In a Muslim society, something which is infinitely more important than marriage, women or love, is land. Land must not be lost to the family, to the clan, to the culture. It must be under guarantee for the future, therefore the laws of inheritance must ensure the land remains within that culture. This is the root of what is called a religious problem . It is directly related to in-family marriages which produce many handicapped children.
Intermarriage contributes to family and group solidarity.
In the Arab world, marriage is traditionally the joining of two families, rather than of two individuals. In the Western world, a couple will go through successive phases of meeting, starting to like each other, friendship, dating, courting and engagement. Eventually, a wedding day may come should they both will it. After all, the two persons concerned are already known by each family group. The older generation shapes family life for the younger generation.