Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As-Salam-Ali-Kum

Brother Burhan I am a 27 year old bachelor. I`ve read your topic on "Wisdom Behind Marriage Half of Deen" but still the question in my mind has not been answered that "What is the importance of marriage in Islam? & why is it necessary to get married in Islam?" & "What is the minimum requirenment a man should have to get married as per Islam?" & "What type of girl a person needs to get married as per Islam?"

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Concept of Marriage

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: What is the importance of marriage in Islam?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 30 Surah Rum verse 21:

And of Allah’s Sign is that He has created for you wives from your own species, so that you may find peace with them, and (Allah has) created love and mercy between you. Surely in this there are many Signs for those who reflect.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 34:

Men are the managers of the affairs of women because Allah has made the one superior to the other, and because men spend of their wealth on women. Virtuous women are , therefore, obedient (to their husbands); and they guard in his absence what Allah would have them guard (their honor, their property, etc.)

When one marries, one saves and legalizes for himself in one of the most powerful natural desire and attraction that Allah Subhanah has bestowed in the nature of man: one’s natural sexual urge or desire. Besides, this sacred bond of marriage puts in place a foundation for a society, whereby a family is created and the means to uphold and continue the future of mankind is established.

Just as one has an inclination to eat good-looking and tasty food; the real role and mission behind the consumption of food is neither its looks, nor its taste, nor its smell, but its real mission is to provide the fuel for ones physical health. Similarly, the All-Wise, All-Knowing Lord has put this natural physical desire and attraction of sex in human beings to fulfill the mission of pro-creation and continuity of mankind until a term appointed by Him. Allah Subhanah has declared the concept of marriage as the only gateway of legally fulfilling this bestowed natural desire of sex in mankind, and as a test declared all the other means of fulfilling this desire as illegal and forbidden. The sacred institution of marriage is the tool upon which relations, their rights, duties, and responsibilities amongst each other, and the foundation of a righteous society are built.

If the society chooses not to marry and establish a family, as is happening in the many so-called modern-educated but ignorant and ungodly world today, the nucleus of the foundation of forming a righteous society is shaken from its very core! Neither the men nor the women choose to marry and establish a family, for the Shaytaan has made it fair-seeming for them to fulfill their natural sexual desires out of marriage. The chaos and trial this creates in society is laid bare to be witnessed by all mankind. Not only does it effect the man and the woman alone, but the effect it has on future generations is absolutely detrimental to society.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) so recognized and gave so much importance to this Sunnah of being united in the sacred bond of marriage, that he (saws) termed it half the deen!

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3096 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "When a man marries he has fulfilled half of the religion; so let him fear Allah regarding the remaining half."

Your Question: why is it necessary to get married in Islam?

Beloved Brother, marriage is not an obligatory command of Islam; but rather it is a preferred, approved, and an extremely encouraged Sunnah of the Prophet (saws). If one chooses not to marry for any valid reason, and is still able to preserve his modesty and chastity, there would be no sin upon him.

But if one is able to marry and chooses not to marry for no valid reason, or one believes or thinks that not marrying is a bigger virtue than marrying, he will be guilty of the sin of intentionally going against the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.1 Narrated by Anas bin Malik

A group of three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet (saws) asking how the Prophet worshipped (Allah), and when they were informed about that, they considered their worship insufficient and said, "Where are we from the Prophet (saws) as his past and future sins have been forgiven." Then one of them said, "I will offer the prayer throughout the night forever." The other said, "I will fast throughout the year and will not break my fast." The third said, "I will keep away from the women and will not marry forever." Allah's Messenger (saws) came to them and said, "Are you the same people who said so-and-so? By Allah, I am more submissive to Allah and more afraid of Him than you; yet I fast and break my fast, I do sleep, and I also marry women. So he who does not follow my Sunnah in religion, is not from me (not one of my followers!)."

Your Question: What is the minimum requirenment a man should have to get married as per Islam?"

The absolute minimum requirement for marriage in light of the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah is first and foremost, one has a natural desire to marry, and secondly one is capable to take responsibility (financial and other) of raising a family.

Your Question: What type of girl a person needs to get married as per Islam?"

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.27 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a loser."

Beauty, wealth, and family status may diminish with the vicissitude of time, but faith and belief in the religion of Truth of one will stand in good stead benefiting the person not only in the life of this world, but also in the eternal and everlasting life in the Hereafter.

Beloved Brother, the above guidance of the superiority of the option of religion between the four available options when choosing a girl in marriage is not a command of the Messenger of Allah (saws), but only his guidance and best advice for those who choose to marry. In light of the clear guidance of the Quran and Sunnah, it is evidently clear that if one disobeys a clear command of Allah and His Messenger (saws) he will bring nothing but ruin upon himself; but in our humble opinion and experience, if one disobeys even an advice or recommendation of Allah and His Messenger (saws), Allah is our witness, the person would bring nothing but misery upon himself!

Thus if one who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day wishes to have a successful marriage, he should take the counsel of the one who gave nothing but the best of counsels, and choose to marry a religious girl; for otherwise, Allah is our witness, he would be amongst the losers! Guaranteed!!!

Sahih Muslim Hadith 3465 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is the pious (religious) woman.’

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother and sincere well wisher in Islam,

Burhan