Ruling on Marriage in Poverty and Guidance for Those Unable to Marry
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Bāb: Nikāḥ ke Masāʾil, Volume 1, Page 311
An objection is raised based on two verses of the Qurʾān regarding marriage:
✿ In the first verse, marriage is commanded even for the poor:
"And marry off the single among you and the righteous among your male and female slaves. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty. And Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing."
(Sūrah al-Nūr, 24:32)
✿ In the second verse, those who cannot afford marriage are commanded to remain chaste:
"And let those who do not find the means to marry keep themselves chaste until Allah enriches them from His bounty."
(Sūrah al-Nūr, 24:33)
The question arises:
Since in common understanding poverty means lack of ability to marry, how can these two verses be reconciled?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
Allah ﷻ commands:
﴿وَاَنْكِحُوا الْاَيَامٰى مِنْكُمْ وَالصّٰلِحِيْنَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَاِمَائِكُمْ ۚ اِنْ يَّكُوْنُوْا فُقَرَآءَ يُغْنِهِمُ اللّٰهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهٖ ۚ وَاللّٰهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيْمٌ﴾
(Sūrah al-Nūr: 32)
“And marry off those among you who are single, and the righteous among your male and female slaves. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty. And Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.”
This verse gives the command for marriage and reassures that poverty should not be a barrier, because Allah ﷻ can enrich them from His bounty.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ الَّذِيْنَ لَا يَجِدُوْنَ نِكَاحًا حَتّٰى يُغْنِيَهُمُ اللّٰهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهٖ﴾
(Sūrah al-Nūr: 33)
“And let those who do not find the means to marry keep themselves chaste until Allah enriches them from His bounty.”
Here, the reference is to those who truly lack the means and resources for marriage.
✿ The first verse addresses those who may be poor but still possess the basic means for marriage. They are encouraged to marry, trusting in Allah’s promise of provision.
✿ The second verse addresses those who lack the necessary means entirely—such as:
Such people do not have the practical ability to marry, hence they are commanded to remain chaste until Allah grants ease.
✿ Those unable to marry are commanded to remain abstinent and guard their chastity—this is not a prohibition of marriage itself.
✿ The poor are not to refrain from marriage merely due to lack of wealth, rather they are urged to marry, trusting in Allah’s bounty.
✿ Thus, there is no contradiction between the two verses; both provide guidance to different categories of people.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is my understanding, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Bāb: Nikāḥ ke Masāʾil, Volume 1, Page 311
Question:
An objection is raised based on two verses of the Qurʾān regarding marriage:
✿ In the first verse, marriage is commanded even for the poor:
"And marry off the single among you and the righteous among your male and female slaves. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty. And Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing."
(Sūrah al-Nūr, 24:32)
✿ In the second verse, those who cannot afford marriage are commanded to remain chaste:
"And let those who do not find the means to marry keep themselves chaste until Allah enriches them from His bounty."
(Sūrah al-Nūr, 24:33)
The question arises:
- The first verse encourages marriage for the poor.
- The second verse instructs those without the means to remain abstinent.
Since in common understanding poverty means lack of ability to marry, how can these two verses be reconciled?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
◈ The First Verse (al-Nūr 32):
Allah ﷻ commands:
﴿وَاَنْكِحُوا الْاَيَامٰى مِنْكُمْ وَالصّٰلِحِيْنَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَاِمَائِكُمْ ۚ اِنْ يَّكُوْنُوْا فُقَرَآءَ يُغْنِهِمُ اللّٰهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهٖ ۚ وَاللّٰهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيْمٌ﴾
(Sūrah al-Nūr: 32)
“And marry off those among you who are single, and the righteous among your male and female slaves. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty. And Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.”
This verse gives the command for marriage and reassures that poverty should not be a barrier, because Allah ﷻ can enrich them from His bounty.
◈ The Second Verse (al-Nūr 33):
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ الَّذِيْنَ لَا يَجِدُوْنَ نِكَاحًا حَتّٰى يُغْنِيَهُمُ اللّٰهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهٖ﴾
(Sūrah al-Nūr: 33)
“And let those who do not find the means to marry keep themselves chaste until Allah enriches them from His bounty.”
Here, the reference is to those who truly lack the means and resources for marriage.
◈ Reconciling the Two Verses:
✿ The first verse addresses those who may be poor but still possess the basic means for marriage. They are encouraged to marry, trusting in Allah’s promise of provision.
✿ The second verse addresses those who lack the necessary means entirely—such as:
- Severe shortage of housing or sustenance,
- Illness or physical incapacity,
- Lack of parental or guardian arrangement,
Such people do not have the practical ability to marry, hence they are commanded to remain chaste until Allah grants ease.
Summary of Reconciliation:
✿ Those unable to marry are commanded to remain abstinent and guard their chastity—this is not a prohibition of marriage itself.
✿ The poor are not to refrain from marriage merely due to lack of wealth, rather they are urged to marry, trusting in Allah’s bounty.
✿ Thus, there is no contradiction between the two verses; both provide guidance to different categories of people.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is my understanding, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
