"Shadi.com" - the most famous website for Indian and Pakistani Muslims
JEDDAH: Modern-day marriages of convenience are becoming a trend according to many expatriates in the Kingdom. The expatriate community feels the rules of marriage have been altered to suit convenience and suitability, far away from the Islamic teachings and concept of marriage. Many young expatriates and Saudis think this is a main cause for the divorce rate spiral.
A marriage of convenience currently takes place for financial and practical reasons, “not for love, commitment or intimacy,” says Aliya Khalid, a 28-year-old marketing executive in Jeddah. “There was a time people married to share their lives with a companion for love, support and compassion. The criterion now is financial support.”
Aliya says women in the Kingdom need to have a mahram (male legal guardian) for almost all activities and are justified in looking for means to secure their future. “We need a rich and stable man who can support us and our children. Hence marriages are no longer made in heaven but in cyberspace.”
Albeit illegal and against Shariah teachings, many families consider the status and financial capabilities of a man rather than morality and character. In Islam it is essential to consider nature, character and personality of the man on the basis of taqwa (piety), but no matrimonial site or matchmaker these days deems it imperative.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article545988.ece
Categories: Asia, Family values, India, Islam, Law and Religion, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sharia, Sharia Law, UK, Women Rights
Are not in a way all ‘arranged marriages’ ‘marriages of convenience’? May be the title is misleading. Both ‘arranged marriages’ as well as ‘marriages of convenience’ – with the right intentions – will lead to ‘love’ or call it ‘love marriages’.
However the main point is that it would be best to follow the Prophet’s advice (peace be on him) where he told us that we should choose our partners for their piety and not their beauty. (beauty fades anyway, while piety grows and grows, Inshallah).