Managing socio-religious expectations in an intimate space : examining Muslim-interfaith marriage amongst working class communities in Cape Town

This study investigates how marriage norms are negotiated and constructed in the context of Muslim-interfaith marriage amongst those from primarily working class communities in Cape Town. It also explores the religious identity of individuals and its effect on the marriage. Interfaith marriage has become increasingly prevalent amongst Muslims in South Africa. Moreover, while it is often assumed that Muslims in whatever context follow Islamic law in their everyday lives, social practice often takes precedence. Interfaith marriage as generally "atypical" marriage amongst Muslims provides a particularly informative lens with which to examine Muslim marriage. The findings of this research suggest that interfaith couples construct marriage norms through a balance of religious and social expectations, including their own, rather than a strict following of religious law