Marriage (nikah) is a solemn and sacred social contract between the bride and groom, and it is considered a great act of worship in Islam. In Islam, marriage is a social and legal relationship intended to strengthen and extend family relationships. Islamic marriage begins with a search for an appropriate partner and is solemnized with an agreement of marriage, the contract, and the wedding party. Allah says:

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

“Among  His signs is that He created for you mates from yourselves that you may find tranquillity in them, and He placed between you love and mercy. Verily, in that are signs for a people who give thought.” (Surah Ar-Rum 30:21)

In Islam marriage is considered compulsory as it ensures spiritual purity and promotes a healthy family unit. Islam is a strong advocate of marriage, and the act of marriage is considered a religious duty through which the social unit — the family — is established. Islamic marriage is the only permissible way for men and women to engage in intimacy. Allah says:

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

“And among His Signs (is) that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you love and mercy. Indeed, in that surely (are) Signs for a people who reflect.” (Surah Ar-Rum 30:21)

Marriage in Islam teaches both men and women to stay ready to sacrifice and endure for his/her life partner. The main purpose of marriage is protection against a sinful life and living a life according to the teachings of Islam.

There are some reasons due to which Islam gives so much Importance to Marriage in Islam:

1. Marriage makes an incomplete human being a complete
2. Marriage is a source to experience love and happiness
3. Marriage for giving factors between husband and wife
4. Marriage increases sustenance, love, respect, caring
5. Marriage guarantees physical and spiritual chastity
6. Marriage provides tranquillity, peace, and security
7. Marriage is one of the most liked Sunnah in Islam
8. Marriage is a sacred bond between two persons
9. Marriage is one of the commandments of Allah
10. Marriage is protection against a sinful life
11. Marriage is one of the classes of Allah
12. Marriage appreciating the spouse
13. Marriage is a religious command
14. Marriage has righteous offspring
15. Marriage is a bond of love
16. Marriage extend human life
17. Marriage balancing the relation
18. Marriage cherishing every moment
19. Marriage away from the act of adultery
20. Marriage treating the wife with respect
21. Marriage being thankful for little things
22. Marriage a good woman for a good man
23. Marriage is necessary for making a family
24. Marriage Ignoring the flaws of your spouse
25. Marriage finding tranquillity from the spouse
26. Marriage know each other and help each other
27. Marriage loving the spouse for the sake of Allah
28. Marriage caring about the feelings of the spouse
29. Marriage means you are obeying the Prophet (SAW)
30. Marriage showing affection and mercy towards the spouse

Marriage in Islam is an obligation that is greatly encouraged by Allah and very beloved to the prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) himself has mentioned, “Marriage is from among my ways”, hence to get married is a sunnah and the person acting upon a sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) will be rewarded greatly by Allah.

Marriage in Islam has a range of logic behind it. Some of them are given below.

• Fulfilling religious obligation and duty.
• Continuing the existence of the human race through the procreation process, which is a direct result of marriage.
• Fulfilling the need of each spouse by the other, to maintain their chastity by satisfying natural sexual desires.
• Cooperation of each partner in raising the progeny and preservation of its life.
• Organizing the relationship between a husband and wife upon the foundation of exchanging rights with one another and mutual assistance that comes about in the circle of love, affection, respect and honour of each other.
•  It is an essential element in the proper and actual upbringing of children.
• It safeguards from the sins of fornication, homosexuality, and masturbation.

Islam is easily the second-largest religion in the world. All Muslims belong to a community of believers called the ummah. Marriage in Islam must be between opposite-sex partners who are not too closely related to each other. Muslim men are permitted to choose wives from among fellow believers. Nikah is one of the things which is very important in Islam, it is also being called the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا

“O mankind, verily, We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another.” (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:13)

Marriage in Islam plays a major role in protecting a Muslim from the sins of adultery, masturbation and homosexuality. Marriage takes away the possibility of all evils and sins because after marriage a Muslim is supposed to engage himself with a life sharing partner he has married and vice versa.

Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

• “They (are) garments for you and you (are) garments for them.” (Baqarah ayat 187)
• “Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (in their case) they are free from blame.” (Surah Al-Muminun, 6)
• “It is He Who has created man from water: then has He established relationships of lineage and marriage: for thy Lord has power (over all things).” (Surah Al-Furqan, 54)
• “And verily We sent messengers (to mankind) before thee, and We appointed for them wives and offspring.” (Surah Ar-Ra’ad- Verse 38)
• “Live with them in kindness; even if you dislike them, perhaps you dislike something in which Allah has placed much good.” (Quran, 4:19)
• “And when you divorce women and they have come to the end of their waiting period, hinder them not from marrying other men if they have fairly agreed with each other.” (Quran 2:232)
• “Allah created male and female from a single soul so that man might live with her in serenity.” (Quran, 7:189)
• “And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts).” (Al-Muminun 23:5)
• “And Allah has made for you Mates (and Companions of your nature.” (Surah Al Nahl 16:72)

Marriage is an act pleasing Allah Almighty because it is by his commandments that husband and wife love each other and help each other to make efforts to continue the human race and raise their children to become true servants of Allah. Islam promotes love, care, and respect in the Muslim society where wives and husbands live happily with their children and families.

There are some reasons due to which Islam so much emphasized Marriage which we have listed below:

• Marriage makes an incomplete human being a complete one, our Prophet Muhammad (SAW)says, “No house has been built in Islam more beloved in the sight of Allah than through marriage”
• It is necessary for making a family (for children)
• Marriage is one of the most liked Sunnah in Islam as our beloved Prophet (SAW) married and also encouraged others
• It provides tranquillity, peace, and security
• It is a bond of love not just only between two persons but between two families
• It is a source to experience love and happiness

وَأَنكِحُوا الْأَيَامَىٰ مِنكُمْ وَالصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَائِكُمْ إِن يَكُونُوا فُقَرَاءَ يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“And marry the single among you and the righteous among your male slaves and your female slaves. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty. And Allah (is) All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.” (Surah An-Nur 24:32)

Marriage in Islam is from the Sunnah (legal ways) of the Prophet (PBUH). Marriage is a great virtue and a means of salvation in our religion (Islam). It is our religious duty and moral safeguard. Marriage is a contract made by male and female to live together as wife and husband and a tie that strengthen their relationship. It is because of this holy tie that families are established in our societies and communities. Allah says:

وَأَنكِحُوا الْأَيَامَىٰ مِنكُمْ وَالصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَائِكُمْ إِن يَكُونُوا فُقَرَاءَ يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“Marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty, for Allah is All-Encompassing and Knowing.” (Surah An-Nur 24:32)

Allah Almighty created men and women as company for one another, and so that they can become parents and live in peace and calmness according to the commandments of Allah Almighty. We ask Allah to guide us to the Right Path, grant us ample resources to marry and to guard our chastity, make us capable to act upon His commands and following the Sunnah of His beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Ameen