Marriage Caste System in Islam?
Assalamu Alaikum,
I had a quick question Imam Suhaib.
According to everything I’ve read on the spirit of Islamic Law and Islam, there is no caste system or seperation between races. “The most honored amongst you with Allah is the most pious of you”, the last sermon of the Prophet, etc. However, when I look at one of the more prominent classical legal manuals and other statements that I’ve read over the years, there seems to be a little-talked about idea that Arabs are superior to non-Arabs, the inferiority of certain races, non Arabs and Muslim men with a Muslim father and grandfather superior in marrying a Muslim woman to a Muslim man without a muslim father and grandfather and a hyper sense of patriarchy? I have alot of trouble reconciling this with the statement that Islam came to wipe these things out (which we’ve heard many times). wa alaikum assalam
Asalamu alaykum,
You will constantly run into these type of things when dealing with legal presumptions founded in the classical period. One should read these with one eye open; understanding that they are merely presumptive recipes written to deal with certain social phenomena that existed.
In the 1960′s South African Ulema felt that there was nothing inherently wrong with apartheid practices as the ruling body did not disturb the Muslims “prayers” nor “other ritual acts of worship.” Now, if we were to take their contention and those mentioned in your question, apply them to the general principles of Shar’iah, as well as our own common sense, there is no way we could justify, nor accept, their postulations. In others words, honor the tradition, but don’t hold it as holy.
From this we can garner the need and obligation for tajdid [revival] of Islamic law and our need, as Western Muslims, to take proprietorship of it, at least its presumptive elements; translating it according to our contexts and understandings. That in itself should make obvious to us all, the danger and failure of traditional, centric movements who cling to such presumptions as though they are definite in their applications and fitting for every age to come. What is clear cut from our authoratative texts we must respect, what is based on speculative legal discourse is fair game for the qualified.
SDW
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Assalamu Alaikum,
I just wanted to say Jazak Allah Khair for this response. It’s really refreshing to hear someone say this, especially when you find people in the 21st century, still clinging to these opinions, as “holy.”
Thanks again!
WS.
Assalamu Alleikum
I am from a sunni sayyad shah family and i was curious and eager to find out whether my nikaah would be accepted if i got marriad to someone from a different caste as i have been told by numerous people that it would not be accepted.
Please could you tel me what Islam says about this
Jazakallah Khair
allah says in quran in surah baqrah;
says every human being is born from single payer that is ADAM(as) and hawwa
every muslims is equal to another one
and our prophet muhammad(pbuh) said at the time of hajjatul wida(khutba e hajj) in the mount of arafat—arab is not better than non arab ,non arab is not better than arab
black white poor rich all are equal to other.
muslim girl can get marry with any boy, but must be a muslim.
you should fallow only qu’raan and sunnah.
rest of things allah knows best
khuda hafiz
Asalamualaikum sumera…im also from a syed family, sunni as well. this is a gross error that is being purported as truth, pay no attention to it.
humera im facing the same prblm n unluckly im soon going 2 b engaged wd a person of my family’s choice. i cant take my own decission bcz im threatened by my family….
Assalamu Alleikum,
thanks to all of you for this preeching.I lost my love and could not get married just because I was told that i belong to lower cast than her.
I went to a famous mufti to consult for our nikah but he said she is from upper cast (quraishi) and you are from lower cast (shah) this nikah will be void if girl’s father sue you.
You peope deceive the other relegions saying Islam does not follow castiesm.Yes there is such kind of disese among muslims.If it is, why dont you accept it gladly why you give millions of justifications.
Sorry it did not mean to hurt you.but fell my pain of being alone,feel the pain when your own brothers say that you are lower cast muslim.
Allah is the best judge.
Wassalam
Assalamu alaikum brother Imra, I know that I am not supposed 2 answer you…. but I wanted 2 tell you these muftis or maulvis cannot always b right? Allah subhana wo taalah has promised us to protect the Quran Shareef from distortion, so u will get the correct answer only from Quran Shareef… der is nothing like caste system in Islam n dis is just started by the so called human beings like us. all r equal before Allah….
asslaamu alaikum
i am also from syyed family sunni as well. Can you tell me
what is the caste system in our society and islam? Can we do the marriage in other caste if he belong other back ward caste but he is perfect boy in islam? And can we go against our parents if they are not agree???
Aslam o Alikum! i am muslim n my caste is khokher n i want to get marry with a boy who belongs to Arain caste,there is no caste issue in my family,boy should be a muslim.But in his family they are very strict n serious about caste.his father is not allowing us to get marry,even his father said that he will shoot himself if his son get marry out of cast,we love eachother n we r sincere.
plzzzzzzzzzzzz when there is no caste system in islam then why muslim parents are doing unjustice with their children by saying this that caste is important then the wish,happiness or even the life of their children.Should we obey such kind of parents.Plzzzzzzzzzzzz help us and take some steps on national level to aware people about ‘Marriage cast system in islam’ i request u plz do something on national level in such a way that uneducated people can understand it easily
assalam wa alaikum to all, i also agree that there is no caste system in islam, i only know that all r equal in front of ALLAH and those persons are higher in front of ALLAH who offers 5 times namaz, and follow our HOLY QURAN and the teachings of prophet MOHAMMAD (may peace be upon him). if someone asks me What Are You? i just reply I’M Mohammadan and follow our the teachings of islam, again if that person ask what is your caste i just reply there is no caste in islam why are you asking this…..but nowadays i feel very awkward when the other religion people use to say ” your religion also has caste system” Brothrs and Sisters join hands and remove this misconception from the mind of every people….allah hafiz..
salaam i ant to marry a guy but hes not from the same cast, hes a sunni sayyed and im a raja. Its really hard because we have to get married in the caste. I think that is wrong as he is a very good islamic guy and we really want to get married. I dont know how to talk to my family as this would really upset them. But i know it ill be good in the long run inshllah. Is there anyone who can help me.
regarding caste system my dear brothers i am going through the same problem i have found a perfect match for me the girl has a perfect understanding with me moreover she is daughter of my fathers friend …. my parents have started opposing her proposal just on the basis of caste which i think is totally wrong as far as our islamic teachings are concerned i require all of your help to give me quranic and sunnah references so that i convince my parents …… asking help from all of you muslim brothers because there will be many more like me suffering from this delimna ….
Am glad to hav found out about this site.
There is a saying that goes,a mother in law forgets she was once a wife.
our parents or sheikhs or any other human being can do and say wrong,no one is perfect,but whats more painful is the ability of our parents changing wat their parents did not allow them to do,for the happiness of their children,but they wont.
So many things are being justified in the name of religion,but then religion is all in the holy Q uran and hadiths…read them for yourselves n see the truth.