Halal or Haram? Imam Suhaib Webb Breaks Down Marriage Apps & More

“Am I too old to get married?”

“What will my parents think?”

“How do I know if I’m choosing the right person?”

“Is using a marriage app even halal?”

These are all questions single Muslims have likely asked themselves during their marriage search. And honestly, they’re valid. The pressure to get married can feel overwhelming due to community perception, cultural norms, or the internal fear of picking the wrong person. While marriage is often seen as the end goal or even a requirement of our deen, the reality is that the journey towards it can come with a lot of stress, self doubt, and anxiety.

At Muzz, we wanted to have a real, honest conversation about what the marriage search actually looks like for Muslims today. So we sat down with Imam Suhaib Webb to dive into these complexities – from navigating societal expectations to figuring out if apps like Muzz are a valid option Islamically. Imam Webb guides us on how to approach marriage with faith, wisdom, and a little less pressure.

Is marriage really half our deen?

The night Imam Webb became Muslim in 1992, a Muslim brother approached him saying he had a cousin overseas that he wanted him to marry. Despite being a new Muslim, and not to mention very young, oftentimes Muslim quote the statement “marriage is half of your religion” to emphasize the importance of marriage, despite your age or status.

Imam Webb says the implication of this statement would be “if you’re not married, you have a 50% grade. You’re not even passing”. But was this statement actually made by the Prophet ﷺ? Imam Webb offers some clarity on the authenticity and implication of this statement. 

“When all the research is brought together, it becomes very clear that the Prophet ﷺ did not say this, but in fact one of the early Muslims coined this statement that marriage is half a person’s religion, so let them fear Allah for the other half”.

Imam Webb emphasizes that while marriage is indeed a sunnah, it does not comprise our intrinsic value as Muslims. The pressure put on Muslims to get married can then be counterproductive. “In a means to achieve something good, the pressure causes people to make a bad decision”.

Are marriage apps haram?

Despite their growing popularity, Muslim marriage apps are still seen as a controversial or taboo method for Muslims to get married. On one hand, the permissibility of using apps like Muzz is often questioned. On the other hand, cultural norms would prefer Muslims to get married to a family friend or a known member of the community.

Imam Webb discusses the stigma around marriage apps, and how they can actually be a very important tool for the modern day Muslim. 

“We see the companions of the Prophet ﷺ using all types of means to get married in their lifetime”. Imam Webb reminds us that just because a tool for marriage (marriage apps) did not exist at the time of the Prophet and the Sahaba, does not automatically make their use haram. 

We are reminded that as Muslims, we must always have good suspicion of our fellow Muslims. If we quickly assume Muslims are using marriage apps for haram reasons, it is not a surprise that the reputation of the app itself becomes haram. 

At Muzz, we always remind our users that if you are seeking haram, then haram is what you will find. We encourage our users to use the app with clear intentions, good suspicion of others, and an overall commitment to keeping the platform halal. With chaperone features, screenshot protection, and private photo options, we are committed to creating a safe, halal space for Muslims of all backgrounds and ages to find their spouses.

Imam Webb makes an important point that “for some of us [who had embraced Islam], we don’t have aunties and uncles, we don’t have the social structure for people to go around and help us find good spouses – so these apps become incredibly important for us to find righteous, religious spouses”. 

What are some etiquettes to keep in mind when using Muzz? 

Any act of worship in Islam, including the sunnah of getting married, comes with adab (etiquette). On top of all of the other factors to consider when looking for a spouse, it is important to remind ourselves of the etiquettes we should be following during our search – especially when using Muzz. 

“Number one,” states Imam Webb “catfishing is haram. The Prophet ﷺ said ‘who cheats us is not from us’”. Catfishing is a form of deceit and trickery, and is an instant red flag when getting to know someone. 

“Don’t you want to marry the person you can be authentically yourself with?”

“Number two – we’re not allowed to ask about past skeletons in the closet. The Prophet ﷺ said that ‘all of my ummah is forgiven except for those who reveal what Allah has hidden’ – meaning sins”. 

Imam Webb clarifies that the only time we are required to reveal our past sins is if it will impact the marriage physically, financially, or psychologically. If you are feeling insecure regarding the past of the person you’re marrying, you have to ask yourself: “are you marrying their past or marrying them?”

The third etiquette Muslims should follow is to monitor the sources of how you imagine marriage. Make sure you can answer the following questions and align with your future partner on your answers: 

• What makes you feel valued? 
• How do you export value to other people? 
• What are your negotiables and non-negotiables with religion, life, finances, in-laws, children, etc?

“When you’re able to answer these questions successfully, Inshallah ta’ala Allah will bless you and Inshallah you will be an incredible spouse”. 

Should you marry someone you argue with?

Imam Webb says, “marry the person you can argue with”. 

Marriage is not always a fairytale, and often times can be far from perfect. When imagining what your marriage will look like in the future, you have to be realistic and acknowledge that not every day will be easy. 

“Not only do you want to imagine how life will look good together, but also how life will look bad together”. Navigating difficult times and hardships as a couple is truly the essence of marriage. Being able to challenge each other and overcome those challenges not only strengthens your marriage, but provides a sense of security that you choose to love each other even when you are at odds. 

Allah SWT tell us هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ (your spouses are like garments [clothing] for you, and you are like garments for them). 

Just like clothing, spouses should protect each other, cover each other’s flaws, bring each other comfort, and remain close to one another. 

At the end of the day, marriage is a journey that requires intention, patience, and faith, not pressure or perfection. With the right mindset and tools, Inshallah, every Muslim can navigate this path in a way that honors both their deen and their well-being.

Want to hear it straight from Imam Webb? Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel.