-muslim their children would be non-muslims.
If a Muslim man wanted to marry a Sikh, Hindu or Buddhist girl, it would only be permitted if the girl converted to Islam. A man can also convert.
Cousin marriages in Islam are not encouraged but are not refused either. Some Muslims prefer it because the husband and wife would already know each other, and their backgrounds would be known, although some Muslims do not because it could cause genetic disorders.
My personal opinion is that Muslims should have more freedom on who they can marry. The most important thing in a relationship is love, but in an arranged marriage the people are introduced so they do not love each other. I also disagree with cousin marriages because, it is unfair if the couple decide to have a baby because the baby could have genetic disorders. Also you are already family and it would be wrong to marry someone in your own family.
In Islam polygamy is allowed, this is the practice of having more than one spouse at one time. In some Muslim countries, it is relatively common, while in most others, it is often rare or non-existent. Polygamy is most widely practiced by Muslims in West Africa.
According to traditional Islamic law, a man may take up to four wives, and each of those wives must have her own property, assets, and dowry. Usually the wives have little to no contact with each other and lead separate, individual lives in their own houses, and sometimes in different cities, though they all share the same husband. Thus, Muslim polygamy is traditionally restricted to wealthy men, and in some countries it is illegal for a man to marry multiple wives if he is unable to afford to take care of each of them properly.
The Qur'an allows a man to have four wives at any one time. The Qur'an in verse 4:3 states:
‘Marry women of your choice, two three or four; but if you fear you will not be able to deal justly with them then only one.’
Muslims must go through a lot to become true Muslims and be committed to their religion. While living in the British society most Muslims still stay faithful to their religion and follow its rules, although sometimes they are pressurised into following the western ways.
