This guidance is available for individuals or potential couples who are considering marriage but need some Islamic guidance to help them navigate their choices. The purpose is to help individuals and potential couples understand the importance of utilizing the engagement period effectively to get to know their prospect in preparation for a successful marriage, in addition to other relevant issues.

This consultation session addresses the financial needs and plans of potential couples who want to understand the Islamic position on the issue of pre-planning and separating the financial assets of the two spouses before marriage.

To officiate your marriage and receive your Islamic marriage certificate/contract from Muslim Family Consulting, you MUST meet the following requirements:

1. The bride and the groom MUST obtain one of the following documents:

An official marriage license* from any court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. On the date of the ceremony, the marriage license cannot be older than 60 days from the date it was issued.

The official Marriage Registration/Certificate from the Commonwealth of Virginia or from any other State.

2. The bride’s Agent/Wali (her father, uncle, adult brother) MUST participate/authorize the marriage and be PRESENT at the ceremony.

3. The groom, the bride, and each of the two male witnesses MUST be PRESENT at the ceremony.

4. All participants MUST have an official government-issued, picture ID. This MUST be an original passport or an original State-issued ID, such as a driver’s license. Both the original ID and a copy MUST be submitted at the ceremony.

* To prepare the court requirements for issuing a marriage license in Virginia, please visit the following link: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/circuit/marriage/marriage-license-information

The initial consultation session will be used to hear both sides to understand what the main issues of concern to each are. Each side will list and define their points of concern regarding the marriage and the relationship and what they see as sources of concern from their perspective. I will ask questions to each side to ascertain a clear and full understanding of the issues presented by each side. We will set ground rules for discussions and plan on how to go about the process in future sessions.

Follow up sessions will be pre-planned with the participation of both sides to make sure that all issues are addressed and all concerns are treated fairly and completely. The number of sessions will be determined by mutual agreement of the two sides, depending upon what the issues are and how flexible the two parties are and how agreeable they become through the sessions and the discussions.

Marriage Rehabilitation is a guided process where we assist couples in aligning three essential sets of variables, crucial for a harmonious and thriving marriage. These variables shape expectations, influence thoughts, perceptions, and decision-making within the marital relationship.

The three variables are:

1. Faith, values, ethics, and principles: The beliefs and guiding principles that shape daily life.

2. Marital rights and responsibilities: Understanding roles and obligations according to Quranic and Sunnah teachings, encompassing personal, financial, familial, and social aspects.

3. Communication: A vital skill for effective dialogue, especially during disagreements. We help couples refine their communication styles and rules to achieve optimal understanding.

Follow up sessions will be pre-planned with the participation of both sides to make sure that all issues are addressed and all concerns are treated fairly and completely. The number of sessions will be determined by mutual agreement of the two sides, depending upon what the issues are and how flexible the two parties are and how agreeable they become through the sessions and the discussions.

It is a long-term relationship rebuilding process. It may take 5 - 10 sessions.

To officiate your marriage and receive your Islamic marriage certificate/contract from Muslim Family Consulting, you MUST meet the following requirements:

1. The bride and the groom MUST obtain one of the following documents:

An official marriage license* from any court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. On the date of the ceremony, the marriage license cannot be older than 60 days from the date it was issued.

The official Marriage Registration/Certificate from the Commonwealth of Virginia or from any other State.

2. The bride’s Agent/Wali (her father, uncle, adult brother) MUST participate/authorize the marriage and be PRESENT at the ceremony.

3. The groom, the bride, and each of the two male witnesses MUST be PRESENT at the ceremony.

4. All participants MUST have an official government-issued, picture ID. This MUST be an original passport or an original State-issued ID, such as a driver’s license. Both the original ID and a copy MUST be submitted at the ceremony.

* To prepare the court requirements for issuing a marriage license in Virginia, please visit the following link: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/circuit/marriage/marriage-license-information

This consultation aims at providing the couple information regarding the early marriage period adjustments that the couples need to make to synchronize their post marriage habits, customs, and ways to meet each other's expectations to nurture the thin layer of trust they had developed in the early period of marriage. This adjustment process is highly recommended soon after the first 6 months of marriage but definitely no later than one year of marriage.

This consultation session aims at addressing the financial needs and plans of married couples who want to understand the Islamic position on the issue of re-planning and separating the financial assets of the two spouses after marriage.

This consultation aims at helping parents or children who need to deal with issues affecting their relationship, faith, values, and choices. Issues could be any topic of concern to a parent or a child, like generation gap, differences in values, priorities, maturity, communication styles, lifestyle choices, questions or doubts about Islam or Islamic issues, etc.

We help our clients understand the Islamic inheritance system and how to apply it in their specific situation.

We also help our clients to develop an Islamic last will and testament.

This is a necessary step before a Muslim reaches out to a lawyer to help them develop a valid executable legal will according to their State laws.

This type of consultation is open for any concern that an individual may have. It could cover issues related to Islamic guidance and rulings related to things like relationships, feelings regarding certain issues or people, time management, study and school, career/work choices, housing and loans, education and training options, choosing a spouse, etc.

This consultation aims at addressing contested issues related to divorce: finances, custody, child support, spousal support, child visitation arrangements, etc.

Mediating a custody agreement between two parents can be very taxing and stressful for any parent, especially when the children are young. Although Islam sets certain parameters and guidelines for custody issues, it requires a focus on the children's interests and assessing the capacity of each parent to contribute to the children's well-being. We try to help parents balance between the two factors as they relate to the issue of child custody. The goal of this session is to bring the parents to focus on each other's good qualities for the sake of the children.

This consultation aims at helping the parties amicably develop an Islamically acceptable agreement to resolve post-divorce financial issues and take such an agreement to a lawyer to the court to ratify it, instead of going through an agonizing and expensive legal battle in court.

Uncontested (mutually agreeable) divorce is an amicable divorce process in which the two parties agree not only to divorce but also to the conditions of how to handle the divorce and all related issues, such as finances, spousal support, living conditions, and child support and visitation.

Amicably agreeing to the above mentioned issues on an Islamic basis will not only help make the divorce process as easy as possible, but it will also save the couple tens of thousands of dollars in lawyers and court fees, besides the agonizing legal process.

This consultation serves couples who are contemplating divorce as a last resort option when they feel that all else has failed. Either party that is contemplating divorce may schedule this consultation separately or together with their spouse. During this session, we offer certain things to consider determining the basic issues related to such a decision, such as:

Has the couple really developed a plan to avert divorce?

What was the plan? And Ÿ who complied with that plan? And who didn't and why?

Are there things either party could do to avert divorce?

What about the consideration for a period of separation to cool down the temperature and to open a chance for reconsideration?

This consultation session aims at giving the couple a cooling off period with a clear agenda they develop under specific guidelines, depending on their situation and their goals.