Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamoalaikum Burhan Bhai.

In Azad Kashmir & Pakistan marrying within one`s cast is a MUST which almost all of the citizens consider before marrying of their children.

I`m personally faced with a similar problem. Now I`m coming towards a age in my life where my elders will start to push me to marry.

We are Rajput and our family insists on only marrying within our cast! I personally don`t believe in the cast system as in my eyes all musalman are equal in the adalat of the Almighty Allah. But my fmily members and I don`t see eye-to-eye.

Can you please tell me whether the holy Quran and/or the collection of Ahadees stress that one must give precidence to one`s cast before looking elsewhere for a suitable partner. And whether Islam says about the cast system etc.

I hope you understood the jest of my question.

Jazakallah Khair for addressing.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Marry same caste

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: I personally don`t believe in the cast system as in my eyes all musalman are equal in the adalat of the Almighty Allah

Allah says in the Holy Quran: Chapter 49 Surah Hujurat verse 13:

O mankind, We created you from one man and one woman, and then divided you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another. Indeed, the most honorable among you in the Sight of Allah is he who is the most pious of you. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Dear and beloved brother, although it is accurate that all people are equal before the Laws of the Lord, it is not entirely accurate to state that all people or even all muslims are equal in the Sight of Allah Subhanah….for the one thing that differentiates or elevates or honors an individual from another individual in the Sight of Allah Subhanah is the level of that individual’s ‘taqwa’ or piety. The Lord Most High Declares that the most honorable amongst mankind in His Sight is he who possesses the most ‘taqwa’ or piety.

Your Statement: Can you please tell me whether the holy Quran and/or the collection of Ahadees stress that one must give precidence to one`s cast before looking elsewhere for a suitable partner. And whether Islam says about the cast system etc.

Allah says in the Holy Quran: Chapter 49 Surah Hujurat verse 13 (part):

O mankind, We created you from one man and one woman, and then divided you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another.

The only reason that the Lord Most High created and scattered mankind into nations and tribes is so that one may recognize one another.

When looking for a spouse in marriage, Islam does not at all give preference or precedence to such frivolous and petty issues like nationality, caste, creed, color, complexion, height, weight, or wealth, etc.; but Islam guides that the one seeking a spouse in marriage should first and foremost verify and be content with the belief and character of the person one seeks to marry.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.27 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a loser."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3090 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, 'When someone with whose religion and character you are satisfied asks your daughter in marriage, accede to his request. If you do not do so, there will be temptation on earth and extensive corruption.'

The above sets of guidance from the Messenger of Allah (saws) are not obligatory commands, but only advice to the believing men and women when seeking a spouse in marriage. As much as it has been made clear in the Glorious Quran that if one does not follow the obligatory commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws) one would be completely ruined, Allah is our witness brother, if one does not wholeheartedly accept and follow even the advice of Allah and His Messenger (saws) they will bring nothing upon themselves except loss, misery and corruption!

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan