SOCIAL DIFFERENTIATION AND IMAM WEDDING

Marriage is one of the most basic and ancient realities of societies. In this study, traditional Muslim understanding of marriage/nikah and some practices known as "imam marriage" in some parts of the society are investigated in line with social differentiation. To do so, firstly, understanding of the meaning of the marriage in Islam and in Christianity are explored briefly, and then some comparisons are made between these two understandings. In addition, the essential elements of the marriage contract, which is regarded as a special contract in Islam, and the essential elements of the other contracts and their supplementary elements are considered, and then some comparations are made between these two contracts in terms of their current applications and social orders. Considering this information, which is given comparatively from different angles about the legitimate marriage contract in Islam, the issue of marriage/nikah is examined in relation to social differentiation, and the current application known as "imam marriage" is evaluated both religious and social perspectives. Finally, Lastly, some suggestions have been made to the institutions that emerged during the process of social differentiation in terms of social / religious responsibility