Dating and Mating in Arab Culture

Dating and Mating in Arab Culture

  • Submitted By: Sarah-SB
  • Date Submitted: 03/08/2014 11:43 PM
  • Category: Psychology
  • Words: 721
  • Page: 3
  • Views: 1

In Arab culture, dating and mating has always been governed by Islam, however as times change, so do the rules and practices. We will be looking at various Arab countries, from the strictest (Saudia Arabia) who explicitly follow and adhere to Shariah Law by the book (and slightly more), to some of the more lenient.
Saudi Arabia, as the home of the Prophet Mohammed (may peace be upon him), has fought to conserve its values and customs in regards to the continuous modernization that spread from the west to the east. In Islam, dating is forbidden as it can lead to sins such as kissing, touching, and sexual intercourse that are not permissible prior to marriage. It is said that when a man and a woman are alone, then Shaitan (Satan) will always be the third. Therefore we can see dating is not allowed as it opens the door to temptation. So how does one fall in love and find a husband/wife? Family and friends have always played a huge part in finding suitable suitors, however this does not mean it should be against the person’s will. In Islam, no one can be forced to marry another without their acceptance, although not just non-Muslims, but Muslims often misunderstand this too. The Prophet Mohammed (may peace be upon him) said, "The widow and the divorced woman shall not be married until their order is obtained, and the virgin shall not be married until her consent is obtained." (Bukhari). People tend to use religion to justify their actions, such as forcing ones daughter to marry a business partner to amplify working relationships against their daughters will. This is by no means Islamic, yet it still occurs.
It is traditional for the man’s female relatives to find a suitable wife for him (usually a female relative), as they are of the same gender and are able to see other women without hijab (Islamic covering that permits only the hands and face to be visible). Islam permits choosing to be based four things; her wealth, family status, beauty and her...

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