Muslim marriage
Polygamous marriages are common in Muslim countries.
State registration exists in Muslim countries but it is not obligatory. Existence of a marriage registered in accordance with the established procedure is not an obstacle for a marriage ceremony marriage ceremony in a mosque.
Unfortunately the legal base of a Muslim marriage is insufficiently regulated at a statutable level. It is based on the Koran and the Sunna – fundamental sources of the law. Family and succession relationships, guardianship, relative responsibilities of spouses, parents and children, other relatives are regulated by the Koran and the Sunna. As for polygamous marriage, it is explicitly provided for by regulation 4:3 of the Koran: "… marry those women who are pleasant to you – two, and three, and four".
A Muslim is entitled to marry any woman apart from atheist. It is explained by the sheriat law according to which a husband having unlimited power in the family can proselytize his wife. But an ability of a man to support to all his wives financially is an essential condition for a Muslim marriage.
Muslim women can not marry a man of other religion. Laws of some Muslim countries provide for imprisonment of a woman who married a man of other religion.
A Muslim divorce is practically always initiated by a man who enjoys unlimited rights. A divorce procedure is simplified for a man: an verbal statement is enough for him as a head of the family. A marriage is considered dissolved in case a man says “You are not my wife” three times in public. But notwithstanding a formal equality of men in Islam, marriages among disadvantaged population are not dissolved so often due to expensiveness of legal procedures related to property and alimony issues, upbringing a... Read More »
