Muslim Marriage in Europe : Tradition and Modernity

• The reproduction of Islam in Europe is dependent on building a new European Muslim generation. When those young Muslims who wish to create a family face severe difficulties, this reproduction is threatened. This article focuses on that problem and discusses the classification of marriages, key factors in the choice of partner, and some new strategies for meeting a partner. The method applied in this research project was interviews, chiefly with young Muslims aged between 16 and 30 years, both married and unmarried, educated, with a religious profile, for whom "Muslim" was their primary identity, rather than ethnicity or nationality. The author suggests that certain points in fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) need to be renegotiated to help Muslims in their minority situation in Europe get married. Young Muslims in Europe are part of an important historical process of establishing Islam here and now and should consider their marriages as perhaps the most important field for jihad. © Centre for World Dialogue Summer 2007

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Filosofi, etik och religion -- Religionsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Philosophy, Ethics and Religion -- Religious Studies (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

European Muslims

Minority fiqh

Arranged marriages

Forced marriages

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