Islam has protected women from abuse by men, (and visa versa) As Allah the most high says in the Quran "Men are the maintainers and protectors of women, for Allah has made one to have greater responsibilities over the other, and because they spend of their wealth, their property (for the support of women)" Surah 4 ayah 34

one such abuse would be to take a woman as your girlfreind and then maybe she becomes pregnant and all the man has to do is deny its his, or dissapear she is left to pick up the pieces, raise her child alone and that child may never know his father as a result. Or the woman tells a man that this is his child, when it isnt, and today for example in the u.k. alone one in eight men are raising a child that they believe is their own but indeed belongs to another man.There is also the financial aspect that impacts on society when men do not provide for their children, which raises taxes and means everyone else ends up paying for the irresponsability of the parents.

Then there is the other aspect if a woman decides to abort the child, as is done so often in the western world (last year alone more 250,000 abortions were carried out due to unwanted pregnancy) 86% of women who terminate a pregnancy suffer depression and anxiety related problems, and 47% of those go on to suffer some form of depression for life.

so Islam has a perfect solution marriage, whereby a woman is fully protected and due her rights,and not only the woman but any children also will not be subject to abortion, they will have the right to life insha Allah, they will also have the right to know who their father is and be supported financially,emotionally, to spend time with ,and be educated by their fathers whether the marriage remains or ends in divorce. the fact that it is forbidden to in Islam to attribute another mans child to your husband protects children from marrying their sisters and brothers, aunts etc. in the future as through no fault of their own they wouldnt know they were their siblings or relatives.

Boyfreinds and girlfreinds means untimately no commitment, it means you want everything now and are willing to gaurentee nothing. How many women (and men ) have been tricked by some joker who claims undying love but all they have is an undying lust truth be known, and the result are broken hearts and illigitimate children all over the place today in the u.k alone 48% of children are born outside of marriage very sad for those kids. In Islam even if a man and women are going to get divorced he is obliged to treat her with kindness and love even if he dislikes her.

In regards to getting married in the first place it is so so simple in Islam you simply see someone you would like to consider for marriage, you go to meet with them (with a mahram father,uncle,brother etc present) if having looked at each others face and having spoken about your ideals expectations etc for life you can get married right there on the spot if you like! or when you have taken time to decided, then just bring two male, sane, muslim, witnessess and have the girls gaurdian present to ensure her rights in the marriage, then if you both agree to the marriage there you go! you are now married! after the marriage is consumated then you have the wedding feast (called a walima in arabic) whereby you invite all the people to eat with you, and distribute the left over food to the poor, now how is that difficult?

It doesnt take a huge gathering and thousands of pounds and amazing dresses amazing cooks. flowers food etc etc and everyone partying till the early hours, then throwing away all the leftover food... its a massive waste of money when this money as per Islam could instead be used to feed the poor...or are you just making yourself poor in the process of the "wedding day" marrige is about actually being married, its not about one day to blow all your cash on needlessly.

Islam has all the solutions if you take the time to seek out the knowledge from Quran and authentic sunnah, and the islamic rulings benefit eveyone in society, not just the individual. Islam protects men and women from being with someone, without fully comitting to them first and thus avoids all the problems that we encounter in western society today.

Maysaa bint Mikail