The
BBC explores the Modern Muslim Marriage
Muslim
customs and perceptions about matrimony are changing in the Islamic
world.
BBC
World Service's Modern Muslim Marriage discovers how and
why from 28 January.
Navid
Akhtar talks to young people in Britain, Malaysia, and Iran about
the changing nature of courtship, Muslim women who marry outside
their faith, Muslim women who initiate divorce and Muslim divorcees
looking for love again.
"The
Prophet Mohammed described marriage as half your religion,"
says Navid, "and for Muslims it's traditionally been the cornerstone
of Islamic society."
The
first of this four-part series Boy meets Girl uncovers the
changing nature of Muslim courtship in Britain and urban centres
elsewhere in the Islamic world.
It
discusses the expectations of young Muslims of both sexes and asks
whether they are being fulfilled.
Navid
says: "With increased migration and changes in the status of
women, traditional customs and cultures are starting to change.
"In
towns and cities in Britain and across the Islamic world, courtship
is no longer limited to rituals surrounding the traditional arranged
marriage.
"Young
Muslims are getting together at Halal social evenings and conducting
virtual meetings by webcam."
Wedded
Bliss on 4 February asks why increasing numbers of Muslim women
decide to marry out of their faith, a practice normally banned in
the Islamic tradition, and explores the impact on family and society
structures.
Navid
also talks to well-educated women who become second wives to Muslim
men - some are no longer tolerating this practice.
Divorce
has traditionally been the man's prerogative in Islamic society
but Muslim women are increasingly initiating divorce. This new phenomenon
is unearthed in When It's Over on 11 February.
The
final programme The Second Time Around on 17 January looks
at how new divorcees, who probably had a traditional arranged marriage
the first time around, re-enter the dating game and find a new partner.
Notes
to Editors
Heart
and Soul - Modern Muslim Marriage: 4 x 15 minute programmes
International
Broadcast Times:
West Africa: | Tue 15.30 rpt 22.45| Wed 00.45
Europe: | Tue 13.45 rpt 18.45| Wed 00.45|Thur 04.30|
E and S Africa: | Tue 12.45 rpt 15.30| Wed 00.45
Middle East: | Tue 15.30 rpt 22.45| Wed 00.45
South Asia: | Tue 08.45 rpt 12.45
East Asia: | Tue 08.45 rpt 12.45, 18.45| Wed 05.30
Americas: | Tue 19.45 rpt Wed 00.45|Thur 04.30
Listen
online: from Tuesday 28 January (updated weekly Tuesdays) - bbcworldservice.com/programmes
- choose Heart and Soul from the drop down list of programmes.
BBC
World Service broadcasts programmes around the world in 43 languages
and is available on radio and online at bbcworldservice.com.
It
has a global audience of 150 million listeners while its websites
receive 75 million page impressions each month.
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