Marriage is a vital part of a Muslim’s life. In fact, marriage is so important in the religion of Islam that it is declared to be one half of one’s faith. Allah Almighty created men and women as company for one another, and so that they can become parents and live in peace and calmness. In Islam marriage being an obligatory act is so important that it is declared to be one half of a single Muslim’s faith. Allah said:
وَيَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ فَكُلَا مِنْ حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
“O Adam, live with your wife in Paradise and eat from wherever you will but do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.” (Surah Al-A’raf 7:19)
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. Marriage linguistically means to unite and to bring together. Allah said:
وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ فَإِن كَرِهْتُمُوهُنَّ فَعَسَىٰ أَن تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَيَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا
“Live with them in kindness, for if you dislike them, then perhaps you dislike something but Allah has placed therein much good.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:19)
Marriage helps to safeguard one’s Imaan (faith) i.e. it stops one from committing such acts by which s/he could be considered immoral. Sins such as intermingling with people of the opposite sex or socializing as it is classed in everyday terms are not considered to be acceptable in Islam, (because it creates immorality and immodesty) even though an incredibly large amount of people will hastily class it as an ‘essential part of one’s day. Allah said:
وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
“Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring joy to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.” (Surah Al-Furqan 25:74)
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. Marriage serves the purpose of strengthening the common good through stable family relationships, reconciling Muslims with the peoples of the scripture.
There are some reasons why Islam so much emphasized Marriage:
- Marriage for giving factors between husband and wife
- Marriage gives the couples achieve mutual affection
- Marriage is one of the most liked Sunnah in Islam
- Marriage gives the couple to righteous offspring
- Marriage know each other and help each other
- Marriage keeps the couple away from Satan
- Marriage make time for you two as a couple
- Marriage away from the act of adultery
- Marriage is a religious command
- Marriage extend human life
- Marriage is a bond of love
- Marriage multiply the offspring
- Marriage in Islam is an obligation
- Marriage is one of the classes of Allah
- Marriage is necessary for making family
- Marriage makes an incomplete human being
- Marriage provides tranquillity, peace, and security
- Marriage guarantees physical and spiritual chastity
- Marriage increases sustenance, love, respect, caring
- Marriage is a source to experience love and happiness
تُنْكَحُ الْمَرْأَةُ لِأَرْبَعٍ لِمَالِهَا وَلِحَسَبِهَا وَلِجَمَالِهَا وَلِدِينِهَا فَاظْفَرْ بِذَاتِ الدِّينِ
“A woman is married for four reasons: her property, her status, her beauty, and her religion; so choose according to religion.” (Sahih Muslim 1466)
The greatest benefit of marriage is protection against a sinful life and the fulfilment of sexual desire through lawful means. This great benefit is the main objective of marriage and should be focused upon at the time of marriage; other benefits will then be achieved thereafter. We can also say that Marriage Half Deen of Muslims. Marriage is the Sunnah of our Noble Prophet (PBUH), as well as of the previous Noble Prophets (AS). Allah said:
وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ إِذَا آتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحِينَ وَلَا مُتَّخِذِي أَخْدَانٍ
“Lawful in marriage are chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking secret lovers.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:5)
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. Islam emphasizes marriage as it has great importance in Islam with many benefits that one could get from it. Marriage helps to safeguard one’s Imaan (faith) i.e. it stops one from committing such acts by which s/he could be considered immoral. Allah said:
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)
The main purpose of marriage is protection against a sinful life and living a life according to the teachings of Islam. Sins such as intermingling with people of the opposite sex or socializing as it is classed in everyday terms are not considered to be acceptable in Islam, (because it creates immorality and immodesty) even though an incredibly large amount of people will hastily class it as an ‘essential part of one’s day.
Allah Almighty says in the Holl Quran:
- “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 agreed with each other in a fair manner.” (Quran 2:232)
- “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)
- “Allah created male and female from a single soul in order that man might live with her in serenity.” (Quran, 7:189)
- “And Allah has made for you Mates (and Companions of your own nature.” (Surah Al Nahl 16:72)
- “And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts).” (Al-Muminun 23:5)
Husband and Wife relationship isn’t a bed of roses. There are many ups and downs and problems that occur at every stage, and those problems and issues should be dealt with carefully and sensibly. Leaving the house over small issues can create further problems. If the spouses can’t resolve their issues, the elders of the families should sit together to help them resolve the problem. Allah said:
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)
Marriage guarantees physical and spiritual chastity and peace of a person and keeps the couple away from the pitfalls and temptations of Satan. Marriage in Islam teaches both men and women to stay ready to sacrifice and endure for a life partner. The main purpose of marriage is protection against a sinful life and living a life according to the teachings of Islam. Allah said:
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“Exalted is He who created all pairs – from what the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know.” (Surah Ya-Seen 36:36)
Marriage is one of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah. Any Muslim who does will have a great reward. Young Muslims and young women who are married with the aim of distancing themselves from the forbidden things are one of the classes that God will help in the afterlife. The purpose of marriage is to have offspring. Allah said:
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)
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