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Marriage: why and when
2-19-2019
Marriage (nikaah) is a solemn and sacred social contract between the bride and groom, and it is considered a great act of worship in Islam.
Allah states in the Quran:
“And verily We sent messengers (to mankind) before thee, and We appointed for them wives and offspring” – (Surah Ar-Ra’ad- Verse 38)
VIRTUES OF MARRIAGE
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Anas (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:“ If any person performs nikaah, he has completed half his religion. To fulfill the other half of his religion he should fear Allah”. (Baihaqi)
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Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:“Nikaah (Marriage) creates a bond of love (between the husband and wife) that no other bond can create”. (Ibn Maajah)
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Abu Umamah (PBUH) narrates that the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “After the fear of Allah, a believer gains nothing better for himself than a good wife”. (Ibn Maajah and Tabrani)
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The prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: four matters are from amongst the teachings of the prophets (PBUH):
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To be modest (in some narrations circumcision is mentioned)
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To apply perfume
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To use miswaak
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To get married (Tirmizi)
WHY GET MARRIED?
Marriage in Islam is an obligation that is greatly encouraged by Allah and very beloved to the prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH) 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 (PBUH) will be rewarded greatly by Allah.
At the time of the Prophet (PBUH) certain companions vouched to remain single. When the Prophet (PBUH) heard this, he displayed his disapproval and stated that marriage was his sunnah and that of the previous prophets.
It is also important to get married as it protects a person from committing sins like adultery, evil glances and masturbation. By getting married a person protects his morality, and it also compels the man and women to discipline their desires in a way that will protect their indecency.
A person should also get married to increase the Ummah (followers) of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“Marry such women who are extremely fond of their husbands and who can bare many children, so that I (the prophet Muhammad) can be proud on the day of Judgment due to your large numbers.” (Abu Dawood)
Being married is a source of getting continuous reward from Allah. When a husband treats his wife and children in a good manner and spends on them then this is considered as an act of Sadaqah in Islam. In the same way if a wife treats her husband in in a good manner then she will also receive great reward from Allah.
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Whenever a Muslim spends on his family with the intention of gaining reward, then this is a sadaqah.” (Muslim)
Generally a married person will have a better-balanced life compared to those that are single, as the married person will have someone to look after their wellbeing and also have greater social support.
In Islam marriage is considered compulsory as it ensures spiritual purity and promotes a healthy family unit.
Allah states in the Quran:
“They (are) garments for you and you (are) garments for them.” (Baqarah ayat 187)
The way a cloth covers a persons privacy, similarly the married couple act as a garment in concealing a persons defects and saving each other from sin.
WHEN SHOULD A PERSON MARRY?
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“O young men, those amongst you who can afford to get married, should marry – for this will be a means of restraining the eyes from casting evil glances and keeping one pure and chaste.”(Bukhari, Muslim)
The Prophet (PBUH) also said:
“Three things should not be delayed; Prayer when its time has set in, the funeral prayer of the deceased and the marriage of a woman when her match is found.” (Tirmizi)
When a person is old enough to bear the responsibilities of married life then there should be no delay in getting married. If parents delay in getting their children married then the parents will also be held responsible for any wrong doings that their children do.
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