15 year age difference ?! I'd say 5-6 would be the limit.

age is just numbers :D

DAMM. Sorry about the length. I got done w/ exams yesterday, and have some time on my hands hahaha.

Personally, I don't wanna babysit anyone other than children. For life, I'm not settling for anything but a partner in full, who understands (not just talks about) equality. Lotta things to do in this world. Gotta find support in everything you do. A marriage should build each person up, give each one more support, not be a burden on time and emotions. That said, here's my response. (1) When there are larger age differences, the probability of people being at different stages in life is greater. People at different stages in life are not good together, cuz there emerges an unequal relationship, in which one teaches the other (usually, the guy becomes this so-called teacher). Lots of problems emerge from that, and it doesn't build both up ... sometimes, it may be even be that a feeling of resentment arises cuz of having to "babysit" the other person. That's bad. (2) A young person has likely not experienced as much in life as an older one, cuz s/he has simply had less time to do it in. So people who have experienced life should avoid younger prospectives, cuz you're trying to maximize understanding not minimize it. And again, an unequal relationship might emerge as a result. Lots more to this, but, in all, I each person's gotta decide where they are in life and then go from there. I find it problematic when young girls want to get married to older guys and/or do get so married. I don't think they know what they're getting into. Many guys, silly as we are, might WANT a relationship in which they wanna be teachers. Just a misunderstanding of how human interaction works. Me, personally, I don't play on numbers. I do know that there's no way a person below 24-26 would understand my life experiences enough to make the relationship equal.

More than age, the maturity level has to be the same. Preferably I would want someone around my age give or take 2-3yrs. I think it's easier to establish a friendship with someone in the same age category.

I think the younger the guy, the more moldeable ;)

maximum of 5 years. Older partners have slightly different views on things and it gets very complicated as the years go by..I have seen these fail.

i would say between 5-8 but then thhis is not necessarry mental age does come into account

lol @ not corrupted by adulthood

My hubbies a few month's younger than me. He is very intelligent but still has alot of growing up to do. But in some ways it's better because he's not corrupted by adulthood. My husband's a whiz kid 12 year old trapped in a 25 year old's body.

Older guy is much more preferable, in fact, even a 15 year gap is ok to me. I think the guy would be settled, accomplished, someone to learn from, etc. BUT at the same time, I feel like older guys have the attitude of 'been there, done that' and that would suck as most of the world is still new new to me...so basically i don't have an answer!

My 2 cents. In my opinion age difference has got to do with the views about life in general & how the couple want to spend their lives. If either party is matured enuff to know exactly what they want out of life and there is no room to "change" they should make an effort to find someone who has similar views irrespect of age. The other option ofcourse is fall in love with another person and then "change" and compromise. If on the other hand the person is unsuccessful in finding someone with similar views or falling in love...then go for an arranged marriage with an age difference 6-10 year & let the spouse with younger age "adjust" (however, as per my mummijee in our very own dear Punjab its very normal to marry with 12-15 years age difference!!), so my dear still single biradaraan and sisteraan...keep trying locally to find your "soulmate" for a few more years! :)....if unsucessful Punjab zindabad! :)

I say a max. difference of 2-3 years so that there can be friendship. Most people dont think of friendship or companionship and only focus on physical appeal, but thats a big blunder. As far as the standard 5 yr difference is concerned, its usually the parents who freak out if the 30 yr old son chooses a 30 yr bride!

Yeah Mali is right. The prophet SAW was much younger then his wife Khadija and they had a very successful marriage. So age doesn't matter, compatibilty is more impo. Despite this very few of us go against our social norms.

so you guys think 10 to 15 year old difference is ok and not sick??? what if a 35 year old decides to marry a 18 year old from back home..you think it that ok???

age difference is nothing ,actual thing is mental communication b/w two ...

I think the question here is if YOU had a CHOICE! Aangil has already stated ANYTHING GOES as long as long as it works for the couple, so there really is no debate on this.

I don't believe it's the age difference, it's who the people are that matters most.
As far as the argument that a man should be older because he'll be financially stable, that criteria determines the man's age but it doesn't necessitate an age difference, i.e.
traditional argument is, if girl is 25, guy should be 30 so that he's financially stable. well alright, so he will be financially stable by the time he's 30, but then why should the woman be 25, she can be 30 as well.
in other words, the argument for stability only determines when he will probably be in a stable enough position, but it has absolutely zilch logically to do with HER age.

There are women who marry men who are younger and vice versa. As long as the adults are compatible, and ARE adults, that's fine. Hey, if it works, it works. The age difference is an issue that should only be secondary to the things that really matter. My opinion. assalam alaikum :)

the man should be older..in my opinion .BUT if u r compatible with someone that is younger than you...by a few years i dont see anything wrong with it...plus what initially attracted u to this particular person is there state of mind...there mind and soul is older then there age...u feel me!!!?? The man gives u that state of comfort?thats what ladies like to feel ?feel safe...and usually the typical youngins don?t give u that vibe?but u have ur few that could.

Menatl compatability sounds OK when the couple have known each other, but not when you talk of an arranged union, where the parties dont get to meet or talk before hand? As far as age difference is considered, I think if i was btw 20-25, a 5 year difference, if btw 26-30, 2-3 years would be fine. Once 30+, I dont think the ages difference is so much a consideration, same age +- 1-2 years seems fair enough. This is my opinion and not the rishta wallis, who like to feed some crappy opinions. Maybe mine may be crappy too, but I think it has some logic or maybe not :)