Marriage in Islam - Discussion Forum on 13 and 20 September 2026

About this course

Session Description

Have you ever heard Muslim ulema say things like:

• The husband is the head of household, the decision maker and leader. 
• The husband must provide in a marriage and the wife has no financial responsibility. 
• The wife cannot go outside the house without the husband's permission.
• The wife cannot refuse sexual intimacy to her husband. 

...and wondered why marriage is talked about only in terms of men's needs, male dominance and male privilege? Did Islam desire a patriarchy or is this an error of understanding? If you have been asking these questions then this course is for you. If you have been wondering about what is the point of marriage then this course is for you. 

We often hear that it is getting increasingly challenging to find a good match for Muslim women and men looking to get married. Marriage is a beautiful relationship and has huge importance in our faith. Yet, more and more marriages are ending in conflict and our traditional ulema's rhetoric on marriage seems to be doubling down on the idea that marriage is about obedience to the husband. This is creating a lot of anxiety amongst Muslim women and creating the burden of unrealistic expectations for Muslim men. 

Over two sessions, we will explore the concept of marriage in the Qur'an and take inspiration from the noble example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Importantly, we will critique the traditional view of marriage and take time to understand women's rights in a marriage. I would strongly recommend that you also listen to some of my recent YouTube videos on this topic, especially the one on the idea of Qawwam.

Session Dates

Sessions will be held on:

Sunday 13 September 2026, from 2:00 - 3:30pm British Summer Time

Sunday 20 September 2026, from 2:00 - 3:30pm British Summer Time

(Time zone converter available here).

Session Format

During each session, I will start by sharing my understanding of how marriage is discussed in the Qur'an. After a brief talk, the sessions will be open to participants for discussion and questions.

I create inclusive, judgement free spaces so we will speak openly and honestly in a safe space. We may even get a chance to talk about some red flags and the criterion of 'the practising Muslim' which is often used when searching for a spouse.

I am not a marriage counsellor. I approach this topic from the perspective of understanding the wisdom of Qur'anic guidance and the importance of marriage in Islam.

Free places available

I aim for my courses to be inclusive. If you are not able to pay the course fee, please just drop me a line at embark@sitaraakram.com and I will allocate a free place to you. Please note that the number of free places is limited so get in touch as soon as you can. You do not need to disclose your circumstances. All information is held in confidence.

This promises to be a really good discussion and I look forward to seeing you. 

(Image credit with thanks to pixabay.com)