"Dating" as it is currently practiced in much of the world shall not exist among Muslims -- where a man and a woman (or boy/girl) are in a one-on-one intimate relationship, spending time together alone, getting to know each other in a very deep way.
A man and a woman are not allowed to be alone together, and any physical contact before marriage is forbidden. Hence, Dating is not permitted in Islam.
Allah has prohibited girl/boyfriend relationships in the Qur'an
"(Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) before your time, when you have given their due Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), desiring chastity (i.e. taking them in legal wedlock) not committing illegal sexual intercourse, nor taking them as girlfriends. ... ” - Al-Ma'idah 5:5.
If a Muslim man has the desire and willingness to assume marital responsibilities, and he doesn’t have anyone in mind, he might ask his friends, family, and relatives if there is a lady that might be suitable for him among their acquaintances and relatives, and then the couple can meet with their family members.
As a result, many marriages in the Muslim world were traditionally arranged marriages, though this is not a religious requirement. However, both couples can not be forced to accept an arranged marriage and if a man likes someone (with the intention of marriage) that he knows from work, neighborhood or acquaintances, etc… he shall propose to her.
Islam also encourages Muslims to marry persons for whom they have special feelings and are comfortable with. Thus, Islam recommends that potential marriage partners see one another before proposing marriage. Explaining the reason for such a recommendation, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
“That would enhance/foster the bonding.”
However the prospective couple shall not meet in private, this might lead to extremely unwanted situations, as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said :
“Whenever a man is alone with a woman, Satan is the third among them” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)..
At all times, Muslims should follow the commands of the Qur'an
"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. "
In conclusion, Islam lays its social structure on the basis of a permanent relationship between a man and a woman in the form of a family.
Consequently, to preserve this marital relationship, it forbids all forms of temporary relationships between a man and a woman. Pre-marital relationships in Islam are not considered respectful for neither the man nor the woman, nor is it constructive for the concept or the building the family or the Islamic society.
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"You and me and the devil make three. "
Hahaha, this one is actually hard for me, being brought up in America. Especially when boys take interest in me. The hijab doesn't protect us enough. Boys here will still want to date you.
I've never dated a boy though. I'm very proud of that. :-)
The hijab is an interesting tradition-not really prescribed by the Qur'an at all. It was actually used by the Persians, and when the Muslims conquered the Persian empire (it was the Ottomans that did that, I think. May have been earlier), they adopted the Persian custom of veiling their women and then justified it with a passage in the Qur'an that says something to the effect of 'if you keep looking at Muhammad's wife, he'll put them behind a screen [an alternate and more literal translation of hijab].'
--Mike
Actually NO. The story goes something like this. I think a relative of Mohammed (pbuh) was disturbed by the way her daughter had been dressing and acquiring attention. She asked for Mohammed (pbuh), who in turn asked Allah(god). I will try to find out more, since i am very rusty at this story, and I will make another blog.
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~~I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain~~
You have retreived this claim from a non-muslim scholar, namely John Esposito.
The rules of hijab may be waived if following them would result in risk of death or extreme hardship. Also, the niqaab(covering of face) and burqa(black head to toe garment) is what is not required. Women that do observe niqab or burqa or both are just trying to live more pious, God-centered lives.
And actually, the Qur'anic passage commanding all believing women to observe hijab goes like this:
"O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments around them (when they go out or are among men). That is better in order that they may be known (as Muslims) and not annoyed..." (Qur'an 33:59).
So hijab, is an act of obedience, of piety, and ultimately, our choice.
Yes that was the quote I was looking for. I was just wondering those Muslim women who have taken off thier hijabs to go to school in France, do they fall under this category.
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~~I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain~~
This is just a random thought. It's strange that the wahabbists are declaring Jihad (I'm still looking for a better term to use than that. I don't think it's appropriate.) in the middle east where there religion (for the most part) isn't being oppressed, whereas in France, they're tolerating it.
--Mike
Hmmm Jihad cannot really be declared unless there is world-wide agreement among Muslims. But we have no government or political forum allowing us do such. France has Muslims, not Wahabbis.
Wahabbism is a movement in Islam. They are not orthodox Muslims, and I believe are trying to reform Islam, which cannot be done. Anyway, I don't know much about them.
I said in the middle east. I also used the wrong form of their. I've been really off the past two days.
--Mike
hey i was wrong about wahabbis anyway. they are muslim. I still don't know much about them.
It's a radical sunni sect. They're associated with Sammy bin Laden.
--Mike
I really do not know. They'd have to ask a Muslim scholar, not me. :]