SALAM TO ALL MUSLIMS :)
There have been a reference repeadely used by many posters "if you or a man is seeing a woman...Well that is NOT permitted in Islaam. Before marriage male and female can look at each other. This is the only time hijab is relaxed for a woman. Below are some references from Noble Quran and Ahadeeths that will answer all the questions one/you may have. The answer is sitting in each home on *TA'AQ."
Fornication forbidden, Noble Quran 4:24, 4:25, 4:27, 5:5
Adultery, Noble Quran 17:33
Polygamy
Noble Quran 4:3! And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphangirls, then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (the captives and the slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice.
Non-believer
Noble Quran 2:221! And do not marry Al-Mushrikât (idolatresses, etc.) till they believe (worship Allâh Alone). And indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress, etc.), even though she pleases you. And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al-Mushrikûn] till they believe (in Allâh Alone) and verily, a believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolater, etc.), even though he pleases you. Those (Al-Mushrikûn) invite you to the Fire, but Allâh invites (you) to Paradise and Forgiveness by His Leave, and makes His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to mankind that they may remember.
Noble Quran 5:5! Made lawful to you this day are AtTayyibât [all kinds of Halâl (lawful) foods, which Allâh has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, etc., milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits, etc.). The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals, etc.) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them. (Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) before your time, when you have given their due Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), desiring chastity (i.e. taking them in legal wedlock)** not committing illegal sexual intercourse, nor taking them as girl-friends. And whosoever disbelieves in the Oneness of Allâh and in all the other Articles of Faith [i.e. His (Allâh's), Angels, His Holy Books, His Messengers, the Day of Resurrection and AlQadar (Divine Preordainments)], then fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.**
AHADEETH
MARRIAGE
Young men, those of you who can support a wife should marry, for it keeps you from looking at strange women and preserves you from immorality, but those who cannot, should devote themselves to fasting, for it is a means of suppressing sexual desire.
(Bukhari, Muslim).
The whole world is to be enjoyed, but the best thing in the world is a pious woman.
(Muslim).
When a man marries, he has fulfilled half of the religion, so let him fear Go regarding the remaining half.
(Bukhari).
After fear of God, a believer gains nothing better for him than a good wife who obeys him if he gives her a command, pleases him if he looks at her, is true to him if he adjures her to do something, and is sincere towards him regarding her person and his property if he is absent.
(Ibn Majah.)
Jabir said, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "When one of you asksa woman in marriage, then if he is able that he should look into what invites him to have her in marriage, he should do it.
(Abu Dawud).
Abu Huraira reported, The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "A woman is married on account of four things; on account of her wealth, on account of (the nobility) of the family, and her beauty, and on account of her character (Bukhari).
Ai'sha(ra) said, The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Make the marriage publicly known, and perform it in mosques and beat at it with duff
(Tirmidhi, Mishkat).
Ibn Umar reported, The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "When one of you is invited to a marriage feast, he should go to it.
(Bukhari).
RIGHTS OF WIVES
When a woman observes the five time of prayers, fasts during Ramadan, preserves her chastity, and obeys her husband, she may enter by any of the gates of paradise she wishes.
(Abu Nu'aim).
A believer must not hate his wife, and if he is displeased with one bad quality in her, then let him be pleased with one that is good in her.
(Muslim).
Among the believers who show most perfect faith are those who have best disposition and are kindest to their families.
(Tirmidhi).
WOMEN IN ISLAM
Reported from Anas b. Malik, the Prophet said: "Girls are models of affection and sympathy and a blessing to the family. If a person has one daughter, God will screen him from the fire of hell owing to his daughter; if he has two daughters, God will admit him to paradise; if he has three, God will exempt him from the obligation of charity and Jehad."
(Kanz al-Ummal:277).
Abu Hurairah says, "The Prophet of God said that if a person has three daughters whom he provides for and brings up, God will surely reward him with paradise."
(Kanz al-Ummal).
According to Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, the Prophet is reported to have said; "If a daughter is born to a person and he brings her up, gives her a good education and trains her in the arts of life, I shall myself stand between him and hell-fire.
(Kanz al-Ummal).
Ibn Abbas reported that a virgin grown-up girl came to the Prophet of Allah and narrated that her father had given her in marriage to a person whom she disliked. The Prophet gave her option.
(Abu Dawud).
Khansa' b. Khidham reported that her father gave her in marriage, after she had became a widow. She disliked it and came to the Prophet. He annulled the marriage.
(Bukhari).
According to Ayeshah, the Prophet's wife, he said about women: "They are like pleasing roses."
(Kanz al-Ummal).
According to a report from Abdullah b. 'Umar, the Prophet (peace be upon him) declared: "The whole world is a thing to be made use of and the best thing in the world is a virtuous wife."
(Muslim).
Ayeshah praised the women of Ansar for their spirit of enquiry and learning, saying, 'How praiseworthy are the women of Ansar that their modesty does not prevent them from attempts at learning and the acquisition of knowledge.'
(Sahih Muslim Kitab al Tahrat).
Umar, the Second Caliph, says, 'When a person marries a woman, and the woman stipulates that she would not be taken out of the town or city, of her residence, it is necessary for the husband to abide by the stipulation.'
(Tirmidhi p. 385).
A report from Ibn Abbas states that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'A previously married woman is more a guardian for herself than her guardian and a virgin should be asked permission about herself, and her permission is her silence.'
(Muslim).
Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'A grown-up girl shall be asked permission about herself. If she is silent, it is her permission; and if she declines, there shall be no compulsion on her.'
(Muslim).
Ibn Umar says: 'Uthman b. Mazu'um left behind a young daughter. My uncle, Qudamah, married her to me, and did not even consult her. When the girl came to know this, she disliked this marriage and she wished to marry Mughirah b. Shu'bah. So she was married to Mughirah.
(Ibn Majah).
Ayeshah, says, 'A girl came and stated that her father had given her in marriage to his nephew and she disliked him. I told her to wait till the Prophet arrived. When the Prophet came, I told him the full story of the girl. He at once sent for the father of the girl and enquired whether the facts stated were true, after which he told the girl the she was at liberty to choose or repudiate her husband. The girl replied that she chose to retain her marriage, and she wanted only to know whether women had the rights in the matter.'
(Nasai).
A report from Abu Hurairah says: 'No believer should be angry towards his wife. If some of her qualities are displeasing, there will be many other qualities worth appreciation.'
(Nail al-Autar).
Bubble Buster
"The true EVIL lies in IGNORANCE, not in suspicion."
[This message has been edited by Bubble Buster (edited March 25, 2000).]