Written by: Hafiz Imran Ayub Lahori
Allah Almighty has counted marriage among His blessings.
It is stated by Allah Almighty that:
وَ اللهُ جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِّنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِّنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ بَنِينَ وَحَفَدَةً...
Allah has created for you from among yourselves wives, and from your wives He has made for you sons and grandsons.
Reference: An-Nahl: 72
(Shaykh Abdul Rahman Sa'di) In this verse, Allah is informing His servants about His great favor, that He has created wives for them so that they may find comfort and tranquility with them. And He has created offspring from their wives, through which their eyes are cooled, and these (children) serve them and fulfill their needs.
Reference: Tafsir Al-Karim Ar-Rahman (1/597)
The Command to Marry Preferred Women
It is stated by Allah Almighty that:
(فَانْكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ)
Marry those women who seem good to you.
Reference: An-Nisa: 3
The Elimination of Poverty through Marriage
It is stated by Allah Almighty that:
)وَ أَنْكِحُوا الْأَيَامَى مِنْكُمْ وَالصَّالِحِيْنَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَ إِمَائِكُمْ إِنْ يَكُونُوا فُقَرَاءَ يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ )
Let those among you who are single marry, and also those of your righteous slaves and maidservants if they are poor; Allah will enrich them by His grace. Allah is All-Encompassing and All-Knowing.
(Shaykh Abdul Rahman Saadi) (In this verse, Allah is commanding the guardians and owners of slaves to arrange marriages for those under their care who are unmarried. These individuals may be men, widowed women, or unmarried women. Therefore, it is obligatory for a close relative and the guardian of an orphan to arrange marriages for those in their care who are in need of marriage.
Furthermore, this verse encourages marriage and promises that for those who marry, there will be richness after poverty.
Reference: Tafsir Al-Kareem Ar-Rahman[(2/774)
(Ibn Arabi) There are two opinions regarding the verse "If they are poor, Allah will enrich them with His grace." One is that Allah will enrich them through marriage (meaning that richness refers to marriage), as stated by Allah: (وَإِنْ يَتَفَرَّقَا يُغْنِهِمُ اللهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ)
Reference: An-Nisa:130
. And if they choose separation, Allah will enrich them with His grace, meaning He will arrange for them to marry someone else.The second opinion is that Allah will enrich them with wealth (meaning Allah will remove their poverty through marriage). A group of the Salaf has adopted this position. It is reported about Sayyidina Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I am astonished by a person who does not desire marriage, whereas Allah has said: If they are poor, Allah will enrich them with His grace.
Reference: ]Tafsir Ahkam al-Quran by Ibn Arabi (p /279)[
Marriage as a Source of Comfort and Peace
(1) Allah says:
)وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُمْ مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ(
Among the signs of Him (Allah) is that He created spouses from your own kind so that you may find comfort in them, and He established love and compassion among you. Indeed, in this are many signs for those who reflect.
Reference: Ar-Rum: 22
(2) It is narrated from Sayyidina Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
حبب إلي الطيب والنساء وجعلت قرة عيني في الصلاة
Among worldly things, the love of women and perfume has been instilled in my heart, and prayer has been made the coolness of my eyes.
Reference: Sahih: Sahih Al-Jami As-Saghir (3124) Nasai (3391) Book of the Ten of Women: Chapter on the Love of Women, Bayhaqi in Al-Sunan Al-Kubra (124/7 Book of Marriage: Chapter on the Desire for Marriage)
◈ Marriage: The Tradition of Previous Prophets
Allah, the Exalted, says:
)وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَ جَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً...)
We have indeed sent many messengers before you, and We made them all have wives and children.
Reference: Ar-Ra'd: 38
Marriage: The Tradition of Sayyidina Muhammad (ﷺ)
① The statement of Ummul Mu'mineen Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) is that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
النكاح سنتي فمن لم يعمل بسنتي فليس مني...
Marriage is my tradition, so whoever does not follow my tradition has no connection with me.
]Sahih: Sahih Al-Jami Al-Saghir (6807)[
② Hazrat Sa'id bin Jubair narrates that:
قال لي ابن عباس هل تزوجت قلت لا قال فتزوج ، فإن خير هذه الأمة أكثرها نساء
Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) asked me if I had gotten married? I replied no. He (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Get married, because the best person of this Ummah (i.e., Sayyidina Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ) had many wives.
Reference: Bukhari (5069) Book of Marriage: Chapter on Many Women
The Prophet ﷺ's expression of severing ties with those who do not marry
Sayyidina Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that:
جاء ثلاثة رهط إلى بيوت أزواج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يسألون عن عبادة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فلما أخبروا كأنهم تقالوها ، فقالوا : وأين نحن من النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قد غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه وما تأخر ؟ قال أحدهم : أما أنا ، فإني أصلي الليل أبدا ، وقال آخر : أنا أصوم الدهر ولا أفطر ، وقال آخر : أنا أعتزل النساء فلا أتزوج أبدا ، فجاء رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إليهم ، فقال: أنتم الذين قلتم كذا وكذا ، أما والله إني لأخشاكم لله وأتقاكم له لكني أصوم وأفطر ، وأصلي وأرقد ، وأتزوج النساء ، فمن رغب عن سنتي فليس مني.
Three men came to inquire about the worship of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the homes of his pure wives. When they were informed about the actions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, they seemed to consider it insufficient and said, "What comparison do we have with our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ! All of your past and future mistakes have been forgiven." One of them said, "From today, I will always pray all night." The second said, "I will always fast and never miss a day." The third said, "I will choose to remain celibate and will never marry." Then the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came and asked them, "Did you say these things?" Listen! By Allah! I am the one who fears Allah the most among you. I am the most pious among you, but when I fast, I also break my fast. I pray (at night) and I also sleep, and I marry women. (فمن رغب عن سنتي فليس مني) Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me.
Reference: [Bukhari (5063) Book of Marriage: Chapter on Encouragement for Marriage, Muslim (1401) Book of Marriage: Chapter on the Recommendation of Marriage for Those Who Desire It, Nasai (3217) Book of Marriage: Chapter on the Prohibition of Asceticism, Ahmad (21/437)
The Selected from the Musnad of Abdul bin Hamid, Translated by Sobhi Al-Samarrai (Abdul bin Hamid) (p. 392)Marriage is Half of Religion
It is narrated from our master Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
إذا تزوج العبد فقد استكمل نصف الدين، فليتق الله في النصف الباقي
When a person gets married, half of his religion is completed; he should fear Allah regarding the remaining half of his religion.
Reference: ] Hasan: Hidayat al-Rawat (3032/248/3) by Bayhaqi in Shua' al-Iman (5486) Hakim (2/161)
Imam Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him) declared its chain of narration to be authentic. Sheikh Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) graded it as Hasan due to multiple chains of narration.(Sayyid Sabiq) Marriage is an act of worship through which a person completes half of his religion and through which a person will meet his Lord in the best and purest state.
Fiqh al-Sunnah 2/12]
◈ Good Tidings of Divine Help for Those Who Marry with the Intention of Chastity
It is narrated from our master Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
ثلاثة حق على الله عونهم : المكاتب الذي يريد الأداء " والناكح الذي يريد العفاف " و المجاهد في سبيل الله
There are three people whose help is a right upon Allah Almighty. One is the slave who wants to pay the agreed amount of his contract, the second is the one who wants to marry while maintaining his chastity, and the third is the one who is striving in the way of Allah.
Reference: Hasan: Sahih al-Targhib (1917) Book of Marriage: Chapter on Encouragement for Marriage, Hidayat al-Rawaat (3025) Tirmidhi (1655) Book of Virtues of Jihad: Chapter on What has been said about the Mujahid, the Married, and Allah's Help, Ibn Majah (2518) Book of Rules: Chapter on the Contracted Slave, Nasai (3218) Ibn Hibban (4030) Hakim (2678)
This narration has been deemed authentic by Imam Hakim and Imam Ibn Hibban.
Marriage: The Best Means of Love and Affection
It is narrated from Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
لم ير للمتحابين مثل التزوج
We have not seen anything better for two lovers than marriage.
Reference: (Sahih: Al-Silsilah Al-Sahihah (624) Hidayah Al-Ruwat ((3029 (3/247), Sahih Al-Jami Al-Saghir (5200) Ibn Majah (1847) Kitab Al-Nikah: Bab Ma Ja'a Fi Fadl Al-Nikah, Mustadrak Hakim (2/174) Kitab Al-Nikah: Bab Lam Yara Lil-Mutahabbain Mithl Al-Tazwaj, Bayhaqi Fi Al-Sunan Al-Kubra (7/124) Kitab Al-Nikah: Bab Al-Raghbah Fi Al-Nikah,
Hafiz Bousiri Rahimahullah stated that its chain is authentic and its narrators are trustworthy. [Al-Zawa'id (2/65)]A Righteous Wife is the Best Provision of This World
It is narrated from Sayyidina Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
الدنيا كلها متاع و خير متاع الدنيا المرأة الصالحة
The whole world is a means of benefit, and the best provision of this world is a righteous wife.
Reference: [Muslim (1467) Kitab Al-Rada': Bab Khayr Mata' Al-Dunya Al-Mar'ah Al-Salihah, Ibn Majah (1855) Kitab Al-Nikah: Bab Afdal Al-Nikah, Nasai (3232) Kitab Al-Nikah: Bab Al-Mar'ah Al-Salihah, Abu Nu'aym Fi Al-Hilyah (3/310) Sharh Al-Sunnah Lil-Baghawi (5/9)
A Righteous Wife is a Man's Good Fortune
It is narrated from Sayyidina Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
من سعادة ابن آدم ثلاثة ، ومن شفاوة ابن آدم ثلاثة من سعادة ابن آدم : المرأة الصالحة ، والمسكن الصالح والمركب الصالح ، ومن شقاوة ابن آدم: المرأة السوء و المسكن السوء و المركب السوء
Three things are from the good fortune of the children of Adam, and three are from their misfortune. The things that are from the good fortune of the children of Adam are: a righteous wife, a good residence, and a good mode of transportation; and the things that are from their misfortune are: a bad wife, a bad residence, and a bad mode of transportation.
Reference: ] Authentic for others: Authentic Targhib (1914) Book of Marriage: Chapter on Encouragement for Marriage, Ahmad (1/168) Bazar (1412)
On the Day of Judgment, the Prophet will take pride in the large number of his Ummah
Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
تزوجوا فإني مكاثر بكم الأمم يوم القيامة
Marry, for I will take pride in your large numbers on the Day of Judgment over other nations.
Authentic: Authentic Al-Jami Al-Saghir (6807)]
