...to love, to cherish, to commit zina?!!!

How does one commit zina from the world of online dating/introductory sites?

In my previous post I talked about the connotations and dangers that come with Muslim introductory agencies. This post delves a bit further into the negative impact it has on Muslims.

To begin with these sites may see harmless to some people, and some may turn round and say give it a rest woman, stop picking on every minor detail. But the truth of the matter is some people will still argue these sites are not 'halal' for a particular reason.

And this is why...

Zina:- Fornication/Adultery

The term Zina is actually much more complex then the simple term of adultery. The post hyperlinked gives you quite an insight into what it's all about.

It is stated in a hadith in Muslim, 'The zina of the eyes is looking, the zina of the ears is listening, the zina of the tongue is speaking, the zina of the hand is touching, and the zina of the foot is walking. The heart wishes and longs and the private part confirms that or denies it.'

Therefore looking at ones photo's on these sites, longing for them, even talking to them whether that is only through the internet still has major consequences in Islam.

Intentions???

Some may say if the intention is correct and one is desiring a spouse then it is fine. But is it really? Even if a person is out there soul-searching (waiting for the love of their life to scream out from the screen) the possibility and likelihood of zina occurring is quite high. The flirty chats, dreaming unstoppably of a potential spouse, etc etc it is all still happening outside of marriage.

To summarise I'm going to say these sites are still allowing young AND old Muslims to commit even minor offences of zina, something that could of been prevented if they did not exist. A little harsh I know, but isn't that the reality of it?

Muslim Dating Sites

A recent worldwide phenomenon has taken shape in the form of online dating, with revenue of up to over one billion dollars there must be some sort of success behind this booming industry. And what about such courtships in the Muslim community, how does that tend to shape up you ask..

Well I'm sure by the above image you'll have noticed I'm focusing on the website singlemuslim
To begin with these sites are not exactly labelled as dating sites but more of an introductory marital agency. Basically the same concept as your auntie finding you someone to marry but in a broader scale. One part of this that may make these sites controversial is that there is NO MIDDLE PERSON!! YIKES! So does this lead to falling into the trap of dating?

I'm not doubting the success rates of the website but more so the concept. I know there are many mature people that have found it to be a great service in providing them with their lifetime partner, but what about the rest? Are there people who see this site as an easy access of finding a boyfriend/girlfriend and does it make it more accessible to date in Islam?

Is this site used to protect and better Muslims? Or is someone just making some big bucks out of it.. hmmm

To some it may seem that the website itself contradicts itself. Under the tab Marriage articles, it says,
'There is no such thing as “dating” in Islam. When young Muslims are able to marry, they are encouraged to find a suitable partner for marriage, following strict rules of courtship, and always keeping the intention of marriage at the forefront of any interaction.'
Nothing new there..

But other websites are not picking up the same information about this 'strict dating policy'
A testimonial on the website provided by datingsitereview says
'"Given demographic trends and search data, the market for online dating for Muslim individuals is set to take off and become increasingly mainstream," say Bickey Russell and Elizabeth Song.  A July 2010 poll of more than 3,600 SingleMuslim.com  users "found that religious compatibility was ranked as the most important dating criteria by 33% of Muslim singles, ahead of appearance or education level," a strong indication that the popularity of Muslim dating sites will continue to rise.''

I understand the website is branded as a dating website although it isn't technically a dating site (I know, talk about confusing! Again its all to do with the big bucks!) but does this not lead non-Muslims to brand Muslims as something they're not? Also, constantly referring to it as a dating site possibly brings forth people in search for a NEW DATE?!

There is just so much to be said about this website and others like it, this post just does not cut it!!
Come on guys, share your thoughts on this facade.

First Date

After much deliberation with myself, I thought let us delve into the deep mysteries of love that exists in today's Muslim world. I know I'm asking for trouble!! The other day I was listening on to a conversation regarding marriage and I thought what a funny sort of first date, your parents or neighbours finding a prospect for their son or daughter and discussing their likes and interests and the possibilities of being compatible. But all of that is mainly found within South Asian communities. Why is it that the South Asians are so dramatic when it comes to marriage I thought? Why can't they just be like Western people? Is it really Islam that makes them behave like that, or their culture? How different are Arabs when marriage dawns upon them? And why can't we decide who is suitable for us? Why is it the parents and families get so involved, they're not marrying the 'prospect'?! So what does Islam say about this? Islamically we all know dating is forbidden, hence a first date may not exist in the religion, yet a third person is allowed to be present. Islamically, the reasons to reject a potential prospect is due to their lack in faith, belief in God and if the potential Husband is unable to provide for his Mrs to be. So why are communities and families making the process of marriage a very difficult one and one that isn't uniformed with the proper Islamic way? What are your thoughts on this guys?