The Value and Necessity of Marriage (Nikah) in Islam
Marriage Is Highly Valued In Islam; the Holy Prophet Himself Lived a
Married Life and Imparted Its Teaching to His Followers
Main Points:
1.
Through
marriage, a person is protected from a number of sins.
2.
It is
important to emphasise that Allah has elevated marriage to the status of
worship rather than just a way to gratify human desires.
3.
Marriage
purifies and sanctifies our brains and emotions.
4.
People who
have negative views on marriage also have poor views of the chaste marriages of
others.
5.
They are
unaware that the real cause of their way of thinking is their ongoing adherence
to a number of wrongs.
-----
By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam
31 August 2022
The word Nikah is derived from the root word Na-ka-ha
(Nakaha Yankihu), which means "having intercourse and
getting married". Istankaha ("to marry"), Ankaha ("to
get someone wedded"), and Tanaakaha ("to marry each
other") are its derivatives. In both Arabic and Urdu, the word "Nikah"
is frequently used. In Urdu, Nikah also has several synonyms, such as Shaadi and Vivah. Nikah is
referred to as marriage in English. In Islamic jurisprudence, Nikah is
a contract between two people. Both the groom and the bride are to consent to
the marriage of their own free will. A formal, binding contract – verbal or on
paper – is considered integral to a religiously valid Islamic marriage, and
outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom and bride
Marriage is highly valued in Islam. The Holy Prophet himself lived a
married life and imparted its teachings to his followers. Through marriage, a
person is protected from a number of sins. It is established by the hadiths of
the Saheehain (the two most trustworthy hadith books, Bukhari and Muslim),
that doing good deeds strengthens and perfects one's faith, and since marriage
is a way to engage in good deeds, it is not incorrect to assert that getting
married also serves these purposes.
Marriage aids in preserving modesty, purity, and protection from
malicious thoughts and intentions. Marriage is a means of achieving piety and
cleanliness. It purifies human minds and hearts. A man and a woman's close
connection is validated by marriage, which not only affords them both peace and
happiness but also allows them the chance to deeply comprehend one another's
thoughts and feelings. Then they both start to confide in one another and help
each other when facing intellectual, mental, practical, and psychological
problems.
For a happy and successful marriage, it is essential to recognise the
value of marriage as a great blessing from Allah Almighty.
Few individuals recognise the significance of marriage in our society.
It is impossible to envision a successful and pleasant married life in the true
sense unless the advantages of this tremendous blessing are appropriately
recognised in our society. Because of the low level of knowledge in our
culture, the majority of us are unable to fully understand the advantages and
disadvantages of marriage. Because of our overall perspective on marriage, we
believe that it consists solely of a woman being married to a man, feeding the
guests, and presenting gifts and congratulations to the couple's in-laws.
This much is common among the masses, but Islam has introduced a deeper
understanding of marriage that the majority of us are unaware of. This idea is
unquestionably more significant since marriage is essential to the development
of a just and civilised society and provides access to a wealth of religious
and global rewards, including closer ties to God.
It is crucial to remember that marriage serves as more than merely a
vehicle for satisfying human needs; rather, Allah Ta'ala has elevated it to the
position of one of the factors that contribute to worship. Allah Almighty
proclaimed marriage to be legal in all faiths even before the advent of Islam.
In the Holy Qur'an and via the words of His Beloved Prophet, Allah Almighty
encouraged His slaves to get married (peace be upon him). Numerous instances in
the Qur'an and Sunnah explain the beauties and advantages of marriage, some of
which are included here.
Nikah is the Sunnah of the Prophets
Marriage is also the Sunnah of the Prophets. Allah Almighty said in the
Holy Qur'an: “We have certainly sent messengers before you ˹O Prophet˺ and blessed them with wives and offspring. It was not for any
messenger to bring a sign without Allah’s permission. Every destined matter has
a ˹set˺ time.” (13:38)
This verse of the Holy Qur'an makes it very obvious that the Prophets
too had wives, children, and families.
The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported to have said:
"Four items are among the Sunnah of the Prophets (peace
be upon them): Modesty, applying alcohol-free perfume, utilising Miswak,
and marriage." (Tirmidhi, vol.1, p.206)
Marriage is one of the Sunnahs of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him), as he stated in a hadith: "Marriage is
one of my Sunnahs." (Bukhari, Kitab al-nikah)
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be
upon him, said, “Whoever Allah provides with a righteous wife, Allah has
assisted him in half of his religion. Let him fear Allah regarding the second
half.” (Source: al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ 992)
Marriage brings about mental and spiritual serenity for the individual.
The Holy Qur'an itself has made this point in a very pleasant way:
“It is He who created you from one soul and created from it its mate
that he might dwell in security with her. And when he covers her, she carries a
light burden and continues therein. And when it becomes heavy, they both invoke
Allah, their Lord, "If You should give us a good [child], we will surely
be among the grateful.” (7:189)
This verse declares that women are a wonderful gift from Allah and
comfort to man. A man who values this gift will live a prosperous and contented
life and will so develop into a thankful servant of Allah. This wonderful gift
can be obtained through nikah. Therefore, anyone who tries to
reject the Nikah may suffer negative repercussions, and there is a chance that
the entire system may be disrupted.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever loves my nature,
should follow my Sunnah, and marriage is one of my Sunnahs."
(Majmauz Zawaid 4/327)
Even if I only had ten days left to live, Hazrat Ibn Masoud Radiyallahu
Anhu remarked, "I would prefer to get married so that I would not
stand before God in an unmarried state." (Tuhfatul Uroos)
“Get married, since one day of wedded life is preferable to many years
of worshipping while single”, said Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with
him).
Since the time of Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him) and up till the
present, people have recognised the importance of marriage. Marriage has never
been outlawed by any nation, religion, or state, according to historical
records. Every religion and culture has condemned the relationship between a
man and a woman throughout history as having bad morals in the absence of
marriage and its prescribed rituals and practices. So, traditionally, a man and
a woman's relationship before marriage has been seen negatively. Even though
there are different customs and traditions regarding marriage in each religion
and nation, the importance of marriage has been recognised by all.
However, some people nowadays do not value marriage. Some monastics believe
that marriage prevents them from developing morally and spiritually. Some
people choose to become Sannyasis. In other words, they place the
highest value on remaining unmarried. These ideas and opinions,
however, actually run counter to both human nature and the natural order of
things.
Everyone can agree that this evidence supports the notion that those who
believe that marriage is immoral and insist that eternal separation from women
is necessary for spiritual advancement are typically overcome by human desires
and natural passions, fall into a variety of moral vices and have been observed
engaging in unethical behaviour as well as suffering negative outcomes.
Some people in the modern period, particularly those who have been
influenced by western beliefs and ideologies, fail to understand the necessity
and significance of marriage. They hold that a man has the right to all forms
of freedom and that he does not necessarily need to get married in order to
satisfy his natural impulses and needs, but rather, he can do so whatever he
pleases without marriage.
Some people only use one another for a predetermined period of time to
satisfy their sexual demands, enjoy themselves, and then part ways, even when
they have the intention of getting married. These people have turned marriage
into a game and a public show. Some people have become so accustomed to dating
that they have no issues remaining alone for an extended period of time.
The respect and love that family members have for one another, however,
is waning as a result of all these circumstances. Parent-child relationships
are also eroding. And responsible people are equally worried and working hard
to protect their society from these problems.
The point being made here is that those who view marriage negatively or
as a way to satiate their sexual appetites also have the same perspective on
other people's chaste marriages. They are unable to comprehend that through
engaging in a variety of wrongdoings and immoral behaviours, they have truly
developed this way of thinking.
They have been exposed to so many modern sins that their brains have
been polluted to the point that they are willing to call the Prophets' marriage
into question and even believe it to be unethical.
How are they supposed to realise that marriage is utilised for righteous
and pious purposes as well? They will continue to have unfavourable thoughts
about marriage as long as they do not understand its sanctity, importance, and
necessity.
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Kaniz Fatma is a classic
Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-society/marriage-nikah-modesty-sunnah-prophets/d/127845
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