Islam Quote by Alaa Al Aswany
““Sheikh Bilal had taken him aside the day before the wedding and spoken to him of marriage and his wife’s rights in the Law, stressing to him that there was nothing for a Muslim to feel shy about in marrying a woman who was not a virgin and that a Muslim woman’s previous marriage ought not to be a weak point that her new husband could exploit against her. He said sarcastically, “The secularists accuse us of puritanism and rigidity, even while they suffer from innumerable neuroses. You’ll find that if one of them marries a woman who was previously married, the thought of her first husband will haunt him and he may treat her badly, as though punishing her for her legitimate marriage. Islam has no such complexes.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany, 2002
Islamic teachings emphasize that a woman's prior marital status does not diminish her worth; societal prejudice, not religious doctrine, creates stigma.
In simple terms: Past marriages shouldn't affect a woman's value.
Reject stigma, focus on character.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- dating
- interfaith marriage
- family counseling
- community education
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do personal biases shape marital expectations?
- What steps can communities take to reduce stigma?
Cultural biases may persist despite religious teachings.