Programme 3: Friends and family
In the third programme of Channel 4’s Shariah TV series, the audience and panel of Islamic scholars discuss how Shariah law affects friendships and family relationships.
Staying apart
The Qur’an warns that, to guard against temptation, men and women who are not related should not be on their own together. That can be difficult, though, for young Muslims growing up in the 21st century.
Audience member Zenab presents an everyday dilemma: can she accept a lift home from her friend’s father rather than make her own way home on public transport? The panel say that if this is the lesser of two evils and she believes she will be safer in the car than using public transport, she is allowed to accept the lift. But they all feel that she should plan her return journey in advance to avoid such a situation and that her own parents should organise how she gets home late at night.
Finding a partner
On the subject of arranged marriages, all the scholars agree that, while it is the duty of parents to ensure that their children marry an acceptable partner, they should never force them to marry someone they don’t like. Imam Muhammad Arshad Misbahi stresses that it’s ‘up to the boy or girl to have the final say’ when agreeing to a marriage partner.
Homosexuality and Islam
There is a heated debate when audience member, Adnan Ali, announces that he is both gay and a Muslim. The panel are all clear that homosexuality is not allowed in the Qur’an and that there are many texts to illustrate this. Imam Misbahi says: ‘It is completely unacceptable in the Islamic faith.’
Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood wonders if there is room for manoeuvre and suggests that if things go on behind closed doors they cannot be legislated against but that if they become public, they are then in conflict with the Qur’an. The subject clearly raises great passions. Adnan declares his belief that everything God created is beautiful and that God has created him a homosexual.
Domestic violence
Rape in marriage is the next subject for discussion. The panel all agree that it is not acceptable in any marriage to abuse your partner. It is forbidden to force yourself on your partner – though there is no equivalent term in Shariah to the word ‘rape’.
Sex education worries a lot of Muslim parents. The panel advise parents to get involved with their child’s school and ensure that the lessons about sex and relationships are acceptable from an Islamic viewpoint.
Poll results
Should parents have the final say in who their child marries? 20% say yes. 80% say no.