Love and Marriage in Medieval Muslim Thought

Abstract

Abstract:The Qur'ān and Hadith encourage marriage, and the Prophet Muḥammad is said to have enjoyed the company of his wives. Medieval Arab writers produced a rich literature on the topic of love, which has been the focus of significant scholarly attention in the West. This attention has generally focused on the tension between piety and desire, between sacred and profane love. This essay will discuss the issue of marriage and where it fits in medieval Muslim discussions of love, spanning several centuries by authors of various doctrinal inclinations. A close critical reading of the texts will be used to answer several important questions. What role does marriage play in relation to love? Is marriage an example of profane love or is it a nexus where sacred and profane meet in a reflection of divine love? How do classical exegetes understand Qur'ān and Hadith references to spouses and marriage? How do the authors of works specifically addressing love, such as Ibn Ḥazm's Ṭawq al-Ḥamāma (The Dove's Neck-Ring) and Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawzīyya's Rawḍat al-Muḥibbīn (The Garden of the Lovers), treat the topic of marriage? What Qur'ān and Hadith references do they use as proof texts in their discussions? How do they use them? Which exegetes do they cite and how? More general questions will help to place these authors and their works in a larger context. What do the authors' interpretations and discussions reveal about their doctrinal positions? How do doctrinal inclinations influence the authors' usage and interpretation of Qur'ān and Hadith on love and marriage? What is the author's purpose in writing the text? Who is the intended audience? How do audience and purpose influence the author's choice and interpretation of proof texts?