Modernity and Its Impact on Marriage

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, Al-Azhar University

Abstract

Modernity has left a far-reaching imprint on nearly every aspect of contemporary life, including marriage—a foundational institution in both ethical and social frameworks. This study investigates the influence of modernist thought on prevailing attitudes and practices related to marriage. It explores a range of contemporary trends that challenge traditional Islamic perspectives, such as the promotion of celibacy as a lifestyle, raising the legal age of marriage, the normalization of cohabitation outside wedlock, the use of artificial substitutes in place of marital relationships, and the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex partnerships.
The primary aim of the study is to reaffirm the significance of marriage within the Islamic tradition and to examine the impact of modern ideologies that seek to alter or undermine its structure.
The research adopts an inductive method to trace the underlying arguments employed by advocates of these shifts, followed by an analytical evaluation rooted in Islamic legal and ethical principles.
The study concludes that the modern reconfiguration of marriage threatens the moral and social foundations of the family. It challenges attempts to replace the institution with temporary arrangements or artificial alternatives, and it highlights the disconnect between such trends and both natural human disposition and divine guidance.
Recommendations include facilitating access to marriage by reducing excessive social and financial constraints, raising public awareness about the consequences of these modern transformations, and reinforcing the Islamic conception of marriage as a relationship founded on mutual care, responsibility, and long-term stability between man and woman.

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