While it is a known fact that there are many diverse cultures around the world offering different beliefs and practices, one area that I have noticed seems to consistently differ from one culture to another. matrimonial practices. Regarding the marriage practices of Islamic and Chinese cultures, their opinions and beliefs differ greatly on topics such as polygamy, arranged marriages, and spousal equality. Within Islamic culture, marriage has always been closely linked to religious beliefs. It must be believed that marriage is considered a religious duty, in addition to being a social choice. The process that leads to marriage in Islamic culture is simple. First, a contract must be drawn up and agreed to by the guardian of the bride and groom. If the bride-to-be is not a virgin or does not have a wali, guardian, who is either her father or grandfather, then her oral consent must be given to legalize the contract. If the bride-to-be is a virgin, the wali Mujbir, also known as the father or grandfather, can force her to marry against her proclaimed wishes. Although it occurs in some cases, in most areas of Islamic culture, forced marriages are against Islamic teachings. For example, the Hanafi school of Islamic thought, which is the first and greatest classical school of Islamic thought, states that a wife who has reached puberty must give permission or consent to marry. Additionally, if she was forced to marry before puberty, she has the option of obtaining an annulment of the marriage when she reaches the age of consent. The next part of the marriage process is a mahr given to the bride at the time of marriage by either of the two. the groom or bridegroom'...... middle of paper ......tice. Although they still focus on the traditional aspects of their marriage practices, parents now play a less important role in the decision-making process regarding their children's marriage. Another aspect of marriage practices in Chinese culture that has undergone change in recent years is the acceptability of marriage. polygamy. In the past, polygamy was considered an acceptable form of behavior among men trying to have male children. With the creation of the Marriage Law in 1950 by Communist Party leader Mao, which banned polygamy and early marriage, the number of people practicing polygamy appeared to decline, although there are still some people who practice it in secret. It is mainly men who practice polygamy in this culture. This brings me to the next aspect of marriage practices in this culture that is interesting, namely the subject of gender roles and equality of spouses..