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:

is it really a must for a girl to get married in islam plz suggest any other possible way if not?  

(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:

Is it Compulsory for a Girl to marry in Islam?

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 can be read one of two way, and we will Insha Allah try to address both.

It is obligatory for a woman in Islam to get married?

Must a believing woman marry only a believing man in Islam?

Your comment: It is obligatory for a woman in Islam to get married?

Marriage is not obligatory, but rather considered a Sunnah in Islam. Thus if a particular woman or a man chooses not to marry at all, there is no harm. Islam has made marriage a natural and halaal way for men and women to fulfill their desires, and create and live in a family environment.

Your comment: Must a believing woman marry only a believing man in Islam?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 221:Do not marry ‘mushrik’ women unless they believe………Likewise, do not wed your women to ‘mushrik’ men unless they believe……..These ‘mushrik’ people invite you to the Fire, while Allah by His grace invites you to the Garden and His Pardon, and He makes His revelations plain to the people so that they should learn a lesson and follow the admonition.

In light of the above clear aayah of the Holy Quran, it is prohibited for a believing woman to marry anyone other than a believing man. Allah, in His Infinite Wisdom and Knowledge, has ordained that a believing woman, who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, should not marry any man from among the mushriks, unless they believe.

Allah has allowed the believing men to marry to believing woman, and the chaste women from among the People of the Book (the Jews and the Christians). But Allah has allowed the believing woman to marry only among the believing men.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 5:Likewise you are permitted to marry believing chaste women, and chaste women from among the people of the Book (Jews and Christians), provided that you give them their due ‘mahr’ and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor sected intrigues.

Your Question: plz suggest any other possible way if not?  

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 36:It does not behove a believing man and a believing woman that when Allah and His Messenger have given their decision in a matter, they should exercise an option in that matter of theirs. For whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, has indeed strayed into manifest error.

When Allah and His Messenger (saws) have given their decision in any matter, it does not behove a believer to have an option other than what they have commanded. The truth of the matter is, that every command ordained by Allah and His Messenger (saws) is for our own good; and anyone who disobeys the command of Allah and His Messenger (saws) has indeed strayed into manifest error.

Thus, the only way for a believing woman to marry someone who is not a believer, is for the person to convert to Islam of his own free will. Only then can a believing woman marry this person. This is the boundary set by Allah; and if one transgresses this or any other boundary, he/she will be severely accountable to Allah on the Day of Judgement.

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

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan