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:

assalamalaykum.

i love your islamic column. it captures immense intrest and i would be gratefull if u would answer my following questions.

well the first one is is there any alternative in the name of islam instead of getting married?

(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:

Alternative to getting married

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.

In the days of Jaahiliya (before Islam), there were basically three relationships that were prevailent between a non-mehram man and woman.

Nikah: A marriage contract between man and woman, with the intention of spending the rest of their lives together in wedlock.

Mut’a: A marriage contract between a man and a woman, for a limited time period only.

Zina: Prostitution, adultery or fornication as we know it today.

Islam prohibited ‘muta’ (temporary marriage) and ‘zina’ (fornication and adultery); and allowed and encouraged only the system of ‘nikaah’ or marriage.

Thus, in Islam, Nikaah or marriage is the only way a non-mehram man and woman may form a physical relationship. All the other paths which lead to a physical relationship between a non-mehram man and woman are forbidden in Islam.

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