Q. In our part of the world, women belonging to Syed families are often told that they cannot marry anyone who is not a Syed. In fact some mullahs force the divorce of women who marry non-Syeds because they consider such a marriage a dishonor to the family. Please comment.
(Name and address withheld)
A. There is absolutely no truth in this tradition, which is contrary to Islamic values and principles. God has stated people’s equality in many ways.
To give but one example, we may refer to the verse that states: “Mankind! We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another.
Truly, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most genuinely God-fearing. God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (49: 13) From the Islamic point of view, a man gains esteem by his actions, not by his descent. The Prophet (peace be upon him) married his cousin, Zaynab, to a former slave, Zayd. Three of his own daughters were married to people totally unrelated to him.
Nevertheless, we should give the descendants of the Prophet their due respect, but this does not exempt them from any religious or civil duty, nor does it deprive them of any right due to other people.
If a divorce is forced on a couple for no reason other than this difference of status, such a divorce is a gross injustice and its perpetrators have much to answer for before God.
Depending on the circumstances, the divorce could well be invalid. The so-called mullah who tries to enforce it is either totally ignorant of Islamic values or has some sort of interest in the matter.