Marriage Preferences Among Muslims A Comparative Study of Young Adults And Their Parents

INTRODUCTION What Is Marriage? The human society, ever since, has witnessed the diffusion and evolution of multiple institutions that have led to the continuity and survival of the society. The basic tenet of human existence is to seek meaning and relationships are the one of the most crucial way to attend the same. The institution of marriage has a very crucial place in the sphere of institutions and this institution contributes in maintaining the human society through familial and marital ties. Taylor (From his sermon, The Mysteriousness of Marriage, on Ephesians 5:32.) also observed that ―Marriage is the mother of the world, and preserves kingdoms, and fills cities, churches and Heaven itself. It is that state of thing to which God has designed the present constitution of the world＂. It also exhibits the society ones lives in terms of cultural and social values since the choice is deliberately made by entire family, friends and self. Having said so, this institution exits since the time world has come into existence and has taken different shapes and forms since then as per need of the human society. The basis of marriage is family where a single self-contained unit exits which has different functions and each partner performs different task as per their role and responsibilities in the best interest of family collectively. According to sociologist Mazumdar (1966), ―marriage is a socially sanctioned union of male and female for the purpose of establishing (a) household (b) having intimate relations (c) procreating and (d) providing care for the offspring‖. Marriage is uniquely beneficial to society because it is the foundation of the family and the basic building block of society. It brings significant stability and meaning to human relationships. Although, marriage is often seen as an alliance between two different individuals, but it also brings out a new network of relationship as both families also gets connected (Basham, 1963; Kapadia, 1966; Ross, 1961). Additionally, Marriage, in Indian society is largely considered as sacramental and essential event in an individual’s life (Kapadia, 1966) and one who doesn’t marry is seen as incomplete. From some marriage is a loving communion between two individuals which eventually becomes a means propagating the species and nurturing children,