(BY FAROOQ AHMED, AINA (MIRROR) FORTNIGHTLY, MANCHESTER, ISSUE NO. 84, UP TO 13 NOV 1998)
The institution of marriage in Islam serves a good many purpose.
A report appearing in an international magazine said that married people have lower chances of having stroke. The author based his report on some clinical findings. Using those findings, he went on to say that one has a good reason to get married but the tone of the report suggested as if marriage is something non-essential.
Given the moral perversion and adulteration that has crept into their lives, it is small wonder that today they are questioning the desirability of marriage. Marriage for them has become only a means for legalizing the already existing relationship. Thus they have despoiled the most respectable institution of marriage.
We the Muslims have clear instructions in Qur’an and Hadith regarding marriage and so we do not have to look for reasons to get married. Nikah (wedlock) is a tradition of all Prophets of Allah. All of whom we have detailed knowledge, except one, were married and had children. Allah Almighty says in Qur’an in this context:
"We did send Messengers Before thee, and appointed For them wives and children"(Al-Ra’d-38)
Similarly, in Hadith we find the mention of the fact that the Prophet Muhammad never allowed any to keep away from marrying. Bukhari narrates on the authority of Anis bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) that three men having learned about the worship of the Prophet of Allah found their worship insufficient. So one of them decided that he would offer the salat (Prayer) throughout the night and forever. The other decided to observe the Saum (fast) throughout the year. The third said that he wouldn’t marry forever. The Prophet of Allah came to know of it. He asked then about their decisions. Then he (pbuh) said, "I, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) am more submissive to Him and I fear Him more than you. But I observe Saum (fast), I say Salat (prayer) and I also sleep and marry women. So he who does not follow my Sunnah, is not from me."
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The purpose of quoting the above verses and a Hadith is to make it explicit that there can be no two opinions about marrying. We have been showed the right path and have also been told to adhere to same strictly. A slightest of the departure from the injunctions of Qur’an and Sunnah means that we are straying away from the Deen of Allah. Islam does not demand anything from us which is beyond our faculties. Nor does it teach us to lead our life in an unnatural way.
Marriage in Islam, is a well-defined relationship and so are its objectives. It is the most natural way to satisfy our physical and emotional needs. It is by no means all about bodily pleasure. Allah Almighty made man and woman for each other’s protection, mental peace and tranquillity. Allah Almighty says in this context:
"It is He who created You from a single person, And made his mate Of like nature, in order that He might dwell with her (in love)"(Al-A’raf-189)
In a separate place Allah Almighty says: "They (women) are your garments and you are their garments"(Al-Baqara_187)
So the way a garment protects and conceals body, both man and woman are for each other’s protection and care.
Marriage also teaches us to hold fast to the principles of moral purity and piety.(Lawful unto you in marriage)
Marriage in Islam, is well-defined relationship and so are its objectives. It is the most natural way to satisfy our physical and emotional needs. It is by no means all about bodily pleasure. Allah Almighty made man and woman for each other’s protection, mental peace and tranquillity.
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"Are (not only) chaste woman Who are believers, but Chaste woman among The people of Book Revealed before your time When you give them their due powers And desire chastity not lewdness Not secret intrigues"(Al-Maida-6)
So it becomes obvious from the above verses that Allah has made marriage a means for maintaining moral austerity and purity.
Islam categorically declares unlawful the sex relationships that are established out of wedlock. It teaches us to observe decorum in manners and dress and condemns all forms of brazen and immoral attitude. On top of that, marriage in the Muslim society is the foundation stone of the basic unit of society, the family. Allah Almighty has made it the only way in which the human race can flourish. It is enjoined upon the parents to develop a family and a home in keeping with the teachings of Islam. Man is the breadwinner of the family, he is to provide for the upkeep and maintenance of his home and family. Woman as a mother and man as a father, share the responsibilities of physical, mental and religions development and grooming of the of their children. Islam lays more emphasis on home as a place responsible for the upbringing and grooming of the child than any other institution.
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The point I want to highlight is the fact that the west has made a mockery of this relationship. For them it is nothing but a kind of legal bond that it little supported by chastity and moral purity. Illegal sexual relationships are practically more common than relations sanctioned by marriage. In most cases, this eternal verity is considered a nuisance, which requires them to behave in a morally responsible manner. But debauchery is so firmly entrenched in their society that they find it very difficult to lead a disciplined life. That is why the number of children borne out of wedlock is always rising. A direct result of this moral adulteration is that the institution of family is fast disintegrating, giving rise to a number of social and psychological problems confronted by parents and children alike. Marriages tend to be very fragile and divorce rate is frighteningly high.
The solution of all these problems lies in the teachings of Islam. A chaste and pure life, no illegal sexual relationships and marriage at an appropriate age would surely solve these problems. They should not forget the fact that departure from a natural way of life as prescribed by Allah always causes serious problems.