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The Muslim Family #1
The Quest for Love & Mercy: Regulations for Wedding & Marriage in Islam
Marriage holds a position of perpetual significance because of the central role it plays in human life. It is not surprising, therefore, that the scholars of Islam have discussed it extensively through the ages. Under the contemporary influence of non-Islamic cultures, however, misconceptions have crept into various areas of Islam - spilling into marriage, divorce, and other family-related matters.
Viewing the needs of the Muslims who live in non-Islamic environments, and realizing that most Islamic writings on marriage are restricted in scope, we find quite a large gap that needs to be filled for the benefit of the English-speaking Muslims - which is what we attempt to accomplish over the span of this 4-book- set that covers various aspects of marriage according to the authentic Sunnah:
This book covers the importance and advantages of marriage, selecting a spouse, the courting process, the marriage contract, celebrating the wedding, the waleemah, forbidden marriages, etc. Provides a practical procedure for performing a marriage contract, and includes a sample marriage certificate.
Viewing the needs of the Muslims who live in non-Islamic environments, and realizing that most Islamic writings on marriage are restricted in scope, we find quite a large gap that needs to be filled for the benefit of the English-speaking Muslims - which is what we attempt to accomplish over the span of this 4-book- set that covers various aspects of marriage according to the authentic Sunnah:
This book covers the importance and advantages of marriage, selecting a spouse, the courting process, the marriage contract, celebrating the wedding, the waleemah, forbidden marriages, etc. Provides a practical procedure for performing a marriage contract, and includes a sample marriage certificate.
180 pages, Paperback
First published June 29, 2000
49 people are currently reading
711 people want to read
About the author
Muhammad Mustafa al-Jibaly
24 books69 followersMuhammad Al-Jibali acquired a sound knowledge of Shaykh al-Albanis fiqh and methodology through personal contact with the Shaykh and an extensive study, indexing, and teaching of his works.
He Studied and maintained strong friendship with most of the late Nasir ud-Din al-Albanis prominent students from Syria, Jordan, and other countries (1983 to current).
He has authored many original books and articles in various areas of fiqh, `aqidah, manhaj, da`wah, etc and has lectured at many conferences and seminars, in North America and around the world.
He Studied and maintained strong friendship with most of the late Nasir ud-Din al-Albanis prominent students from Syria, Jordan, and other countries (1983 to current).
He has authored many original books and articles in various areas of fiqh, `aqidah, manhaj, da`wah, etc and has lectured at many conferences and seminars, in North America and around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 15, 2022
A very clear and simple insight into the rules of Islamic wedding preparations and marriage rulings that are based on the Qur'an and Sunnah.
September 26, 2024
A book series I highly recommend every Muslim to read!❤️
January 9, 2020
In today's world where zina(fornication) is widespread and marriage is pushed far away or written off (to avoid responsibility), this book is a light for Muslims who want to learn about the permissible things Allah has prescribed for us and stay away from the impermissible acts. It not only is a guide for Marriage but it highlights several things that make a Marriage blessed. It lists the steps from the proposal stage to the consummation stage.
The author has done well to use Quranic verses and hadiths (the prophetic teachings & ways of the prophet PBUH) to back up his statements and solidify his points. The book sheds light on the importance of selecting a good spouse, because this marks the beginning of a new Muslim family. Every rule and regulation in this book will guide an amateur and help an expert who both want to get married or make a proposal.
Every Chapter explicitly speaks on its title. There are about 8 Chapters in the book with titles:
1.) A Blessed Bond
2.) Spouse Selection
3.) Courting
4.)The Marriage Contract
5.)Celebrating the Marriage
6.)The Walimah
7.)Consummating The Marriage
8.)Forbidden Marriages.
It also has references and appendix.
There's an example of what a Marriage Certificate should look like.
For every Muslim Man or Woman who is considering marriage, or wants to learn about it based on curiousity as to what is halal according to Islamic Courting, Marriages and would like to forbid Haram and what people follow of their desires, I highly recommend this book.
The author has done well to use Quranic verses and hadiths (the prophetic teachings & ways of the prophet PBUH) to back up his statements and solidify his points. The book sheds light on the importance of selecting a good spouse, because this marks the beginning of a new Muslim family. Every rule and regulation in this book will guide an amateur and help an expert who both want to get married or make a proposal.
Every Chapter explicitly speaks on its title. There are about 8 Chapters in the book with titles:
1.) A Blessed Bond
2.) Spouse Selection
3.) Courting
4.)The Marriage Contract
5.)Celebrating the Marriage
6.)The Walimah
7.)Consummating The Marriage
8.)Forbidden Marriages.
It also has references and appendix.
There's an example of what a Marriage Certificate should look like.
For every Muslim Man or Woman who is considering marriage, or wants to learn about it based on curiousity as to what is halal according to Islamic Courting, Marriages and would like to forbid Haram and what people follow of their desires, I highly recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2012
Syeikh Muhammad had written a remarkable family series starting with this book. Subhanallah! The book starts with Syeikh explaining that marriage is Rasulullah SAW and he related stories/authentic hadith regarding it, and then, it continued with spouse selection and courting, dowry, even up till the walimah, including the host manners and the guests' manners.
It was then explained that the host has the right to turn away the guest that he did not invited as per hadith recorded by Muslim where Rasulullah SAW and 4 sahabahs where invited to attend a dinner, whereby a sixth man followed. Upon arrival, Rasulullah SAW told the host, that the man followed them, and it's up to the host to reject the sixth man as his guest. The host then replied, that he'll accept the sixth man in his house.
The author prescribed everything direct to the point. He even provided the hadiths sanad. This book it a must read for everyone on a knowledge quest. The book then continued with Closer Than A Garment: Marital Intimacy According to the Pure Sunnah & The Fragile Vessels : Rights & Obligations Between the Spouses in Islam.
Must read!
It was then explained that the host has the right to turn away the guest that he did not invited as per hadith recorded by Muslim where Rasulullah SAW and 4 sahabahs where invited to attend a dinner, whereby a sixth man followed. Upon arrival, Rasulullah SAW told the host, that the man followed them, and it's up to the host to reject the sixth man as his guest. The host then replied, that he'll accept the sixth man in his house.
The author prescribed everything direct to the point. He even provided the hadiths sanad. This book it a must read for everyone on a knowledge quest. The book then continued with Closer Than A Garment: Marital Intimacy According to the Pure Sunnah & The Fragile Vessels : Rights & Obligations Between the Spouses in Islam.
Must read!
November 8, 2021
To read my full detailed review of this book (and MANY more!) please go to my book blog @ https://sabrinareads365.blogspot.com/
December 10, 2023
What an amazing book to end the year (and my reading challenge—finally!) on, alhamdulillah.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
What is more beautiful than adhering to the Sunnah of our Rasul ﷺ and the Qur'an when it comes to taking that next step in your life? Marriage is a very blessed and sacred thing in Islam, not just because it is a sign of Allah ﷻ, but because of all the benefits to our Ummah and our afterlife, subhanAllah. These are just a few reasons to read this book as well as certain things I have learnt:
1. It is so important to tweak your intentions for marriage to not just seeking love and mercy, but also to please Allah ﷻ by avoiding unlawful relationships and to fulfil the Sunnah of our Rasul ﷺ. Imagine how much more ajr you get, how much more barakah and ease fills your marriage when you do it for this purpose.
2. My favourite part about this book was the etiquette of the walimah and wedding. Nothing irks me more than the bid'ah and Westernised filth that has leaked into our wedding celebrations. Adhering to the Sunnah and Qur'an by not having music/dancing, by segregating weddings, by not being excessive is increasingly labelled as "backwards". I could not disagree more, for marriage is such a sacred bond—I cannot imagine tainting what should be a ceremony filled with ajr and barakah and Allah's ﷻ Mercy with sins and disobedience.
3. The courting process! How this cleared up a lot of confusion on my part. Alhamdulilah, I have now learnt the right etiquette of approaching a potential and having a potential approach my Wali.
4. The marriage contract and its conditions. SubhanAllah, this is truly a very informative and crucial step, for missing any of the conditions invalidates your contract. That is so scary—imagine thinking you are indulging in a lawful relationship when all along you are getting sins. The power of knowledge. Never stop educating yourself.
5. I have learnt about the value of a chaste and practicing Muslimah. I never knew how valued this was until reading all those beautiful ahadith about how our Rasul ﷺ valued his wives, and about how a righteous wife is the crown to her husband's head. SubhanAllah, it brings tears to my eyes, for this beauty of modesty would not be a thing we practiced if not for Allah's ﷻ Mercy in guiding us.
6. You know how people who are adverse to Islam always say "Islam has too many rules"? After reading this book, I have learnt that there are so many rules and regulations, but not in the bad way people make it out to be. We need that guidance, for we are so lost. I love how for every step, for every part of life, there is a way to invoke Allah's ﷻ Mercy and guidance. The istikhara prayer before and during the courting process, the proper etiquette of being a Muslim host of a wedding and being a guest, the Adi'yat and two raka'ah prayers upon consummation. It is so relieving to know that you are doing something seeking His ﷻ pleasure at every step of the way.
I highly recommend this book to every Muslim, regardless of age or whether one has started the marriage process or not. Everything mentioned here is vital for us Muslims to know and follow if we fear Allah and seek His Mercy. May Allah ﷻ grant us spouses that are the coolness to our eyes and bring us closer to Him, ameen.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
What is more beautiful than adhering to the Sunnah of our Rasul ﷺ and the Qur'an when it comes to taking that next step in your life? Marriage is a very blessed and sacred thing in Islam, not just because it is a sign of Allah ﷻ, but because of all the benefits to our Ummah and our afterlife, subhanAllah. These are just a few reasons to read this book as well as certain things I have learnt:
1. It is so important to tweak your intentions for marriage to not just seeking love and mercy, but also to please Allah ﷻ by avoiding unlawful relationships and to fulfil the Sunnah of our Rasul ﷺ. Imagine how much more ajr you get, how much more barakah and ease fills your marriage when you do it for this purpose.
2. My favourite part about this book was the etiquette of the walimah and wedding. Nothing irks me more than the bid'ah and Westernised filth that has leaked into our wedding celebrations. Adhering to the Sunnah and Qur'an by not having music/dancing, by segregating weddings, by not being excessive is increasingly labelled as "backwards". I could not disagree more, for marriage is such a sacred bond—I cannot imagine tainting what should be a ceremony filled with ajr and barakah and Allah's ﷻ Mercy with sins and disobedience.
3. The courting process! How this cleared up a lot of confusion on my part. Alhamdulilah, I have now learnt the right etiquette of approaching a potential and having a potential approach my Wali.
4. The marriage contract and its conditions. SubhanAllah, this is truly a very informative and crucial step, for missing any of the conditions invalidates your contract. That is so scary—imagine thinking you are indulging in a lawful relationship when all along you are getting sins. The power of knowledge. Never stop educating yourself.
5. I have learnt about the value of a chaste and practicing Muslimah. I never knew how valued this was until reading all those beautiful ahadith about how our Rasul ﷺ valued his wives, and about how a righteous wife is the crown to her husband's head. SubhanAllah, it brings tears to my eyes, for this beauty of modesty would not be a thing we practiced if not for Allah's ﷻ Mercy in guiding us.
6. You know how people who are adverse to Islam always say "Islam has too many rules"? After reading this book, I have learnt that there are so many rules and regulations, but not in the bad way people make it out to be. We need that guidance, for we are so lost. I love how for every step, for every part of life, there is a way to invoke Allah's ﷻ Mercy and guidance. The istikhara prayer before and during the courting process, the proper etiquette of being a Muslim host of a wedding and being a guest, the Adi'yat and two raka'ah prayers upon consummation. It is so relieving to know that you are doing something seeking His ﷻ pleasure at every step of the way.
I highly recommend this book to every Muslim, regardless of age or whether one has started the marriage process or not. Everything mentioned here is vital for us Muslims to know and follow if we fear Allah and seek His Mercy. May Allah ﷻ grant us spouses that are the coolness to our eyes and bring us closer to Him, ameen.
January 17, 2025
The Quest for Love & Mercy - Regulations for Marriage & Wedding in Islam This foundation book on the purpose of marriage explores the process of Islamic marriage, including the contractual Islamic nature of marriage, choosing a mate, and a key focus on the wedding ceremony process.
His charts, especially in the chapter "The Marriage Contract," are easy to follow and place the multiple elements in a readable format. He writes for a Western Islamic audience, which is demonstrated well in the The Mahr (Dowry) section. His writing accurately defines marriage as a religious contract and makes available Islamic words in English script.
He warns of Western practices of dancing, clothing, and wearing a wedding ring (95-99).((Muhammad Mustafa Al-Jibaly. The Quest for Love & Mercy - Regulations for Marriage & Wedding in Islam, Arlington: Al-Kitab & As-Sunnah, 2005.))
His charts, especially in the chapter "The Marriage Contract," are easy to follow and place the multiple elements in a readable format. He writes for a Western Islamic audience, which is demonstrated well in the The Mahr (Dowry) section. His writing accurately defines marriage as a religious contract and makes available Islamic words in English script.
He warns of Western practices of dancing, clothing, and wearing a wedding ring (95-99).((Muhammad Mustafa Al-Jibaly. The Quest for Love & Mercy - Regulations for Marriage & Wedding in Islam, Arlington: Al-Kitab & As-Sunnah, 2005.))
June 22, 2019
Has 11 chapters. Easy to read and understand with Qura'anic Proofs and Hadith. Concise details mentioned leaving no room for doubt. Would definitely recommend it!
1)A Blessed Bond
2)Spouse Selection
3)Courting
4)The Marriage Contract
5)Celebrating the Marriage
6)The Walimah
7)Consummating the Marriage
8)Forbidden Marriages
9)A Fair Partnership
10)The Husband's Obligations
11) The Wife's Obligations
1)A Blessed Bond
2)Spouse Selection
3)Courting
4)The Marriage Contract
5)Celebrating the Marriage
6)The Walimah
7)Consummating the Marriage
8)Forbidden Marriages
9)A Fair Partnership
10)The Husband's Obligations
11) The Wife's Obligations
April 26, 2020
Recommended for all including married man
November 13, 2025
It was a good overview and collection of related narrations and issues.
April 30, 2015
Excellent, spellbound
Want to read
September 3, 2018I love it
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews