Marriage Proposal
\r\n Al-Qasas (The Story) - Chapter 28: Verse 27
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"[The father] said: 'I will give you one of these two daughters of mine in marriage on the understanding that you will remain eight years in my service. If you should complete ten years, it will be of your own choice. I do not wish to impose any hardship on you. You will find me, if God so wills, an upright man.'\"
The father probably sensed a mutual liking between his daughter and Moses, one which could be the basis for a happy family. Frankly and simply the old man offered on of his daughters, without naming her, as a wife for Moses, but he might have felt that the intended girl was known to him as they seemed inclined towards each other. He stated this without any embarrassment, for the offer was one of marriage. There is after all nothing to be embarrassed about when the aim is to build a home and establish a family. It is only when people move away from sound, natural values, to observe unhealthy traditions, that they are unnecessarily restricted. Thus, in our social environment today, we see that no parent or guardian can approach a man of sound faith and integrity to propose that he should marry his daughter, sister or other relative. Such traditions make it imperative that the man or his parents should make the proposal, as it is improper that a proposal should be made by the woman's side. The irony is that under such deviant traditions and in such social environment young men and women meet, talk and play together without any intention to get engaged to be married. Once the idea of marriage in entertained, affected shyness is observed and other barriers are erected to prevent any simple, frank and honest discussion.
\r\nDuring the Prophet's lifetime, fathers used to offer their daughters to men marriage. Indeed, women offered themselves to the Prophet or to whoever he wished them to marry. This was done in all honesty and propriety, without any embarrassment for anyone. It was with such an open and simple approach that Islamic society used to build its homes. Nothing needed to be done under cover, or with affected or devious means. This is exactly what the old man did with regard to Moses, promising not to impose any hardship on him or to ask him what was beyond his means. He hoped that, with God's grace, Moses would find him to be an upright man. This is the most appropriate way of talking about oneself. One neither boasts of one's virtues nor emphatically states that one is a good person. One only hopes to be so, leaving the matter to God.
\r\nCompiled From:
\r\n \"In the Shade of the Quran\" - Sayyid Qutb, Vol. 12, pp. 221, 222