Marriage contract

I would like to know what Islam says regarding Prenuptial Agreements. I am a Muslim girl and the Muslim boy I may marry would like me to sign a Prenuptial agreement. Although he has not made it a condition for marriage (he will still marry me if I do not agree to one), he says he would like to protect himself and his property in the event of a divorce.Is it okay to agree to such a contract? Is there an Islamic alternative to a Prenuptial Agreement? Even though I know he is a reasonable person, I am a little offended that he has even asked me to sign such an agreement. Does a Muslim man have the right to ask a woman to sign a Prenuptial Agreement? Your advice will be much appreciated on this issue.

Is the husband’s verbal commitment before concluding the marriage contract not to marry another woman binding? Bearing in mind that the couple in question have been together for seventeen years and the pledge was given to the wife’s family; yet he threatens to marry another woman.

Dear respected sheikhs, as-salamu `alaykum. I was surprised by the talk of some women. I know them to be God-fearing, and I hear their husbands are righteous and pious. However, they complained greatly and painfully about their husbands. They said that their husbands are selfish, rude, unkind towards them and treat them as slaves. One of them said to his wife, when she was giving him advice, “A woman should never be listened to unless she invites her husband to prayer or fasting.” I know this is not the Islamic way of treatment and mutual respect between husband and wife. What do you have to say about this issue? Jazakum Allah khayran.

Dear scholars, As-Salaam `Alaykum. Could you please shed more light on the mutual rights of the husband and wife? Jazakum Allah khayran.

In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious The Most MercifulDear Respected Scholars,Assalama alay kum.  Before I post my question, Alhamdullilah, its really nice to have you here to enlightened us on the doubts and questions we have as Muslims especially those who are revert to Islam like me. I actually send this query 3 months ago however I didn?t received any response yet.  I was involved to a muslim man before I reverted back to Islam and the same man whom I make a contract with. I mean to make our relationship halal, we make a marriage contract of ourselves, I am actually the one who drafted it, we signed and he let   his friends signed as a witness and he let his friends and those we know that I am his wife, including his family, Is this valid? We did this as of the moment since we cannot yet live together as taking an accommodation here now is very expensive. I read most of your discussions about marriage and really I guess the one we have is null and void. Now I am really confused, he told me that this is fine and Allah knows best our intention, but I insist that we should marry on the Shariah court to make it legal and since no local imam is making a marriage ceremony here in the UAE that is the only option we have to do. I had discussed this to him many times  and we really had a disagreements but he told me that he have asked sheikhs from his country, Egypt and nobody there can tell that this kind of marriage is haram (urfi marriage/temporary marriage) and he told me that the reason why he put it in paper is because he means it. Based on my reading and understanding of marriage in Islam it should be made easy.   Could you please enlighten us on our situation right now?Jazakallahu khayran.